METEOROLOGY AND ALLIED SUBJECTS. 235 



Especial attention will be given to observations of the anrora, wliich 

 will be recorded hourly. The astronomical observations will be confined 

 entirely to the determination of the latitude and longitude and local 

 time. 



Among the subjects suggested by the commission are hydrographic 

 investigations, the altitude of auroras, atmospheric electricity, the twi- 

 light, the collection of samples of air for chemical analysis. 



The observations will all be reduced and published on a uniform plan. 

 All observatories throughout the world, especially those where mag- 

 netic observations are made, are earnestly invited to continue their 

 work during the next two years, and the electricians of telegraph com- 

 panies are urged to consider the great importance of accurately observ- 

 ing the e^rth currents on telegraph lines. 



The methods of computation and reduction of the meteorological ob- 

 servations will be adopted in conformity with the meteorological con- 

 gresses held at Vienna and Rome. Summaries of the observations will 

 be sent as soon as possible after the return of each expedition to the 

 President of the International Polar Commission, through whom they 

 will be rapidly published. The collected observations will also be pub- 

 lished in full after they have been properly reduced, to which purpose 

 the Polar Commission will, after the return of the expeditions, meet 

 together for a further consideration of the subject. In this publication 

 the metric system and centigrade temperature will be adopted. The 

 commission recommends the publication of an occasional report or jour- 

 nal of proceedings. 



The present membership of the Polar Commission is as follows: For 

 Denmark, Captain Hoffmeyer; for Russia, Professors Lenz and Wild, 

 and Lieutenant Jiirgens ; for France, Professor Mascart ; for Norway, 

 Professor Mohn ; for Holland, Dr. Snellen ; for Sweden, Dr. Wykauder ; 

 for Austria, Count Wilczek and Lieutenant Wohlgemuth ; for the 

 United States, General Hazenand Professor Hilgard; for Canada, Prof. 

 Charles Carpmael; for Germany, Dr. Neumayer; for England, Mr. R. 

 H. Scott 5 for Finland, Professors IS^ordenskiold and Lemstrom. 



The first annual volume of the observations of the meteorological 

 observations in Bavaria, under the conduct of Bezold and Lang, was 

 published in 1880. It gives convenient tables for the reduction of obser- 

 vations to sea-level, and a study of the thunder storms in Bavaria, dur- 

 ing 1879. Owing to the great number of thunder-storm observers it 

 has become possible to demonstrate a feature that has frequently been 

 suspected elsewhere, viz, that such storms occasionally break out simul- 

 taneously over a long expanse of country. The details of observation 

 for forty-nine years at Beyrout are also published. {Z. 0. G. M., vol. 

 XV, 1880, p. 334.) 



The Meteorological Commission of the Natural History Society of 

 Switzerland, which is represented by R. Wolf and R. Billwiller, an- 

 nounces that if possible a meteorological station will be maintained at 



