January 3, 1895] 



NATURE 



^11 



marked depression in the curves at the age of from thirteen to 

 fourteen years. Another noteworthy piece of work, recorded in 

 the same number, is that by Dr. Scripture and Mr. H. F. Smith, 

 which deals with the highest audible tones. The general result is 

 that the pitch of the highest note varies directly and almost pro- 

 portionally with the intensity. It is also shown that the limit 

 of audibility is much higher when reached by descent from more 

 rapid inautlible vibrations, i.e. proceding from silence to sound, 

 than it is when reached by ascending from less rapid audible 

 vibrations, i.e. proceding from sound to silence. 



The ninth part of "The Natural History of Plants "—the 

 English edi' ion of Prof. Kerner's admirable " Pflanzenleben " 

 — has been published by Messrs. Blackie and Son. 



Messrs. A. a.nd C. Black have published the hird part of 

 " .V Dictionary of Birds," by Prof. Alfred Newton, F.R.S. The 

 part extends from " Moa " to " Sheathbill." We propose to 

 review the complete work when the fourth (and last) part has 

 been issued. 



"Webster's Practical Forestry, "published by Messrs. 

 Rider and Son, has reached a second edition. We reviewed 

 the work when it first appeared (Nature, vol. xlix. p. 526), 

 and it is only necessary to add to the remarks then made that 

 the author has enlarged the volume, thus increasing iiS value 

 as a prac'.ical and popular handbook on the rearing and growth 

 of trees. 



The secon 1 volume of Mr. Bjulenger's "Catalogue of the 

 Snakes in the British Museum," which has just been issued, 

 concludes the account of the Aglyphodont Colubrine Snakes, 

 and gives descriptions of 427 species, which are represented in 

 the collection by 252S specimens. We understand that the 

 MS. of the third and concluding volume of this important work 

 is nearly ready for press. 



The December number of the Journal of the Royal Micro- 

 scopical Society has just been received. It contains a paper by 

 Mr. F. Chapman, on the Foraminifera of the Gault of 

 Folkestone (part vii.), and a description of a simple method of 

 measuring the refractive indices of mounting and immersion 

 media, by Mr. E. M. Nelson. The invaluable summary of 

 current researches in zoology, botany, microscopy, &c., takes 

 up the chief part of the journal. 



We note the commencement of vol. xxx. of the meteorological 

 publications of the Manila Observatory. The Bulletin for 

 the year 1894 is in a large quarto form, which is much more 

 convenient in size than its predecessors. In addition to a good 

 summary of the weather over the Philippine Islands, the work 

 contains hourly observations for Manila, and observations taken 

 twice daily at a number of secondary stations, together with 

 rainfall and other maps. 



Messrs. Whittaker and Co. will issue the first number of 

 a new science weekly on January 5. The new journal will 

 embody the combined features of The Technical World 3.nA 

 Science and Art, two periodicals which have hitherto appeared 

 as separate organs. It will appeal to all persons interested in 

 the progress of art, science, and technology from an educa- 

 tional point of view. In addition to current news, the journal 

 will contain articles in all the departments of pure and applied 

 science and art. 



A FINE geological map of Alabama, drawn on a scale of an 

 inch to ten miles, has been prepared and issued by the Geo- 

 logical Survey of that Slate. The map is accompanied by a 

 very useful explanatory chart, showing, in four parallel columns, 

 (l) the names, synonyms, classification, and common fossils of 

 the formations ; (2) the thickness, lithological and topographical 

 NO, 13 14, VOL. 51] 



characters, area and distribution ; (3) useful products ; (^4) 

 soils, characteristic limber growth, agricultural features. By 

 means of this chart and the coloured map, the geological record 

 of Alabama can be read by any one. 



We have received from Dr. A. von Danckelman, an excerpt 

 paper from vol. vii. of " Mittheilungen aus den deutschen 

 Schulzgebieten," containing some valuable meteorological 

 observations made by Dr. Steinbach, during the year 1893, 

 at Jaluit, an island in the North Pacific. The station is situ- 

 ated in 5' 55' N. lat. and 169' 40' E. long., and is only five feet 

 above mean sea-level. .\ Richard barograph was sent out by 

 the Deutsche Seewarte in 1S92, but the vessel was wrecked on 

 approaching the island ; another was supplied, and records were 

 commenced on January I last. The observations for 1893 show 

 that the air temperature is exceedingly uniform, the yearly range 

 only amounting to 22' ; the absolute maximum was 92'''8 in 

 November, and 70°7 in September. Cloud is very prevalent^ 

 there only being six clear days during the whole year. Rain 

 falls almost daily, there being 343 wet days during 1893, the 

 total fall being 1S2 inches ; the greatest fall in twenty-four 

 hours was 45 inches. Thunderstorms are not very frequent ; 

 there were only thirty-two in the year in question, but it is note- 

 worthy that the majority occur in the forenoon, to an extent 

 which h.is, we believe, not been observed at any other station. 



The additions to the Zoological Society's Gardens during the 

 past week include a Bonnet Monkey {Macaciu sinisus) from 

 India, presented by Mr. J. Hussey ; two Red-eared Bulbuls 

 {Pycnonolus jocosus) from India, presented by Brigade- 

 Surgeon Lieut.-Colonel E. F. Drake Brockman ; a Cape 

 Bucephalus {Bucephalus capensis), a Rhomb-marked Snake 

 (Piaininophylax rhombcatus) horn South Africa, presented by 

 Mr. J. E. Matcham. 



OUR ASTRONOMICAL COLUMN. 



A New Short Period Variable. — The possible variability 

 of d Serpenlis was suggested some time ago by the Potsdaui 

 photometric work, and the variation has now been confirmed 

 by Mr. Yendell {.Istronotuical /ournnl. No. 331). Fifty 

 observations made by him between August 5 and November 4 

 of last year indicate a variation from magnitude 50 to 5 '7 

 in a period of not far from S'7 days. The form of the light- 

 curve appears to resemble that of 3 Lyr.T;, though this is not yet 

 certainly established. There appear to be two maxima, one at 

 2'2 da)s, and the other at 6'2 days from the principal minimum, 

 while there is a secondary minimum of about magnitude 5 '5 at 

 4'3 days from principal minimum. Mr. Yendell suggests the 

 provisional elements 



1894, August 76 (G.M.T.) -!- Sd.7 E. 



The new variable is chiefly of interest in the prob.ible resem- 

 blance of its light-curve to that of fl Lyra;. Notwiihsl.'inding 

 the very detailed investigations of the spectrum changes in the 

 latter \ariable, which have been recently made at Harvard, 

 Potsdam, Pulkowa, Stonyhurst, and Kensmgion, the cause of 

 the variaLility is by no means completely understood. In this 

 case the spectrum is a complicated one, consisting of bright 

 lines as well as dark ones, and the Kensington photographs 

 have shown that there .ire two dis'.inct sets of the latter. 

 .\ccording to the Draper catalogue, however, the spectrum of 

 (/ Piscium is of the Sirian type, and no mention is made of 

 bright lines. It may be that a complete study of the simpler 

 spectrum of this star will throw some light on the origin of the 

 variability in 18 Lyue, and possibly also on the causes which 

 produce other kinds of continuous variability in shoit periods. 



The position of the star for 1900 is 



R..\. iSh. 22m., Decl. + o' S'. 



Doppler's Principle. — The verification of Dopplei's prin- 

 ciple has hitherto depended upon comparisons of iliespectro- 

 scopically measured velocities in the line ol sight of Venus, and 

 of the sun's limb with their kiiown velocities, and upon the 



