September ii, 1919] 



NATURE 



43 



dents," D. N. Wadia ; "Aircraft in Peace," Dr. J. M. 

 Spaight ; "England," edited by F. Muirhead (The 

 Blue Guides); "Highways and Byways in Northum- 

 bria," P. A. Graham, illustrated by Hugh Thomson, 

 and a new edition of "The Handbook to Cyprus," 

 H. C. Luke and D. J. Jardine. 



Mr. F. Edwards, 83 High Street, Marylebone, W.i, 

 has just issued an interesting list (No. 393) of some 

 four hundred books, engravings, and original draw- 

 ings relating to India. While not mainly devoted to 

 science, it contains particulars of many scientific pub- 

 lications, and is worth perusal. We notice that Mr. 

 Edwards has for sale the Sanskrit library of Prof. J. 

 Ebbeling, consisting of about five hundred volumes. 



Erratum. — On p. 18 of Nature of September 4, 

 col. I, line 9, for " m equal to 7:0? p " read " r?! equal to 



^;raV." 



OUR ASTRONOMICAL COLUMN. 

 Comet Notes. — There does not seem to be any 

 reasonable doubt of the identity of Metcalf's comet 

 (1919 b) with that of Brorsen. ITie following were the 

 elements deduced for Brorsen 's comet after the former 

 apparition : — 



T =1847 Sept. 9-S427 



= 129° 23' i7"1 



i = 309° 48' 4971 



= 19° 8' 25") 



847-0 



2 = 19' » 25 



e =o'97256 



a =177795 

 Period = 74'97 years 

 log 4? = 9-6883 

 The actual period is 72y. 37d., nearly three years 

 shorter than that formerly taken as the most probable. 

 e and a will need modification in consequence, but 

 log q will not be much affected. 



As new elliptical elements are not yet to hand, the 

 ephemeris has been continued from the parabolic ele- 

 ments given last week. 



Ephemeris for Greenwich Midnight. 



R.A. N. Decl. Los r Log i 



h. in. s. J 



Sept. 15 ... 12 29 21 52 42 9-9341 9-4396 



17 ... 12 17 17 47 36 99163 94789 



19 ... 12 8 36 43 II 98979 9-5179 

 21 . . 12 2 8 39 18 98788 9-5560 

 23 ••• II 57 II 35 52 9-8590 9-5937 

 The oomet will probably be some 24' south of these 

 positions. 



Another comet (1919c) was announced in Europe as 

 having been discovered by M. Borelly on August 23. 

 It subsequently appeared that Mr. Metcalf found it a 

 day earlier. Possibly it will be known by their joint 

 names. 



Miss Vinter-Hansen and Mr. Fischer-Petersen have 

 deduced the following orhit from observations on 

 August 24, 25, and 26 : — 



T = i9i9 Dec. I9'i25 G.M.T. 



= 176° 15-61") 

 = 110° 35-08' [ 



= 47° 2 1 -24' J 



1919-0 



log ^ =0-17608 



Error of middle place (observed minus computed) 

 H-002', o-oo'. 



Ephemeris for Greenwich Midnight. 



R.A. N. Decl. Logr Log A 



h. m. s. n / 



Sept. 10 ... 14 34 23 19 26 



.14 ... 14 41 37 17 44 02987 0-3957 



18 ... 14 49 5 16 o 



22 ... 14 56 46 14 16 02838 0-3918 



NO. 2602, VOL. 104] 



The magnitude on September 22 is given as 8-7m. 

 It is slowlj brightening. 



Mr. Burnet desires to point out that in the occulta- 

 tion of a faint star by Jupiter for which his prediction 

 was lately given in this column, the date should read 

 September i4d. i5h., not i5d. i5h. That is, in civil 

 reckoning it is at 3 a.m. on September 15. 



UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 

 INTELLIGENCE. 

 A LIMITED number of grants-in-aid to persons em- 

 ployed in chemical works in or near London desirous 

 of extending their knowledge of chemistry will shortly 

 be made by the Salters' Institute of Industrial Chemis- 

 try. Applications must be made before September 20 

 i<o the Director of the institute, Salters' Hall, St. 

 Swithin's Lane, E.C.4. 



The University of Queensland is seeking for a lec- 

 turer of geology to act under the direction of the 

 professor of geology and mineralogy. The appoint- 

 ment is for five years, and the commencing salary will 

 be at the rate of 400/. per annum. Applications 

 must be forwarded to reach the Registrar of the 

 University of Queensland, Brisbane, not later than 

 November 15 next. Each applicant must state his 

 age, supply full particulars as to his teaching experi- 

 ence and general qualifications, and furnish certified 

 copies of his certificates and testimonials. A recent 

 photograph should also be forwarded. If not resident 

 in Australia, 50/. travelling expenses will be granted 

 to the successful applicant. 



The new session of Battersea Polytechnic oi>ens en 

 Tuesday, September 23, and particulars of all Lhe 

 courses are given in the Calendar of the Polytechnic, 

 obtainable on application to the Secretary, Battersea 

 Polytechnic, London, S.W.ii. The courses include 

 the following : — Full day and evening courses in pre- 

 paration for the University of London Intermediate 

 and Final Degree Examinations (internal and external) 

 in science, engineering, and music ; dav courses in 

 mechanical, civil, electrical, and motor engineering; 

 architecture and building; chemistry; gas engineering 

 and^ manufacture ; paper-making and wholesale 

 stationery work; mathematics; physics; teachers' 

 courses in domestic science ; courses for sanitary in- 

 spectors and health visitors, and in art and crafts. 

 Evening courses in mechanical and electrical engineer- 

 ing, mathematics, physics, chemistry, hygiene and 

 physiology, photography, art and crafts, ' languages, 

 dornestic science, music, physical training, and general 

 subjects. 



The report of the Librarian of Congress (U.S. .A.), 

 now before us, deals with the fiscal year ending 

 June 30, 1918. The influence of the war on the library 

 at Washington reproduces fairly closely the experience 

 of the libraries in this country. There has been some 

 falling off in accessions due to the closing of the book 

 markets of the world, and also a change in the 

 character of the library work. Workers new to their 

 task_ have invaded the reference department with 

 inquiries of a novel character which have thrown a 

 great strain upon the energies of a depleted staff, 

 some cases apparently revealing the deficiencies of the 

 library. That again is an experience common to us 

 all. But "the apex of our curve of stress," says the 

 report, "has also shifted from morning to evening 

 and from week-days to Sundays through the presence 

 here of thousands of new Government employees, who 

 can come to us only after their office-hours are over," 

 the average of Sunday readers per hour being three 

 times greater than the week-day average. Thus there 

 is no "early closing" movement in the United States 



