PROCEEDINGS OP THE EEGENTS. 127 



for measuring the heat of the sun at high altitudes. In spite of 

 unlooked-for difficulties, an excellent ascension was made to an alti- 

 tude above 15 miles and very fine records were obtained, the pre- 

 liminary reduction of which indicate that they will confirm the 

 value of the solar constant of radiation which has resulted from 

 years of observation at the Astrophysical Observatory. Additional 

 flights were made up to altitudes of 20 miles, but no records' were 

 obtained at that height owing to the freezing of the mercury in the 

 thermometers. 



By invitation of the Australian Government and of the British 

 Association for the Advancement of Science, Dr. C. G. Abbot, 

 director of the Astrophysical Observatory, attended the meetings of 

 the British association in Australia and submitted to the Australian 

 Government a recommendation for the establishment in that country 

 of a solar observatory particularly devoted to the measurement of 

 the radiation of the sun. Owing to the breaking out of the war in 

 Europe, the Australian Government was unable to promise definitely 

 the early establishment of such an observatory, but expressed great 

 interest in the project. 



Island of Timor expedition. — The island of Timor in the East 

 Indies has been a rich collecting ground for scientific study, though 

 little or nothing has been done by the paleontologist. An expedition 

 for this sole purpose would be a very expensive undertaking, but an 

 opportunity presented itself for acquiring many of these collections 

 through the courtesy and interest of Mr. W. E. Crane, of Pittsburgh, 

 a retired engineer and an enthusiastic collector, who had planned 

 to visit the East Indies and to aid in making collections on the 

 island of Timor for the National Museum. The expense of the 

 enterprise was estimated to be $2,000, one-half of which was con- 

 tributed by Mr. Crane, while Mrs. E. EC. Harriman and Mr. Frank 

 Springer gave $500 each. 



Unfortunately, about the time Mr. Crane was to start, the war 

 broke out in Europe and the expedition had to be abandoned for the 

 present. 



Western Siberian expedition. — During the spring of 1914 the 

 secretary received information that an expedition was being fitted 

 out for western Siberia to take in the Kolyma River region, for the 

 purpose of making collections in general ethnology and natural 

 history. The locality was represented as particularly rich in such 

 material, and after consultation with those qualified to advise, the 

 secretary decided that it would be well that the Institution par- 

 ticipate in the results of the expedition. 



There being no funds of the Institution that could be allotted for 

 this purpose, however, steps were taken to secure the means by pri- 

 vate subscription, and it is with pleasure that the secretary an- 



