September 1, 1896.] 



KNOWLEDGE. 



215 



number, the pendulous ovule, etc. ; but it is perhaps 



sufficient to state that there is satisfactory evidence to 

 show that they form the final stage in the series Kubiales- 

 Dipsacales, and hence are not really related to the 

 Composite, but have arrived by a different path at some- 

 what analogous structures. Similar capitate inflorescences 

 are likewise to be found in the final stages of other lines 

 of descent, as in the sea-holly {Erymiium) among the 

 Umbelliferse. 



THE FACE OF THE SKY FOR SEPTEMBER. 



By Herbert Sadler, F.R.A.S. 



THE number of spots diversifying the solar disc is 

 still very small. 

 A conveniently observable minimum of Algol 

 will occur at lOh. 50m. p.m. on the 8th. 



Both Mercury and Venus are too near the Sun 

 this month for the observer's purposes, and Jupiter does 

 not rise till after midnight at the end of the month. 



Mars is an evening star, and is now a fine object in the 

 evening. On the 1st he rises at 9h. 46m. p.m., or 3h. 2m. 

 after sunset, with a northern declination of 20^ 53', and 

 an apparent equatorial diameter of 9j", the defect of 

 illumination on the preceding limb amounting to 1-4". 

 On the 9th he rises at 9h. 28m. p.m., with a northern 

 declination of 21" 35', and an apparent equatorial diameter 

 of 100". On the 16th he rises at 9h. 12tn. p.m., or about 

 8h. 2in. after sunset, with a northern declination of 22^ 6', 

 and an apparent equatorial diameter of 10^", the defect of 

 illumination on the preceding limb amounting to 11". On 

 the 23rd he rises at 8h. 54m. p.m., or 8h. after the 

 Sun, with a northern declination of 22'' 27', and an 

 apparent equatorial diameter of 110". On the 30th he 

 rises at 8h. 35m. p.m., or 2h. 57m. after the Sun, with a 

 northern declination of 22^ 52', and an apparent diameter 

 of II5' > the phasis on the preceding limb amounting to 1 j". 

 He is in conjunction with Neptune at 6h. a.m. on the 24!th, 

 Mars being 50' to the north. During the month he 

 describes a direct path in Taurus, almost to the confines of 

 Gemini. 



Saturn is an evening star, and is still visible shortly 

 after sunset during the first half of the month. On the 

 1st he sets at 8h. 55m. p.m., or 2h. 11m. after the Sun, 

 with a southern declination of 14° 4', and an apparent 

 equatorial diameter of 30 " (the major axis of the ring 

 system being 375" in diameter, and the minor ISV ). On 

 the 7th he sets at 8h. 34m. p.m., or about two hours after 

 the Sun, with a southern declination of 14° 13', and an 

 apparent equatorial diameter of 30" (the major axis of the 

 ring system being 371" in diameter, and the minor 131"). 

 On the 16th he sets at 7h. 58in. p.m., or Ih. 45m. after the 

 Sun, with a southern declination of 14° 28', and an apparent 

 equatorial diameter of 29|" (the major axis of the ring 

 system being 37" in diameter, and the minor 13"). He 

 describes while visible a short direct path in Libra. 



Uranus is too near the Sun to be conveniently observed. 



Neptune is an evening star, rising on the 1st at 9h. 50m. 

 P.M., with a northern declination of 21° 42', and an 

 apparent diameter of 2'6 ". On the 30th he rises at 

 8h. 30m. p.m., with a northern declination of 21° 41'. He 

 is almost stationary in Taurus during the month. 



There are, no very well marked showers of shooting stars 

 in September. 



The Moon is new at Ih. 43m. p.m. on the 7th ; enters 

 her first quarter at 4h. 10m. p.m. on the 14th; is full 

 (Harvest Moon) at lOh. 49m. p.m. on the 21st ; and enters 

 her last quarter at Ih. 58m. a.m. on the 30th. She ia in 



perigee at 8h. p.m. on the 8th (distance from the Earth, 

 223,420 miles), and in apogee at 3h. a.m. on the 24th 

 (distance from the Earth, 252,400 miles). The Moon 

 will pass through the Pleiades on the evening of the 26th, 

 occulting several of the bright stars in that asterism. 



Cljcss Column. 



By C. D. LococK, B. A. Oxen. 



Communications for this column should be addressed to 

 C. D. LococK, Burwash, Sussex, and posted on or before 

 the 10th of each month. 



If 



2. 

 2. 

 2. 

 2. 

 2. 



E X Pch, etc. 



B X P, etc. 



E to QKtSch, etc. 



E to Kt5ch, etc. 



Kt(K5) to KB3, etc. 



Solutions of August Problems. 



(A. C. Challenger.) 



No. 1. 

 1. Q to B7, and mates next move. 



No. 2. 



Key move. — 1. Kt to K5. 

 . . KxP, 

 . . PxKt, 

 . . E or Kt moves, 



PxP, 

 ! ! B to kt7, 



[It will be noticed that though there is a double threat. 

 Black is cleverly compelled to defend himself against at 

 least one of the threats.] 



Correct Solutions of both problems received from 

 Alpha, Arthur S. Coulter, A. G. Fellows, H. S. Brandreth 

 (Dresden), H. Le Jeune, G. A. F. (Brentwood), and W. 

 Willby. Of No. 1 only from G. G. Beazley and A. E. 

 Whitehouse. 



Hubert Price. — In the amended position the key is 

 doubly weak, because (i.) it shuts out the Black King 

 from his only available square ; and (ii.) the piece moved 

 is t'H prise. A remedy would be to omit the first move, 

 and publish the position as a simple three-mover ; but the 

 idea, we fear, is one that has been often represented before. 



iS. J. Charh'ston. — In the position you send you appear 

 to have overlooked the defences Kt to B7 or Ksq or Q4, 

 preventing mate. In any case, we should say the idea is 

 not suitable for a problem. 



PEOBLEMS. 



By C. D. Locoi'k. 



No. 1. 



Black (1). 



WnrrB (7). 



White mates in two moves. 



