2 TRANSACTIONS OF THE [OCT. 5, 



corresponding members. The chair appointed Prof. J. K. Rees 

 and Mr. Chas. F. Cox. Mr. R. E. Dodge presented the nomina. 

 tion of Prof. John F. Woodhull, of the Teacher's College, for 

 resident membership. 



The Section of Astronomj^ and Physics then organized. 



The minutes of the last Section meeting, held Ma}^ 4th were 

 read and approved. There being no official business to come 

 before the Section, and no set papers for the evening, the follow- 

 ing reports were made : 



Prof. J. K, Rees stated that the work of the Columbia Col- 

 lege observatory upon the variation of latitude had been con- 

 tinued during the past summer in such a manner that forty 

 pairs of stars were observed every two weeks. It is a part of 

 the general programme to continue these observations for the 

 next two or three 3'ears, until the observatories contemplated 

 by the National Geodetic Association should be established. It 

 is all the more important that this work should continue at 

 Columbia, inasmuch as it is the onl}^ i)lace in this country where 

 such observations are being made. Prof. Rees also referred to 

 the work of Dr. Davis, of the Astronomical department at Co- 

 lumbia, who is about to undertake the reduction of the Peazzi 

 catalogue, devoting himself especially to the reduction of decli- 

 nations. 



Prof. R. S. Woodward made some remarks upon the impor- 

 tance of continuing the variation of latitude work, and referred 

 to it as the burning question of astronomy. 



Dr. Martin inquired with reference to some newspaper reports 

 of the photographing of waves by condensation, and inquired if 

 that were scientifically possible and correct. Prof. Hallock 

 explained that it was undoubtedly possible, inasmuch as sound 

 waves have heretofore been rendered visible and photographed. 



Dr. H. Jacoby reported on the proceedings of the meeting 

 held at Paris to consider the Astro-photographic star charts. 

 He stated that the 36,000 plates to be used in the catalogue of 

 stars down to the 11th magnitude, have nearly all been made, 



