Sept. 9, 1886 | 
NATURE 
459 
mines, manufactories, and chemical works of the neighbourhood 
are occasionally made. The Department of Experimental 
Physics includes courses of lectures arranged progressively, and 
practical instruction in the physical and electrical laboratory. 
Those students who attend the mechanical engineering course 
enter engineering works during the six summer months, and, in 
accordance with this scheme, various manufacturing engineers in 
the neighbourhood have consented to receive students of the 
College into their offices and workshops as articled pupils ; 
the engineering laboratory is provided with a powerful testing- 
machine, and instruction in the use of tools is given in the 
workshop. Special courses in surveying are given, and excur- 
sions for field practice are frequently made. The Department 
for Geology, Biology, and Zoology includes various courses of 
lectures in all branches of those subjects, together with labora- 
tory instruction. In the Botanical Department practical in- 
struction is given by means of the Botanical Gardens, which 
contain upwards of 1000 specimens. 
THE additions to the Zoological Society’s Gardens during the 
past week include a Common Mole (Zalfa europa), British, 
presented by Mr. J. Scatcherd ; two Hawfinches (Coccothraustes 
wulgaris), British, presented by Mr. W. Strutt ; a Lanner Falcon 
(Falco lanarius), European, received; two Common Vipers 
(Vipera berus), British, presented by Mr. W. Robertson; a 
Common Viper (Vigera berus), British, presented by Mr. W. 
H. B. Pain; two Common Marmosets (Hapale jacchus) from 
Brazil, three Indian Crocodiles (Crocoatlus palustris) from India, 
deposited ; a Mesopotamian Fallow Deer (Dama mesopotamica), 
four Long-fronted Gerbilles (Gerbi//us longifrons), five American 
Milk-Snakes (Coluber eximus), an Argus Pheasant (Argus 
giganteus), born in the Gardens. 
OUR ASTRONOMICAL COLUMN 
CHANGES OBSERVED ON THE SURFACE OF MArs.—In the 
July number of the Bulletin Astronomique M. Perrotin gives a 
detailed account of his observations of Schiaparelli’s ‘‘Canals” 
made during the months of April and May of the present year 
(NATURE, June 3, p. 110), remarking that their appearance differs 
little from that observed in the Milan astronomer’s chart drawn 
in 1882, and that these markings appear to indicate the existence 
of astate of things, in the equatorial regions of the planet, 
which, if not absolutely permanent, at all events give evidence 
of considerable stability. But during the progress of the Nice 
observations of the ‘‘ canals,” some changes were noticed in the 
neighbourhood of the Kaiser Sea (Schiaparelli’s Syrtis Major), 
which M. Perrotin has thought it worth while to put on 
record. During the earlier observations this part of the planet's 
surface was dark, like all the Martial ‘‘seas,” and as it is 
represented in the chart. On May 21, however, the part of 
Syrtis Major extending from 10° to 55° of north latitude was 
‘seen to be covered with a luminous cloud forming regular and 
parallel bands, stretching from north-west to south-east on the 
surface, in colour somewhat similar to that of the continents, 
but not quite so bright. On the 22nd these cloud-like structures 
were more uniformly distributed than on the previous day ; they 
were also seen on the three following days, but were noted to 
be of considerably diminished intensity. On May 25 the Nice 
observers noted the visibility of the isthmus which is placed in 
Schiaparelli’s chart on the prolongation of Syrtis Major, below 
its junction with Nilus, in longitude 300° and north latitude 52°, 
and which had not hitherto been seen by them. M. Perrotin 
thinks it probable that these appearances are really due to clouds 
circulating in the atmosphere of Mars; at all events he con- 
cludes they arise from something connected with the atmosphere 
or with the surface of the planet capable of motion and of 
change in a comparatively short space of time. 
A SUSPECTED NEW VARIABLE STAR.—In Circular No. 8 
of the Liverpool Astronomical Society, Rev. T. E. Espin states 
that the star D.M. + 35° 4002 was observed by him on the 
night of June 26 last as a very red 85 mag. star. On August 
29 it was again observed with the same comparison stars, and 
was found to be barely 9°5._ There seems, therefore, reason for 
suspecting it of variation. Duner calls this star ‘‘ rouge-jaune 
foncé,” spectrum IIIé.!!, and identifies it with Pickering No. 
36 (Astronomische Nachrichten, No. 2376), which seems im- 
probable, as Pickering’s place is Im. 20s. preceding and 0° 7’ 
south, The Pee of D.M.+35° 4002 for 1885 is R.A. 20h. 6m. 3s., 
Decl. + 35° 
THE Tne Star OF 234.—In the Astronomische Nach- 
vichten, No. 2743, Mr. J. E. Gore publishes elliptic elements of 
the orbit of this binary. The components are of magnitudes 7 
and 7°4, and the star has always been a close and difficult object 
to measure even with large telescopes. Mr. Gore considers his 
orbit as provisional only, on account of the discordance of some 
of the recorded measures. The following are the elements :— 
P = 63°45 years Q = 124° 11’ (1880’0) 
T = 1881'15 SS Oe Bey 
e = 0°3629 a = 0'°339 
Y =47 21 Bh =+ 5°67 
Gore states that these elements satisfy the observations 
faisly well from 1844 to 1853, and from 1870 to 1880, but in 
the years 1858-66 the discordances are considerable. The posi- 
tion of the star for 18800 is R.A. Ith. 24m. 20s., Decl. 
+ 41° 58’. 
ASTRONOMICAL PHENOMENA FOR THE 
WEEK 1886 SEPTEMBER 12-18 
qao® 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 12 
Sunrises, 5h. 31m. 3 souths, rth. aoe II‘Os. ; sets, 18h. 21m. ; 
decl. on meridian, 4° 7' N.: Sidereal Time at Sunset, 
17h. 48m. 
Moon (Full on September 13) rises, 18h. Sm. ; sou) 23h. 38m. > 
sets, 5h. 16m.* ; decl. on meridian, 6° 34’S 
Planet Rises Souths ets Decl. on meridian 
h. m. h. m. m. Aa oh 
Mercury Zt UG) ge, UG) 18 8 Io 40N. 
Venus ... 3/30) =... 10740 17 50 Te) Gig} INIc 
Mars LOLA Ae ney LO) 19 55 16 46S. 
a yl Ch acg US HS eee) 5} 3, ONS. 
Saturn.. 5 33 yeh? BP os HO © 21 37aNe 
* Indicates that the rising is that of the preceding evening and the setting 
that of the following morning. 
Occultations of Stars by the Moon (not actually occulted at 
Greenwich) 
Corresponding 
Sept. Star Mag. Disap. Reap. pa Sean ae 
inverted image 
h. m. h. m. ° 
. » Aquarii 44 I 50 near approach 227 — 
13... 24 Piscium 6% ... 20 33 near approach 168 — 
16 ... v Piscium 44 7 12 nearapproach 56 — 
Sept. h. 
I 2t... Venus at least distance from the Sun. 
Variable Stars 
Star RA Decl. 
h. mm. ‘ h. m. 
U Cephei coy ONS 252) -e. OL LONE... Sept. 10, LON 25 ac7Z 
Aveo Gopeemeon. coo 6) Cvo CO EPUING cst gp) 8b LG) 38 m 
¢ Geminorum Oo SO ZVINiglae py Usp Sie Hy Lbs 
18, 23 6 m 
6 Librze 14 54°9 BS ZS coe sp Uh. 22 SY ee 
U Corone ... WS HEM con SIO ch INT See the Ann 2) 772 
U Ophiuchi... 17 10°8 I 20 N. 6p. 2 PS Ze 
and at intervals of 20 8 
B Lyre... 18 45'9 ... 33 14 N. ... Sept. 18, 21 0 7 
n Aquilze 19 46°7 © Zi} No. ess) gp US Se OLY 
StS; One O77 
5 Cephei 22) QAO. 57 5ONelens) yh 125 ol 
» %II5,22 Om 
M signifies maximum ; 77 minimum. 
