March 19, 1885] 



NA TURE 



465 



own observations telescopic meteors exceed the more 

 conspicuous class of these bodies in the proportion of 

 about 40 to 1. Rich showers probably exist only visible 

 with instrumental means, and certain showers readily 

 perceptible to the naked eye afford little indication of their 

 existence with telescopic aid. The Geminids may be 

 ranked among the latter, for on December 12, 1877, Lewis 

 Swift at Rochester, whilst comet seeking during a period 

 of 4J hours, noticed a large number of naked eye meteors. 

 They frequently intruded upon his attention in the inter- 

 vals when his eye was withdrawn from the telescope, and 

 his estimate of the number visible was 1000 for the whole 

 period of his observations. Yet, singularly enough, there 

 was an unusual paucity of telescopic meteors, only two 

 certainly, and one other suspected, crossing the field of 

 ?iew of ih°, whereas they are usually of frequent 

 occurrence. 



The observation of meteors, both telescopic and other- 

 wise, especially commends itself to amateurs as an attrac- 

 tive study, requiring no elaborate or expensive instruments. 

 The inconveniences attending such work may soon in 

 great measure be overcome by patience. In cases where 

 the results are thoroughly reliable we think that even 

 slender observations possess weight and ought to be 

 encouraged, for such results soon accumulate, and if 



am 



allowed to extend over several years may be combined 

 and reduced to very satisfactory issues. Or the materials 

 obtained by different observers for similar epochs might 

 be collected and the radiant points determined from a 

 careful analysis of the path-directions. In every instance, 

 however, the physical appearances of the meteors ought to 

 be fully described and given due weight in fixing the 

 radiants. Without these precautions it is impossible to 

 obtain reliable positions or to arrange the meteors into 

 family groups with anything like that precision which is 

 an essential feature of the work. 



It is earnestly hoped that more enthusiasm may now 

 be aroused amongst observers in this interesting depart- 

 ment of astronomy. The question as to the duration of 

 radiants and their absolutely fixed position must have an 

 important bearing on the theory of their origin, and 

 deserves much further investigation. The apparently 

 intermittent character of many such streams also deserves 

 notice, as their fluctuations may be regulated by definite 

 periods of short duration. The observations of individual 

 radiants should be confined to a few nights only, or when, 

 from the paucity of meteors, it is found necessary to 

 include results extending over several weeks, the nights 

 of greatest intensity should be mentioned. The necessity 

 exists for equal accuracy in deducing the radiant points, 

 as in registering the exact directions of flight ; in fact, 



great discrimination and precision are required in details 

 so mutually dependent, so liable : to errors, and so full of 

 complications. 



One of the most active and at the same time one of the 

 most precise and well-defined cases of long duration is 

 exhibited by a meteor shower in the southern extremity 

 of Auriga and slightly to the north-east of a line connect- 

 ing the stars 1 Aurigae and /3 Tauri. It gives the first sign 

 of its existence at the end of July, and thence continues 

 during several ensuing months. The epochs about 

 October S-15 and November 7 and 20 would appear to 

 represent the most prominent exhibition of this radiant, 

 though there are many other nights during the summer 

 and autumnal months when it maybe detected during a pro- 

 longed watch. The accompanying diagram (Fig. 1) shows 

 the projected paths of eighty meteors (chiefly observed 

 by myself at Bristol, and selected as being tolerably near 

 the radiant point) recorded during the months of October 

 and November. These paths form only a proportion 

 of the aggregate number seen, but they sufficiently 

 display the singularly precise radiation of this stream. 

 A similar diagram might readily be prepared from the 

 flights recorded in August and September when the 

 convergence of an almost equal number of meteors attest 

 the visibility of the same radiant. Its position relatively 

 to the stars is given in Fig. 2, and it is hoped that 

 observers will endeavour to effect its re-observation. We 

 require further observations particularly during the month 

 of August, when the radiant is very low, until the morning 

 hours, and this doubtless accounts for the rareness of its 

 apparition at that epoch. W. F. DENNING 



NOTES 

 Those who are interested in the South Kensington Museum 

 will be glad to learn that the National Collections belonging to 

 the Science Department have now a prospect of improvement. 

 A Government Committee has lately been appointed to report 

 generally upon them and to consider plans for properly housing 

 them. The Committee consists of gentlemen of high position in 

 various Government Departments ; the Chairman is Sir Frederick 

 Bramwell, F.R.S., and Dr. \V. Pole, F.R.S., is the Secretary. 



The Prince of Wales, President of the International Inven- 

 tions Exhibition, has fixed Monday, May 4, for the opening of 

 the Exhibition. Rapid progress is being made in all branches 

 connected with the Exhibition. The large space set apart for 

 machinery in motion is already being filled, whilst preparations 

 for receiving other exhibits are well forward, some of which 

 have arrived at the building. The Aquarium Department is 

 receiving considerable attention, and will form a very attractive 

 feature. The tanks have been thoroughly cleansed and refilled 

 with fresh water, which has been softened and filtered, rendering 

 it bright and pure, fit for the reception of large consignments of 

 fish that will shortly arrive. Lord Onslow has lately presented 

 1500 exceedingly fine carp to the Aquarium, and a large number 

 of fish indigenous to the Canadian Lakes have also been received 

 for exhibition in the tanks. 



The Royal Society of New South Wales offers its medal and 

 a money prize for the best communication (provided it be of 

 sufficient merit) containing the results of original research or 

 observation upon each of the following subjects : — Series IV. 

 To be sent in not later than May I, 1885 : — No. 13. Anatomy 

 and life-history of the Echidna and Platypus ; the Society's 

 Medal and 25/. 14. Anatomy and life-history of Mollusca 

 peculiar to Australia ; the Society's Medal and 25/. 15. The 

 chemical composition of the products from the so-called Kero- 

 sene Shale of New South Wales ; the Society's Medal and 25/. 

 Series V. To be sent in not later than May 1, 1886 : — No. 16. 

 On the chemistry of the Australian gums and resins; the 



