354 
NALORE 
[AucusT 10, 1899 
made in the art of gold extraction. So far as possible, account 
has been taken of all important processes in bringing the book 
up to date.—Dr. David Walsh’s volume on “* The Rontgen Rays 
in Medical Work” (Bailliére, Tindall, and Cox) contains much 
information of interest to all who desire to know how far 
Rontgen rays have been utilised in medical and surgical cases. 
To the physician and surgeon this second edition should be of 
great service in showing what has been done. Referring to the 
progress made since the publication of the first edition, Dr. Walsh 
says: ‘In practical work the times of exposure are shorter, 
results more certain, and the merits of the statical machine 
more widely recognised.”—A second edition of ‘‘A Text- 
book of Applied Mechanics,” by Prof. Andrew Jamieson, has 
been published by Messrs. Charles Griffin and Co., Ltd. This 
book has been revised and extended, the chief additions being in 
the part on hydraulics and hydraulic machines.—The case for 
cremation as a means of disposing of the dead is forcibly stated 
by Sir H. Thompson in ‘Modern Cremation” (Smith, 
Elder, and Co.), the third edition of which, revised and much 
enlarged, has just been published. The volume brings up to 
the present date the history of the practice of cremation, and of 
the work of the Cremation Society of England. 
THE additions to the Zoological Society’s Gardens during the 
past week include a Tantalus Monkey (Cercopithecus tantalus) 
from West Africa, presented by Mr. W. Knight; two Hairy 
Armadillos (Dasypus villosus), a Geoffroy’s Cat (Felis geoffrozz) 
from La Plata, presented by Mr. W. Brown ; a Magpie (Pca 
rustica), British, presented by Mr. S. B, Goldsmith ; a Red- 
eared Bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus), a Yellow-bellied Liothrix 
(Liothrix luteus) from India, presented by Miss Petrocochino ; 
two Goshawks (Astur palumbarius), European, presented by 
M. P. A. Pichot ; three Spotted Tinamous (Worthura maculosa) 
from Buenos Ayres, four Rufous Tinamous (RAynchotus 
vufescens) from Brazil, presented by Mr. Ernest Gibson ; two 
Black-eared Marmosets (Hapale penzciilata) from South-east 
Brazil, two Maholi Galagos (Ga/ago maho/z) from South Africa, 
a Sooty Phalanger (Z72chosaurus fuliginosus) from Tasmania, 
a Malabar Squirrel (Scevrws maximus, var. dealbatus) from 
India, a Long-necked Chelodine (Chelodina longicollis) from 
South Australia, two Serrated Terrapins (Chrysemys scripta) 
from North America, deposited ; a Grison (Gad¢ctes vttata) from 
South America, two Superb Tanagers (Cad/zste fastwosa),a Blue 
and Black Tanager (Zanagrelia cyanomelaena) from Brazil, a 
Thick-billed Tanager (Zzphonta lanztrostris) from Central 
America, purchased; a Common Mynah (Acridotheres tristés) 
from India, received in exchange. 
OUR ASTRONOMICAL COLUMN. 
HoimeEs’ CoMET, 1899 d (1892 III.).—A new ephemeris for 
this comet is given by Mr. H. J. Zwiers in Astr. Nach. (Bd. 
150, No. 3582). It is important that as many observations as 
possible should be secured, in order to provide the necessary 
data for a more correct determination of the orbit. 
Ephemeris for 12h. Greenwich Mean Time. 
1899 R.A. Decl. Br. 
aiyinle S. ee * x2, (vA). 
Aug. 10 ... 2 43 48°80 .. 34 39 464 
II... 44 56°27 ... 34 55 39°6 
12... 46 2°64 ... 35 II 29°8 ... O'1940 ... 0'04674 
13+. 47 7:80). 35 27 4l0°9 
T4040) LOOM eR 504311029 
15... 49 14°92 ... 35 58 41°7 
16...) 50) 16166)... 36, 14°-19°2 ... O71923)".. (O1047 Sr 
17) We) 205 Tesl7ahye 3 OR2O) bat 
Comer Swirr (1899 a).—Observers still interested in this 
comet, and possessed of the necessary optical means, will find 
an extended ephemeris in the Ast. Mach. (Bd. 150, No. 3583) 
NO. 1554, VOL. 60] 
situated on the eastern side of Bering Sea. 
by Herr J. Moller, of Kiel. The positions and relative bright- 
ness are given up to September 16, but it is only with the 
largest instruments that the comet can be at all detected. 
THE New ALGOL VARIABLE.—In Harvard College Observ- 
atory Circular, No. 44, Prof. E. C. Pickering gives an ephemeris 
for observations of this recently discovered variable. The fol- 
lowing are the predicted minima during the nights of the 
present month :— 
Heliocentric Minima of B.D. 45°°3062. 
1899, August 11, at 11h. 43m. 
» ” 20, at 15h. 12m. 
The position of the star is 
R.A. 20h. 2'4m. | 
Decl. SAR SS all (1855), 
and its normal magnitude about 8°6. 
DousLe STAR CATALOGUE.—Mr. R. G. Aitken has com- 
municated to the Astr, Nach. (Bd. 150, Nos. 3584-5) his 
observations of 319 double stars made during the year 1898. 
The measures were made with the filar micrometer, in con- 
junction with either the 12-inch or 36-inch refractor, at the 
Lick Observatory. The star places are all reduced to epoch 
1900, and the data given are time of observation, position 
angle, distance of components, and their individual magnitudes. 
ELEMENTS OF COMETARY ORBITS.—M. G, Fayet has ex- 
tended Oppolzer’s ‘‘ Traités des Orbites,” and brought it up to 
date by giving the approximate elements for the year 1900 
of all the comets hitherto observed. The list is divided into 
three portions, dealing with comets having elliptic, parabolic, and 
uncertain orbits respectively ; 106 comets are given with elliptic 
elements, and 104 with parabolic elements, the dates of observ- 
ation extending from 1702 to the present time. Fifty-one comets 
of uncertain elements are given, extending from 137 B.C. to 
1880. This list of cometary elements will be especially useful 
in referring to the elements of any new comet, to see if it is 
really a new member of the solar system or a return of one 
previously recorded. 
THE FUR-SEAL HERDS OF THE NORTH 
PACIFIC. 
EW commercial industries command a more varied or more 
widely spread series of interests than does the sealing trade 
of the North Pacific. In addition to the great biological in- 
terest attaching to the seal-herds, we have, first of all, a 
considerable number of Aleuts dwelling on the islands to drive, 
kill, and skin the seals, and who subsist to a certain extent on 
seal-flesh. Then there is the revenue drawn by the American 
and Russian Governments for the right of sealing on their 
respective islands, as well as the Customs dues levied by the 
former on the dressed seal-skins when re-imported into their 
territory. Not to mention the transport of the raw hides, the 
dressing of the latter and their conversion into commercial seal- 
skin forms a very important industry in London, which employs 
a large number of hands. There are, moreover, the vessels and 
their crews, which have of late years been engaged in pelagic 
sealing ; a large proportion of which sailed from Canadian ports. 
Finally, there is the manufacture of the finished seal-skin into 
garments, and the retail sale of the latter. 
From all points of view a cordial welcome should, therefore, 
be extended to the issue by the United States Government of 
the official Report of the Commissioner in charge of the fur- 
seal investigations of 1896-97. This Report, which bears the 
title of ‘‘ The Fur-Seals and Fur-Seal Islands of the North 
Pacific Ocean,” is in two parts, and comprises the final results 
of the investigations carried on by the Commissioner and his 
associates, as well as the recommendations jointly formulated 
by the American and British members of the International 
Commission. 
The fur-seals of the Northern Pacific comprise three distinct 
herds, which are stated to keep strictly apart from one another, 
having each their own breeding-places, feeding-grounds, and 
routes of migration. The most important of the three herds is 
the one resorting for breeding purposes in summer to the 
islands of St. Paul and St. George in the Pribyloff group, 
In winter this herd 
