May 28, 1914| 
NATURE 
aoF 
At the time of discovery this comet was observed to | other hand, the curve representing the relative, inten- 
be of the fourth magnitude, so it is rapidly diminish- 
ing in brightness. It is situated in the constellation 
of Gemini, not far from Castor and Pollux. Owing 
to an error in the original telegram from the dis- 
coverer, his name was wrongly recorded. 
Nova No. 2, Perset.—Some very interesting ob- 
servations relating to the changes of magnitude of 
Nova No, 2, Persei, have recently been communicated 
to the Monthly Notices of the R.A.S. (vol. 
Ixxiv., No. 6, April) by Mr. C. R. D/’Esterre. 
This observer uses comparatively small instru- 
ments, his largest aperture being 15 in. (re- 
flector), yet with two hours’ exposure and most 
careful following he can photograph stars down to 
magnitude 19-3. From observations extending from 
September 1911, to April of the present year, he has 
been able to establish an interesting degree of vari- 
ability in the light of the above nova, duplicate expo- 
sures with other instruments corroborating his state- 
ments. While the mean magnitude of this object 
during the above period is given as 12-3 mag., there 
has been a range of variation between 11-7 mag. and 
3:2 mag. The fluctuations are described as irregular 
and rapid, but these have now decreased, and the 
nova is staying at almost a constant but fainter mag- 
nitude. The decline in magnitude has not been accom- 
panied by any marked change of colour. Mr. 
D’Esterre publishes the individual observations in the 
paper so that they form a valuable series to link up 
with those of other observers. ‘ 
OBSERVATIONS AT THE LOWELL OBSERVATORY.— 
Lowell Observatory Bulletin No. 59 summarises in 
thirty-one brief paragraphs the visual and _ photo- 
graphic work that has been carried on during the 
period April, 1913, to April 14, 1914. The list is too 
long to refer to in detail, but the following notes may 
be given. Confirmation and completion of the detec- 
tion of spoke-like markings on Venus, making them 
a distinguishing feature of the topography of the sur- 
face. Determination of the rotation period of Mars 
giving 24h. 37m. 22-57s. Observations of the canals 
and oases as fine geometrical lines and dots with the 
full aperture of the 4o-in. reflector. Variability in 
brightness of the third or fourth satellites of Saturn 
and measures of the planet’s ball, ring, and satellites. 
Numerous deductions are next given from the photo- 
graphs taken with slit and slitless spectrograms of 
the nebulz in the Pleiades, Cygnus, gaseous nebule, 
nebula, and globular clusters, etc. Velocity of ap- 
proach to the sun of the nebula of Andromeda is given 
as 300 km. a sec. Spiral nebule as a class have a 
much higher order of velocity than have the stars. 
THE SPECTRA OF 6 CEPHEI AND ¢ GEMINORUM.—A 
study of the relative changes of intensity in 
the lines (dark) in the spectra of 8 Cephei and 
¢ Geminorum is described by Inna Lehmann 
in the Bulletin de lAcadémie Impériale des 
Sciences de St. Pétersbourg (No. 6, 1914, p. 423). 
The spectra of the two. stars discussed were 
taken at the Pulkowa Observatory, and_ there 
were available thirty-three plates of 8 Cephei and 
thirteen of ¢ Geminorum. The method of procedure 
was to select one plate as a specimen, and then to 
compare each of the others with it by means of a 
spectro-comparator, and thus determine the relative 
intensity of selected lines. For both stars details are 
given as to the lines chosen, their wave-lengths, the 
resulting comparisons, etc. Forming the normal 
values of the intensities estimated, and comparing 
them with the light phases, it is found that in the case 
of 6 Cephei when the lines are best visible the star 
is at a minimum brightness and wice versd. On the 
NG? 2326, VOL. 193] 
sity-change of the lines in the spectrum of ( Gemin- 
orum are not parallel with the light fluctuation of the 
star. Four days after the minimum, when the light 
curve is at a maximum, there is an undoubted diminu- 
tion in the intensity of the lines. 
THE BRITISH SCIENCE GUILD. 
gree eighth annual meeting of the British Science 
Guild was held at the Mansion House on Friday, 
May 22, the Lord Mayor presiding over a distinguished 
and representative gathering. The report of the 
year’s work was presented by Sir Boverton Redwood, 
who directed attention to matters of special importance 
dealt with by the committees of the guild. 
Amongst other matters the medical committee had 
prepared a well-considered report on the subject ot 
venereal diseases which had been presented to the 
Royal Commission now considering the matter. Also. 
a warning had been issued to the general public 
against the danger of fraud in connection with the 
sale of substances or waters as curative agents, in 
which radium is said to exist, and the danger otf 
being harmfully treated by persons with no medical 
qualifications. 
The report of the Canadian Committee attracted 
special interest. Amongst other matters attention was 
directed to the serious effect of the wholesale slaughter 
of native insect-eating birds in view of the destruction 
of agricultural and forest products by insect and other 
pests. Insects disseminate malaria, yellow fever, 
typhoid, and other pernicious diseases. Nevertheless, 
millions of people engage in destroying the birds that 
eat destructive and disease-spreading insects. In this 
connection it is satisfactory to note that, in this 
country, the Bill to prohibit the importation of the 
plumage of wild birds has just passed the Committee 
stage of the House of Commons. 
Mr. Charles Bathurst, M.P., the chairman of the 
Select Committee on the Ventilation of the House ot 
Commons, expressed his indebtedness to the guild for 
its valuable help in connection with the scientific 
investigation of the matter. 
A feature of the meeting was an address by Sir 
Ronald Ross on the encouragement of discovery, in 
which he sought to show that of all the labours which 
man can undertake those which issue in discovery have 
conferred the greatest benefits upon mankind. He 
maintained that in the encouragement of science the 
public omits the main consideration, namely, the pur- 
chase of genius. Our universities are largely paid for 
by private individuals, and the money spent by them 
is spent more upon teaching than upon discovery. 
Sir Ronald Ross deprecated the inadequacy of the 
steps taken to persuade the individuals capable of 
making discovery to devote themselves to this great 
task. This could only be done by making it worth 
their while. If the nation wishes to stimulate dis- 
covery, which includes science, to the utmost, it should 
not only provide universities, institutes, and research 
laboratories, but should endeavour also to attract by 
adequate material recognition the most capable men 
to a field of work which yields the most valuable 
results to humanity. 
The annual dinner of the guild was held in the 
evening at the Trocadero Restaurant, with Sir William 
Mather in the chair. The chairman, in proposing the 
toast of ‘Science and Industry,’’ commended a spirit 
of optimism, and said that the twentieth century 
might probably reveal still greater wonders than the 
nineteenth. Sir Alfred Keogh, who responded, said 
that the public administration of this country owed a 
great deal to science and particularly to Sir Ronald 
