NOTES. 



2$7 



is, the descendant of early English settlers 

 as displaying physically (I do not say intel- 

 lectually and morally) a notable degree of 

 reversion or rather deviation toward the 

 aboriginal type displayed in the best ex- 

 amples of red Indians i. e., the old fighting 

 chiefs." 



Publication of Astronomical News. 



The supervision of the announcement of 

 astronomical discoveries, which has hitherto 

 rested with the Smithsonian Institution, has 

 been transferred by it to the Harvard Uni- 

 versity Observatory. The first scheme for 

 publishing news of this class in the United 

 States was started by Professor Peters, who 

 arranged with European astronomers for an 

 exchange of reports with the Smithsonian 

 Institution. The orbits of comets were 

 published only in the German "Astrono- 

 mische Nachrichten " till 1878, when their 

 publication was begun by the Boston Scien- 

 tific Society, through Mr. S. C. Chandler, 

 in its " Science Observer." Mr. Chandler 

 devised a new and improved code of signals 

 for the transmission of announcements by 

 the Atlantic cable, and engaged the co-oper- 

 ation of the Harvard Observatory in com- 

 puting the cometary orbits. His publica- 

 tions in the " Science Observer " attracted 

 attention in Europe, so that when the " Cen- 

 tralstelle f iir Astronomische Telegramme " 

 was formed at Kiel, Prussia, in 1882, Mr. 

 Chandler and his colleagues were made its 

 agents for the distribution of astronomical 

 intelligence in this country. Wishing to 

 provide for their trust a more solid respon- 

 sibility than their personalities could give 

 it, they offered it to the Harvard Observa- 

 tory, which accepted it. This act has now 

 been ratified by the Smithsonian Institution. 



Influence of Vapor on Radiation. Pro- 

 fessor Tyndall has published an account of 

 some interesting experiments he has made on 

 the variations in the radiation of heat from 

 the earth's surface. On an elevated plateau 

 he hung a thermometer four feet from the 

 ground, and placed another on cotton-wool 

 at the surface. The difference in the regis- 

 try of the two instruments, that of the surface 

 thermometer being always lowest, varied 

 from four degrees to seventeen degrees, even 

 when no difference was apparent in the 

 clearness of the atmosphere. A careful re- 



view of the hygrometric conditions under 

 which the different observations were made 

 established the fact that the variations were 

 dependent upon the existence or withdrawal 

 of the check to radiation which is imposed 

 by the presence of aqueous vapor. As a 

 general conclusion, it may be said that, 

 " with atmospheric conditions sensibly alike, 

 the waste of heat from the earth varies 

 from day to day ; a result due to the action 

 of a body which escapes the sense of vision." 

 Similar conclusions, or the basis for form- 

 ing them, are derived from the observations 

 of Professor Soret, of Geneva, and General 

 Strachev. 



NOTES. 



The Annisquam Laboratory of the Bos- 

 ton Society of Natural History, which has 

 been in operation for two summers, will be 

 open for the reception of students during 

 the coming summer from July 1st to Sep- 

 tember 1st. It is situated on an inlet of 

 Ipswich Bay, on the north side of Cape Ann, 

 about three miles and a half by coach from 

 the Eastern Railroad station at Gloucester. 

 It is intended for persons who have already 

 made some progress in the study ; and no 

 lectures or stated courses of instruction will 

 be given, but suitable direction and advice. 

 Collecting implements and row-boats are pro- 

 vided, and a yacht will be at hand for dredg- 

 ing parties. Applications may be made to 

 Alpheus Hyatt, curator, Boston. 



Professor Edmond PERRiERhas identified 

 a new crinoid, the Blastocrinus, among the 

 animals brought up by the Travailleur from 

 the deep seas off the coast of Morocco. This 

 raises the number of known living species 

 of these most ancient animals of the sea to 

 thirteen. The Blastocrinus is marked by a 

 stem of large size supporting a calyx which 

 is composed of five pieces, to which are fixed 

 articulate and very mobile arms. The stem 

 is also composed of a succession of circular 

 articulations, placed one upon another. The 

 radical system of this animal is very inter- 

 esting. Instead of being concentrated into 

 a single stem, it branches out into a kind of 

 tuft, and the animal seems to have the fac- 

 ulty of putting out a sort of runners, like 

 those of the strawberry. 



Professor Frederic Augustus Abel, the 

 eminent English chemist, is to receive from 

 the Queen the honor of knighthood for his 

 services in the War Department in relation 

 to the chemistry of explosives, etc. Pro- 

 fessor Lyon Playfair, F. R. S., has also re- 

 ceived from her Majesty the honor of Knight 

 Commandership of the Bath. 



