352 SCIENTIFIC RECORD FOR 1885. 



" The zone observations were commenced in 1872. The total number 

 of observations is more than 105,000 for 73,160 stars, between — 23° and 

 — 80° of declination, the lowest magnitude being the 10th. The Eepsold 

 meridian circle is reversible; the objective has an aperture of 122™™, 

 and a focal length of 1™'463 ; the divided circle has a diameter of 0™"716, 

 and the readings were made by means of four microscopes. In the 

 zone observations it was the rule to observe the transits over three 

 threads, and to read but one microscope. The right ascensions depend 

 upon the positions of Dr. Gould's fundamental stars, published by the 

 Coast Survey, and nadir observations have been made concurrently with 

 observations of polar distance. The mean error in right ascension is 

 0«-062, and in declination 0"*97. The observations were made under the 

 best conditions, and no pains have been spared in determining accurately 

 the instrumental errors and in verifying the reductions." {Bull. Astron., 

 February, 1885.) 



The stereotype plates of this catalogue have been placed in the cus- 

 tody of the Astronomische Gesellschaft. We make the following ex- 

 tract from a letter of Dr. Gould's in regard to the matter: "The recently 

 published catalogue, formed from the Cordoba Zones, was printed from 

 stereotype ])lates, in order that any errors discovered up to the last 

 moment might be corrected before the work should be actually printed. 

 The plan has proved successful, and I believe the catalogue to be more 

 than usually correct ; nevertheless, a considerable number of errors 

 have been detected since it was i^rinted, and a list of these will soon be 

 sent to the Astronomische Nachrichten. I have now been charged by 

 the Argentine Government with the agreeable duty of causing the re- 

 cently detected errors to be corrected upon the stereotype plates, and 

 offering these to the Astronoynische Gesellschaft, for its acceptance, in 

 case the gift should not be considered too burdensome. - - - It is 

 of course understood that the gift of the plates carries with it the fullest 

 authority for the Astronomische Gesellsclmft to use them for printing a 

 new edition whenever it may see fit." 



Catalogue of 1,001 southern stars. — Volume 3 of the Publications of 

 the Washburn Observatory contains a catalogue of 1,001 stars between 

 18° and 29° 39' of south declination, formed by Eev. Father Hagen 

 and Professor Holden from a series of 2,101 observations made by Pro- 

 fessor Tacchini with the Pistor and Martins meridian circle at Palermo 

 in the years 1867, 1868, 1869. The observations were originally pub- 

 lished in the Bullettino Meteorologico del R. Osservatorio di Palermo 

 from April, 1867, to July, 1869, where the api>arent place and epoch are 

 given, and Professor Holden says that the existence of this valuable 

 material became known to him through the admirable Yade-Mecum of 

 M. Houzeau. The stars observed are from the 6th to the 9th magnitude, 

 and the magnitudes appear to have been very carefully noted, while it 

 is remarked that the positions are excellent. They are reduced to the 

 year 1850*0, but the mean epoch of observation of each star is appended. 



