XXX GENEKAL SUMMARY OF SCIENTIFIC AND 



burg Academy of Sciences, under the editorship of Professor Wild, 

 and which has now reached its fifth volume. Professor Wild an- 

 nounces that the Central Phj^sical Observatory at St. Petersburg has 

 received from the Grand Duke Constantine an eligible piece of land 

 in the imperial park near the city, at Pavlosk, and the necessary ap- 

 propriation of money for the erection of an auxiliary meteorological 

 observatory. 



The Imperial Meteorological Observatory at Tokio, Japan, has, 

 under the direction of the government surveyor, Mr. McVean, con- 

 tinued its observations, and has published five day means and re- 

 ports in the Yokohama papers. 



In addition to the labors of Mr. McVean at Y'okohama, it is un- 

 derstood that the Japanese government has taken some steps toward 

 the establishment of more extensive meteorologic studies. On the 

 one hand the Kai-ta-ku-shi, or the department for the colonization 

 and development of Jesso, determined, in 1874, to establish eight 

 stations on that island, and intrusted the organization of the whole 

 system to Professor G.J. Rockwell ; and, on the other hand, the gen- 

 eral government is looking to the organization of a system of ob- 

 servation, and, as far as possible, of telegraphic reports, throughout 

 Niphon and the lesser islands, under the general supervision of the 

 department of education. 



Professor Foster, of Berne, Switzerland, in presenting the report of 

 observations for 1873 and 1874, states that a special meteorological 

 observatory is now being erected in Berne, which will attend espe- 

 cially to the relations of the atmosphere, to agriculture, forestry, and 

 hygiene. 



The Italian Meteorological Commission has made an elaborate in- 

 vestigation and report, in which certain regulations are recommend- 

 ed which will secure almost perfect uniformity among the Italian 

 observers. 



The phenomena of the upi3er strata of the atmosphere are annual- 

 ly receiving increased attention, especially in France and America ; 

 in the former country not only frequent balloon voyages, but three 

 permanent mountain stations contribute to our knowledge of the 

 subject ; in the latter country, Mr, A. S. King, the aeronaut of Bos- 

 ton, has continued to make numerous voyages, of which he keeps 

 careful record, and much is anticipated from observations to be 

 made by him, at Philadelphia, in a captive balloon. The publica- 

 tion of De Fonvielle's Aventures Aeriennes is an important contri- 

 bution to this subject. 



A report of the British Royal Science Committee will, it is said, 

 probably result in soon terminating the anomalous and embarrassing 

 position that the London Meteorological Ofiice has long occupied in 

 reference to the government. 



Professor Hinrichs has continued to collate and j)ublisli the rain- 



