DeEcEMBER 3, 1896] 
NATURE 
III 
the refracted ray normally, and reflects it back again to the 
observing telescope. 
‘for use in an astronomical spectroscope of either the com- 
pound or the objective type in connection with a polar heliostat, 
. .. the heliostat is arranged to send the beam down the 
polar axis instead of up, as is usually done.” The author 
suggests that the instrument must be mounted so as to be 
entirely free from any vibration. Prof. Rowland continues his 
valuable tables of solar spectrum, wave-lengths extending here 
from 3133 to 3259. Prof. B. Hasselberg’s researches on the 
spectra of metals are translated from the original, the metals here 
dealt with being cobalt and nickel. 
great difficulty of eliminating impurities, and states that the iron 
spectrum of Kaiser and Runge is to a large extent con- 
taminated with foreign lines, which fact has led him to make 
iron comparisons from his own photographs. The number of 
lines having the same position in the spectra of cobalt and 
nickel is found to be very great. We may mention also that 
two excellent photographs, showing the erection of the polar 
axis and declination axis of the Yerkes telescope, together 
Erecting the declination axis of the Yerkes 4o-inch refractor. 
with a general view of the Observatory, are also given in this 
number. 
The accompanying illustration is a reduced reproduction of 
the second of these photographs, and it gives a good idea of 
the immense scale of the undertaking. 
PLANETARY Norrs.—M. Flammarion reports in a telegram, 
dated November 21 from Juvisy, that the observations of Mars 
made there show the doubling of the canals Cyclops, Cerbere, 
Galaxias, Brontes, Orcus and Euphrates (Astr. Wach., No. 3387)- 
Herr Leo Brenner has also been making some interesting 
observations on the planets Uranus and Mercury, which he has 
communicated to the samenumber. As regards the first of these 
bodies, he has with his 7-inch Reinfelder refractor observed on 
twelve evenings (April 28 to July 9), and made the same number 
of drawings. The spots on the disc are, ashe says, the dimmest 
he has ever seen on a planet’s disc, but nevertheless he has made 
a rough determination of the planet's time of rotation, the 
deduced value being about eight hours. The planet was also 
NO. 1414, VOL. 55] 
This form of liquid prism is well adapted | 
| question.” 
The author points out the | 
| aged 76. 
noticed as being flattened at the poles, thus corroborating 
previous observations. 
The observations of Mercury, which are illustrated by 
twenty drawings, indicate a comparatively greater amount of 
detail than one would expect. The drawings show that the 
movements of the surface markings are really the result of 
rotation, the value of this latter being about thirty-three to 
thirty-five hours. Herr Brenner says with regard to the longer 
period suggested by Schiaparelli, that “*so far, I am perfectly 
certain that a rotation of about three months is quite out of the 
The drawings, he further remarks, indicate on single 
days distinct forward motions of the spots, the different appear- 
ances of the planet’s disc at various times, the undoubted polar 
spots, and, further, the circumstance that the markings seen by 
him do not always assume the same positions as those seen by 
Schiaparelli and recorded on his chart. There seems, however, 
to be evidence that in some cases the spots seen by both 
observers are permanent markings, as is shown by a comparison 
of these drawings with Schiaparellis map of 1890. Herr 
Brenner has also examined Prof. Vogel’s drawings of Mercury, 
which, he finds, prove the accuracy of his (Brenner’s) observa- 
tions, and suggest the impossibility of a slow rotation. 
A Companion vo 6-Scorpil.—Dr. T. J. J. See, with the 
help of the Arizona atmosphere and the 24-inch Clark refractor 
of the Lowell Observatory, has been able to discover that @- 
Scorpii is attended by a faint satellite of the 13th magnitude 
(Astr, Nach., No. 3387). In contrast to the reddish light of the 
primary, the companion appears of a greenish hue, making the 
system resemble Antares. The position of @ for 1900 will be 
R.A. 17h. 30m. 8'ts., Decl. =—42° 54’ 1'5”. The discovery 
was made when the star was less than 12” in altitude, which 
speaks well for the position of the observatory. 
THE ANNIVERSARY MEETING OF THE 
ROVAL SOCIETY. 
| Lé4st Monday was St. Andrew’s Day, and, in accordance 
with the usual custom, the Anniversary Meeting of the 
Royal Society was held in the apartments of the Society at Bur- 
lington House. The auditors of the Treasurer's accounts having 
read their report, and the Secretary having read the list of 
Fellows elected and deceased since the last Anniversary, the 
President (Sir Joseph Lister) delivered the following address :— 
Nineteen Fellows and four Foreign Members have been taken 
from the Royal Society by death since the last Anniversary Meet- 
ing. 
The deceased Fellows are :— 
John Russell Hind, December 23, 1895, aged 73. 
The Right Hon. Hugh Culling Eardley Childers, January 29, 
1896, aged 69. 
General James Thomas Walker, February 16, 1896, aged 69. 
Charles Chambers, March, 1896, aged 61. 
William Sharp, April 10, 1896, aged 91. 
Sir John Russell Reynolds, May 29, 1896, aged 68. 
Sir George Johnson, June 3, 1896, aged 78. 
Sir Joseph Prestwich, June 23, 1896, aged 84. 
The Right Hon. Sir William Robert Grove, August 2, 1896, 
aged 85. 
Alexander Henry Green, August 19, 1896, aged 64. : 
The Hon. Sir George Frederic Verdon, September 13, 1896, 
aged 62. 
Sir John Eric Erichsen, September 23, 1896, aged 78. 
Sir George Murray Humphry, September 24, 1896, aged 76. 
Baron Ferdinand von Mueller, October 9, 1896, aged 71. 
Henry Trimen, October 18, 1896, aged 53. 
George Harley, October 27, 1896, aged 67. 
Henry Newell Martin, October 28, 1896, aged 44. 
Admiral Sir George Henry Richards, November 14, 1896, 
1896, aged 
Sir Benjamin Ward Richardson, November 21, 
68. 
The Foreign Members are :— 
Gabriel Auguste Daubrée, May 29, 1896, aged 82. 
August Kekulé, July 13, 1896, aged 66. 
Hubert Anson Newton, August 12, 1896, aged 66. 
Hippolyte Louis Fizeau, September 18, 1896, aged 77. 
Benjamin A. Gould, November, 1596. 
