NOYEMBER 2, 1896.] 



KNOWLEDGE. 



263 



i3 bollow, be holda, because it has grown around the old 

 cepbabc stomach, and our cerebral hemispheres are but 

 modifications of the suprao'sophageal ganglia of a scorpion. 

 " The time is coming," he concluded, "and, indeed, has 

 come, when the fetish worship of the hypoblast will give 

 way to the acknowled^;ment that the soul of every individual 

 is to be found in the brain, and not in the stomach ; and 

 that the true principle of evolution, without which no 

 upward progress is possible, consists in the steady upward 

 development of the central nervous system." The theory 

 is very pretty, but unfortunately, as was pointed out at the 

 meeting, there is very little actual evidence for it. No 

 traces of the series of Limulus-like animals, having im- 

 perishable skeletons, are known to occur m the fossiliferous 

 rocks. But whatever the ultimate decision may be as to 

 the soundness (or otherwise) of Dr. Gaskell's conclusions, 

 the hypothesis is startling enough to make zoologists and 

 physiologists examine the foundiitions upon which other 

 theories of the origin of vertebrates are based. 



The most important object of the British Association 

 is to bring together investigators in various branches of 

 science for the mutual exchange of ideas. By this means 

 a wider view is obtained, and directions in which researches 

 can be profitably made are indicated. The recent meeting 

 was not remaikable for the announcement of any great 

 discoveries, and we venture to say that some of the 

 presidential addresses were too diffuse and technical to be 

 of interest to even the members of the sections in which 

 they were read ; but, at the same time, men of many 

 branches of science mingled together, and went away more 

 anxious than before to assist in the advancement of 

 knowledge. 



THE FACE OF THE SKY FOR NOVEMBER. 



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



SUNSPOTS show a very gradual increase in number 

 and size. Conveniently observable minima of 

 Algol occur at 9h. 33m. p.m. on the 13th, and at 

 Oh. 22m. P.M. on the 16th. A maximum of the 

 remarkable variable o (Mira) Ceti is duo on the 3rd. 



Mercury is visible as a morning star during the first 

 half of the month. He rises on the 1st at 5h. 20m. a.m., 

 or Ih. 3Gm. before the Sun, with a southern declination 

 of 7° 21', and an apparent diameter of 5^", tVo'^^ o^ 

 the disc being illuminated. On the 6th he rises at 5h. 

 45m. A.M., or lb. 21m. before the Sun, with a southern 

 declination of 10' 29', and an apparent diameter of 5;^'', 

 y^glhs of the disc being illuminated. On the 11th lie 

 rises at Gh. 13m. a.m., or about one hour before the Sun, 

 with a southern declination of 14 ' 49', and au apparent 

 diameter of 5", x^b'^^ of the disc being illummated. 

 After this he approaches the Sun too closely to be visible. 

 Ho describes a direct path in \'irgo to the confines of 

 Libra. He is in superior conjunction with the Sun on 

 tha 28th. 



Venus is an evening star, but owing to her great southern 

 declination is by no means well situated for observation. 

 On the 1st she sets at 5h. l.Tm. p.m., or about one hour 

 and a quarter after the Sun, with a southern declination 

 of 22' 57', and an apparent diameter of 12'', i^/^ths of tbe 

 disc being illuminated. 



Mars is now the most conspicuous object in the evening 

 sky. He rises on tbe 1st at (ih. 47m. p.m., with a northern 

 declination of 24^ 13', and an apparent diameter of 15", 

 the phasis on the precedmg limb amounting to 1". On 

 the 5th he rises at Gb. 3()m. p.m., with a northern declina- 

 tion of 24' 24', and an apparent diameter of 151". On 

 the nth ho rises at fib. p.m., with a northern declination 



of 24° 41', and an apparent diameter of lof". On the 

 15th he rises at 5h. 42m. p.m., with a northern declination 

 of 24° 53', and an apparent diameter of 1G|". On the 

 25th be rises at 4h. 4Sm. p.m., with a northern declination 

 of 25 19', and an apparent diameter of 16|". On the 30th 

 he rises at 4b. ISm. p.m.. or 25m. after sunset, with a 

 northern declination of 25° 29', and an apparent diameter 

 of 111". During tlie month he describes a retrograde 

 path in Taurus. 



Jupiter does not rise till ilh. 13m. p.m. on the last day 

 of the month, and Saturn and Uranus are, for the observer's 

 purposes, invisible. 



Neptune is an evening star, rising on the 1st at Gh. 26m. 

 P.M., with a northern declination of 21° 38', and an 

 apparent diametsr of 2-6 ". On the 30th he rises at 

 4h. 2Sm. P.M., with a northern declination of 21' 34'. He 

 describes a very short retrograde path in Taurus during 

 November. 



November is a very favourable month for shooting stars. 

 The most marked display are the Leonids on November 

 13th and 14th, the radiant point being in R.A. lOh., and 

 northern declination 23 . Tbe radiant point rises at 

 about 10b. 15m. p.m. The Andromedes occur on the 27th, 

 the radiant point being in R.A. lb. 40m., and northern 

 declination 43 . 



The Mopn is new at 7h. 27m. a.m. on the 5th ; enters 

 her first quarter at 5h. 41m. a.m. on the 12th ; is full 

 at lOh. 25m. a.m. on the 20th ; and enters her last quarter 

 at 2h. 44ca. a.m. on tbe 28th. 



Cl^css Column. 



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



Communications for this column should be addressed to 

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

 the 10th of each month. 



Solutions of October Problems. 



No. 1. 

 (.J. K. Macmeikan.) 

 1. Q to K8, and mates next move. 

 [This is the first published problem of this promising 

 young composer.] 



No. 2. 

 (A. G. Fellows.) 

 Key move. — 1. Q to QBsq. 

 If 1. . . . Kt or P moves, 2. Kt to B5ch, etc. 

 1. ... K to QG, 2. Kt(B2) to Ktlch, etc. 



1. ... K to B4, 2. Q to KG, etc. 



Correct Solutions of both problems received from 

 Alpha, H. Le Joune, G. A. F. (Brentwood), L. Pfungst, 

 .J. T. Blakemore, A Norseman. 



Of No. 1 only from H. S. Brandreth, A. S. Coulter, 

 G. G. lieazley, J. M-Robert, W. Clugston, W. WiUby, 

 H. W. Elcum, G. J. Newbegm, E. C. Willis. 



\'ariou3 incorrect solutions have been sent for No. 2, 

 which has been greatly admired by those who solved it 

 correctly. The favourite error has been 1. K to Kt6, 

 which seems to be met onlv by 1. ... P to Q5, 2. Kt(RG) 

 to Kt4, Kt to Kt4. 



,J. .S\ Coulter. — After 1. Q to Ksq ch, K to QG, there is 

 no mate in two more moves. 



fl. S. Branilrctlt. — 1. Q to QKtsq will not solve No. 2. 

 The King finds safety at KB3. 



.Vex. L. StriDhje. — -Your card evidently applies to the 

 September Number. Solutions should be sent in by the 

 12th of the month. The October Number will show you 



