NA TURE 



[February 9, 1905 



I 



the original sketch of Pagetodes is amply sufficient 

 for the generic definition. 



Very few words must, unfortunately, suffice for the 

 parts devoted to invertebrates. In the fasciculus on 

 brachiopods. Prof. Joubin directs attention to the 

 apparently small bodily size of the Antarctic repre- 

 sentatives of the group, a feature which is the more 

 notable on account of the contrast thev present in this 

 respect to the forms from the Straits of Magellan. 

 Another important fact in connection with the fauna 

 of the southern ocean is brought out by Prof. 

 Koehler in his description of the echinoderms 

 obtained to the south of lat. 69°, the furthest point 

 from which these organisms had at the time been 

 obtained. Practically all these echinoderms have 

 proved to be new forms, but whether they belong to 

 the sub-Antarctic or the true Antarctic fauna has not 

 yet been definitely ascertained. 



The other fasciculi at present to hand include the 

 following monographs : — molluscs, by Messrs. Pel- 

 seneer and Joubin ; myriopods, by Mr. C. von 

 Attems; collembola, by Mr. V. Willems; copepods, 

 by Dr. VV. Giesbrecht ; nematodes, by Dr. J. G. de 

 Man; nemertines, by Dr. O. Burger; brj'ozoans, by 

 Mr. A. W. Waters; hydroids, by Dr. C. Hartlaub; 

 zoophytes, by Messrs. von Marenzeller and Carlgren ; 

 and sponges, by Mr. E. Topsent. The botanical 

 memoirs include one by Dr. E. A. Wainio on lichens ; 

 a second, by Mr. J. Cardot, on mosses ; and a third, 

 by Mr. T. Stephani, on liverworts- 



In concluding this too brief notice of a most valu- 

 able series of monographs, we may congratulate the 

 Belgian Government on its wise liberality in author- 

 ising their publication, and the committee of the 

 Belgica on the manner in which they have carried 

 out their share of the task. R. L. 



(2) In the department of astronomy we have the 

 discussion of the rates of the chronometers employed 

 and a description of the methods by which time was 

 ascertained during the long confinement of the 

 Antarctic winter. We may say, and it is admitted 

 by the author, M. G. Lecomte, that the astronomical 

 equipment was inadequate. It consisted at the out- 

 set of three marine chronometers, a sextant, two 

 artificial horizons, an astronomical telescope, and a 

 theodolite. The size of the telescope is not stated, 

 but it was a relic of the old whaleship, the Patria, 

 and was that which had been used by the captain 

 to observe seals when at some distance from the ship. 

 With this instrument, three phenomena of Jupiter's 

 satellites were observed and one occultation. Lunar 

 distances were also observed, but the rates of the 

 chronometers were generally determined from local 

 observations. The accumulated error on return is not 

 clearly stated, but the rates and errors are worked 

 out apparently with great care. 



Meteorology naturally claims a large part in the 

 scientific results. The observations were under the 

 charge of M. H. Arctowski, and he has presented the 

 details with very great clearness, and accompanied 

 the whole with many excellent charts, showing 

 graphically the behaviour of the barometer, the hygro- 

 NO. 1 84 1, VOL. 71] 



metrical measurements, and the variations of tempera- 

 ture. The lowest temperature recorded was — 43°. i C. 

 ( — 45°6 F.) on September 8, 1898. The whole result 

 is to exhibit the factors on which the climate depended 

 during the sojourn of the expedition on the shifting 

 ice. The observations do not refer to a particular 

 spot, the ship drifting with the ice some sixteen 

 degrees in longitude and two degrees in latitude. 

 The observation of the clouds and the discussion of 

 the results were entrusted to M. Dobrowolski, 

 who had to encounter many difficulties, due to fog 

 I and darkness, which occasion lacunae in the record. 

 An appendix gives a description, as complete as 

 possible, of a considerable number of cloud systems, 

 divided into three stages of cirrus, clouds at a mean 

 height, and of clouds at low altitudes. The greatest 

 care seems to have been taken in the description of 

 these systems during the twelve months of residence, 

 but here again the expedition might have been 

 better provided with apparatus. The observer had to 

 trust entirely to eye and the compass ; no nephoscope 

 was provided, or photographic camera, or means 

 for determining the height of cloud. 



The same author discusses the formation of snow 

 and hoar frost, but in this department he appears to 

 have been hampered by the want of instrumental 

 means. He had no microphotographic apparatus, and 

 it has been difficult and sometimes impossible to re- 

 produce the varied structure which he encountered. 

 Hand drawings have been extensively used, and the 

 general result of his work has been to confirm that 

 of modern investigators who have recognised but 

 two types of forms of structure. 



An interesting memoir is that of M. .\rctowski 

 discussing the optical phenomena witnessed during 

 the expedition. In this section he treats of the de- 

 formation of figure of the sun and moon crossing 

 the horizon, illuminations of the sky at twilight, the 

 green ray seen at the moment of the sun's setting, 

 halos, and other phenomena, the peculiarities of which 

 are best studied in polar regions. The author 

 apologises for the popular character of some of his 

 notes, but though greater detail might have been 

 added if a spectroscope had been included in the 

 outfit, these notes afford very interesting reading. 

 The discussion of the aurorse forms a volume by 

 itself, due to the same physicist. Only sixt^'-two 

 times in thirteen months was this phenomenon wit- 

 nessed, owing to the facts that the period of minimum 

 aurorae occurred about the time of the expedition, and 

 the region in which the Belgica was ice-bound was 

 far from the locality in which aurorae pass through 

 the zenith. Two excellent plates are given in this 

 section. 



Oceanography is represented by two memoirs. In 

 the first, M. Arctowski describes the method by which 

 obser\'ations were made on the passage across the 

 Pacific to the Straits of Magellan to determine the 

 density of the surface water. Later during the 

 wintering of the expedition samples were drawn from 

 considerable depths below the ice, and examined in 

 the physical laborator)' on board. In the second 

 memoir M. Thoulet, professor at the University of 



