28 CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON. 



Tortugas and in the adjacent regions accessible by means of the vessels of 

 the department. Signal aid is thus rendered to investigators in localities 

 whose exploration is often attended by dangers as well as by difficulties. 



Publication No. 47, on Rhythmical Pulsation in Scyphomedusse, by Direc- 

 tor ]\Iayer, has been issued during the year, and he has submitted for publi- 

 cation a comprehensive monograph on the medusae of the world. Manu- 

 script for two volumes of researches by associates of the department is also 

 now ready for the press. 



The work of this department during the year was mainly devoted to prepa- 

 rations for its larger enterprise of a comprehensive catalog giving accurate 

 positions of all stars from the brightest to the seventh 



Department of magnitude, inclusive. Amongst these preparations is a 



preliminary catalog, embracing the precise positions for 



upwards of 6,000 stars, which has been brought to substantial completion 



during the year. This will not only be of great service to the department, 



but it will be of signal aid also to astronomical science in general. 



Preparations for the establishment of a temporary observatory in the 

 southern hemisphere are likewise approaching completion. An exhaustive 

 study of the meridian instrument to be used at this observatory has been 

 made, so that its constants and peculiarities may be well known before ob- 

 servations with it are begun. 



The exquisite and penetrating precision of modern stellar research is not 

 alone interesting and useful by reason of its applications to geography, 

 geodesy, and navigation. It is illuminating also many recondite questions 

 concerning the constellations, the motions, the masses, and the relative dis- 

 tances asunder of the universe of stars. Some of the possible investigations 

 to which these questions may give rise are referred to in the report of Pro- 

 fessor Boss, director of the department. 



In conformity with the provision made by the Board of Trustees at their 

 last meeting for the establishment of a laboratory to be devoted especially to 



an extension of the physical and chemical investigations 

 Laboratory. '^^ nutrition carried on hitherto under the direction of 



Professors Atwater and Benedict, steps were taken early 

 in the year to select a suitable site and to prepare tentative plans for the 

 building. Since experiments on men in an abnormal as well as in a normal 

 condition of nutrition are contemplated, one of the first requirements of a 

 site was proximity to hospitals whence pathological cases may be furnished. 

 Among other requirements, those of moderate cost of land and the availabil- 

 ity of water, gas, and electric current had to be considered; while favorable 

 climatic conditions and convenience and cost of living for the laboratory staff 

 were important desiderata. After preliminary consideration of this project 



