proceedings: philosophical society 165 



By special arrangement magnetic observations simultaneous with 

 those at Tau Island were made at the five Coast and Geodetic Survey 

 magnetic observatories, also at Melbourne, Christchurch, and Apia, 

 where quick-run magnetograms were obtained for five hours. Until 

 the records have been received from stations over the entire globe, it 

 will not be possible to say definitely whether or not the present eclipse 

 was accompanied by any minute and temporary change in the earth's 

 magnetism. 



The speaker referred appreciatively to the many courtesies extended 

 and the valuable assistance rendered not only by Governor Crose and 

 his able officers, but also by Queen Vaitupu and the Samoan chiefs who 

 provided for the party's entertainment during their brief stay on the 

 beautiful island of Tau. The Annapolis being required for other pur- 

 poses, it was necessary to leave the station immediately after the eclipse 

 work was over. 



The speaker next gave a general account of the results of the work 

 aboard the Carnegie on her present cruise, referring especially to the 

 Indian Ocean portion on which comparatively large errors in the charts 

 used by mariners were disclosed. Some statements pertaining to these 

 corrections in the western half of the Indian Ocean have already been 

 published in this Journal (1 : 178-179. 1911). Serious errors have like- 

 wise been found since in the eastern part of the Indian Ocean. Special 

 observations were also made for the definite location of the agonic line 

 which passes through the Arabian Sea, Southern India and the Bay of 

 Bengal. A preliminary draft of a new'isogonic chart for the Indian 

 Ocean as based upon the recent observations of the Carnegie was shown. 



A brief account was likewise given of the present status of the magnetic 

 operations of the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism of the Carnegie 

 Institution of Washington under the speaker's direction. The hope was 

 expressed that, judging from the present rate of progress and with the 

 cooperation of the various organizations engaged in magnetic work, it 

 would be possible to issue a new set of magnetic charts for the entire 

 globe within the next five years. 



Fuller publication with regard to the matters touched upon by the 

 speaker will be made in the journal Terrestrial Magnetism and Atmospheric 



Electricity. 



W. J. Humphreys, Recording Secretary. 



PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 



The 703rd meeting was held on January 27, 1912. Mr. W. J. Hum- 

 phreys, of the Weather Bureau, spoke on Some scientific institutions at 

 home and abroad. An interesting account was given of a visit to a number 

 of the scientific institutions of Great Britain and the Continent, and of 

 how some of the scientific societies abroad are conducted, special men- 

 tion being made of the British Association, the Royal Society of London, 

 and the French Academy. 



The activities were outlined of several meteorological bureaus, includ- 

 ing those of Great Britain, Netherlands, Germany. Austria and France. 



