January 1, 1001. "" 



KNOWLEDGE 



17 



"Anntal Rkport of the Paris Observatory." — Of lato 

 years the Paris Observatory has given in each annual report a 

 very beautiful and practical specimen of the work accomplished, 

 in a heliogravure of the moon, photographed by MM. Lewy and 

 Puiseux, with the Grand Equatorial Coudc. The plate this 

 year was taken ou ISO;'. February, 6d. U').5h., when the moon 

 was aged l>d. 8.8h.. and the Mare SereniUitis was half in shadow, 

 its western w:ill showing very dimly against the skj'. The chief 

 point of interest, indeed, in the report, relates to the great lunar 

 photographs, and especially to the giant presentations of l.l^Hm. 

 of the moon in the first and last quarter, exhibited at the Paris 

 Exhibition. Besides the work of the great lunar atlas, and the 

 other routine observations, connected with the meridian and 

 astrographic departments, M. Hamy has conducted a series of 

 interference measures with the object of determining the 

 wave-lengths of a certain number of standard points in the 

 spectrum. 



"The Path of the Six : ItsOrhit and Period of Revo- 

 lution DEMONSTRATEn." With an Exposure of the Fallacy 

 of the Precession of the Equinoxes. By William Sande- 

 man, f.C.a. (Simpkin.) — The phenomena produced by the 

 rotation of the earth on its axis in 2-t hours, could also be ex- 

 plained by a rotation of the entire heavens on a similar axis in 

 a similar time. So the phenomena produced by the revolution 

 of the earth round the sun in a year could also be produced by 

 the revolution of the sun round the earth. We have plenty of 

 paradoxers to uphold both doctrines. The gross improbability 

 of their assumptions does not strike them, and they arc either 

 ignorant of those facts which are irreconcilable with their theories, 

 or they have not sufficient discernment to see how they bear 

 upon them. Mr. Sandeman falls into an error, precisely 

 analogous in its character, but dealing with a somewhat more 

 recondite question. He refers the rotation of the axis of the 

 earth in the precessional cycle of nearly 26,0(iO years to a 

 revolution of the sun and the entire solar system in a similar 

 period. The paradox is therefore practically the same in nature 

 as those with which the ''flat-earth" and the '-immovable- 

 earth " people have made us so familiar. 



"Annals of the Lowell Observatokv," Volume 11. — The 

 second volume of the "Annals of the Lowell Observatory" is 

 like the first, sumptuously prepared and fully illustrated. It 

 deals with the two planets Jupiter and Mars : the first was 

 observed in 1894 and 18'J5, the latter in 1896 and 18',I7. The 

 observations of Jupiter itself dealt with the polar flattening, 

 which was found to be 1/16.11, and with refraction in its atmo- 

 sphere. The amount of refraction found was considerable, 

 namely a refraction of 8' of arc in the outer atmosphere. The 

 depth of the atmosphere would appear to be great — 2801) miles 

 is sngge-sted — with a slow decrease in the refractive power and 

 density. But much more attention was given to the satellites, 

 of which a great number of beautiful little drawings are given. 

 Of the satellites, the first was considered to be markedly ellip- 

 tical, being a prolate spheroid, revolving end over end about one 

 of its minor diameters in a period of 13 hours. Of satellite II., 

 Utile could be made out. The third satellite showed a slight 

 ellipticity, but several surface details were detected, which may 

 be de.scribed as a northern belt, crossed occasionally by another 

 line or belt, rarely a central forked belt, and once a southern 

 belt. The fourth satellite also showed a slight ellipticity. Both 

 third and fourth satellites kept the same face always turned 

 towards their primary, whUst the rotation of the first satellite 

 was much more rapid than its revolution. The greater part of 

 the volume is, however, given to the planet Mars, and the re- 

 searches detailed in the first volume of the •' Annals " are 

 continued in this. The meteorology of JIars, it is infeiTed, 

 resembles that of our own earth, except in so far as they are 

 affected by the limited water supply. There appears to be a 

 great transference of moisture from one hemisphere to the 

 other, twice in the course of the Martian year, chiefly by an 

 srial transmission. " Radiation and polar clouds are the more 

 common forms on Mars, cyclonic and conventional clouds are 

 very rare." The observers are inclined to ascribe many of the 

 dark markings to vegetation. " The surface of the planet teems 

 likely to be level, but large raised areas exist in the polar 

 regions. . . . The mean temperature at the poles is likely to be 

 not far below freezing, the contrast between day and night is 

 considerable." Whatever reluctance may be felt to accept the 



conclusions of the Lowell observers in their fulness, there can 

 be no question that the principle they adojited of making these 

 planetaiy observations as continuously as possible, and not 

 spasmodically, is the right and true one It is the only method, 

 and it is a certain one, for making substantial progress in our 

 knowledge of the conditions of the planets. 



"Willia.ms and Xorgate's Book Ciucular." — We have 

 received a most useful volume from Messrs. Williams & Norgate, 

 comprising eight monthly issues of their Book Circultir. This 

 l)ublication contains well-writton and critical notes on new and 

 forthcoming books, chiefly Continental. It should be of 

 considerable value to scientific workers. 



Cataloijfes. — Wehave received useful catalogues of electrical 

 apparatus, from Messrs. W. & J. George, Limited ; of raicrosco|)es 

 and micro.scopic slides, from Mr. (J. Baker : of cabinets, birds' 

 eggs and skins, butterflies and moths, from Messrs. Watkins and 

 Doncaster : of bioscopes and of cinematograph films, from the 

 Warwick Trading Company, Limited ; a pami)hlot on the 

 Kammatograph, from Messrs. Kamm & Co. ; a Radiographic 

 list from ^Messrs. Isenthal & Co. ; and supplementary list of 

 lantern slides from Messrs. Newton & Co. 



BOOKS KECEIVED. 



The Progress of Inveiidcm in the Nineteenth Century. By Edward 

 W. Byrn. (New York : Munn & Co.) Illustrated. S3. 



Report on the Census of Cuba, 1S99. (Washington : Govoriimeut 

 Printing OUice.) 



Railway Runs in Three Continents. By J. T. Burton Alexander. 

 (Elliot Stock.) 7s. 6d. net. 



Botany : An Elementary Text for Schools. By L. H. BaUey. 

 (Macmillan.) Illustrated. 6s. 



Botany. By K. 8. Wisliart, m.a. (The Sclf-Edueator Series.) 

 (Hodder and Stoughton.) Illustrated. 2s. 6d. 



The Self-Educator in French. Edited by John Adams, M.A., B.sc. 

 (Hodder & Stoughton.) 2s. 6d. 



One Thousand Objects for the Microscope. By M. C. Cooke, 

 sr.A., LL.D , a.l.s. New Edition. (Warne.) Illustrated. 2s. 6d. 



All Change. By Wilfred WooUam, M.A. (Elliot Stock.) 



What is Heat ! and What is Electricity '. By Frederick 

 Hovenden, P L.S., F.O s., F.E.M s. (Chapman & HaU.) Illustrated. 63. 



A New Practical Method of Learning French Colloquially. By 

 L. B. Meuuier. (Philip & Son.) 28. 



The Structure and Life History of the Harlequin Fly. By L. C. 

 Miall, F.R.S., and A. R. Hammond, f.l.s. (Clarendon Press.) Illus- 

 trated. 7s. t)d. 



Hand-Book of Practical Botany. By Dr. E. Sti'asburger. Trans- 

 lated by W. HiUhouse, M.A., F.L.S. 5th Edition. (Swan Sonnenschein.) 

 Illustrated. lUs. 6d. 



The Romance of the Earth. By A. W. Bickcrton. (Swan 

 Sonnenschein.) Illustrated. 2s. 6d. 



A School Chemistry. By John Waddcll, B.A., B.sc. (Maemillan.) 

 Illustrated. -Is. net. 



By Land and SA-i/. By the Ecv. John M. Bacon, M.A., f.e.a.s. 

 (Isbister.) Illustrated. 7s. 6d. 



Annuaire Astronomique, 1901. Par Camille Flammarion. (Paris; 

 Flammarion.) Illustrated. Ifr. 2.5. 



Table of Dieisors. By Tliomas Denee. (Mayfair Works.) 



The Complete Works of John Keats. Edited by H. Buxton 

 Formau. Vol.1. (Glasgow: Gowans & Gray.) Is. net. 



Table Generate des Publications de la Societe d' Anthropologie 

 de Paris. (Paris : La Soeiete d' Anthropologie ) 6fr. 



2'he Story of Thought and Feeling. By Frederick Ryland, M.A. 

 (Newnes.) Is. 



Jewellery and Trinkets. By .iliee Teague. (Dawbarn & Ward.) 

 Illustrated. 6d. net. 



The Beacens at a Glance, IMl. Card Calendar. By Arthur 

 Mee, F.B.A.s. 7d. Post free. 



The Story of Nineteenth Century Science. By Henry Smith 

 Williams, M.D. (Harper and Brothers.) illustrated. 9s. 



The Principles of MagnHism and Electricity. By P. L. Gray, 

 B.sc. (.\Ietliuen & Co.) 3s. 6cL 



Lord Lilford : A Memoir by his Sister. (Smith, Elder & Co.) 

 Illustrated. 10s. 6d. 



Practical Lessons in Metal Turning. By Percival Marshall. 

 (Dawbarn & Ward.) Illustrated. 2s. net. 



Who's Who, 1901. (A. & C. Black.) 5e. net. 



Englishmoman's I'ear Book. (A. & C. Black.) 2s. 6d. net. 



