OcTOBER 26, 1899] 
NATURE 
poisons, such as that of bubonic plague, and of some other 
poisons of a non-bacterial origin. 
Messrs. LONGMANS AND Co. have issued a new edition of 
Prof. Lloyd Morgan’s ‘‘ Animal Biology.” The book was 
originally published twelve years ago to meet the requirements 
of the Intermediate Science and Preliminary Scientific Examin- 
ations of the London University. The present edition has been 
revised, and some chapters re-written, to meet the requirements 
of the existing syllabus. Several illustrations now appear in 
the work for the first time. 
NEw editions of two well-known books of chemistry (Ostwald’s 
**Grundriss der Allgemeinen Chemie,” and Lothar Meyer’s 
** Outlines of Theoretical Chemistry,” the latter translated by 
Profs. Bedson and Williams) have recently come to us from 
their publishers—Engelmann of Leipzig, and Longmans and 
Co The former is a third edition, and the latter a second, 
and an attempt has been made in each case to bring the work 
up to date. 
REFERENCES to practically every article and work on geo 
graphy published during the year 1896 will be found in the 
fifth volume of the ** Bibliotheca Geographica,” prepared by Dr. 
Otto Baschin for the Berlin Geographical Society, and just 
published by the firm of W. H. Kiihl. A comprehensive 
classification of subjects is adopted, and it is easy to find the 
works published in any branch of geography in 1896. In ad- 
tion, there is a complete index of authors. Students of geo- 
graphy know the work so well that no comment upon its 
thoroughness is necessary here. 
THE additions to the Zoological Society’s Gardens during the 
past week include a Green Monkey (Cercopithecus callitrichus) 
from West Africa, presented by Mr. G. P. Kinahan ; a Macaque 
Monkey (Aacacus cynomolgus) from India, presented by Mr. A. 
M. Burgess ; a Gambian Pouched Rat (Cricetomys gambianus), 
a Nilotic Trionyx (Zrzonyx truénguds) from Sierra Leone, pre- 
sented by Mr. Ernest E. Austen; a Red-footed Ground 
Squirrel (Xerus erythropus) from West Africa, presented by 
Mr. F. H. D. Negus; two Herring Gulls (Larus argentatus), 
British, presented by Mr. J. W. Edgar; a Melodious Jay 
Thrush (Leucodioptron canorum) from China, presented by Mrs. 
Currey ; a Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia), a Kestrel (Tinnun- 
culus alaudarius), captured at sea, presented by Captain E. W. 
Burnett; a Green Turtle (Chelone viridis) from Ascension, 
presented by Mr. W. Hebden, C.E. ; a Chameleon (Chamaeleon 
vulgaris) from North Africa, presented by Mr. F. G. Ward; 
two Serrated Terrapins (Chrysemys scrifta) from North 
America, a Bennett’s Cassowary (Casuardus bennetti) from New 
Britain, a White Goshawk (4s¢ur novae-hollandiae), two Sacred 
Kingfishers (Haécyon sancta) from Australia, a Forsten’s Lori- 
keet (Zrichoglossus forsteni) from the Island of Sambawa, a 
Ring Ouzel (Zurdus torguatus), British, deposited ; a Crab- 
eating Raccoon (Procyon cancrivorus), two Short-eared Owls 
(Asio brachyotus) from South America, purchased. 
OUR ASTRONOMICAL COLUMN. 
HoLMEs’ Comer (1899 a). 
Ephemeris for 12h. Greenwich Mean Time. 
1899. R.A Decl. 
h.m.  s cage “ 
Oct. 26 2A5 7°04 +49 II 29°7 
ime 643° 55°55. |... Te 2-6 
28 A2VA3°32) nes 14 12°0 
29 41.30'56 14 58:0 
30 40 17°40 15 20°5 
3r 39 3°95 15 196 
Nov. 1 37 50°33 14 554 
2 2 36 36°67 +49 14 8:0 
NO. 1565. VOL. 60] 
Nova SaGirtaril.—Harvard College Observatory Circular, 
No, 46, gives the details of the position of Nova Sagittarii, 
discovered in April 1898, as obtained from micrometric measure- 
ment of enlargements from the plates, taken with the 8-inch 
Bache and 11-inch Draper telescopes, on which the star was 
photographed. Prof. Pickering finds that the accuracy obtain- 
able by this method is equal to that given by the best meridian 
circle observations. The mean position as determined is 
RAL = 18h. 56m. 12°83s. | 
DWecly—"— 13° 18012698 yereels 
OrBIT OF Eros.—In the Astronomische Nachrichten (Bd. 
150, No. 3597), llerr Hans Osten, of Bremen, discusses the 
numerous observations of the new minor planet now available, 
and gives the two following provisional sets of elements for the 
orbit :-— 
Epoch of Nodal Passage, 1898 Oct. 1:0, Berlin Mean Time. 
14. iit 
M = 238 38 33°627 238 39 44°636 
@ = 137 9 24:77 177 39 21°05 
8 =342 8 48°58 +» 303 31 53°37 
Z= 30 42 32°105 man 10 49 33°99 
G25 2A) es 12 52 18°33 
w= 201557814 2015/°34326 
log a= 0°1637380 
STRASSBURG OBSERVATORY.—The annual publication com- 
piled under the supervision of Herr E. Becker, the director of 
the Imperial Observatory of the University of Strassburg, has re- 
cently been issued, containing the reductions of star observ- 
ations made during the period 1882-1888, together with miscel- 
laneous results to 1893. The observations made with the meridian 
circle, occupying 154 pages, are preceded by some twenty 
pages giving details of the determination of collimation, level, 
azimuth and other corrections. Following these are given the 
individual observations of the positions of 223 stars measured 
from 1882-1883, and of 1146 stars measured during the period 
1884-1888. From these three catalogues are compiled, one 
of 254, one of 858, and one of 368 stars, the latter contain- 
ing corrections from Epoch 1880. Three appendices deal 
with heliometer measures of the partial solar eclipses of 1890, 
1891 and 1893, the determination of the form the pivots of 
the meridian circle of the observatory, and the compilation 
of precession tables (both annual and secular) respectively. 
THE NERVE-WAVE (LA VIBRATION 
NERVEUSE). 
AS you told us, sir, two days ago in your admirable address, 
the century now drawing to an end is most honoured in 
the close union of men of science of all nations. If, owing to 
stupid prejudices and barbaric hate, nations are still separated 
by divisions which may lead them into fratricidal war, it falls to 
the men of science at least to set the example of concord, in 
order that by their teaching, based on reason, they may bring 
to all peace, sweet peace—the chimeera of the past, the hope of 
us all to-day, the reality of to-morrow. To this end nothing 
can be more effective than the great example of the British 
Association and the Association Francaise, who, within the 
space of a few days, are to meet twice as partners in their fertile 
work : to-morrow on English soil, in this hospitable town of 
Dover ; five days later on the soil of France, on the shores you 
can see from here, where you will find the same courteous and 
cordial welcome as our countrymen will receive on this side. 
Yet after these words of peace must come words of war—nay, 
its open declaration. Men of science have not the right to stay 
within the closed gates of their tower of ivory ; it behoves them 
also, even at the cost of vain popularity, to wrestle and to wrestle 
unceasingly for justice ; to form a grand international league, to 
turn the united forces of all generous minds against the common 
foe, the worst enemy of man: and this is ignorance. We must 
not value unduly the admirable conquests won by science in this 
century. Admirable as they are, they are yet nothing as com- 
pared to the great mystery beyond. Newton compared our 
science to that of a child, who should pick up a pebble on the 
1 Evening Address delivered by Prof. Charles Richet on September 15, at 
fhe Bove Meeting of the British Association. Translated by Prof. Marcus 
artog. 
