258 
the boundaries of scientific knowledge. Referring to the 
Institute, Prof. Putnam remarks: ‘‘The scope of this founda- 
tion embraces all the sciences, and its purpose is the en- 
couragement and patronage of research. Such an instituticn 
will have the power to render incalculable service to American 
archeology and ethnology, where so much needs to be done 
without loss of time.” 
WE have received the first two numbers of a series of 
occasional reports on the agriculture and forest culture of German 
East Africa, issued by the Central Government at Dar-es-Salam, 
and published by Carl Winter at Heidelberg. These reports, 
which are to be continued as occasion requires, contain the 
results of valuable scientific investigations by officials, dealing 
with such matters as the tse-tse fly, analyses of soils, climato- 
logy, &c. Extracts of reports from numerous civil and military 
stations are given, and accounts of exploring journeys into 
less-known regions of the colony. 
THE current issue of the British Medical Journal (July 5) 
is a special vaccination number, and contains several interesting 
contributions on Jenner’s life and works, and on small-pox and 
vaccination. Much valuable material—scientific, clinical and 
administrative—connected with the disease and its remedy, is 
described by writers of recognised authority. 
Messrs. DucKkworTH AND Co. will publish immediately a 
book on ‘‘ European Fungus-Flora,” by Mr. George Massee, 
principal assistant at the Royal Herbarium, Kew. The work 
will be a synopsis of the European Agaricacez, giving the specific 
characteristics of 2750 European species, of which 1553 are 
British. 
Messrs. DAWBARN AND WARD have commenced the publi- 
cation of a series of practical handbooks designed to be of 
service to dwellers in the country. The first book of the series, 
on ‘* Outdoor Carpentry,” by Mr. S.; Walter Newcomb, gives 
brief instructions, with plans, sketches and details, for con- 
structing rustic work of many kinds. Among the subjects of 
future volumes will be water-supply and distribution, sanitation 
and drainage, and planning gardens, grounds and outbuildings. 
THE English Illustrated Magazire for July contains an article 
upon the supposed portrait of Christ on the Holy Shroud of 
Turin, translated from the French, and based upon Dr. Vignon’s 
work on ‘‘Le Linceul du Christ.” The article leaves the 
question whether the markings upon the shroud were really 
produced by the body of Christ undecided, but it is held that 
there is sufficient evidence for the belief that the image was 
naturally imprinted upon the shroud by the action of vapours 
arising from a human body. Another article in the magazine, 
by Mr. J. J. Ward, gives an instructive illustrated account of 
May-flies and related insects. 
THE ‘‘ Technolexicon,” or technical dictionary, to be pub- 
lished by the Society of German Engineers, has previously been 
referred to in these columns. The editor, Dr. Hubert Jansen, 
Berlin (N.W. 7), Dorotheenstr. 49, is anxious to include in the 
dictionary all technical terms used by French, German and 
English engineers, so that the dictionary shall contain equiva- 
lent words and expressions in each of the three languages. 
Collaboration is invited from societies, individuals and engineer- 
ing works. The editor would be glad to receive technical 
catalogues, price lists, hand-books, or lists of words and terms 
for which correct renderings cannot be found in ordinary 
dictionaries. The work will be so useful when ready that all 
who are able to contribute to its completeness should do so. 
THE additions to the Zoological Society’s Gardens during the 
past week include two White-eared Conures (Pyrrhura leucotis) 
from Brazil, presented by Lady Lindsay ; two Peregrine Falcons 
(Halo peregrinus), European, presented by Dr. R. Lawton 
Roberts; a European Pond Tortoise (Zmys orbicularis), 
WO. 1706, VOL. 66] 
NALIURE 
[JULY 10, 1902 
European, presented by the Earl of Dudley ; a Common Viper 
(Vipera berus), British, presented by Mr. E. Ball; two Snowy 
Egrets (Ardea candidissima) from America, two Vinaceous 
Amazons (Chrysotis vinacea), two Red-tailed Amazons (Chrysotis 
brasiliensis) from Brazil, seven Roofed Terrapins (Kachuga 
tectum) from India, a Black Sternothere (Sternothoerus niger) 
from West Africa, a Wrinkled Terrapin (Chrysemys scripta: 
rugosa) from the West Indies, a Blue-tongued Lizard (7i/igua 
scéncotdes) from Australia, a Madagascar Tree Boa (Coral/us 
madagascariensis) from Madagascar, deposited; a Proboscis 
Monkey (Wasalis /arvatus) from Borneo, two White Storks 
(Ciconza alba), European, purchased. 
OUR ASTRONOMICAL COLUMN. 
Tue PerropicaL Comet or TEMPEL-SwiFr (1869-1880),— 
This object is one of the most interesting of the somewhat 
numerous class of comets which at aphelion pass just outside 
the orbic of Jupiter and perform their revolutions in periods 
ranging from about 5 to 9 years. First seen by Tempel in 
1869 November 27, the character of the orbit was not deter- 
mined until its independent discovery by Lewis Swift in 1880 
October 10. It was then found to be moving in an orbit of 
short period for the elements deduced by Bruhns, for the 
apparition of 1869 very closely resembled those obtained by 
Chandler for the return of 1880, and the latter pointed out the 
true character of the orbit early in 1880 November. Messrs. 
Schulhof and Bossert, of Paris, also published elements indi- 
cating a periodic time of 54 years. 
The average period for the four returns which occurred 
between 1869 and 1891 was 2099 days, or 5 years and 183 days. 
At every alternate return, however, the comet is invisible. The 
perihelion is reached at a distance of about 10,000,000 miles 
outside the earth’s orbit, and the three previously observed 
perihelion passages having occurred between November 6 and 
18, the conditions were extremely favourable, the longitude of 
the comet’s perihelion being 43° and the longitude of the earth 
on November 6 being 43°. The comet and earth were, in fact, 
mutually situated in or near those parts of their orbits which 
make the nearest approach to each other. At alternate returns 
such as in 1875, 1886, 1897, 1908 and 1919, the earth is on the 
opposite side of the sun to the comet when the latter passes 
through perihelion. In such circumstances the object is alto- 
gether beyond reach, for at one of these unfavourable returns 
it is placed nearly 200,000,000 miles from the earth, whereas 
under the best conditions, similar to those which prevailed 
during the apparition in 1880, the distance may be less than 
one-tenth of that mentioned, 
As in 1869, 1880 and 1891, so in 1902, the comet will be 
very favourably visible in the autumn and winter months, and 
it will probably be re-detected in one of our large telescopes in 
about September next. The object will be by no means con- 
spicuous, nor is it likely to display any attractive variety of 
aspect, but any moderately good telescope will show it as a 
large faint nebulosity. One of the best known of the ever- 
increasing group of Jovian comets, it will be sure to attract 
considerable attention during its forthcoming return, not so 
much, perhaps, on account of its visible characteristics as from 
the example it affords of a numerous class of bodies and from 
the interesting history attached to its previous appearances. 
Mr. Tessurtr’s OpseERVATORY AT Winpsor, N.S.W.— 
The annual report of this observatory for 1901 shows that 
much useful work was done last year. Measures of the 
positions of Venus, Ceres, Parthenope, Melpomene and Diana 
were made and the results forwarded to the Astronomésche 
Nachrichten (Band clvi. p. 105). 
Under ‘‘Comet Observations” we find that 273 determina- 
tions of the position of Comet I. 1901 were made between 
May 3 and June 13, 1901, and the full results were published 
in the Astronomische Nachrichten (Band clvi. p. 95 and Band 
clvii. p. 187). Encke’s comet was fruitlessly sought on the 
evenings of October 2 and 8. 
During twenty evenings the measures of twenty-eight double 
stars were made and the results published in the Monthly 
Notices ®.A.S. (vol. Ixi. p. 51). 
The tables of meteorological observations show a temperature 
above, and a rainfall below the average, the year 1901 being 
the driest year recorded (excepting 1888) since 1862. 
