a 
Sept. 2, 1886 | 
NATURE 435 
utensils. A representation of the constellation of the Great 
Bear was, although rudely, carefully drawn on the slab. It 
may be remembered that some years ago a similar slab was found 
near Weimar. 
THE additions to the Zoological Society’s Gardens during the 
past week include a White-fronted Capuchin (Cebus adbifrons) 
from Central America, presented by Mr. H. A. Blake ; a Missis- 
sippi Alligator (Ad/igator mississippiensis) from Florida, pre- 
sented by Miss Janet D. White; a Common Gannet (Sz/a 
bassana), British, presented by Mr. F. E. Hatfield; two 
Dominican Kestrels (Z7iznunculus dominicensis), two Green 
Bitterns (Bictorides virescens), from West India, presented by 
Dr. A. Boon, F.R.C.S.; a Raven (Corzus corax), British, pre- 
sented by Mr. Robert Galland ; a Ring-tailed Coati (asua 
rufa), 2 Globose Curassow (Crax globicera), from Central 
America, a Clouded Iguana (Cyclura casinata), from Cuba, 
deposited ; a Black-necked Swan (Cygnus nigricollis 2) from 
Chili, purchased; a Leopard (Fe/is pardus), born in the 
Gardens. 
OUR ASTRONOMICAL COLUMN 
Nores ON VAKIABLE STARS.—Mr. T. E. Espin, Observer to 
the Liverpool Astronomical Society, announces in the Society’s 
Circular, No. 6, that the star D.M. + 8°°3780, stated in Crveular 
No. 2 (NATURE, vol. xxxiv. p. I10) to be probably variable, 
passed its maximum about June 4, at which time its magnitude 
was 6°8. Since this date it has diminished in brightness, and 
on August 20 it was only 82. The star would seem to be a 
long-period variable. Its place for 1885 is R.A. 18h. 32m. 51s., 
Decl. + 8° 43'°5. Mr. Espin also states that he has detected 
variation in the red star D.M. + 47°°3031, which passed a 
minimum about the end of April. On May 14 it was only 8:9, 
since which it has increased, and is now 7°7. ‘This star also 
is along-period variable. Its place for 1885 is R.A. 20h. 5m. 58s., 
Decl. + 47° 289. It precedes 32 Cygni by 5m. 57s., and is 9’ 
north of it. 
Circular No. 7 states that—(1) The observations of 10 
Sagittee on sixty nights since 1885 November 28 give: Period 
= 8-32134d., Epoch of Max. 1886 July 17°56d. A mini- 
mum occurs on 1886 September 1°6d., and a maximum on 1886 
September 55d. (2) The star D.M. + 17°°3940 was observed 
as 9°5 on April 26 last. From this date it increased, and on 
June 13 it was 8-3. Latterly it has diminished, and on August 
20 it was 8°7. Vogel gives the spectrum as IIId. ! Duner as 
IlIa.!! The star’s place for 1885 is R.A. 19h. 16m. 33s., 
Decl. + 17° 26'°4. 
WINNECKE’S ComET.—From the Duy Echt Circular, No. 
124, we learn that this periodical comet has been found at Cape 
Town. It is described as circular, less than 1’ in diameter, as 
bright as a star of the roth magnitude, and as having some 
central condensation but no tail. Its observed place was 
Greenwich M.T. Aug. 20, 5h. 47m.54s., R.A. 13h. Iom. 21°5s., 
Decl. 1° 8 17” S. The daily motion, according to Lamp’s 
ephemerides (Astronomische Nachrichten, No 2731) is about 
plus 3°3m. and 32! south. 
THE OBSERVATORY OF YALE COLLEGE.—The report of the 
work done at this Observatory during the year ending June I, 
1886, has recently been issued. The chief astronomical work 
is that done with the heliometer in charge of Dr. W. L. Elkin. 
With this instrument considerable progress has been made with 
the triangulation of the Pleiades, completing the series obtained 
in the previous year. All the stars have now been observed on 
from ten to twelve nights, and a total of over 1600 measures of 
distance and 700 of position-angle are available for discussion. 
The principal observing work accomplished by Dr. Elkin, has, 
however, been in connection with the scheme for determining 
the average parallax of the first-magnitude stars as a step 
towards the more comprehensive plan proposed by Gill and 
Elkin in concert. It is proposed at present to take the ten 
brightest stars in the northern hemisphere and observe them 
each from sixteen to twenty times at epochs of maximum paral- 
lactic displacement, using a favourably situated pair of com- 
parison stars—in some cases a double pair, or four stars. 
Arcturus, with its large proper motion, presents an object of | gaseous combinations. 
especial interest, and it has been taken up in a more exhaustive 
manner with six pairs of comparison stars, five of which have 
been successfully followed up so far. The whole work is pro- 
gressing satisfactorily, over 200 sets of measures having been 
made, and is rather more than half completed, the working plan 
extending until February 1887. Astronomers will await with 
interest the completion and publication of Dr. Elkin’s important 
researches. 
ASTRONOMICAL PHENOMENA FOR THE 
WEEK 1886 SEPTEMBER 5-11 
( OR the reckoning of time the civil day, commencing at 
Greenwich mean midnight, counting the hours on to 24, 
is here employed.) 
At Greenwich on September 5 
Sun rises, 5h. 21m. ; souths, rth. 58m. 34°8s. ; sets, 18h. 36m. ; 
decl. on meridian, 6° 45’ N.: Sidereal Time at Sunset, 
17h. 35m. : 
Moon (at First Quarter) rises, 13h. 38m.; souths, 18h. 11m. ; 
sets, 22h. 41m. ; decl. on meridian, 17° 44’ S. 
Planet Rises Souths Sets Decl. on meridian 
E nit h. m. h. m. ey. 
Mercury Sy S35" aye UO) Gig} 18 8 13 44N. 
Venus ... BS eee LONsgAe 5 188 10 15 33 N. 
Mars = EO} AA eeo al 5 20m eee 20) 102) 15 15 S. 
Jupiter... 7 AO eT SES Tian LOEZS 2 34S. 
Saturn .. Oy eo. ES 7). the MOTTE ato 8, PAINT 
Occultations of Stars by the Moon (visible at Greenwich) 
Corresponding 
Sept. Star Mag. _Disap Reape qe eene i: 
inverted image 
h. m. h, m. D ° 
Wee.. B. ALG. 65360) ---1 OF 21 43 22 33 65 353 
Tow... B.A.C. 7487, &. 6k 20 II 20) 12 en L29ReR4: 
Sept h. 
7 5 Mercury at least distance from the Sun. 
Variable Stars 
Star R.A Decl. 
h m. GY h. m. 
U Cephei © 52°2... 81 16 N. ... Sept. 6, 20 6 7 
», II, 19 46 m 
Algol QeCr ccovid gy lacs gp Gh 2 Ow 
>> Ll, 22 40m 
¢ Geminorum GU e7edee- 2ONA4 Novem yy) Os OMe 
Oweibre <5 se. 145459 ie TS ea Bane 7h oS) BE 
U Ophiuchi... ... 17 10°8 MING ean i eae 
22 16 m 
T Herculis ... DeISUa Anois 2G OnNe rite ate M 
U Sagittarii... ... 18 25°2...19 12S. ... ,, A Oe) Owe 
R Scuti SOI Ci ces, Gi GONE ceo 55 Gs me 
B Lyre... rh} ASS) non Se) ENG es og | Ch OO) OL 
n Aquilz 19 46°7 0 43 N Se 0 O) Oe 
5 10; LO) (Or 7e 
R Delphini... ... 20 974 BviQuidee ses, Soa) Sve M 
T Aquarii Be FD. EHO) es SVS sto re Gh me 
S Pegasi . 23 14:8 SOLS econ evar ues M 
uM signifies maximum ; 7 minimum. 
Meteor Showers 
Meteors have been observed at this season from the following 
radiants :—Near o Eridani, R.A. 55°, Decl. 6° S.; from Camelo- 
pardus, R.A. 60°, Decl. 60° N. ; from near u Persei, R.A. 65°, 
Decl. 46° N. ; from near u Tauri, R.A. 65°, Decl. 6° N. ; and 
near a Pegasi, R.A. 345°, Decl. 13° N. 
SCIENTIFIC SERIALS 
Fournal de Physique, July.—Prof. Mascart, on magnetisa- 
tion. A study of the secondary effect produced by the reaction 
of the polar surfaces on the magnetising field. The author 
calculates also the influence of the earth’s magnetism in pro- 
ducing temporary alteration in the magnetisation of a needle 
during oscillation, an effect which he finds to have been often 
exaggerated, and not to exceed 1/1000 part of the whole mag- 
netisation.—P. Duhem, on the calorific capacity of dissociable 
Discussion and expansion of the formulze 
