106 TRANSACTIONS OF THE [MAR. 7, 
March 7th, 1892. 
REGULAR Business MEETING. 
The President, Dr. Hupparp, in the chair. About twenty-five 
persons present. 
The minutes of February 4th, 1892, were read and approved. 
The Astronomical Section then organized, Pror. Rees in the 
chair. In the absence of the Secretary, Mr. Jacosy, the reading 
of the minutes of the Section was dispensed with. Pror. REEs 
announced the discovery of a new star in the constellation Aurigae 
by a Scotch astronomer; the star is between the fifth and sixth 
magnitudes; attention was called to it by an anonymous postal 
eard. Its spectrum has been observed. 
Pror. J. K. Rees delivered a lecture on— 
Ancient Astronomical Instruments. 
Pror. Rees explained by the aid of lantern slides the forms of 
instruments used by the Egyptians and Arabians, Chinese and 
Europeans. These included specimens of gnomons, obelisks, pyra- 
mids, sundials, graduated circles, astrolabes, quadrants, sextants, 
ete. Especial attention was given to the instruments employed 
by Tycho Brahe at his observatory at Huen. 
Pror. Ress called on Mr. C. A. Post, who explained his plans 
for a portable observatory with the aid of lantern views. The 
wooden building cost only $250; whereas a dome of equal size 
would cost $2500. This observatory was built at Rockaway, 
ING as. 
Pror. Ress asked if the roof was water-tight. 
Mr. Post said that it had been in use all winter, and he found it 
more satisfactory in this respect than a corrugated iron roof; in 
fact, it is absolutely water-tight. 
Mr. Jacosy spoke of the complete ventilation secured by the 
perfectly wide opening. 
Meeting adjourned. 
