i86 



NA TURE 



[Dec. 20, 



Thus the new alkaloid has been thoroughly investigated, and its 

 composition determined with tolerable certainty. It is a signifi- 

 cant sign of the progress of the times that these poisonous prin- 

 ciples of the vegetable kingdom are b'-ing gradually isolated, and 

 their nature determined. Of the wonderful processes by which 

 they are built up within the vegetable cells, we are as yet 

 almost completely in the dark, and can only hope for light 

 and knowledge from the persevering attempts of ohemists to 

 understand their constitution and to synthesize them. 



The additions to the Zoological Society's Gardens during the 

 past week include a Hawk-Owl {Suriiia ftmetra) from Russian 

 Finland, presented by Lord Lilford, F.Z. S. ; a Nankeen Kestrel 

 {Tinnunculiis cenchroides) from Australia, presented by Mr. 

 A. J. Wilkins ; eight Wild Geese {Anser cineretis), a White- 

 fronted Goose {Anser alhifrons), a Herring Gull {Lams argen- 

 iattts), British, presented by Mr. E. S. Cameron ; two Galeated 

 Pentonyces {Peloinedusa gileata), six Robben Island Snakes 

 {Coronella phocarum) from South Africa, presented by the Rev. 

 G. II. R. Fisk, C.M.Z.S. ; three Black Tortoises {Testuio car- 

 bonaria) from South Brazil, presented by Mr. Leonard Cooper ; 

 five Moorish Geckos ( Tarentola matiritanica) from the South of 

 France, presented by Mr. J. C. Warburg ; an Australian Casso- 

 wary {Casuarius aus'ralis) from Queensland, three Barbary 

 Turtle Doves {Turtur risorius) from North Africa, a White 

 Stork {Ciconia alba), European, deposited. 



OUR ASTRONOMICAL COLUMN. 



The United States Naval Observatory. — Captain R- 

 L. Phythian, the Superintendent of the Naval Observatory, 

 Washington, has jusf published his Report for the year ending 

 June 30, 1888. The great 26 inch equatorial, which is in the 

 charge of Prof. Asaph Hall, is in good order, and has been 

 in constant use for micrometric measurement of the satellites of 

 Saturn and Mars, and the regular list of double stars. The 

 surfaces of both Saturn and Mars were constantly and carefully 

 examined, and drawings made from time to time. In the case 

 of the latter planet, the "canals" of Prof. Schiaparelli, though 

 specially looked for, both during and after the opposition, could 

 not be made out. The reduction and discussion of these observa- 

 tions are well advanced, in particular the computations with 

 respect to the theory of Hyperion, which are now nearly ready 

 for a conplete discussion. The transit circle was dismounted 

 and cleaned after April 4, 18S8, and remounted in July, but 

 notwithstanding this interruption 1970 observations were ob- 

 tained with it from October I, 1887, to October 14, 1888. The 

 reductions are, however, in a backward state, the computing staff 

 being too weak in number. The results for 1883 have been 

 printed, and those for 1884 are in the press. The programme 

 for future work includes the observation of the stars of the zones 

 S. Deck ]4°-i8^ for the Astronomische Gesellschaft. The 

 9'6-inch equatorial has been chiefly used in the continued 

 revision of Yarnall's Catalogue, and the observation of minor 

 planets, comets, and of occultatijns. 



The appendices to the Report contain the results of chrono- 

 meter trials, and of the examination of sextants, binoculars, and 

 other instruments, chiefly for naval use ; the report of the Transit 

 of Venus Commission, and that of Lieut. Winterhalter on his 

 visit to Europe, in which he strongly urges the desirability of the 

 Naval Observatory being empowered to join in the scheme of the 

 Paris /Vstrophysical Congress of 1887 for charting the heavens by 

 means of photography. 



The Total Solar Eclipse op January i, 1889. — .\s the 

 track of this eclipse passes through California, San Francisco, 

 lying but a few miles south of the shadow line, it is probable 

 that it will be watched by a number of persons who might make 

 useful observations, and would gladly do so, if suitably directed. 

 With a view of securing the services of such volunteers, an 1 of 

 employing them to the best advantage. Prof. Holden has pub- 

 lished a little panphlet containing "suggestions for observers." 

 The two principal points on which he lays stress are the deter- 

 mination of the exact limits of the shadow, by noting the dura- 

 tion of totality at places just within it, and the photographing 

 of the corona. The pamphlet is not in the least intended for 

 trained astronomers, but will probably prove very useful for the 



purpose for which it has been written. No English astronomers 

 are going out to observe the eclipse, but, should the weather 

 prove favourable, it will be well watched by American observers, 

 for a strong party from Mount Hamilton itself are to occupy a 

 station immediately on the central line, and Mr. Chas. Burck- 

 halter, of Chabot Observatory, has organized a party of twenty 

 amateur photographers for the purpose of obtaining pictures of 

 the corona. Messrs. George and Thomas Davidson also, sons 

 of Prof. Davidson, of the U.S. Coast Survey, will photograph 

 the corona at the elevated station of Winnemucca, whilst five 

 observers from the Harvard College Observatory, under the 

 direction of Mr. W. H. Pickerin?, are to take up a very full 

 programme of photographic, photometric, and spectroFcopic 

 observations, ^ir. C H. Rockwell, also, ofTarrytown, N.Y., 

 who was one of the Caroline Island party in 1883, will observe 

 the eclipse. 



Comets Faye and Barnard, October 30.— The follow- 

 ing ephemerides for Berlin midnight are in continuation of 

 those given in Nature for 1888 November 29 (p. 114) : - 



i828. 



Comet i388ri'(Faye). 

 R A. 



Decl. 



Dec. 21 ... 8 8 53 ... o 288 N. 



23 ... 8 7 39 ... o 227 



25 ... 8 6 20 .. o 17-8 



27 ... 8 4 54 ... o 14-1 



29 ... 8 3 25 ... o II-6 



31 ... 8 I 53 ... o 10-3 N. 



Comet i888/(Barnard, 

 Oct. 30). 

 R.A. DecL 



h. m. .s. „ , 



10 26 53 ... 2 0*2 S. 

 10 26 53 ... I 100 S. 

 10 26 45 ... O l8'0 S. 

 10 23 26 ... o 357 N. 

 10 26 o ... I 311 N. 

 10 25 24 .. 2 28 6 N. 



The brightness of both comets remains practically unchan:;ed 

 from their brightness on December 19. 



ASTRONOMICAL PHENOMENA FOR THE 



WEEK 1888 DECEMBER 23-29. 

 /"POR the reckoning of time the civil day, commencing at 

 * -^ Greenwich mean midnight, counting the hours on to 24, 

 is here employed.) 



At Greenwich on December 23 

 Sunrises, 8h. 7m. ; souths, lih. 59m. 36"is. ; sets. ish. 53ir, : 

 right asc. on meridian, i8h. 9'4m.; decl. 23° 26' S. Sidereal 

 Time at Sunset, 22h. 3m. 

 Moon (at Last Quarter December 26, 6b.) ri.'es, igh. 59m.*; 

 souths 3h. 43m.; sets, lib. 14m.: right asc. on meridian, 

 9h. 5fim.; decl. 16" 6' N. 



Right asc. anJ declination 

 Planet. Rises. Souths. Sets. on meridian. 



h. m. h. m. h. m. h. m. o / 

 Mercury.. 8 3 ... 11 46 ... 15 29 ... 17 56-0 ... 24 46 S. 



Venus 10 30 ... 14 52 ... 19 13 ... 21 2-0 ... 18 58 S. 



Mars 10 34 ... 15 8 ... 19 42 ... 21 18-3 ... 16 57 S. 



Jupiter.... 7 13 ... n 10 ... 15 7 ... 17 19-3 ... 22 44 S. 

 Saturn.... 19 55*... 3 22 ... 10 49 ... 9 30-6 ... 15 50 N. 

 Uranus... i 47 ••• 7 " ••• 12 35 ... 13 20-3 ... 7 48 S. 

 Neptune.. 13 59 ••■ 21 42 .. 5 25*... 3 53-2 ... 18 30 N. 



* Indicates that the rising is that of the preceding evening and the setting 

 that of the following morning. 

 Dec h. 



28 ... 19 ... Mercury in superior conjunction With the Sun. 



Variable Stars. 

 Star. R.A. Decl. 



h. m. „ n. m. 



U Cephei o 52-4 ... 81 16 N. ... Dec. 24, 22 23 m 



,, 29, 22 I m 



Algrol 3 0-9 ... 40 31 N. ... „ 27, 4 46 w 



R Canis Majoris... 7 H'S ... 16 12 S. ... „ 25,17 o m 

 and at intervals of 27 16 



S Cancri 8 37-6 .. 19 26 N. ... Dec. 25, 21 29 m 



SLibrs I4 55'0... 8 4 S. ... ,, 25. 6 54-»» 



R Ophiuchi 17 i'3 .•• I5 57 S , 27, M 



T Vulpeculae ... 20 467 ... 27 50 N. ... ,, 23, Z o tn 



Y Cygni 20 476 ... 34 14 N- 23, 17 40 m 



and at intervals of 36 o 

 R Vulpeculae ... 20 59-4 ... 23 23 N. ... Dec. 29, M 



T Capricorni ... 21 15-8... 15 38 S. ... „ 29, M 



S Cephei 22 25-0... 57 51 N. ... „ 25, 17 o m 



M signifies maximum ; m mi " " 

 Meteor- Showers. 

 R.A. DecL 



Near t Ursas Majoris ... 130 ... 49 N. 

 ,, K Draconis 193 ... 68 N. 



Swift ; streaks. 



