Tr 
DECEMBER 24, 1896] 
NATURE 
182 
all of the steps taken, can hardly fail to lead to success in the 
long run. A considerable portion of the address is given to a 
consideration of the subject of publication, as viewed from the 
standpoint of the administrator of a research institution and 
the student seeking a medium for the publication of the results 
of his work. 
THE additions to the Zoological Society’s Gardens during the 
past week include a Rufous Rat Kangaroo (pyprymnus 
rufescens) from New South Wales, presented by Captain N. 
Allen ; a Squirrel (Sczwrws, sp. inc.) from Java, pre- 
sented by Captain G. C. Candy, ; a Levaillant’s Cynictis 
(Cynictés levaillanti) from South Africa, presented by Mr. 
Joseph Francis; eleven Harvest Mice (J/us minutus) from 
Surrey, presented by Captain Salvin; three Herring Gulls 
(Larus argentatus), British, presented by Mr. J. W. Wilkes ; 
two Black-bellied Sand Grouse (Ptevocles arenarius) from 
Spain, presented by Mr. Gerard S. Torrens; two Nicobar 
Pigeons (Calenas nicobaréca) from the Indian Archipelago, a 
Canarian Pigeon (Columba laurivora) from the Canary Islands, 
deposited ; three Varied Field Rats (/somys vartegatus), three 
Larger Egyptian Gerbilles (Gerbil/us pyramidum), nine Lesser 
Egyptian Gerbilles (Gerbzllus @gyptius), three Long-eared 
Hedgehogs (Zrinaceus auritus), forty-six Egyptian Geckos 
(Tarentola annularis), five Fan-footed Geckos (Ptyodactylus 
lobatus), a Grey Monitor (Varanus griseus), five Horned 
Cerastes (Cerastes cornutus), six Square-marked Toads (Bufo 
regularis) from Egypt, received in exchange. 
OUR ASTRONOMICAL COLUMN. 
MOUNTAIN OBSERVATORIES,—The great increase in size of 
the apertures of instruments for use in astronomical research, 
has led astronomers to look further afield for spots on the 
earth’s surface where the atmospheric conditions are most 
favourable for the work to be satisfactorily accomplished. The 
neighbourhood of large towns is now generally conceded to be 
no place for a big refractor or reflector, although occasionally a 
very fine night may be luckily secured. For the study of planetary 
details, and the taking of long-exposure photographs, and 
other kinds of work, a steady atmosphere is a necessary essential. 
In order that the stellar images may be still and devoid of that 
flickering and movement which is only of too common an 
occurrence, the atmosphere itself must be to a certain extent in 
stable equilibrium, and the layers at rest one above the other. 
There are nof, however, many places where these conditions are 
fulfilled. In fact there are no such spots where perfect stillness 
reigns supreme, but some are better than others in this respect. 
The question then is, where are such localities for which the 
astronomer, armed with a powerful instrument, may make his 
stand? We may answer this question by saying that up to the 
present time very few have been found, although search is more 
or less continuously being made. In America we know that 
some observers are at work with their, instruments of large 
power, in anatmosphere which is at times almost perfect. Not 
only is the air in that quiet state of equilibrium that is so 
necessary, but they are blessed with long spells of continuous 
fine weather. Any one who wishes to find out for himself what 
are the essentials to ‘* good seeing,” how far we have progressed 
in the construction of mountain observatories, and, further, where 
those already set up are situated, cannot do better than consult 
Prof. Holden’s contribution to the Smithsonian Miscellaneous 
Collection. The writer there has massed together a great 
amount of material concerning those situated in America and 
Europe, and has also added greatly to the description of them 
by the insertion of numerous illustrations. We may, however, 
mention that meteorological stations at high or moderately high 
altitudes are also included; but these must, as we all know, 
be forerunners of those equipped for. the special study of 
astronomy. 
OBSERVATIONS OF SATURN.—In the study of planetary 
detail our atmosphere plays a most important 7é/e, and, as we 
have said in the preceding note, some places are more suitable for 
such observations than others. Some very interesting observa- 
NO. 1417, VOL. 55] 
tions given in the Astronomeschen Nachrichten (No. 3390) serve 
to show that the same observer, making similar observations at 
two different stations, not of course simultaneously, finds 
really marked differences in powers of seeing. Herr A. Anton 
Wonaszek records his visit to the Manora Observatory, where 
Herr L. Brunner is at work. The objects looked at were the 
planets Mercury, Venus, Mars and Saturn, and Herr Wonaszek 
expresses astonishment at the great amount of detail that can be 
observed in the pure air of Lussin. As regards Saturn, the 
markings looked at by both these observers were the dark and 
light spots situated on the disc. Both made independent draw- 
ings of these (illustrations of which are given in the Asfroz0- 
mischen Nachrichten referred to), with the result that in most 
respects they are very similar. Herr Wonaszek, however, finds 
out that Herr Brunner’s eyes are capable of detecting more 
quickly the bright spots, while his own are more sensitive to 
those of a darker shade. With a 7-inch refractor situated at 
Kis-Kartal, he says that his numerous observations of Saturn do 
not show the great amount of detail that he recorded at Lussin- 
piccolo, although, by good atmospheric conditions, he is able to 
see a great deal. From the drawings which he gives, it is seen 
at a glance that the spots referred to above are seen at his observ- 
atory somewhat with difficulty, and are not so clearly defined 
as was the case at Lussinpiccolo. Both sets of observations, 
however, give one a good idea of these curious spots, which are 
not restricted alone to the equatorial regions, but occur towards 
the poles. From these drawings, however, no dark spot attains 
any great distance from the equator. The observations referred 
to above were made during the month of August last. 
KARLSRUHE MERIDIAN OBSERVATIONS.—The fifth volume 
of the ‘‘ Publication of the Grossherzoglichen Observatory of 
Karlsruhe” contains the observations made with the meridian 
circle, and includes the positions of all these stars down to the 
8th magnitude in the zone — 0° to —7°, which were not observed 
in the preceding volume. The observations were made by Prof. 
Valentiner and Dr. Ristenpart, and number 8300. Volume iv. of 
the same publication contained 13,800 observations, so that the 
total number amounts now to 22,100, thus concluding the work 
in this zone. The programme was to observe each star six times, 
and this has been carried out with only a very few exceptions, 
the number of stars on the working list being 2700. The re- 
duction of the observations was done throughout by Prof. 
Valentiner and Dr. Ristenpart. 
At the completion of the work a thorough investigation of the 
division errors of the circle was made. This undertaking could 
not, as we are informed, be done earlier, as the fevsonne/ of the 
observatory was too limited in numbers. 
The three sections into which the volume is divided are (1) 
observations with the meridian circle; (2) elements for the 
reduction of these observations; and (3) mean places of the 
southern stars observed in the years 1892-94, reduced to the 
epoch 1885°0. 
In the preface Prof. Valentiner refers at some length to the 
late Ernst von Rebeur-Paschwitz, who was connected with the 
observatory from July 1884. Allusion is also made to the fact 
that this ‘‘ Publication” is the last that will proceed from the 
Karlsruhe Observatory. 
The new building that is being erected on the Konigstuhl at 
Heidelberg will, no doubt, be soon ready for work ; and being 
under better conditions in many respects, Prof. Valentiner will 
be able to continue his work with renewed zeal. 
THE WESTERN AUSTRALIA GOVERNMENT OBSERVATORY. 
—The decision of the Government of Western Australia to erect 
an observatory at Perth, at a cost of about 5000/4, was 
announced in these columns nearly a year ago (vol. lili. p. 280). 
The Dazly Chronicle now notes thatthe Government Astronomer, 
Mr. W. Ernest Cooke, during his recent stay in England, was 
engaged in the purchase and inspection of the necessary instru- 
ments. The two principal instruments will be an astrographic 
equatorial and transit circle, in addition to which the observatory 
will also probably be furnished with a ccelostat. Mr. Cooke 
proposes to devote his energies mainly to the observation of 
fundamental southern stars. He will, in addition, take charge 
of the meteorology of the colony. From each of the meteoro- 
logical stations a report will be telegraphed daily to the obserya- 
tory, and with the help of this and other information supplied 
by the Eastern Colonies, a daily weather map of the entire con- 
tinent will be issued, together with forecasts of the coming 
weather. 
a 
