XCVI THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



stations throughout the world and in the discussion of the data 

 recorded our Canadian Stations are considered important links in the 

 system. 



TIME SIGNALS. 



The usual exchanges of time signals between Toronto Observatory 

 and Montreal, Quebec and St. John Observatories, have been continued 

 throughout the year ending March 31st, 1913, and the time service 

 generally has been carried on without important change. 



The Sun has been photographed upon all occasions of appearances 

 of sun spots, but owing to the occurrence of the eleven year minimum of 

 spots very few photographs were taken. The camera used was that 

 described in Vol. V, Third Series of the Proceedings and Transactions. 



Maps of the Sun's surface 120 millimeters in diameter have also been 

 made daily whenever possible by projecting the image of the Sun upon 

 paper through the 6 inch equatorial telescope. The driving clock of 

 the telescope enables very accurate drawings to be made and the posi- 

 tions of the N-S-E and W points determined, thus giving the necessary 

 data for positions of the Sun's axis and equator and adding valuable aid 

 to the photographs. The months of November, December, 1912 and 

 January, February and March 1913, were remarkable for the almost 

 complete absence of Sun spots. 



PHENOLOGICAL PHENOMENA, CANADA, 1912. 



The following report of Phenological Observations in Canada during 

 1912 has been prepared br Mr. F. F. Payne of the Central Office, 

 Toronto. 



"In 1912 when the Departments of Education of several of the 

 Provinces and other institutions had kindly offered their assistance, 

 great hopes were entertained of a large increase in the number of ob- 

 servers of phenological phenomena. Forms for recording observations 

 Avere sent to several hundred school teachers and others in all portions 

 of the Dominion, and it was suggested that the collection of the statistics 

 asked for might be made part of the nature study carried on in many of 

 our schools. A number of new observers were added to the list in this 

 wa}', l)ut as several of the older observers discontinued and as the total 

 number of observers outside of Nova Scotia was only 61, the result was 

 somewhat disappointing. In the province of Nova Scotia where the 

 Superintendent of Education, Dr. A. H. Mackay, is a botanist great 

 interest in recording phenological phenomena by the teachers aided b}' 

 the school children has been fostered, and phenochrons giving averages 



