LU ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



Considerable satisfaction was felt at having made at least an effort to 

 observe the rare phenomenon of the occultation of a tixed star by a 

 planet. 



Mr. A. Elvins read some notes upcn " Planetary Mass and Atmos- 

 phere," and a short paper on "Eays of Energy." In the latter he 

 called attention to the phenomenon of the X-rays, and thought there 

 might be radiations from the sun which would focus within the s])hero 

 of the earth, possibly causing internal disturbances, manifested b}^ 

 eruption on the crust of the earth. 



Mr. T. S. H. Shearman, of Brantford, Ont., presented a paper on 

 " Coronal observations during Sunshine." He reviewed the several 

 attempts which have been made to obtain a picture of the cox'ona with- 

 out an eclipse, and was still sanguine of success. Mr. Shearman also 

 contributed a brief note descriptive of the observatory at Woodstock, 

 Ont., where he was from time to time carrying on original research, 

 using the large 8-inch refractor of the observatory. He proposed at an 

 early date to commence work upon the satellites of Uranus. 



The " Evolution of Star Systems," a subject which had been re- 

 cently discussed by Prof. T. J. J. See of Chicago University, was taken up 

 by Mr. W. B. Musson, who presented a review of the whole discussion. 

 An abstract of Mr. Musson's paper was published in the transactions. 



A paper on the " Reformation and Simplification of the Calendar " 

 was read by Dr. A. D. "Watson. The sj'stem of employing 13 months in 

 the year was ably defended, and certain dilticulties which were appar- 

 ently in the way of the reform were shown to be easily overcome. Jn 

 Dr. Watson's system the leap year day and the New Year's day were . 

 brought together at the end of one year and beginning of next, but 

 neither were reckoned as clays of the week. 



Mr. A, F. Hunter, M.A., of Barrie, Ont., gave a most interesting 

 lecture on " The Applications of the Polarization of Light," illustrated 

 by experiments. This was a subject which had engaged the attention of 

 Dr. Hunter for many years, several papers on Polarization having been 

 read by him when the society was merely a meeting of a few friends. 



Mr. Thomas Lindsay read the second and third chapters of a sketch 

 of the " Grreenwich Nautical Almanac," dealing with the lirst issue of the 

 Almanac and with some of the problems met with in the construction of 

 an ephemeris. 



Mr. J. G. Ridout and Mr. R. F, Stupart gave graphic descriptions 

 of a visit to Europe. Mr. Stupart had attended the International 

 Meteorological Conference at Paris representing Canada. 



At the meetings of the Opera Glass section there were occasionally 

 short papers read after spending the evening in observation. Mr. Arthur 

 Harvey at one of the meetings read an exhaustive paper on " Falling 

 Stars and Meteorites." 



