August 30, 1900] 



NATURE 



425 



Exf>edition. Mr. Laufer gives a careful analysis of zoomorphic 

 patterns, mainly of the Gold tribe ; their decorative art shows 

 distinct traces of Chinese influence, but the designs have been 

 evolved in an original and interesting manner. 



The catalogue of bacteriological and pathological apparatus, 

 just published by Messrs. J. J. Griffin and Sons, contains 

 several new instruments and accessories, and will well repay 

 inspection. Among the apparatus we notice several spirit 

 Bunsen burners, which can be used instead of ordinary Bunsen 

 burners where gas is not available. These are, of course, 

 suitable for any laboratory, and not merely for bacteriological 

 work. Of special interest are a number of new centrifuges for 

 use in the examination of blood, sputum, milk. In water, 

 urine and milk analysis a comparatively low rate of revolution 

 is required, and a hand centrifuge giving up to 2000-30CK) 

 revolutions a minute is sufficient. When examining blood or 

 sputum it may be necessary to make upwards of 10,000 revo- 

 lutions a minute, which rate can be obtained by a water-power 

 centrifuge manufactured by Messrs. Griffin. Another note- 

 worthy addition is a special test-tube possessing characteristics 

 always required for bacteriological work, but rarely found. 



The additions to the Zoological Society's Gardens during the 

 past week include a Javan Mynah {Gracula javanensis) from 

 Malacca, presented by Mr. George Smith ; an Indian Crow 

 {Corvus spletidens) from India, presented by Mr, E. A. 

 Williams ; a Rose-coloured Pastor {Pastor roseus) from India, 

 an Indigo Finch {Cyattospiza cyatiea), a Nonpareil Finch 

 (Cyanospha ciris) from North America, presented by Mr. L. 

 Ingram Baker; a Raven {Corvtis corax), European, presented 

 by Mr. G. St. Leger Hopkinson ; three Blackish Sternotheres 

 {Sternothoerus nigricans) from Madagascar, two Prasine Snakes 

 {^Coluber prasina) from Upper Burmah, eleven American Box 

 Tortoises ( Cistudo Carolina) from North America, deposited ; an 

 Occipital Blue Pie (Urocissa occipitalis) from the Western 

 Himalayas, ten Common Chameleons {Chamaeleon vulgaris) 

 from North Africa, purchased ; a Brush-tailed Kangaroo 

 {Petrogale penicillata), born in the Gardens. 



OUR ASTRONOMICAL COLUMN 

 Astronomical Occurrences in September. 

 Sept. I. 8h. Jupiter in conjunction with the moon. Jupiter, 

 0° 51' North. 



3. 7h. i6m. to 8h. urn. Moon occults the planet 



Saturn. 



4. 7h. 35m. to 8h. 50m. Moon occults the star {^ 



Sagittari (mag. 5"0). 



5. 7h. 24m. Transit (ingress) of Jupiter's Sat. III. 



12. I2h. 35m. to I3h. 43m. Moon occults it Arietis 

 (mag. 5-6). 



12. i6h. 27m. to I7h. 40m. Moon occults p' Arietis 



(mag. 55). 



13. gh. 43m. to loh. 34m. Moon occults 13 Tauri 



(mag. 5-4). 



14. 8h. 39m. to 9h. i8m. Moon occults D.M. -I- 20°, 



785 (mag. 5-8). 



15. Venus. Illuminated portion of disc = 0*493. 



15. Mars. ,, ,, ,, = 0-915. 



16. I2h. 8m. Minimum of Algol (3 Persei). 



17. 6h. Venus at greatest elongation. 46° i' West, 



18. I4h. 48m. to I5h. 40m. Moon occults 29 Cancri 



(mag. 5-9). 



19. 8h. 57m. Minimum of Algol (3 Persei). 

 23. oh. Sun enters Libra, autumn commences. 



27. Saturn. Outer minor axis of outer ring = I7"*25. 



28. 2lh. Jupiter in conjunction with the moon. Jupiter, 



o" 13' North. 

 Ring Nebui a in Lyra.— It is interesting to find in the 

 Bulletin de la Societe Astronomique de France, August 1900, 

 an account of the first published work done with the great 50- 

 inch refractor of the Paris Exposition while that exhibition is 

 still in progress. M. Eugene Antoniadi, of the Juvisy Observ- 



NO. 1609, VOL. 62] 



atory, has been for some time making systematic observations of 

 nebulx with the instrument, and a drawing showing a consider- 

 able amount of detail accompanies his paper on the Ring Nebula, 

 the first of the series he has undertaken to study. He mentions 

 that the lens used is the photographic one, the other, specially 

 corrected for the visual rays, not yet being in position. The 

 focal length of this glass is about 186 feet (57 metres). 



Occultation ok Saturn.— On Monday evening next, 

 September 3, there will be an occultation of Saturn by the moon, 

 for which the following particulars for Greenwich may be 

 useful : — 



Angle from 

 Sidereal Mean r ' ^ 



Time. Time. North point. Vertex, 



h. m. h. m. 



Disappearance ... 18 6 ... 7 16 ... 128 ... 126 



Reappearance 19 i ... 8 11 ... 217 ... 206 



Providing the weather be favourable, this should be an ex- 

 cellent opportunity for observing the occultation of the planet, 

 as the altitude will be almost at its maximum, meridian passage 

 at Greenwich occurring at 7h. 7m. G.M.T. Moreover, from 

 its being such a bright object, observations may be made with 

 instruments of the lowest optical power. 



In the Bulletin de la Societe Astronomique de France for 

 August 1900, M. M. Honorat gives an illustrated description 

 of his observation of the last occultation of Saturn on June 

 13. He mentions the conspicuous contrast between the 

 slightly yellowish colour of the n\oon and the greenish tint of the 

 planet. During the occultation the planet appeared separated 

 from the lunar limb by a narrow shadow about 5" ot arc in 

 width, probably a contrast effect. 



At the reappearance of Saturn at the terminator, he could 

 not perceive any trace of penumbral shadow cast on the planet's 

 disc. 



Oi'POSItion of Eros. — Two additional circulars have been 

 issued by the special committee appointed by the Astrographic 

 Conference to direct the observations of Eros during the coming 

 opposition. Special attention is drawn to the work which may 

 be commenced at once, such as micrometric observations with 

 all equatorials of large aperture, for furnishing definite positions 

 for the theory of the planet's movement, and that these should 

 be published as soon as possible, to perfect the ephemerides for 

 the actual parallax work later. An ephemeris is included 

 from the computations of M. Millosevich, and tables showing 

 the limiting times between which the planet will have an 

 altitude greater than 20° at various latitudes, and also a table 

 indicating the proper regions to be included on the photographs 

 on dates extending from September 19 to January 7. 



In the Astronomische Nachrichten (Bd. 153, No. 3656), 

 Prof. S. J. Brown, of the U.S. Observatory at Washingtonj 

 calls attention to the many opportunities for simultaneous micro- 

 meter observations at widely separated stations, and as many 

 observatories are not equipped with the photographic instru- 

 ments necessary for the more general programme contemplated, 

 gives data for assisting micrometer observers to co-operate for 

 this type of work alone. The high declination of the planet 

 makes it possible to secure simultaneous observations at all the 

 Eastern stations west of Pulkowa, and at all the American 

 observatories east of Denver. He also gives a table showing 

 the Greenwich Mean Time at which the planet will be simul- 

 taneously visible at the observatories of Pulkowa, Konigsberg, 

 Vienna, Evanston, Madison, Yerkes and Denver for intervals of 

 ten days from 1900 October I-1901 January 19. Careful 

 sketches of the comparison stars in the field should be made to 

 facilitate subsequent identification. Owing to the rapid orbital 

 motion of Eros rendering observations for position angle and 

 distance very troublesome, measures should be made in rect- 

 angular co-ordinates referred to the true equatorial position of 

 the fixed micrometer wire. 



THE INTERNA TIONAL PHYSICAL 

 CONGRESS. 

 'T^HE first International Congress of Physics, which has just 

 finished its sittings, has been a brilliant success. "The 

 number of participators exceeded a thousand, and, in spite of 

 the attractions which Paris always offers, in spite of the simul- 

 taneous rivalry of the Universal Exhibition itself, sectional and 

 general meetings were closely followed up to the last day by a 

 great number of visitors. 



