Z1^ 



NA TURE 



[August i8, 1898 



year 1897," p. 7) :— It may be interesting to mention that 

 shortly before noon on August i last year a large meteorite fell 

 at Zavid near Rozanj, in the district of Zvornik. Unfortunately, 

 as soon as it cooled, peasants of the neighbourhood knocked off 

 pieces of it, but about 80 per cent, of the mass remained. It 

 buried itself a yard deep in the ground, with the so-called breast 

 uppermost. Eye-witnesses of its fall say that it was accompanied 

 by a noise like thunder, lasting several minutes and audible a 

 long way off. It left a fiery streak behind, which a short way 

 above the horizon divided in two, and above this streak or tail 

 was a thick cloud of smoke. This meteorite is now in the 

 museum of this town, and measures 55 by 35 by 28 centims. 

 It was broken by the fall in several pieces, but has been joined 

 together again. This is the first aerolite which has been found 

 in Bosnia. 



The New Observatory at Heidelberg. — The opening 

 of the new observatory at Heidelberg, on June 20, is an event of 

 no little importance, more especially as the instrumental equip- 

 ment is designed for the pursuit of both of the great branches 

 of astronomy. The astrometric department is in the capable 

 hands of Prof. Valentin, Miho, in addition to more purely scien- 

 tific problems, is charged with the determination of time and its 

 communication to the railways and various other establishments. 

 The most important instrument is a meridian circle by Repsold, 

 of 6 inches aperture. 



Prof. Max Wolf, who has achieved such brilliant success in 

 celestial photography, is in charge of the astrophysical work of 

 the observatory, and we are glad to know that the buildings 

 have been specially arranged to facilitate the continuation of 

 his researches. The equatorial, which has served Prof. Wolf so 

 well, is placed under a dome of nearly 18 feet diameter, the 

 construction of which is so perfect that it can be turned com- 

 pletely round in 8 seconds. Another dome of nearly 20 feet 

 diameter will shelter the astrophotographic instrument, which 

 the observatory will owe to the generosity of Miss Bruce. The 

 lenses for this instrument are being made by Brashear. 



An Astronomer's Reminiscences.— In the first of a series 

 of "Reminiscences of an Astronorner, " which Prof. Simon 

 Newcomb contributes to the August number of the Atlantic 

 Monthly, several incidents and opinions of interest to astronomers 

 are related. Referring to Gayley, Prof. Newcomb says : " His 

 life was that of a man moved to investigation by an uncon- 

 trollable impulse ; the only sort of man whose work is destined 

 to be imperishable." After a short description of the work of 

 Leverrier and Adams, which led to the discovery of Neptune, 

 we read : " Adams's intellect was one of the keenest I ever 

 knew. The most difficult problems of mathematical astronomy 

 and the most recondite principles that underlie the theory of 

 the celestial motions were to him but child's play." Airy is 

 regarded as " the most commanding figure in the astronomy of 

 our time. He owes this position not only to his early works in 

 mathematical astronomy, but also to his ability as an organiser." 

 Experience in the United States led Prof. Newcomb to antici- 

 pate a difficulty in getting the various telegraph stations 

 between Gibraltar and Greenwich connected for longitude 

 operations, and in discussing the work he asked Airy how the 

 connections could be made from one end of the line to the other, 

 at the same moment. '* Nothing is simpler," replied Airy. " I 

 set a moment, say eight o'clock Greenwich mean time, at which 

 signals are to commence. Every intermediate office through 

 which the signals are to pass is instructed to have its wires 

 connected in both directions exactly at the given hour, and to 

 leave them so connected for ten minutes, without asking any 

 further instructions. At the end of the line the instruments 

 must be prepared at the appointed hour to receive the signals. 

 All I have to do here is to place my clock in the circuit and 

 send on the signals for ten minutes commencing at eight o'clock. 

 They are recorded at the other end of the line, without further 

 trouble." This incident is a good lesson in astronomical 

 method. 



THE FORTHCOMING INTERNATIONAL 

 CONGRESS OF ZOOLOGY. 



'T'HE following is the programme of the fourth International 

 Congress of Zoology, which begins at Cambridge on Mon- 

 day next, under the patronage of H. R. H. the Prince of Wales, 

 and the presidency of the Right Hon. Sir John Lubbock, 

 Bart., M. P., F.R.S. :— 



NO. 1503, VOL. 58] 



The Reception Room (Masonic Hall, Corn Exchange Street) 

 will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, August 22, and 

 on the four following days ; and from 9 a.m. to i p.m. on 

 Saturday, August 27. 



Monday, August 22, 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. — Reception at the 

 Guildhall by the Mayor of Cambridge. Members of the 

 University and of the Town Council are requested to weai 

 gowns ; Doctors and Aldermen, scarlet. 



Proceedings of the Congress. 



Tuesday, August 23, 10.30 a.m., at the Guildhall. — Opening 

 of the Congress by the President. Election of officers. Receipt 

 of reports of Committees appointed by the third Congress, and 

 other business. 2 p.m. : Meetings of the Sections. 



Note. — The Sections will be : (a) General Zoology, at the 

 Guildhall (No. i on the plan of the museums on the members' 

 tickets) ; {b) Vertebrata, in the Lecture Room of the Cavendish 

 Laboratory (No. 2 on the plan) ; {c) Invertebrata (except the 

 Arthropoda), in the Lecture Room of the Chemical Laboratory 

 (No. 4 on the plan) ; {d) Arthropoda, in the Lecture Room of 

 Comparative Anatomy (No. 6 on the plan). 5.50 p.m.: Organ 

 recital in King's College Chapel. 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. : Recep- 

 tion by the Vice-Chancellor at Downing College. 



Wednesday, August 24, 10.30 a.m., at Ihe Guildhall. — 

 General meeting of the Congress to discuss the position of 

 sponges in the animal kingdom. The discussion will be opened 

 by Prof. Yves Delage, of Paris, and Mr. Minchin, of Oxford. 



Note. — There may also be meetings of the Sections. 2 p.m. : 

 Meetings of the Sections. 9 p.m. : Conversazione in the 

 Fitzwilliam Museum in conjunction with the Internationa) 

 Congress of Physiologists. 



Thursday August 25, 10.30 a.m., at the Guildhall.— General 

 meeting of the Congress to discuss the origin of Mammals. The 

 discussion will be opened by Prof. Seeley, of London, and Prof. 

 H. F. Osborn, of New York. 



Note. — There may also be meetings of the Sections. 

 2.15 p.m., at the Senate House: The conferring of honorary 

 degrees. 4-6.30 p.m. : Garden party in the Botanic Garden of 

 the University. 



Friday, August 26, 13.30 a.m., at the Guildhall. — General 

 meeting of the Congress to hear an address by Prof. Haeckel, 

 "On our present knowledge of the Descent of Man." The 

 Right Hon. Sir Herbert Maxwell, Bart,, M.P., will afterwards 

 read a paper " On recent Legislation on the Protection of Wild 

 Birds in Britain." 



Note. — There may also be meetings of the Sections. 2 p.m. ; 

 Meetings of the Sections. 7.30 p.m. : Dinner in the hali of 

 Trinity College. Tickets, price 15^., must be applied for in 

 the Reception Room not later than i p.m. on Wednesday, 

 August 24. 



Saturday, August 27, 9.30 a.m., at the Guildhall. — General 

 meeting of the Congress to settle the time and place of the 

 Fifth International Congress. 



Arrangements for the Congress in London. 



Saturday, August 27, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. — Reception by the 

 President and Council of the Zoological Society of London in 

 their gardens in the Regent's Park, London. Tea and light 

 refreshments will be served. 9 to 11.30 p.m.: Reception by 

 the Right Hon. Sir John Lubbock, President of the Congress, 

 of the members of the Congress, at the Natural History Museum, 

 Cromwell Road. 



Sunday, August 28, 2.30 p.m. to 7 p.m. : The Natural His- 

 tory Museum, Cromwell Road, will be open. Tea and light 

 refreshments will be served to members of the Congress from 4 

 p.m. to 6 p.m. 9 p.m. : The President and Committee of the 

 Royal Societies' Club, St. James's Street, S.W., will hold a 

 reception in honour of the Congress (gentlemen only). 



Monday, August 29. — Visit to Tring Museum. Visitors will 

 be received by the Hon. Walter Rothschild, who will entertain 

 them at lunch. 



Note. — Notice of intention to visit Tring must be given in 

 writing to the Secretaries not later than noon on Wednesday, 

 August 24. 



Tuesday, August 30. — His Grace the Duke of Bedford will 

 be glad if such zoologists as are interested in the study of the 

 Cervidse will visit his parks at Woburn on Tuesday, August 30. 

 Mr. R. Lydekker, F.R.S., has promised to conduct the party, 

 which should not exceed in number sixty. Further information 



