330 



NATURE 



[August 4, 1898 



The current number of the Journal of the Society of Arts 

 contains the first of Dr. D. Morris's Cantor lectures on " Sources 

 of Commercial India-rubber." 



We learn from the Kew Bulletin that a Flora of Simla and 

 the surrounding district is being prepared by Sir Henry Collett, 

 and is expected to comprise about 1500 species of flowering 

 plants. The illustrations are contributed by Miss Smith. 



JUDGiNc; from the Report for 1896 97, which has just reached 

 us, the Felsted School Scientific Society is doing good work by 

 creating an interest in science among the members of the rising 

 generation. During the session under review a number of in- 

 teresting papers and lectures were delivered, among the number 

 being a lecture by Mr. George Murray, F.R.S , on "A Journey 

 to the Tropics," and a paper by Mr. C. Hose, Resident of 

 Baram, Sarawak, entitled "A Visit to Celebes." 



Surgeon-General Sternberg, of the U.S. Army, contri- 

 butes an article on " The Sanitary Regeneration of Havana " to 

 the August number of the Century Magazine, which should be 

 read by all who take an interest in sanitary matters. The writer of 

 the article considers it practicable to put the city of Havana in 

 such a sanitary condition that it would be exempt from its ever- 

 recurring scourge of yellow fever, but that the undertaking 

 would be of considerable magnitude, involve the expenditure of 

 large sums of money, and require much time for its accomplish- 

 cnent. 



The additions to the Zoological Society's Gardens during the 

 past week include a Pig tailed Monkey {Macacus nemestritis, 9 ) 

 from Java, presented by Mr. C. R. Johnson ; two Squirrel 

 Monkeys {Chrysothrix sciurea) from Guiana, presented by Mr. 

 C E. Giinther ; a Common Rat Kangaroo {Potorous tridac- 

 tylus, (J ) from Australia, presented by Major Fleming ; a White- 

 crested Jay Thrush [Garrulax leucolophus), a White-throated 

 Jay Thrush {Garrulax albogularis) from India, presented by 

 Mr. Henry FuUjames ; a Rook {Corvus frtigilegus), British, 

 presented by Mr. Mack ; a Leopard Tortoise ( Testudo 

 ^ardalis), a Bell's Cinixys {Cinixys belliana), a Home's 

 Cinixys {Cinixys honieana) from Kavitando, near Victoria 

 Nyanza, presented by Captain E. M. Wocjdward ; a Common 

 Chamseleon {Chamceleon vulgaris) from North Africa, presented 

 by Mr. W. Cooper ; a Humboldt's Saki {Pithecia monachus) 

 from the Amazons ; a Vinaceous Amazon {Chrysotis vinacea) 

 from Brazil, an Orange- winged Amazon {Chrysotis amazonica) 

 from South America, a Festive Amazon {Chrysotis festiva) from 

 Guiana ; five Gazelles {Gazella dorcas) from North Africa, two 

 Magpies {Pica caudata), British, deposited ; four Cambayan 

 Turtle Doves {Turtur senegalensis), a Spotted Pigeon {Colutnba 

 maculosa), bred in the Gardens. 



OUR ASTRONOMICAL COLUMN. 

 August Meteors. — In consequence of the brightness of the 

 moon during the earlier portion of this month, only the more 

 brilliant members of the Perseid swarm of meteors are likely 

 to be observed. These meteors originate, as their name in- 

 dicates, from a point situated in the constellation of Perseus 

 near the star t/, which lies in the north-eastern part of the 

 heavens, and is rather low down during the earlier portion of 

 the evening. As the maximum is usually attained on the loth 

 of the month, the moon should not prove such a disturbing 

 factor ; and if the night be fine, observers should make a point 

 of recording their observations in a manner which has been 

 described by Mr. Denning. It is only in this way that 

 observations can be properly discussed and made to serve a 

 useful end. Mr. Denning has recently {Knowledge, August i) 

 published an ephemeris of the position of the radiant point, 



NO. I 50 1, VOL. 58] 



and below we give an abstract which may prove useful for the 

 present return. 



We may mention again that the maximum occurs on the night 

 of the loth. 



Wolf's Comet. — This comet is gradually decreasing its 

 northern declination, but is increasing slowly in brightness. 

 Its ephemeris for the present week is as follows {Astr. Nach., 

 3506) :— 



i2/i. Berlin M.T. 



R.A. 



Decl. 



Between the above dates, the sun's apparent right ascension 

 at apparent noon lies between 8h. 58m. and 9h. 29m. 

 G.M.T. 



The Variable o Ceti. — This variable star has always 

 afforded plenty of interest to the observer, and according to the 

 most recent observations much attention must still be paid 

 until we are able to understand all the intricacies which are 

 connected wilh it In the current number of the Astr. Nachr. 

 (3506) Herr W. Stratonoff gives a short account of his observ- 

 ations, which extend over the years 1896-98 ending January 24, 

 and these show that there are peculiarities which need further 

 study. According to these obseivations the maximum (3 "60 

 mag.) in 1897 occurred about January 5, which indicated that 

 the time of computed maximum was about sixty-three days 

 too early. The following maximum in 1897 took place on 

 about November 23, the magnitude of the star amounting to 

 less than on the former occasion, namely 3 '06. This maximum 

 occurred fourteen days later than the calculated time. The 

 interval between the two amounts to 322 days, which is smaller 

 by nine days than what is generally computed to this star. Herr 

 Stratonoff further points out that after the chief maximum a 

 secondary maximum occurs, twenty-.seven days later ; this is 

 very interesting, as such a maximum takes place in the well- 

 known variable i\ Aquiloe. Herr Stratonoff's observations were 

 all made with the naked eye, with the exception of those included 

 in October 22-25, when he used an opera-glass. He attempted, 

 by photographic means, to determine the variations of the star 

 by making equal exposures on different nights, and examining 

 the diameters of the images formed ; but he ultimately found 

 that the method was not so accurate as the one, namely 

 Argelander's, that he had employed. 



In the same number of the Astr. Nachr. Dr. A. A. Nijland 

 communicates a short paper on the same variable, and shows 

 that, according to his observations, the maximum in 1897 

 occurred sharply on November 26. This determination may be 

 perhaps considered more accurate than that of Herr Stratonoff, 

 whose observations at the time of maximum were less numerous 

 than those of Dr. Nijland. Even in this case the computed 

 time was far too early, amounting to fifty-seven days. In Dr. 

 Nijland's curve the secondary maximum of Herr Stratonoff is 

 also indicated, although the former observer draws his curve 

 through the mean of the observed points, looking upon the 

 variation of intensity as within errors of observation. Assuming 

 that the maximum fell according to Chandler, on January 11, 

 1897, then the last observed period amounts to about 319 days, 

 which does not differ very much from that found by Herr 

 Stratonoff, as mentioned above. The light curves reproduced 

 in both the papers referred to are well worth perusal, and will 

 perhaps lead other observers to follow the fluctuations of this 

 interesting variable. 



