398 
THE additions to the Zoological Society’s Gardens during the 
past week include an Egyptian Gazelle (Gazel/a dorcas) from 
Egypt, presented by Capt. Robbins; two Red-under-winged 
Doves (Leptopila rufaxilla) from Guiana, presented by Mr. S. 
Wells ; a Barn Owl (Strix flammea), British, presented by Sir 
Henry Tyler ; two Great Eagle Owls (Bubo maximus), bred in 
Shropshire, presented by Viscount Hill ; three Yellow-headed 
Conures (Conurus jendaya) from South-East Brazil, presented 
by Mr. C. Rudge ; a Raven (Corvus corax), British, presented 
by Mrs. Tatham ; a Martinique Gallinule (Porphyrio martinicus) 
from South America, presented by Mr. J. M. Booker; two 
Common Boas (Sea constrictor) from South America, presented 
by Mr. T. H. Church ; a Common Viper ( Vigera berus), British, 
presented by Mr. R. B. Spalding; four Ruscon’s Newts (J/o/ge 
vusconi) from Sardinia, presented by Prof. H. H. Giglioh, 
C.M.Z.S.; two Black-eared Marmosets (Hafale fenicillata), a 
Feline Dourocouli (Myctipithecus vociferans), two Yarrell’s 
Curassows (Crax carunculata), two Magpie Tanagers (Ciéssofis 
Jeveriana), two Ariel Toucans (Ramphastos ariel), two Laughing 
Gulls (Zarus atricilia), a White-faced Tree-Duck (Dendrocygna 
viduata) from South-East Brazil, purchased ; three Aldrovandis 
Skinks (Plestiodon auratus) from North-West Africa, two 
Common Slow-worms (Axguis fragilis), British, received in 
exchange ; six Ribbon Snakes (7yofidonotus saurtta), born in 
the Gardens. 
ASTRONOMICAL PHENOMENA FOR THE 
WEEK 1886 AUGUST 29—SEPTEMBER 4 
{ FOR the reckoning of time the civil day, commencing at 
Greenwich mean midnight, counting the hours on to 24, 
is here employed. ) 
At Greenwich on August 29 
Sun rises, 5h. 9m. ; souths, 12h. om. 46'9s.; sets, 18h. 52m. ; 
decl. on meridian, 9° 18’ N.: Sidereal Time at Sunset, 
17h. 24m. 
Moon (New) rises, 4h. 51m. ; souths, rrh. 58m. ; sets, r8h. 52m. ; 
decl. on meridian, 9° 21’ N. 
Planet Rises Souths Sets Decl. on meridian 
m. h. m h. m. 5 anh 
Mercury 337 “sen TORS4) S.c) Ser Seemed N. 
Wenusemeees 27d: = eo TON 7; 18 6) i ease N. 
Mars IO 45 15 38 20) 31) sc. -saige4o'S. 
Jupiter... 8 5 13 59 LOG) bts | 2. ISR 
Saturn... o 46 8 51 101.57 Siccemmctaey: IN. 
Occultation of Star by the Moon (visible at Greenwich) 
Corresponding 
angles from ver- 
Sept. Star Mag. Disap. Reap. texitoeht for 
inverted image 
: heen h. m. a io 
3)s-0 y Libre ... 44.25 20 10)... 22) 13) Seema gn273 
August 29.—Total eclipse of Sun: not visible in Europe: 
‘The central line crosses the West Indies, the Atlantic, and 
Southern Africa. The members of the British Expedition are 
prepared to observe the eclipse at Grenada, one of the Windward 
Isles, where the eclipse will occur soon after sunrise, having a 
duration of totality of about 4 minutes. In mid-Atlantic the 
duration will be 6 minutes. In Africa the eclipse occurs near 
to sunset, with a duration of totality of about 4 minutes. 
Sept. h 
2 .. If ... Mercury at greatest elongation from the Sun, 
18° west. 
Variable Stars 
Star R.A. Decl. 
hs sm. ‘ ne 0 
WW Cephei 7 3.) 0 52°2):° (8 TON, .-. Sept alzomey) 772 
U Ophiuchi... ... 17 10°8 I 20N, 5 Le 772 
2I 30 m 
W Sagittarii 07, 57 8)--9129 35 9: 33) 2 LOMEO! 772 
aisSerpentis:.,., ac kOu2geg 5 1003, Newe goes M 
7 Aguilz sss 19 46:7... 0 43 N. ... Aug. 20) 21870 AT 
R Vulpecule ... 20 59°3 ... 23 22 N. ... Sept. 3, m 
M signifies maximum ; 7 minimum. 
NATURE 
[dugust 26, 188 
. 
Meteor Showers 
Amongst the radiants that have been observed at this season” 
are the following :—Near y Pegasi, R.A. 6°, Decl. 11° N. ; near 
w Cygni, R.A. 306°, Decl. 54° N. ; near A Cygni, R.A. 311°, 
Decl. 35° N. ; near « Cephei, R.A. 335°, Decl. 52° N. 5 and | 
near B Piscium, R.A. 345°, Decl. o°. Fireballs are of iam 
occurrence during this week. \ 
Stars with Remarkable Spectra 
Name of Star R.A. 1886'0 Decl. 1886*o Type of 
hs Sm: 3s: 2 spectrum — 
71 Pegasi ... 23 27 46 aT iS2°ayNiieess Ill. 
19 Piscium 23) 40134) 2.) 02) hwsge Nene IV. 
@ Pegasi ...  «.. 23, AGHA... AUS) 2Oi2INiey ers Ls 
D.M. — 0° 4585 23) 48555 o. 0 3NiO Se Ill. 
30 Piscium : 22056. 07a 10385 9).5 : TED 
47 Piscium © 22) 16h Lets ON, Ill 
57 Piscium © 40 34 ... 14 51°2N IIL. 
7 Schjellerup TOF 40 0-25) Os0WN) TV 
R Piscium I 2445)... (207 56UN. Ill. 
GEOGRAPAICAL NOTES 
; 
IN a lecture delivered at Cooktown (published in the Daddy . 
Observer of Brisbane), Mr. H. O. Forbes described his work in 
New Guinea during the six months he remained there. He set 
up his winter camp at Sogere, three days’ march from the coast, 
though only 25 miles in a straight line, on the slope of a steep 
mountain. His work here was varied and important. The 
meteorological station which was erected was placed under the 
charge of Mr. Hennessy, and the observations were continued 
down to the end of his stay. These consisted of records of the 
mercurial barometer, maximum and minimum, dry- and wet- 
bulb thermometers, and rainfall, and were recorded without 
interruption six times in every twenty-four hours. The mass of 
observations thus accumulated will take a considerable time to 
tabulate, especially those referring to the atmospheric humidity. 
Then there was the collecting of zoological and botanical speci- 
mens. A large portion of the herbarium consists of giant trees of 
the forest. It contains about one thousand specimens, one 
set having been sent to Baron von Miiller to Melbourne. 
A great part of Mr. Forbes’s own time was devoted to the sur- 
vey and delineation of the geographical features of the country. — 
He obtained angles from about fifty different stations and 
established a base of several miles in length, on which he had 
hoped to found the triangulation of the country between Sogere 
and Owen Stanley, and the north-east coast. He also paid a 
visit to the latter place, and there, as elsewhere, with a little 
management, found the natives extremely friendly and well- 
disposed. When Mr. Forbes found his funds failing, he deter- 
mined, with Mr. Chalmers,-on making a dash for Mount Owen 
Stanley, but the natives who were to have aided him fled in the 
night, apparently on account of the terrors inspired by the 
journey. He only got as faras Kaukari, a village two days’ 
journey beyond Sogere. He says that no words can give a true 
idea of the break-neck, shattered, disrupted condition of the 
country between Sogere and the central ridges. Beyond the 
natural obstacles, however (and they appear to be very great), 
there appears no reason why British New Guinea should not be 
thoroughly explored, provided the natives are treated with 
conciliation and tact. J 
THE Hon. Duncan Gillies, Premier of Victoria, has received 
a deputation, consisting of members of various learned societies, 
who urged the expediency of Antarctic exploration. The depu- 
tation represented that whale-fishing would make the enterprise 
remunerative, but at the same time asked the Victorian Govern- 
ment to give encouragement to the project. The Premier, in 
reply, said that the Government would be willing to grant a sub- 
sidy to aid scientific discovery, and that he would ask the other 
colonies to do the same. In the meantime he would instruct the — 
Agent-General in London to inquire whether steam-whalers 
would be disposed to embark in the enterprise, and what subsidy 
would be required. 
THE annual meeting of the Association of Swiss Geographica 
Societies took place at Geneva, at the same time as that of the 
Society of Natural Sciences. Prof. Chaix was President. Geo- 
graphical Societies exist now in Geneva, Berne, St. Gall, Aarau, - 
and Neuchatel, and others are about to be established in Zurich, 
Basle, and Lausanne. Those in existence count altogether more 
