Page images
PDF
EPUB

WE greatly regret to have to announce the death of Mr. G. M. Whipple, Superintendent of the Kew Observatory. He died on Tuesday night after a long illness.

THE Journal of Botany records the death, on January 18, at Brighton, of Dr. Benjamin Carrington, the highest authority on British Hepaticæ.

DR. H. J. JOHNSTON LAVIS has been appointed Professor of Vulcanology in the University of Naples. A chair of vulcanology existed for some time at Catania, but was abolished on the death of Prof. Silvestri.

SOME important work with regard to technical education in London was done by the London County Council on Tuesday. The Council began the consideration of the recommendations of the special committee appointed to investigate the subject, and adopted the following proposals-that the Council should devote to technical education some portion of the funds from time to time recoverable under the Local Taxation (Customs and Excise) Act, 1890; that, in order to promote efficient and united action, it is desirable that the Council should delegate, so far as is permitted by law, its powers in respect of technical education to a composite body, to be called the Technical Education Board, to be appointed by the Council, partly from its own members and partly from other persons whose co-operation is desired; and that the Board should be appointed for a term of three years. It was agreed that the City Companies should be asked to contribute to the funds for technical instruction a fair proportion of their corporate income as distinguished from their trust property.

On Saturday the overhead electric railway at Liverpool was opened by Lord Salisbury, who afterwards delivered a very effective speech on the great things which are likely to be achieved for mankind by electricity.

THE London Amateur Scientific Society will hold its annual general meeting on Friday, February 10, at 7.30 p.m., at the Memorial Hall, Farringdon Street. The president will deliver an address, and the officers and council for the ensuing year will

be elected. At the conclusion of the annual general meeting the ordinary meeting will be held, when objects of interestbotanical, zoological, and geological-will be exhibited.

The

A CONVERSAZIONE was held the other evening at Firth College to celebrate the completion of the additional building. addition comprises new physical and biological laboratories, workshop and class rooms, and considerably increases the accommodation available for teaching purposes. The cost, £5,500, has been wholly raised from local subscriptions.

ANOTHER disastrous shock of earthquake occurred at Zante on Friday last. It was followed by a terrific thunderstorm, accompanied by rain and hail. All the ovens in the island were destroyed by the successive shocks, so that no bread or biscuits could be made. Thousands of the inhabitants have

been made homeless. On Monday there were three further shocks.

The King and Queen of Greece have visited several of the villages, and have been deeply affected by the scenes of utter ruin and desolation which have everywhere met their eyes. On Tuesday they visited the naphtha springs of the island, which are believed to be the centre of the disturbance. The mayor of the village of Deme Elatia, some distance from the town of Zante, telegraphed that a large chasm, from which smoke was constantly issuing, had been discovered near that place.

DURING the first part of the past week the weather in these islands was under the influence of barometrical depressions situated in the north-west. Rain fell in most places, and the temperature exceeded 50° in the south and west, and even reached 56' in London. On Friday an anticyclone which lay over the Baltic, spread westwards, and under its influence the

temperature became much lower, sharp frosts occurring over England, the readings on the grass in the souther falling as low as 17°, but in the north and west the day peratures were between 45° and 50°. The weather southern parts of the country became bright and fine, with fogs, which extended as far as central England. Dan early part of this week depressions from the Atlantic x skirted our western coasts in a north-easterly direction, a south-westerly gales in the north and west, and a conse increase in temperature, the maxima on Monday exceed in Ireland and the extreme south-west of England. Tpression rapidly increased in intensity, and by Tuesday the south-west winds had spread over the whole country, the r temperature amounting to over 20 in the south-east of E. A bright aurora was observed in the north-east of Scoin Sunday night. The Weekly Weather Report of the hi shows that the temperature exceeded the mean in ali či during that week. Bright sunshine did not differ m from the mean in any district, the percentage of y duration ranged from twenty-five in the south-west, to twe the east of England.

THE American Meteorological Journal for January on an article by Prof. D. P. Todd bearing upon the selec stations for observing the total eclipse of April 16 next, with a map showing the entire region of visibility. E gone to considerable trouble in collecting data, especiy observations for the month of April, for the last three together with particulars respecting the stations and the means of reaching them. The utility of a systematic eur tion of the cloud conditions of the eclipse localities is ap It is only in this way that the best observing stat 3 be selected.

THE meeting of the American Psychological Associat the University of Pennsylvania on December 27 and 2 to have been very successful. According to a writer in th York Nation, no one who attended the meeting fall

impressed with the quite unusual enthusiasm of the mez the still more unusual peace and serenity that prevail... the discussions. This writer is of opinion that, apart Sanford's observations on dreams, the paper of most e interest was President Hall's account of the history pects of experimental psychology in America. A stimulus" was brought to the meeting by Prof. Higo M berg, of Harvard, who has recently gone from Freiter, director of the Harvard Psychological Laboratory. Hes a vigorous discussion upon the very foundations of expert. research. This discussion, as well as others, was en the contributions of Prof. Titchener, of Corcell. T meeting of the association is to be held at Columbia New York, during the Christmas recess, 1893

THE Annual Report of the Botanical Department. Jaz just been published. The Director, Mr. W. Fawcett, F.L a good deal to say about the work of his Departmeat, c oldest and most successful in the colonies. It was 51" long ago as 1777, and ever since, as Mr. Fawcett recals successfully introduced valuable exotics, and the pr of the most distant regions to the West Indies,” and foundations of the present prosperity in place poverty which followed the abolition of slavery. The establishing the Hope Gardens as the headquariss Department near Kingston is still kept in view, th amount allowed for this purpose appears much les Director considers desirable, taking into account the p portance of the island. A hill garden is looked up as to the development of the high lands in Jamaica Fawcett shows that as about one-half of the total s island is above 1000 feet elevation, it is impossible:

itimate claims of those who are engaged in cultural industries ve that limit. Good progress has been made in the scientific rk connected with the herbarium and library, and numerous jects, such as the extension of grape culture, the distribution Valuable economic plants, experiments in onion and tomato ture, fodder plants for the hills, have received attention. dents from Harvard University were engaged during the year studying and making collections of tropical plants, and one of se devoted himself to preparing glass models of flowers and its with dissections to illustrate the science of botany. Two prentices, natives of Lagos, West Africa, were attached to the ope Gardens, with the view of qualifying themselves to take arge of botanical stations in their own country.

MR. FAWCETT's opinion respecting the practical aims and inctions of departments like his are conveyed in the following ords: "Botanic Gardens in the tropics do the work on the lant side of Agricultural Departments in temperate climates. hey are in themselves experimental stations, and are much ore efficient in introducing new cultural products, and in disibuting plants and imparting useful information than most agrialtural departments. The whole of the Botanic Gardens in the British Empire are more or less in communication with one nother, exchanging seeds and publications, and all look up to he Royal Gardens at Kew as to their head for advice and assist ince. Imperial Federation is already in existence as regards the Botanical Gardens and their work. If any special variety of plant or any new culture comes into notice information and plants are sought either directly from the local institutions, or more probably through Kew as the botanical clearing house. The Director of Kew has at his disposal the services of experts in every branch of botanical inquiry, and he is always most willing to assist colonial establishments in every way. Besides, any intricate question that arises in chemistry, in diseases of plants, in insect pests, in the commercial value of new products, can nearly always be determined by reference to Kew. Colonial botanical gardens are therefore not isolated units, but branches of an organisation as wide as the British Empire itself."

THE first part of "A Handbook to the Flora of Ceylon," by Dr. H. Trimen, F.R.S., director of the Royal Botanic Garden, Paradenyia, will shortly be published. It will be illustrated by twenty-five coloured plates, and the entire work is intended to consist of four similar parts.

THE first number of Erythea, a new monthly botanical journal for Western America, has been published. It is edited by Mr. Willis L. Jepson, under the direction of members of the botanical department of the University of California.

MR. T. SOUTHWELL records in the February number of the Zoologist the occurrence of Sowerby's whale (Mesoplodon bidens) on the Norfolk coast. On December 19 last he received a telegram stating that a strange "fish" was ashore at Overstrand, near Cromer; and on the following day he and Mr. S. F. Harmer, of the Museum of Zoology and Anatomy, Cambridge, went to Overstrand, where they found an adult female of this rare species. About 8 a.m., on Sunday, December 18, one of the Overstrand fishermen saw from the cliff an object lying in shallow water near the beach, which he at first took to be a log of wood, but soon perceived to be a large "fish." After obtaining assistance, he fastened a noose over its tail and secured it by an anchor, till it was placed on a trolley and drawn up the gangway to a shed on the cliff where the visitors saw it. The animal was alive when first observed, but died before it was taken from the water. Before the arrival of the visitors it had been eviscerated, and a very advanced fœtus removed from it. The total length of the old female, measured in a straight line to the centre of the tail, was 16 feet 2 inches, and that of the young one 5 feet 2 inches; across the flukes of the

tail the adult measured 3 feet 8 inches. The present, says Mr. Southwell, is the nineteenth known example of this remarkable animal, all of which have been met with in the North Atlantic during the present century; but, with the exception of one taken in 1889 at Atlantic City, which came into the possession of the United States National Museum at Washington, and of which no account has, he believes, at present been published, in no other instance has an example in perfect condition come under the notice of a cetologist. Individuals or their remains have been found in Scotland and Ireland, but the only previous English example was met with at the mouth of the Humber in September, 1885.

COLONEL H. W. FEILDEN, in the course of an interesting paper on animal life in East Greenland, contributed to the February number of the Zoologist, suggests, as he has done before, that the Musk-ox might with advantage be introduced into Great Britain. He sees no reason why it should not thrive on the mountains of the Highlands of Scotland. In the winter season the Musk-ox is covered with a long-stapled fine wool in addition to its coat of hair. This wool is of a light yellow colour, and as fine as silk. Sir John Richardson states that stockings made from this wool were more beautiful than silk ones. Young Musk-oxen are very easily reared and tamed, and, Colonel Feilden thinks, there could not be any great difficulty in catching either old or young in Jameson's Land.

GOVERNOR FLOWER has recommended that all of the New York State's pecuniary contributions to agriculture should be turned over to Cornell University, with power to apply the same in such a manner as the trustees and faculty of that institution may devise. To the New York Nation this seems an excellent suggestion. The agricultural disbursements from the State Treasury, except the portion specifically set apart as premiums for agricultural fairs, have become, it says, as distinctly a part of the "spoils system" of politics as the work on the canals or the appointments of wardens in the State prisons. The Dairy Commission was started with an appropriation of 10,000 dollars for the purpose of suppressing oleomargarine. The expenditure has grown to 100,000 dollars per year, while the fight against oleomargarine is not a whit more effectual than it was in the beginning.

THE Government of Cape Colony has now at work, in charge of its own experts, eight water-boring diamond drills, and there is a great demand on the part of farmers for the use of the instruments. Experiments have been made on twenty-seven farms, on twenty-two of which water has been found. The Agricultural Journal of Cape Colony says that the results have sometimes been astonishingly successful. On a farm in the division of Colesberg, for instance, three holes were sunk, the first two unsuccessfully. In the third, however, the water was struck, first at 2 feet 6 inches, then at 8 feet 6 inches, then at 16 feet, then 22 feet, then 32 feet 6 inches, and on reaching a depth of 47 feet a stream of water shot up above the ground, gauged at 21,600 gallons in twenty-four hours, delivered through a 1-inch pipe, and with every indication of the supply proving permanent. In most cases the water is of excellent quality. Some exceedingly interesting experiments are about to be tried in Bushmanland by the Government. Sites are now being selected for a line of boreholes right across the country. It is well known that the veld makes splendid sheep-runs after occasional rains, and should the experiments prove successful, the value of the land will be greatly increased. With respect also to the Government railway grant of 6c00 square miles of land in Bechuanaland, it is intended that water shall be bored for there as soon as drills can be set at liberty.

PROF. O. C. MARSH gives in the February number of the American Journal of Science an interesting restoration of

Anchisaurus, the skeleton chosen for the purpose being the type specimen of Anchisaurus colurus, which the writer has already described. This restoration, as shown on an accompanying plate, indicates that Anchisaurus colurus was one of the most slender and delicate dinosaurs yet discovered, being only surpassed in this respect by some of the smaller bird-like forms of the Jurassic. The restoration, Prof. Marsh thinks, will tend to clear up one point long in doubt. The so-called "bird-tracks" of the Connecticut river sandstone have been a fruitful subject of discussion for half a century or more. That some of these were not made by birds has already been clearly demonstrated by the fact that the impressions of fore feet, similar to those made by reptiles, have been found with them. Although no osseous remains were found with them, others! have been regarded as footprints of birds, because it was supposed that birds alone could make such series of bipedal, threetoed tracks and leave no impression of a tail. It is now evident, however, says Prof. Marsh, that a dinosaurian reptile like Anchisaurus and its near allies must have made footprints very similar to, if not identical with, the "bird-tracks" of this horizon. On a firm but moist beach, only three-toed impressions would have been left by the hind feet, and the tail could have been kept free from the ground. On a soft, muddy shore, the claw of the first digit of the hind foot would have left its mark, and perhaps the tail also would have touched the ground. Such additional impressions the writer has observed in various series of typical "bird-tracks" in the Connecticut sandstone, and all of them were probably made by dinosaurian reptiles.

No tracks of true birds are known in this horizon.

THE U.S. Secretary of the Interior, in his report, just issued, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, refers to a good many subjects of more than passing interest. Speaking of Indian educational work during the year, he states that it has been greatly extended and improved. The attendance of Indian children in school has increased over 13 per cent., the enrolment for 1892 being 19,793 as against 15,784 in 1889. Five new Indian reservation boarding schools have been established during the present administration, and are in successful opera. tion, and six others are in process of establishment, and it is anticipated will be opened soon. Six non-reservation schools have also been established and others are being prepared. standard, character, and ability of all employés have been greatly improved, as have also the appliances and equipments for the proper training of Indian pupils and the efficient administration of the Indian school service. A uniform system of text-books and course of study has been adopted, and a compilation of the rules for the conduct of the schools has been prescribed. The interest in the welfare of the Indians has been constant and the work in their behalf persistent; and the Secretary thinks that this has resulted in their being raised still nearer to civilisation.

The

THE U.S. Geological Survey, according to the Secretary for the Interior, has had a very marked effect on the mining industries of the country. The increase in value of mineral products during the past year was 75,000,000 dollars, and the increase during the thirteen years since the institution of the survey is 300,000,000 dollars. While a part of this development represents the normal growth of the population and industries, the increase is much more rapid than that of population, and is, moreover, accompanied by a decided relative decrease in importations of mining products; indeed, the mining products of the country have more than doubled during the past thirteen years, while the population has increased only 30 per cent. The secretary, therefore, thinks it fair to ascribe a material part of the present industrial activity in extracting and utilising mineral resources to the services of the Geological Survey through its correspondence, and especially through its

widely distributed maps and reports. The cost of miner duction during the past year has been reduced about j cent., and during the period since the institution of the a no less than 40 per cent., a saving to the consumers of products amounting to millions of dollars annually being effected. A considerable part of this saving must be ast to the diffusion of exact information concerning mineral li by the geological surveys of the Federal Governmen several of the States.

DEALING with the state of the Seal Islands, the Secre

the Interior says that during the season of 1892 only 7300 were killed on the islands, and that the diminished aan. seals upon the rookeries shows the terrible waste to sea the destructive methods employed in pelagic sealing. E measures, he maintains, are necessary for the preservatio the sealing industry. In 1890 n less than 50,000 sel taken in the sea, and more than that number in 1891.seal taken in the ocean represents many more destroyed the 52,087 taken in the ocean in 1891 indicates the destr 300,000 more, three-fourths of which were females.

[ocr errors]

THE accumulation of ice in winter, blocking br estuaries, &c., interferes greatly with the comme Northern peoples. The idea arose to make steamers ‹should break a temporary path through the ice, and in burg (Sweden) such a vessel was built in 1881. In the s winter of 1885 it made a wide passage between that tow Vinga, on the open sea, through an ice-bank about a fost which it charged at a speed of about 8 knots Christiania has been led to get one of these ist steamers; also Oersen in Denmark, and Stockholm

Murtaja, recently built for Stockholm (and described in Civil), acts both by its weight in charging the ice-bank. its spoon-like bow resting on the ice and crushing it. T is divided into compartments, those at the bow and stern as reservoirs for water, which is transferred from the m other by a pump. With the stern-reservoir full, the drzi.

water at the stern is about 21 inches; at the bow inches. When the bow rises on the ice the water s brought forward to add to the weight. It need hardly the bow, and indeed the whole of the hull, are made very the material used being Swedish scrap iron and Martins

IT is known that sewage water, spread over irrigat reappears from drains placed at a few feet depth, in si state, like spring water. This water, unlike that of proves remarkably favourable to fishes, probably bec dissolved organic matter, which the filtration in the s wholly removed. This fact has been lately observed! Oesten on the irrigation farm at Malchow, near Berin the water is collected in eight ponds; and in these pors and carp have flourished greatly.

IN determining the thermal conductivities of liq methods have been employed. In the one, a colunt is warmed at the top and the rate of propagation des through the column is observed. In the other, the method, which was first employed by Guthrie, a the liquid is placed between two conducting surfaces. Wachsmuth has shown, by means of an ingenio apparatus, that in the first method currents in the unavoidable. The apparatus, as described in Wa Annalen, consisted of a beaker placed inside another waler. The inner beaker was filled with water and ba of starch, which has the property of suddenly turning -when heated to a temperature somewhere between zo`s according to the degree of dilution. A copper ext placed on the rim of both beakers so that its botine » contact with the surface of the emulsion. When s

5

ade to pass through the cylinder, a colourless stratum was een to extend downwards from the surface. The separating urface was sharply defined at first, but after a few minutes a umber of secondary stratifications appeared, which on close nspection showed wavy outlines. Many of them were of a eeper blue, i.e. cooler, at their upper than at their lower suraces, so that there was evidence of a vortex-like motion in the iquid. For really trustworthy results Mr. Wachsmuth used n arrangement of two copper plates and a thermopile, the ower plate being placed in contact with ice.

THE volume on "The Partition of Africa," by Mr. J. Scott Keltie, which has been for some time in preparation, will be ssued in a few days by Mr. Stanford. The work, which has been brought thoroughly up to date, is illustrated by a carefullyselected series of facsimiles of early maps, as well as by a num. ber prepared specially to show the present condition of the continent in its many different aspects.

MR. A. E. SHIPLEY, Fellow of Christ's College, Cambridge, and Demonstrator of Comparative Anatomy in the University, has been for some time engaged on an illustrated text-book of invertebrate zoology, which will be published (Adam and Charles Black) early in the spring. It is specially adapted for the use of University students reading for such examinations as the first part of the Natural Sciences Tripos, or for the B.Sc. degree in London.

MESSRS. MACMILLAN AND Co. have published a second edition of Mr. D. E. Jones's "Examples in Physics." The book has been carefully revised, and some sixty pages of matter have been added. New sets of problems from recent papers have been put in the place of the examination questions at the ends of the chapters.

THE first volume of the Seismological Journal is now in the press, and will shortly be issued. It is uniform in size and in character with the Transactions of the Seismological Society, and will correspond with what would have been volume XVII. of those publications had they been continued. The yearly subscription for the journal is 5 yen, 5 dollars, or £1. This includes delivery or postage. It may be paid by P.O.O. or a draft on any foreign bank in Yokohama. Address, John Milne, 14, Kaga Yashiki, Tokio.

MESSRS. WHITTAKER AND CO. have published "The School Calendar and Handbook of Examinations, Scholarships, and Exhibitions, 1893." This is the seventh year of issue. A preface is contributed by Mr. F. Storr.

A DEFINITELY crystallised compound of iron and tungsten of the composition FeW, is described by Drs. Poleck and Grützner, of the University of Breslau. The crystals of this interesting substance were discovered in drusy cavities of a massive piece of a crystalline iron-tungsten alloy containing no less than 80 per cent. of tungsten. The alloy had been prepared by an electrolytic process from wolframite at the works of Biermann's Metal Industry in Hanover, and exhibited in the numerous cavities small but very well-formed crystals of a silver-grey colour and exhibiting very brilliant faces. They were extremely heavy and of exceptional hardness. Upon analysis they yielded numbers corresponding closely with those calculated for the compound FeW Dr. Milch, of the Mineralogical Department of the University, subjected the crystals to a goniometrical investigation, and found them to consist of trigonal prisms whose faces were inclined exactly at 60°, and which were terminated by a basal plane inclined exactly at 90°. Singularly, however, no other faces were ever discovered upon them, so that it was impossible to ascertain to what sub-section of the hexagonal system the crystals belonged. The crystals are so hard that they readily scratch topaz, and appear to be of about the same hardness as

corundum.

THE discovery of these crystals of a definite compound of iron and tungsten, and the fact that they are endowed with such a high degree of hardness, afford a ready explanation of the longknown property of tungsten in improving the hardness of steel. Berzelius, in his Lehrbuch, already remarked that tungsten readily formed alloys with most of the other metals, and in the year 1858 Muchet in this country took out a patent for the employment of tungsten in the manufacture of steel. Thereupon the wolfram minerals, previously considered as almost worthless, rapidly came to acquire a considerable value. Bernoulli has since shown that tungsten is capable of alloying in all proportions with iron until it reaches a proportion of 80 per cent., when the mass becomes infusible even at the hottest procurable white heat. This alloy containing so high a percentage of tungsten, approximating indeed to that (864) contained in the crystals above described, exhibits a silver-grey lustre like that of the crystals and possesses almost the same hardness, scratching glass and quartz with ease. Latterly the manufacture of this alloy has been carried on at the Hanoverian metal works above referred to, and brought into commerce. There can be little doubt that the remarkable property of tungsten in increasing the hardness of steel is due to the formation of more or less of this compound FeW2, and the nearer the proportions of the two metals approach to those of the compound itself the more nearly does the resulting alloy approach in hardness to that displayed by the crystals of FeW, above described.

THE additions to the Zoological Society's Gardens during the past week include a Macaque Monkey (Macacus cynomolgus, ? ) from India, presented by Capt. U. Cooke; a Two-spotted Paradoxure (Nandinia binotata) from West Africa, presented by Lady Fleming; a Brush-tailed Kangaroo (Petrogale penicillata, 8), two Black-striped Wallabys (Halmaturus dorsalis, ? ?) from New South Wales, presented by Mr. Wilberforce Bryant; a Mauge's Dasyure (Dasyurus maugei) from Australia, presented by Mr. Robert Hoare; a Red and Yellow Macaw (Ara chloroptera) from South America, presented by Mr. H. H. Dobree; a Grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus) from West Africa, presented by the Executor of the late Mrs. Bolaffe; an Ethiopian Wart Hog (Phacocharus æthiopicus, 8) from Matabeleland, South Africa, deposited; two Chukar Partridges (Caccabis chukar, 89) from North-west India, presented by Major Ingoldsby Smythe; fourteen Prairie Marmots (Cynomys ludovicianus, 6889) from North America, an Arctic Fox (Canis lagopus) from the Arctic Regions, two Rufous Tinamous (Rhynchotus rufescens) from Brazil, purchased; three Black and Yellow Cyclodus (Cyclodus nigro-luteus), three Diamond Snakes (Morelia spilotes), a Short Death Adder (Hoplocephalus curtus), a Purplish Death Adder (Pseudechis porphyriaca), a North Australian Banded Snake (Pseudonaia nuchalis) from New South Wales, received in exchange.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

-

SPECTRA OF PLANETARY NEBULE AND NOVA AURIGÆ. In the December number of the Memorie della Società degli Spettroscopisti Italiani, among many interesting communications, is one by M. Eugen Gothard, relative to the great similarity between the spectra of the late Nova and the planetary nebulæ. By the aid of a 10-inch reflector and a 10-inch objective prism, together with Schleussner's orthochromatic plates, he has been able to obtain these photographs, the wave-lengths of the lines of which are given in the table below. In the memoir copies of the photographs on a somewhat larger scale are given, that of the Dumb-bell nebula (G.C. No. 4447) showing the image of the nebula itself, just as if no prism had been used. The wave-lengths of the Nova given in this table were obtained from photographs taken on September 27 with 2h. 15m. exposure, and on October 28 with 3h. exposure, and, in M. Gothard's words, "gave the surprising result that the spectrum of the new star perfectly agrees with that of the planetary nebulæ."

The following is the table of the wave-lengths, lines I., II., VI., and VII. representing the nebula lines, and III., IV., and V. the hydrogen lines :

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

SUN-SPOTS AND MAGNETIC PERTURBATIONS IN 1892.-In an article under this heading in Astronomy and Astrophysics for January M. Ricco brings together the facts relative to these two phenomena, the magnetic perturbations being taken from the photo-magnetographs of the United States Naval Observatory. As the author describes in detail both kinds of observations, and in addition, a tabulated statement of the records, we cannot do better than abridge the table, by omitting the numerical statements as to the magnitudes of the spots and perturbations, leaving our readers to refer if necessary to the journal itself. In the column " "this means principal spots; E spots denotes extraordinary; V.L, very large; L, large; M, medium; S, small; and N, none.

Transit Centre Meridian.

not only this, but the magnitudes of both vary directly. T point which the author wishes to emphasize most is the appe constancy of the interval of time between these two phenace and an important fact is that at both appearances of the e February spot the same retardation occurred. In the table, with the exception of January 29, the mean iner 45 kms., "thus indicating a velocity of propagation from sun to the earth of about 913 kms. per second," or more 300 times less than that of light."

NEW MINOR PLANETS.-Photography seems to be mp increasing the number of our minor planets, that is to the announcements really refer to new ones. Wolf and Chr between them have discovered five this year, the former (1893 B and C), the latter three (1893, A, D, and E).

THE LUNAR SURFACE.-At the present day the gener with regard to the peculiar features of the moon is that the the results of stupendous volcanic actions, the numbers activity of which surpassed anything that we can imagine. Or. to the extraordinary circularity in the craters, ring pl walled plains, and to the well-known fact that many d craters have not the raised lava floor half-way up or ner summit of the cone, which is such a typical terrestrial thr teristic, doubt as to their volcanic origin has often been me In a small pamphlet which we have received from Mr. 5. Peal, Sibsagor Assam, the author suggests a "theory of glacar in the light of recent discoveries with regard to the max surface temperature, and also to the non-viscosity of ice temperatures, together with the admitted possibility of existing on the moon. The author assumes the moto constituted somewhat like our earth, and at one tize been at a higher temperature, having an atmosphere, wiz, and draws attention to the facts that there are no pola that colour is conspicuous by its absence, "a feare opposed to terrestrial experience, except at the poles therefore "may not the entire globe be swathed in snow? the absence of river valleys and drainage sculpturing, ind that a piling up of dry material has taken place in opr to a fluvial erosion. At the time when the lunar globe 20 far cooled down as to be practically rigid, the tid would gradually turn all continents and land surfaces intest and at the temperate stage of development the growt polar caps would be restricted to the shallows, extend them as the temperature became reduced. This a sheet of ice would sometimes be deformated by submarits vents resulting in a large or small bay, depending on t nitude of the vent. Extending seawards the horns of would meet around and enclose this area of higher per perature, converting it into a lagoon." Nocturnal and solar heat alternately would perhaps freeze and the ice formed thereon, and with a rare atmosphere and inter aqueous vapour would arise from "the water (floe-cr floor during the day at least, and be carried over the ins by diffusion when the fall in temperature would precip into snow, thus gradually forming a vast rampart." after century would see the level floor gradually lower. the ramparts increased in height. The author accounts the peculiar forms of craters, walls, &c., by different i ditions (i.e. land or water or submarine vents), but they the result of water floors left in a slowly extending gl of the crust."

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

March 10, 2 p.m.

[blocks in formation]

April 23, 8 p.m.

[blocks in formation]

April 24, 4 p.m.

16

April 26, 1 p.m.

L

May 1-2

May 1-2

M

[blocks in formation]

May 18, 6 p.m.

E

[ocr errors]

From this table some very interesting facts may be gathered. Out of the eleven cases which M. Ricco gives, no less than seven instances occur where the passage of the spots over the central meridian is followed by a terrestrial magnetic disturbance, and

GEOGRAPHICAL NOTES.

AT the French Congress of Learned Societies, which on April 4 at the Sorbonne, the section of historical scriptive geography, is to be devoted specially to geographical conditions of France, and to the work of travellers. The programme includes the consideratis earliest traces of human habitations, maps of caverns. 4proceeds to classify existing dwellings according to thers and altitude. Local names in danger of falling ont to be collected, and the limits of the old districts s Beauce, Sologne, &c., to be investigated in order t record the geographical conditions which led to their

IN the Scottish Geographical Magazine for FerJ. G. Goodchild gives a most interesting description scale topographical model of the site of Edinburgh, * has recently constructed. The model, which is on

« PreviousContinue »