March 1, 1870.] 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



57 



cessary to guide the course of future inquiry in a 

 proper channel. Should there not be in existence 

 a standing committee of veteran diatomists in con- 

 nection -with that influential society ? To such a 

 committee supposed new forms might be sent for 

 examination, and novel questions of structure might 

 be referred. Surely the approval of such a com- 

 mittee would stamp a theory with importance, and 

 a new specimen or species with authenticity. Then 

 more confidence would be reposed in the results of 

 inquiry, and a powerful but quietly operating check 

 would be given to the too hasty publication of new 

 species. And, as far as may be connected with the 

 study of the Diatomacese, much that has hitherto 

 been devoted to mere erratic microscopic recreation, 

 would come to be employed in orderly and regular 

 microscopical research. 

 Armagh. Lewis G. Mills, LL.B. 



THE MIDNIGHT SKY* 



XT7E cannot wonder why, in the earlier ages of 



* ' the world's history, men should have looked 

 upon the stars with mysterious reverence, and 

 should have fallen upon the earth in adoration of 

 the sun. There is such a sublime immensity in the 

 starry heavens, so that, even now, when we are 

 fallen upon prosaic times, one cannot go abroad and 

 stand in the presence of brilliant starlight without 

 feeling moved. The first impression is always that 

 of admiration, of reverence, sometimes akin to awe. 

 Even in London— when the inhabitant can see 

 bright starlight — the hum of busy life is forgotten, 

 and he stands in mute astonishment contemplating 

 the spangled canopy of heaven. When this feeling 

 subsides, it is usually followed by a desire to know 

 something more of the mysterious lights in the sky. 

 What are they ? What names do men call them ? 

 Which is the Polar Star ? Which is the Great Bear ? 

 Where are the Seven Sisters ? and a host of similar 

 queries. Then comes an inquiry for some book 

 which shall teach the names of the heavenly bodies . 

 which shall give some information about the con. 

 stellations ; which can instruct a novice concerning 

 planets and the Milky Way, and a hundred other 

 suggestions which cross the mind of him who gazes 

 at the stars. To such question or questions we 

 think that we can give one very satisfactory reply. 

 It is the title of the book which heads this notice, 

 and which has been published to furnish just such 

 kind of information as our supposed querist re- 

 quires. This work commences with the Midnight 

 Sky in London, and under each month of the year 

 is given a view of the sky looking south, and another 



* "The Midnight Sky: familiar Notes on the Stars and 

 Planets." By Edward Dunkin, F.R.A.S., of the Royal Obser- 

 vatory, Greenwich. London : the Religious Tract Society. 



looking north, with a chapter of description of the. 

 constellations and the most important stars visible 

 in each month, with their positions, and how to find 

 them. Then follows the Midnight Sky of the 

 Southern Hemisphere in Eebruary, May, August, 

 and November, with similar sky-views. These are 

 succeeded by chapters on the Constellations, gene- 

 ral notes on the Fixed Stars, notes on the Solar 

 System, and Meteors, or Shooting Stars. Such a 

 brief summary fails to give an adequate idea of the 

 contents of this elegant and useful volume. It is a 

 credit to the society which issues it, to its author, 

 and also to its printer. The thirty-two star-maps 

 are like photographs of the sky, and in themselves 

 would commend the volume to our readers. " Oh !" 

 inquires some one, "is it not very dry reading ? " 

 By no means. If there is any interest in the sub- 

 ject to commence with, any desire to acquire infor- 

 mation, then the book will be found to abound with 

 attractions ; and we commend it, unhesitatingly, as 

 a popular and, withal, a safe guide for all who have 

 any lingering desire to study the stars. 



MUSICAL FISH. 



rpHE following is a translation of the letter of 

 - 1 - M. 0. de Thoron on this curious subject, com- 

 municated by him to the Academie des Sciences, 

 December, 1861. I send it with the hope of 

 eliciting further information respecting these won- 

 derful members of the finny tribe : — 



" While making an exploration in the Bay of 

 Pailon, situated to the north of the province of 

 Esmeraldas, in the republic of Ecuador, I was 

 coasting along, about sunset, when I suddenly heard 

 a strange sound, extremely grave and prolonged. 

 At first I thought it came from a fly or hornet of 

 extraordinary size. But seeing nothing above me 

 or in the neighbourhood, I asked the rower of my 

 pirogue whence the sound came. 'Monsieur,' he 

 replied, ' it is a fish which is singing thus. By some 

 it is named the Siren, by others, Musico.' 



" Having advanced a little further, I heard a 

 multitude of different voices, which harmonized to- 

 gether, imitating a church organ to great perfection. 

 I at once stopped the pirogue, and listened for a 

 long while to this singular melody. 



" It is not only in the Bay of Pailon that I have 

 enjoyed this phenomenon: it occurs in several 

 places along the coast, and even still more markedly 

 in the river Mataje, especially at the foot of a little 

 promontory called Campana (the Bell). On going 

 up higher than Campana, the traveller reaches 

 Campanilla, where a similar circumstance occurs. 

 I have heard it said that, in the river Molino, an 

 affluent of the Mataje, the same singing of fish has 

 been heard. It is evident, therefore, that to what- 

 ever species these fish belong, they are capable of 



