April 5, 1883 | 
NATURE 
541 
Schonfeld in his last catalogue gives, as the limits of variation, 
5°S8m. and 13m. The actual position is in R.A. 15h. 43m. 45s., 
Decl. + 28° 31''0. Schmidt found that a star which precedes 
R Coron by 2 seconds, and 74 minutes N. varies from 11m. to 
13'12m. in a period of perhaps 14-2 months (see Ast. Nach, 
No. 1915). 
Bradley 396 has been so discordantly rated in our catalogues 
that variability appears highly probable, and the period may not 
be a long one. The estimates are from 4*5m, to 7m. It is 
Groombridge 580, Fedorenko 473, and B.A.C. 906. The 
Position for 18830 is in R.A. 2h. 53m. 4os., Decl. +81° 10. 
Prof. Pickering reports that a careful study of the fluctuations 
of Sawyer’s variable by Mr. Chandler shows that it belongs to 
the Algol class, and has a period of little over 20 hours. A 
long series of observations of the light curve and successive 
minima gives 20h. 7m. 41‘6s. + 173s. 
THE LaTE TRANSIT OF VENUS.—Prof. Pickering has pub- 
lished the results of contact observations in the transit of Venus 
made at the observatory of Harvard College ; the times are as 
follow :— 
eee ss 
First external contact ... 2 4 32 G.M.T. by 3 observers. 
syeunternall ©°,¢ 2 2443 5 by 4 a 
Last internal ,, - 7 47 40 33 by 6 aA 
3) external’ =, crete lyf UES “ by 6 no 
These differ from the times given by the equations of reduction 
inserted in this column by + 58s., + IIs., + 22s., and — 255s. 
respectively, a very close accordance, considering that observa- 
tions of the first external contact are less certain than the others. 
GEOGRAPHICAL NOTES 
AT a recent meeting of the Geographical Society of Copen- 
hagen, Capt. Irminger in the chair, Dr. Oscar Dickson 
was present to give an account of the proposed Swedish expe- 
dition to Greenland. The chairman referred to Dr. Dickson as 
the Mzecenas who enabled Nordenskjéld to carry out his ideas, 
while both had an ardent supporter in King Oscar. Of the 
Arctic expeditions, which wholly or partly owed their orizin to 
Oscar Dickson, he mentioned the following :—The expedition of 
1868 to Spitzbergen was almost entirely paid for by him; the 
expedition of 1870 to Greenland was entirely paid for by him; 
the expedition of 1872-73, which wintered at Spitzbergen, was 
partly paid by him, while the great deficiency subsequently 
arising was covered by him; the expedition of 1875 to the 
Yenissei was entirely paid by him ; the expedition of 1876 to the 
same river, by sea and by land, was chiefly paid by him; the 
Vega expedition of 1879-80 was paid to the extent of one- 
third by him, and if the vessel hai not succeeded in rounding 
Asia he would have borne the entire cost of this expedition; and 
eventually the cost of the Swedish expedition of 1883 would be 
borne by him. It should also not be forgotten that, at the time 
when the despatch of the Dimphna expedition was nearly 
frustrated for the want of 20,0o00kr. (1150/.), Oscar Dickson 
came forward to supply the deficiency, and although it was most 
generously contributed by Mr. Gamél, every lover of geographical 
discovery ought to appreciate his noble action, Dr, Oscar 
Dickson next addressed the meeting. He began by stating that 
the King of Denmark had sanctioned the new expedition. 
Nordenskjéld had not desired that the programme of the expe- 
dition should be made public too soon, as he was much occupied 
with preparations for his journey and his duties as a senator, and 
if his plans should be questioned by savazts, he would have no 
time for discussing them. He next referred to the oldest 
accounts of Greenland, its colonisation from Iceland, and 
“*Esquimauxising” from America. After this, Greenland was 
for a time forgotten, until the west coast was rediscovered. The 
speaker then mentioned the achievements of Hans Egede, and 
the founding of a commerce. The west coast was one of the 
best known Arctic countries, both geographically and ethno- 
logically ; but not so the east coast. In spite of several expe- 
ditions and researches, only the southern portion was known. 
The interior was a ¢erva incognita, These tracts were, however, 
too important to remain unknown. He then referred to the 
wanderings of Nordenskjéld and Lieut. Jensen on the inland 
ice. From these expeditions it was impossible to infer that the 
interior of Greenland was entirely covered with ice, while in the 
constant advance of the glaciers and their melting off he (the 
speaker) found a corroboration of this theory. By the geogra- 
phical appearance of Greenland, and more especially by the 
circumstance that the country gradually rose in the interior, it 
was more than probable that the interior was not entirely covered 
with ice. Even in the temperature and moistness of the air 
there seemed a proof that the country would answer to its name. 
In any case the exploration of the interior of this country was 
most important, and it was for this purpose that the expedition 
would make its researches. To these belonged the a-certaining 
of the extent of the drift ice between Cape Farewell and Iceland, 
the study of the inland ice, the fossil remains, and the cosmic 
dust in the island. Eventually it was hoped that, while 
Nordenskjild made his expedition across the ice, another party 
of the members would pay a visit to the west coast, where there 
were some very peculiar blocks of ironstone. The expedition 
would possess a complete staff of scientific specialists. The ex- 
pedition had al o one more object in view, viz. to settle the 
question as to where the Osterbygd had been. Every one who 
read without prejudice the oldest accounts could but come to 
the conclusion that its remains must be found on the east coast. 
After excursions on the inland ice, it was the intention to attempt 
to penetrate northwards along the east coast. In May next the 
expedition would start in a well-equipped steamer, and, if the 
state of the ice would permit, first land on the east coast ; but 
as this was not expected to be the case the party would Iand on 
the west coast, and when the researches here were at an end 
they would proceed along the east coast in a channel between 
the land and the drift ice. In September next the expedition 
would return. 
THE changes of level of the Caspian are still a puzzling pro- 
blem for Caucasian geographers. It is known that the late 
M. Kbanikoff was of opinion that the level of this sea has been 
rapidly falling during our century. After having been, in 1780, 
13 feet above the level of 1852, and ro feet in 1820, he said, 
it was only 3°3 feet higher in 1830, and has almost regularly 
decreased since. Sokoloff maintained that it had risen and 
fallen at irregular intervals since 1744, but was Io feet lower in 
1830 than in 1780, Lenz admitted that it had fallen about 
Io feet during the years 1816 to 1830. In any case, for the 
benefit of subsequent measurements he made permanent marks 
at Baku showing the level of the sea in 1830, and since that 
time measurements of level were carried on at Baku. But their 
results were unsatisfactory—as it appears from M. Filipoft’s 
paper in the Jast number of the Caucasian JZzvestia—and the 
only sure result is that on May 30, 1853, the level of the 
Caspian was 2 feet 1°3 inches lower than in March, 1830. 
In September, 1854, at high water it already had risen 1 foot 
6 inches adove the mark of May 30, 1853. On June 4, 1882, 
that is, at high water, it was also higher than in 1830 by 10°5, 
inches, so that it may be admitted, according to M. Filipoff, 
that since 1830 the level of the Caspian, although subject to 
fluctuations (such as a rapid rise after £847), has not sensibly 
fallen during the last fifty years. 
ACCORDING to the recent explorations of M. Yadrintseff, the 
situation of the aborigines throughout Northern and Middle 
Siberia is very precarious. The Bakaharians and Tartars, who 
were formerly a privileged class of merchants, and number at 
present 43,670 souls in Middle Siberia, are decreasing, and 
belong to the poorest population of the country. The Voguls 
in the Government of Tobolsk number 6070, and their increase 
is insignificant. As to the 23,070 Ostyaks and Samoyedes, they 
are in the worst imaginable position; the rate of increase is very 
low, while in other parts they obviously decreasing. They are 
accustomed now to eat bread, but have no means to provide it in 
necessary quantities owing to its high price. As to the southern 
Tartars, who have maintained their pasture lands, they are in a 
better position; those of Barnaoul and Biysk, who are agri- 
culturists, and those of Kuznetsk, living on trade, are on the 
increase ; and M. Yadrintseff quotes an instance of ten families. 
who have maintained their land and occupy now seven villages, 
making a total of 1270souls. The dying out of these aborigines 
is the more regrettable, as M. Yadriutseff proved by numerous- 
instances that they displiy a high degree of intelligence, and 
might adapt themselves to new conditions. 
In the April number of Pelermann’s Mitthetlungen there is a 
full account, dy Dr. Rink, of recent Danish researches in Green- 
land,—on the geography of the interior, the ice-formation and 
glaciers, geology and mineralogy, botany and archzology ; 
accompanying the paper is a map of the west coast between 
Godhayn and Proven, coloured geologically. Baron yon Rich~ 
thofen di-cusses the value of the copy of ‘‘ Marco Polo” recently 
discovered in the royal library of Stockholm. 
