444 



NATURE 



[Sept. 4, 1879 



These tables, in addition to those previously constructed, will, 

 it is believed, form a valuable, and (for the present) a sufficient, 

 basis for the prosecution of this kind of research in what regards 

 the theory of single binary quantics, leaving a wide field still 

 open for computations of a similar nature connected with systems 

 of binary quantics and binary and semi-binary quantics, single 

 or in systems. 



Report of the Committee on Atmospheric Electricity in Madeira, 

 by Dr. M. Grabham. — Daily observations in Madeira extremely 

 monotonous, showing very little variation, though suggesting the 

 importance of a station so uniform in weather for the careful 

 observance of diurnal and seasonal changes. The writer, giving 

 himself to the observation of the regular winds and breezes, 

 traces the steady rise of electricity in the early morning to a 

 maximum at 1 1 '30 A.M., which declines after much steadiness 

 for two hours, at first suddenly and then very gradually towards 

 night. 



Remarkable fluctuations 'are noticed during the] formation of 

 the maximum which the writer ascribes to masses of cloud on 

 moist air. A description follows of the daily formation of a 

 thin stratum of cloud during fine calm weather which varies 

 slightly in altitude in accordance with temperature and barometric 

 pressure. The electricity below this cloud is always positive and 

 moderately strong. In the cloud itself it is more feeble but of 

 the same sign. Above the cloud at the station where the obser- 

 vation was talcen it was very feeble and irregular but always 

 positive. In warmer weather the vapour does not condense into 

 cloud but appears as a blue transparent haze from above, and 

 presents the same electrical indications. 



The writer states that all observations in his own garden were 

 vitiated or mitigated by the presence of lofty trees. 



The highest potentialwas observed upon a rock ninety feet 

 high, a few metres from the shore in the Bay of Funchal. 



The thinness of the currents of air constituting sea breezes was 

 demonstrated by flying a kite vertically beyond into the true 

 wind blowing in a contrary direction. Abortive attempts were 

 made to bring down the upper electricity through the lower 

 currents. The electricity of the general north east wind which is 

 identical with the trade wind was found on the heights at the 

 east end to be uniformly moderate and positive. 



At the approach of rain-clouds at the termination of a period 

 of fine weather the atmosphere invariably gives increased readings 

 and no negative observations were recorded. 



A short description follows of the L'este, a kind of sirocco to 

 which Madeira is occasionally subject and which blows with great 

 force on certain limited mountain districts bringing sand, birds, 

 and other evidence of a distant origin. This wind is extremely 

 dry, in a temperature of 85° the dew points being depressed be- 

 low freezing. Electrically this wind in its integrity gives no 

 indication of any change whatever except by faint fluctuations 

 about the earth reading. 



The writer also notices a very highly electrical condition during 

 the prevalence of L'este wind, of certain clouds which lie quietly 

 among the mountains, though tossed and tumbled on their upper 

 surfaces ; he hopes to be able to connect their forms and immo- 

 bility with their electrical change. 



Report of the Committee on Mathematical Tables, by James 

 Glaisher. — In the course of the year the factor table for the 

 fourth million has been printed and stereotyped, and is nearly 

 ready for publication. The manuscript of the factor table for 

 the fifth million is complete. The table for the sixth million is 

 complete as far as the factors entered by the sieves are con- 

 cerned, but the factors obtained by the multiple method still 

 need entering, and the whole has to be verified. The mode of 

 calculation was described in last year's report, and a more com- 

 plete account will appear in the introduction to the fourth 

 million. The present report contains the result of the 

 enumeration of the primes in the fourth million, and a list of 

 long sequences of composite numbers occurring in it. The 

 report also contains a table of the first seven Legendrian co- 

 efficients, viz. , P"{x)iox n = 1 io n = "], where 



P'(x) = X, P\x) = J(3^^ - I), R'{x) .z l(5;c3 - 3^), 

 ■PH^) = ■s(35-^ - 30.t-- + 3), &c., 

 each for a hundred values of the argument. 



Report of the Committee on Luminous Meteors, by James 

 Glaisher. — After recording the regret the Committee felt at the 

 loss of two of the most active workers — Mr. Greg by his retire- 

 ment, and Mr. Brooke by death — the report stated that the very 

 unfavourable weather had generally caused only very meagre 



views of the annual star showers of October, December, January, 

 and April to be seen. The major showers of August had also 

 been hidden from view, owing to the unfavourable weather. 

 The report then dealt m detail with the accounts of conspicuous 

 detonatnig fire-balls that had occurred in the United States on 

 August II and December 18, 1878, and on January 27, 1879; 

 in Bohemia and Saxony on January 12, 1879, and in England 

 on February 22 and 24, 1879, the real paths of all of which had, 

 to a greater or less degree of certainty and closeness, been 

 approximately ascertained. The rest of the report was devoted 

 to a description of the past year's aerolites. The expected return 

 of Biela's comet to its perihelion in the present year, leading a 

 shower of shooting stars to be looked for with much confidence 

 among astronomers on November 27 next, is to be taken advan- 

 tage of to report next year on meteor showers. As in former 

 years the Committee were under great obligations to Prof. A. S. 

 Herschel for the labour he had bestowed on the report. 



Report of the Committee for Calculating Tables of Sun-heat 

 Coefficients, by Rev. Dr. Haughton.— A table showing the total 

 heat received by various latitudes from the sun in the course of a 

 year had been formed ; and the work would be completed by 

 next year. The results already obtained have appeared in the 

 Proceedings of the Royal Dublin Society. 



Report of the Committee consisting of the Rev. fl. T. Barnes 

 Lawrence, Mr. Spence Bate, Mr. H. E. Dresser (Secretary), 

 Mr. J. E. Harting, Dr. Gwyn Jeffreys, Mr. J. G. Shaw Lef-vre, 

 M.P., Prof. Newton, and the Rev. Canon Tristram, appointed 

 by the Council, for the purpose of Inquiring into the Possibility 

 of Establishing a Close Time for the Protection of Indigenous 

 Animals. — Your Committee has gratefully to acknowledge the 

 resolution of the Council of the Association, whereby your Com- 

 mittee has been not only reappointed but also instructed to report 

 to the Council in case of any action being required. Your 

 Committee begs leave to state that no such emergency as was pro- 

 vided for by this instruction has arisen since the presentation of 

 its last report. Notwithstanding complaints that are occasionally 

 heard, your Committee believes that public opinion continues 

 strongly in favour of the close time principle, as applied to in- 

 digenous animals ; and on the part of Her Majesty's Government 

 no steps have been taken to carry out the recommendations of 

 the Scottish Herring Fishery Commissioners, upon which your 

 Committee deemed it its duty to animadvert last year. The Bird 

 Preservation Acts, though doubtless evaded in some places, in 

 general appear to work well, and to be enforced without difficulty 

 when occasion requires. Having regard to future contingencies, 

 your Committee ventures to solicit its reappomtment with the 

 instructions as to reporting to the Council in case of emergency. 



Report of the Committee consisting of Mr. Sclater, Dr. G. 

 Hartlaub, Sir Joseph Hooker, Capt. F. M. Hunter, and Prof. 

 Flower, appointed to take Steps for the Investigation of tlu Natural 

 History of Socotra. — The Committee have not held any formi ' 

 meetings, but have been in frequent communication with 

 other on the subject. 



The best time for the exploration of Socotra being from 

 November to March, the Committee were not able to make the 

 necessary arrangements last autumn. Next winter, however, 

 they believe that Col. H. H. Godwin-Austen, than whom no 

 more competent naturalist could be found, will be able to under- 

 take an expedition to Socotra, and to make a thorough investi- 

 gation of its natural history. Col. Godivin-Austen has applied 

 to the Surveyor-General of India for the use of some of the 

 assistants on his staff, and proposes to make a complete topo- 

 graphical survey of the island during the expedition. 



It is estimated that the total cost of the expedition will be 

 about 300/. Of this 100/. granted by the Association last year, 

 has been received by the Committee and deposited in the London 

 and County Bank at interest. The sum of 175/., having been 

 devoted to this same purpose out of the Government Fund of 

 4,000/. administered by the Royal Society, has been paid to 

 Col. Godwin -Austen, and has been added to the account at the 

 London and County Bank. 



There remains, therefore, only 25/. requisite to complete the 

 sum of 300/,, which the Committee consider will be required for 

 the expedition. 



The Committee request that the Committee for the investiga- 

 tion of the Natural History of Socotra maybe re-appointed with 

 the additional name of Col. H. H. Godwin-Austen, and that the 

 balance of 25/. necessary to com.plete the estimate of expenditure 

 may be placed at their disposal. 



