NATURE 



[JULV 2 1, 19 lO 



the south-east portion of Australia, and passes in a 

 north-eastern direction, crossing the equator in about 

 longitude 154° \V. It then sweeps round in an easterly 

 direction, terminating in about longitude 90° W. just 

 off the west coast of Central America. The line thus 

 extends over the full width of the Pacific Ocean, and 

 it is therefore from islands in that ocean that the 

 expeditions which may be sent out will have to 

 make their observations. While there is a great 

 number of islands in this ocean, there are, unfor- 

 tunately, remarkably few which lie in the narrow band 

 of the 'totality track. Following the line from west 

 to east, the first that one finds on the Admiralty 

 chart is Tofua, in the Tonga or Friendly Islands. 

 The next that is met with is Vavau, in the same 

 group, and also close to the central line of totality. 

 Much further eastward we reach Nassau, w-hich 

 lies a little to the south of the central line, but well 

 within the central zone, and not far away are the 

 Danger Islands, which are situated to the north, but 

 further away from the central line. Thus, so far 

 as is indicated on the chart, there are only four 

 available points from which observations can be 

 made. ... 



In order to find out the suitability of these islands 

 for eclipse parties, Mr. F. K. McClean determined to 

 make detailed inquiries on this point on his way out 

 to the recent eclipse, travelling from England via. 

 San Francisco and New Zealand specially to gather 

 this information. Particulars are now to hand, and 

 at his request they are published here so that intend- 

 ing observers may benefit thereby. 



With regard to Tofua the information is brief and 

 concise. It is that Tofua is an active volcano and 

 high, and therefore unsuitable. As regards Vavau he 

 says very little, because, as he knows, it is generally 

 recognised as being a good place for observation. He 

 adds', however, that there are hills there several 

 hundred feet in height; that the island is called at 

 by mail steamers; and, finally, that there are many 

 small and low islands in the neighbourhood. 



Coming now to Nassau and Danger Islands, these 

 are described as "difficult, but possible by using 

 owner's boat and landing tackle." As observing 

 stations he defines them as "good." The mode of 

 procedure to utilise these islands is suggested by him 

 in the following words : — 



A small steamer of several hundred tons (T/te Dauin), 

 belonging to Captain E. F. Allen, runs to both Nassau 

 and Danger. He does the whole of the landing and 

 embarking of copra, &c. This steamer would have to be 

 chartered at nppro.ximately 40/. per day when under steam 

 and 2o2. when not under steam. . . . Captain Allen says 

 that he would undertake to get all cases on shore in good 

 condition if they were water-tight, but he cannot under- 

 take to keep them dry. If for any reason he could not 

 land on one island, he could on the other in any reason- 

 able weather conditions. 



In most of the Pacific islands the chief difBculties 

 to be met with are confined to the landing and em- 

 barking of the personnel and material. As many of 

 the islands are fringed with coral reefs, with only 

 small, narrow passages through them, in some cases 

 natural, in others made by blasting operations, con- 

 siderable skill is required in negotiating the breakers, 

 and special surf boats are usually required. Mr. 

 McClean 's advice, therefore, is that it is almost impera- 

 tive to employ someone accustomed to such work, " as 

 certainlv no one unused to the conditions could do it." 



Should anr of the parties who intend to go out on 



the occasion of this eclipse wish to locate themselves 



on some island other than Vavau, then Nassau and 



Danger Islands are their only alternatives. It is 



NO. 2125, VOL. 84] 



hoped, however, that one or other of these will be 

 made use of, as they are sufficiently distant from 

 X'avau to be subject to different weather conditions 

 should the parties at Vavau be clouded out. 



William J. S. Lockver. 



GLACIERS, GOLDFIELDS, AND LANDSLIDES 



IX NORTH AMERICA.' 

 A S an example of organised public research, the 

 ■^*- U.S. Geological Survey is unparalleled in its 

 activity. Bulletins, professional papers, monographs and 

 reports flow from the Government Printing Office at 

 Washington in a stream that is well-nigh overwhelm- 

 ing to the student who tries to arrest it for systematic 

 examination. Written, or brought by capable editing, 

 to a standard of lucidity that is positively monotonous, 

 well printed, lavishly illustrated, and distributed with 

 enlightened generosity, these publications contain a 

 store of precise information which illuminates every 

 branch of earth-knowledge. The range of subjects 

 which they cover is no longer confined even within 



d by llu 



the spacious limits of geology, pateontology, petrio- 

 logy, mineralogy and physiography; — it has over- 

 spread into many cognate branches of applied science, 

 such as analytical chemistry, hydraulics, mechanics, 

 engineering, metallurgy and mineral statistics. 



The three handsome memoirs before us are good 

 examples of the broad spirit in which the work is 

 carried out; each, while dealing primarily with a 

 particular district, is a notable addition to our know- 

 ledge of the continent as a whole ; and each finds 

 room for matter likelv to be interesting to any edu- 

 cated reader, along with that which appeals directly 

 to the specialist. In the first and third, the physio- 



1 Professional P.iper« of U.S. Oeologicnl Survey. (Wa-ihinptoTi, 1Q09.) 

 (i) Nn. 64, "The Yakutat Bay Region, Alaslja : Pliysiograpliy and 

 Glacial Gfology." Ev RalphS. Tarr ; " Areal Geoloey." By R. S. T.-UT 

 and Ben S. Butler. Pp. 163 ; with 37 plates and 10 figures. 



(2) No. 66, "The Geology and Ore Deposits of Goldfield. Nevada." By 

 F. L. Ransome, assisted in the field by W. H. Emmons and G. H. Garrey. 

 Pp. 258 ; with 2 maps, 33 plates and 34 figures. 



(3) No. 67, " Landslides in the San Juan Mount.ains, Colorado, including 

 a Consideration of their Causes and their Classification." liy E. Hoivc. 

 Pp. 58 ; with 20 plates .ind 4 figures. 



