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Oct. 2, 1873) 
NATURE 
4°9 
introduction of simple counting instruments for ascertain- 
ing the rate of the wind desirable? What units should 
be fixed upon as a basis for ob:erving the rate of the 
wind? 10. What is the most suitable form, size, and 
position for rain-gauges? At what time of day should 
the measurement of rainfall be made, 11. Should days 
of rain and snow-fall be separated from each other, or be 
counted as the same? 12. Is it desirable in recording 
the amount of hail to separate the falls of sleet (gvaufe/) 
from those of,hatl proper? 13. In reckoning thunder- 
storms, are the storms only to be recorded, or the days in 
which they occurred? How is sheet-lightning to be 
regarded? 14. What apparatus is to be recommended 
for measuring evaporation? What is the most suitable 
exposure for the vaporimeter? 15. How should the 
amount of cloud be estimated and recorded? Is it 
desirable to introduce for clouds, hydrometeors, and 
for other extraordinary phenomena, a nomenclature 
which shall be independent of local language, and 
therefore universally intelligible? 16, Moreover, should 
other elements which are reckoned meteorological, ¢ x. 
atmospheric electricity, ozone, &c., be included in the 
circle of normal observations, and what are the most 
suitable instruments for observing them. 17. For meteo- 
rological measurements should the same units of measure 
(units of length, degree, time, &c.), be introduced into all 
countries ? or is it sufficient to establish fixed rules for the 
reduction of the measurements used in different countries ? 
Il. Taking and calculation of the observations.—18. 
Could corresponding times of observation be established 
at all meteorological stations. 19. According to what rules, 
periods of time, &c., are the mean values of the varicus 
meteorological observations to be calculated? Is it 
expedient to begin the meteorological year with the month 
of January, or with the month of December? 20. In what 
way, and for what periods of time are the normal values 
of the several meteorological elements to be deduced ? 
Ill. Weather telegrams.—21. Does the interchange of 
weather telegrams appear so useful that a wider circulation 
and more complete organisation should be given to it? 
IV. Maritime Meteorology.—22. In what way would 
maritime meteorology be best intioduced into the system 
of general meteorology ? 
V. Organisation.—23. Is it desirable that in each 
country one or more ccntral stations for the superinten- 
dence, collection, and publication of meteorological ob- 
servations, should be estabjished? 24. In reference to 
the verification of instruments and the inspection of 
meteorological stations, can any adequate general rules 
be Jaid down? And is it advisabie to introuuce general in- 
structions for taking and calculating meteorological obser- 
vations? 25. In what way can the agreement of the stan- 
dard instruments of the various ceuiral esitabiishments be 
best secured ? 
VI. Publication of Observations.—26, Is it desirable 
and practicable to publish the meteorological observations 
of a limited number of stations in each cuuntry in a uni- 
form manner and within a reasonably short time after the 
observations have been made? 27. How is the inter- 
change of meteorological publicatioas of various institu- 
tions and coyntries to be organised most simply, speedily, 
and certainly ? 
VII. The Carrying Out of the Decisions of the Congress. 
—28. What measures shouid be adopted for the accom- 
plishment of the decisions and purposes of the Meteoro- 
logical Congress? For this purpose, is the estavlish- 
ment of a permanent committce and the arrangement of 
further metcorological Congresses necessary ? 
BIRMINGHAM NATUKAL HISTORY AND 
MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY 
Peres twenty members of this society, including 
several ladies, proceeded to Teignmouth in the 
beginning of September, in fulfilment of the proposed 
marine excursion, and took up their quarters according to 
agreement at the Queen’s Hotel. The yacht Rudy had 
been chartered for the occasion, and proved a most sea- 
worthy and seryiceable craft. Dredging operations com- 
menced on Monday, Sept. 1, and were continued daily 
throughout the week, in depths varying from 54 to 20 
fathoms. The atmospheric, surface, and bottom te:mpera- 
tures were taken at each sounding, the maximum and 
minimum results being as follows :-—- 
Atmospheric temperature, Maximum 66° Minimum 64° 
Surface ” ” ” 61° ” 583° 
Bottom x 9 » 603° ” 58°. 
The averages were: atmospheric, 65°, surface, 593°, 
bottom, 582°. A Miller-Casella thermomctcr was used. 
On the whole the results of the dredging were very satis- 
factory. The weather was fine, but cloudy, with occasinnal 
rain, and sometimes a little too calm for the work. 
About 30 hauls of the dredge were made, and specimens 
of many of the marine invertebrate animals in the neigh- 
bourhood secured. The tangles attached to the bag of 
the dredge sometimes came up literally swarming with 
echinoderms. By far the most noteworthy capture was 
Comatula rosacea, the feather-star, two individuals of 
which were taken in the larval pedunculate condition 
attached near the base of a frond of Lasinaria, which 
was torn off by the dredge.* The specimens measured 
about one-third of an inch each in leugth. Five young 
Comatulz in a free condition, the largest about an 
inch across, were also taken. A subsequent haul on 
the following day brought up from the same locality 
three adults. The members of the Society had the 
unusually rare opportunity of seeing under the micro- 
scope the young feather-stars in the living state. They 
were but little thicker than sewing-silk, of graceful, erect 
lily-like form, and very lively, bending and waving on the 
peduncle; the arms vigorously contracting in an inward 
direction. Drawings of the larval Comatulz in the living 
state were made to scale by Mr. Wills, with the camera 
lucida, and the specimens mounted b. him for exhibition 
to the Society. A full description will be communicated 
to the Society in a report of the excursion, During the 
evenings the members had the opportunity of examining 
under the microscope the pedicellirize of the star-fishes 
and sea-urchins, and the whip and bird’s head processes 
of certain of the polyzoa, also the s'ructure of Botryllus 
and other tunicates, the larval formis of crustacea &e. ; 
objects always interesting, but specially so toa society 
carrying on its work in an inland neighbourhood far 
removed frum the sea. In the course of the week very 
enjoyable excursions were made by some of the members 
down the River Dart to Berry-Pomeroy Castle, Lustleigh, 
Becky Falls, Moreton Hampstead, Chayiord, Exeter, Tor- 
quay, &c, On the whole, the excursion has proved a most 
successful experiment, quite fulfilling the expectations of 
those who projected it, ana it is to be hoped may be suc- 
ceeded by others in a wider field. Tue members ieceived 
much kind attention from the Rev. R. Cresswell, Mr. W. 
G. Ormerod, Rev. R. C. Douglas, Mr. Adams, and other 
gentlemen. Most of the party returned to Birmingham 
by train on Monday, having had a most delightful 
excursion.—The members of the society who remained in 
Devonshire after the marine excursion had a great 
treat on the jfollowing Friday, when they were escorted 
through the famous cavern by W. Pengelly, F.R.S., who 
courteously explained to them the mode of conducting 
the explorations, the contents of the flora, and their rela- 
tion to geological time. Mr. Pengelly also showed them 
at his own house t..e collection of bones, teeth, &c., of 
man, and the extinct bear, hyzena, dog, and other animals, 
and the flint implements of earlier and later manufacture 
found therewith in the cavern, 
* They were taken in the vicinity of Torbay on Thursday, Sept. 5, at a 
depth of 12 fathoms on a limcstone bottom, the bottom temperature regis. 
tering 59°. ‘ 
