Astro) 10 my 595 



stituted to obtain, are yet of priceless value in the means 

 they afford for improving our knowledge of the orbits of our 

 two neighboring planets. 



Among other astronomical fruits of the expedition to Chile 

 I may mention the following : 7000 meridian observations of 

 2000 stars. These, with their instrumental and tabular re- 

 ductions and a resultant catalogue, form a part of Volume iv 

 of the series of the results of the expedition. 



Equal, if indeed not superior, in value to these are the 

 33,000 observations of about 23,000 stars within 2\\'^ of the 

 South Pole. These comprise stars to the loth magnitude in- 

 clusive, more than 20,000 of which had not been previously 

 observed. 



Observations of earthquakes (124 shocks in three years), 

 a very extended series of meteorological observations, and 

 systematic observations of magnetism make another chapter 

 of results to the credit of the expedition. 



ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATIONS IN THE ARCTIC SEAS 



The famous expeditions of Doctor Kane to the Arctic, in the 

 years 1853-54-55, yielded astronomical results of value, which 

 were discussed by Charles A. Schott and printed by the care 

 of the Institution. 



The observations are chiefly useful in fixing geographical 

 positions on the chart of the expedition up to latitudes 81° 

 and 82°. Meteorological, magnetic, and tidal observations 

 of great value were also secured, and similarly discussed and 

 published ; and the scientific results of the expedition are most 

 satisfactory when the immense difficulty of work under such 

 abnormal conditions is kept in view. 



The Arctic expeditions of Hall and Hayes were aided, in 

 many respects, by the Smithsonian Institution, and the astro- 



