LIV ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
The + Construction of Reflecting Telescopes” was the subject of a 
paper by Mr. Z. M. Collins, who, with his brother, Mr. J. R. Collins, had 
been very successful in the making of silver-on-glass specula. Their 
instruments had been tested in actual work, and had proved to be of very 
high excellence. The method of mounting the mirror adopted by Messrs. 
Collins is original and obviates the necessity of using very thick glass in 
its construction ; the strain is evenly distributed, so that the flexure 
becomes nil in all positions of the telescope. The making of specula 
larger than eight inches in diameter has not yet been undertaken, but it 
is understood an order has been received for a ten-inch mirror. The 
society has encouraged the Messrs. Collins to continue their work with a 
view to the construction of a very large speculum which nught be 
mounted in Toronto, should a popular observatory ever be erected in the 
city or vicinity. A committee has been appointed to consider what steps 
might be taken in regard to the equipment of an observatory which 
would be more especially for popular observation than for strict scientific 
work. <A report will shortly be presented. 
Short papers on ‘ Sun-spot Phenomena” have from time to time 
been presented by Mr. G. G. Pursey, who for some years past has kept a 
record of the daily appearance of the solar disc. Micrometer measures 
have been made by Mr. A. F. Miller on all occasions when the spots 
have been of large dimensions. Drawings of the solar prominences, as 
seen in the spectroscope, have also been presented by Mr. Miller on occa- 
sions when the flames were of unusual height or of fantastic forms. 
Double-star observations have engaged the attention of J.C. Don- 
aldson, LL.D., of Fergus, who is at present preparing a list of objects of 
this class within the light-grasp of a first-class 34-inch refractor. 
“ The Progress of Astronomy during the Year 1894” was the subject 
of the annual address delivered by Mr. John A. Paterson, M.A., vice- 
president. 
Some valuable papers were contributed to the society by distin- 
guished astronomers who are honorary and corresponding members. 
J. Morrison, M.A., Ph.D., of Washington, D.C., forwarded an exhaus- 
tive monograph on “ Planetary Perturbations,” having special reference 
to the Saturnian system, and based upon observations of the satellite 
Hyperion. An historical essay, most valuable as an article of reference, 
was also presented by Dr. Morrison, dealing with the efforts, from the 
earliest times to the present, made by astronomers to determine the.value 
of the solar parallax. 
James E. Keeler, D.Sc., of Allegheny, Pa., contributed a valuable 
paper on the “ Adaptation of the Refracting Telescope for Photographie 
Observations with the Spectroscope.” 
“Spectroscopic Binary Stars ” was the subject of an interesting paper 
by Mr. J. E. Gore, F.R.A.S.,.of Ballysodare, Ireland. 
