110 



KNOWLEDGE. 



[May, 10O3. 



the assumption that if we take a sufficient number of stars 

 their real motions in all directions will be equal, and that, 

 therefore, the apparent preponderances which we observe 

 in particular directions result from the real motion of the 

 sun. But there is no impossibility in a systematic motion 

 of the majority of the stars used in these researches which 

 might reconcile the observed facts with a motionless sun. 

 And, in the second place, if the sun is not in the exact 

 centre of gravity of the universe, we might expect him to 

 be moving in an orbit around this centre of gravity, and 

 our observations on his actual motion are not sufficiently 

 numerous or accurate to enable us to affinn that he is 

 moving in a right line rather than in such an orbit. 

 Indeed, the positions assigned to the apes of the sun's 

 way appear to show a steady change as we use stars with 

 diminishing proper motion which are presumably at 

 increasing distances, and though other explanations of 

 this circumstance may be given, one admissible hvpothesis 

 is that the different directions thus computed represent 

 the tangent to the sun's orbit at different dates, and thus 

 establish its curvature. To anyone, however, who realises 

 the vast dimensions of the known universe, and the 

 manner in which science is constantly opening out great 

 new vistas into the unknown, a hvpothesis like that of Dr. 

 Wallace will appear to be exceedingly improbable, and I 

 do not think the basis of observation on which it rests is 

 sufficiently extensive and solid to justify its acceptance by 

 the votaries of science. 



I may remark that if, as I have suggested, the ether 

 absorbs light, we have an explanation of miny of the 

 difficulties which arise in connection with this question. 

 But apart fi'om this hypothesis, meteors in space —cosmic 

 dust — may absorb a sensible proportion of the light of 

 luminous bodies, this proportion increasing with the 

 distance. We could not discover this fact within the 

 limits of the solar system, because the planets shine by 

 reflected light, and the meteors or cosmic dust which 

 intervened would reflect the light also, and being nearer 

 to us than the planet would, in fact, increase its light, 

 provided that their reflecting power were the same. The 

 effect of their interposing between us and a self-luminous 

 body would be quite different, and if they exist throughout 

 all sp;ice, the greater the distance the more of the light 

 they would (on the average) intercept. If sufficiently 

 remote, the star would thus, for all practical purposes, 

 be blotted out. 



I may add that on the assumption of a finite ether forming 

 an oasis in a desert universe, which seems to be Dr. 

 Wallace's idea, not only is it unlikely that the centre of the 

 universe would fall within the ether, but even if it chanced 

 to do so, the ether would probably have a proper motion 

 of its own which would soon carry it away from this 

 centre. Further, assuming that life and intelligence could 

 only be developed within the limits of this ether, and (as 

 Dr. Wallace suggests) that the development would therefore 

 Ije carried farthest in the case of the bodies that had been 

 longest in it, I would expect to find these bodies not in 

 the centre, but near the confines, at the opposite side from 

 that at which they had originally entered it. 



W. H. S. MuNCK. 



Brttisl) ©rnirtjological Notes. 



Conducted by Harry F. Witherbt. f.z.s., ji.b.o.u. 



The Meadow Bunting (Emherita ciaj in E'lrjland. — At the meeting 

 of the BritUh Ornithologists' Club, hel 1 on .Taauirr 2t6t list, Dr. 

 K. B. Sharpe reported that he had recentlv cxamiaei a specimeo of 

 this bird caught near Shorehaiu, Sussex, at the end of October, 1902. 

 There were two of these birds ciptured out of a flock of chatfin^hes 

 and other bird), one had died and the other wa) in the possessioi of 

 Mr. E. A. Haikett, of Eiat Finohley. The Meadow Banting is an 



inhabitant of Central and Southern Europe and Asia Minor, and has 

 not been recorded before for Great Britain. 



Oreat Bust'ird in Ireland [The Field, March I4th, p. 417).— 

 Me^^rs. Williams & Sou, the Dublin tiiidermists, report ths occur- 

 rence of two Gre.it Bustards near Thurles, Co. Tipperary, in December, 



1902. One of the birds (a female) was shot on the 20th of that 

 month. The Great Bustard has not been recorded before for 

 Ireland. 



White's Thrush in Yorkshire (The Naturalitt, March, 1903, 

 p. 68).— A specimen of White's Thrush (Turdus rarius) was shot in 

 Luddenden Dean, near Halifax, on December 18th, 1902. The bird 

 is now in the Halifax Museum, and a full account of it, illustrated 

 with a photograph, appears in the H idfux Saturalist fur Februarv. 

 from the pen of Mr. A. Crabtree. I'liis bird is somewhat larger than 

 a Mistle-TIirush, is mottled in plumage, and is generally to be found 

 on the ground. It is an eastern species, and has seldom been recorded 

 from Great Britain. 



Lesser Whitethro it breeding in West Koss-shire {Annals of Scot. 

 Nat. Mist., April, 1903, p. 71).— Messrs, L, W. Hinxman and W. E, 

 Clarke have identified a nest and eggs taken at Inverbroom, West 

 Ross-shire, in 1896, as those of the Lesser Whitethroat, This bird 

 breeds rarely in S W. .-Scotland but has hitherto only been recorded 

 as a passing migrant elsewhere in Scotland, 



Sough-legged Buzzzrd in Ireland {Irish. Naturalist. April, 1903, 

 p 111), — Mr. E. Williams records that a lemale specimen of Buteo 

 lagopus was recently shot near Fivemiletown, Co. I'jrone. This bird 

 is a rare visitor to Ireland. 



The Status of the Goldfinch in Britain {Zoologist, 1903, February, 

 pp, 70-72, March, pp. 104 and 105). — Observers in Tarious counties 

 continue here their opinions on the status of the Goldfinch in Great 

 Britain. 



Bean-goose in Outer Hebrides (Annals of Scot. Nat. Hist., April, 



1903, p. 119).— Mr. J. A, HarvieBrown records that on March 21st 

 last he received a specimen of this Gooso for examination. The bird 

 was sent from South Uist, and two others were observed at the same 

 time. In the last edition of his " Manual of British Birds," Mr. 

 Howard Saunders remarks that reported occurrences of this species 

 in the Outer Hebrides, Orkneys and Shetlands, require confirmation. 



British Bean-geese. By "F. W. Frohawk. {Zoologist, 1903. 

 February, pp, 41-45.) — Mr. Frohawk here reverts to the discussion 

 of the Bean-geese {see Knowledge, November, 1902, p. 255). 



On the specific validitfi of Anser rubriroslris (Hodgson) and its 

 position as a British Bird. By F. Cobuni. {Zoologist. February, 

 1903. pp. 46-52,) — This is a somewliat long and detailed description 

 of the eastern form of the Grey Lag-goose obtained by Mr. Coburn 

 from Limerick {see Knowledoe, October, 1902, p. 231). Mr. 

 Coburn is apt to become somewhat elated, and decidedly dogmatic, 

 when on the subject of Geese. 



On the Acifav.na of the Outer Hebrides, 188S-1902. By J. A. 

 Harvie-Brown. — Mr. Harvie-Brown sends me a most useful reprint 

 from the Annals of Scottish Natural Historg of his series of articles, 

 which bring the avifauna of the Outer Hebrides up to date. 



Supposed Breeding of the Hawfinch in Ireland {Iri.fh Naturalist, 

 October, 1902, p. 250, and April, 1903, p. 111).— The Hawfinch has 

 never been proved to nest in Ireland although it is often found there 

 in winter. Notes have lately appeared, however, iu the Irish 

 Naturalist, stating that Mr. Bedford has seen, near Straffan House, 

 Co. Kildai-e, a few pairs of these birds all through the nesting seasons 

 of every year since 1896, and that last year he saw a Hawfinch 

 feeding its young. 



All contributions to the column, either in the way of notes 

 or photographs, should be forwarded to Habby F. Witherby, 

 at the Office o/ Knowledge, 326, High Holborn, London. 



iaotcs. 



Astronomical, — The most interesting recent event in 

 astronomical matters is the discovery of a "new star" at 

 the University Oljservatory, Oxford. On March Itith, in 

 the ordinary routine of the work connected with the photo- 

 graphic chart of the heavens, a plate was exposed on a part 

 nt" the constellation Gemini, and it happened that the new 

 star was accidentally selected for the guiding star iu place 

 of the one intended. vSubsequent examination of the plate 

 indicated " an error in setting," and led to the recognition 

 of the star as one not previously catalogued. The E.A. 

 and Decl, are respectively 6h, 37m. 48'9s. and -^ 30' i' 39 ' 

 (1900). Piiotagrai^hs taken on February 2ith. and earlier, 

 did not show the star ; on March 16th its magnitude was 

 7, and on Mir^h 27th it was 8-5. Observatioas bv Mr. 



