Dec. 27, 1883] 



NA TURE 



application of kerosene and fi^hoil. Subsequently Mr. ^Ia^kcll, 

 dealing with the two species, saya that a mixture of kejojene and 

 linseed oil (one-third or one-fourth of the former) as recom- 

 mended by Mr. Comstock in America, had bseii perfectly 

 successful so far a= regards the Myliiaspis, which he dies not 

 regard as serious in its probable effect upon wattles (//caiw), but 

 very serious tvith respect to fruit and utoer trees. On the other 

 band, he considers all remedies useless against the Iccrya of the 

 wattle other than the radical oneof cutting down and destroying 

 the affected' trees. No indication is given, however, of the use 

 of a force-pump in distributing the kerosene ; if this were u.ed, 

 the remedial agent might be distributed to a greater height than 

 would be possible by mere hand application, and m )reover it 

 might be made to penetrate dense hedges, &c., the interior of 

 which it would be impossible to drench by hand labour. The 

 improved form of application, as a " kerosene emulsion," 

 recommended by Pr, f. Riley and Mr. Hubbard, did not appear 

 to be known in New Zealand at the time the Report was drawn 

 up. Any way it is satisfactory to hear that the judicious appli- 

 cation of kero.sene will certainly destroy scale insects without 

 necessarily damaging the plants. 



The same Report speaks very hopefully of the ultimate suc- 

 cess of attempts to cultivate hops in the province of Wellington ; 

 in Nelson success has been already secured. The great araw- 

 back is the expense of providing the necessary pultn^ and much 

 stress is laid upon the necessity for cultivating oak, ash, birch, 

 and species of Eucalyptii: for that purpose. Of the indigenous 

 poles, those oi Myrsine invilld are said to be the most durable. 



The additions to the Zoological Society's Gardens during the 

 past «eek include a Toque Monkey (Macacus pikatiis'i ) from 

 Ceylon, presented by Mr. J. H. Barker ; a Macaque Monkey 

 (Mcuactis cynomolgus S ) from India, presented by Mr. Douglas ; 

 a Common Marmoset (HapaU jacchns) from Brazil, presented 

 by Mrs. Archer ; a Moorhen (Gallirnda chloropus), British, 

 presented by Mr. T. E. Gunn ; a Gannet {Sula bassana), 

 British, presented by Mr. J. C. Baxter; two St. Thomas's 

 Conures {Conurus xantholi£7nas) from St. Thomas, We t Indies, 

 presented by Mr. C. Wallis Enslie ; two Fringed-lipped Lam- 

 preys {Petrofnyzon bmnchialis)^ Bii'i-h, presented by the Rev. 

 F. T. Wethered ; a Pied Wagtail (Motadlla luguhris), British ; 

 a Slaty Egret {.4n/c'3 ^«.''rtr/j), European, purchased. 



\INTERNAT10NAL POLAR OBSERVATORIES 

 T l^EG to inclose you an extract from a letter just received from 

 Prof. Wild, President of the International Polar Com- 

 mittee, and which gives information as to the several expeditions 

 which conducted observations in the circumpolar regions durin" 

 the twelve months ending August 31, 1883. 



Robert H. Scott 



" I take this opportunity of stating concisely what I have 

 hitherto learnt as to the present condition or the return of the 

 various expeditions. 



" I. The United States — Point Barrow. — The Expedition was 

 to have returned in the summer of 18S3. Definite information 

 ■ns to its return has not yet been received. ' 



"2. England and Canada— Fort Rae, on the Great Slave 

 Lake. — According to a communication received from Mr. Scott, 

 dated November 21 last, the Expedition has .safely returned to 

 England. 



"3. United States— Lady Franklin Bay. — The attempts to 

 relieve the Expedition this summer by ship have, like those of 

 last year, failed owing tj the unfavourable conriilion of the ice. 

 (Extract from newspapers.) 



"4. Denmark — Godhavn, in- Greenland. — According to a 

 communication from Captain Hofifmeyer, dated December 8, 

 the Expedition has safely returned to Copenhagen with a rich 

 store of observa'ions. 



"5. Germany — Cumberland Sound (Davis Strait). — Accord- 

 ing to a communication received from Dr. Neumayer, dated 



' We believe this patty anived at San Francisco some weelts ago —Ed. 



November i, the Expedition has safely returned to Hamburg, 

 having completed its task in a satisfactory manner. 



"6. Comit Wilczek's Station (Austria) — Jan Mayen, in Mary- 

 mu.-s Bay. — The t xpedition has safely returned to Vienna, having 

 completely carried out its programme. A short report of its 

 operations has been published by M. von Wohlgemuth, the Chief 

 of the Expedition. 



" 7. S\\ eden — Spitzbergen (Cape Thord.'en, in the Ice Fjord). 

 — Dr. Rubenson states that the Expedition has safely returned 

 to Stockholm. 



"8. Norway — Bossekop, near Alten. — From a letter from 

 Prof. Mohn, dated September 7, the Expedition stopped work 

 on August 31, having completely carried out its proijramme, 

 and on September 17, according to a repoit in Aa uren (October, 

 1883) it safely returned to Christiai.ia. 



"9. Finland — Sodank)la. — The Expedition completed its 

 task for the fir.-t year, but, according to a communication from 

 Prof. Le J Strom, dated August 5, the ol servations will be 

 continued another year, as the government of Finland has 

 provided the funds for the purpose. 



" 10. Russia — Nova Zembla (MoUer Bay). — The Expedition 

 returned to St. Petersburg in October with a rich store of 

 observations. 



" u. Holland — The Kara .Sea. — The Expedition could not 

 reach its original place cf destination. Port Diets on, but was 

 surrounded by ice in the Kara Sea, and has, according to a letter 

 from Prof. Buys Ballot, dated October i, safely returned to 

 Utrecht, having under the circumstances only imperfectly carried 

 out its programme. 



" 12. Russia— Mouth of the Lena (Sagastyr). — The Expedi- 

 tion, which suffered from storms during the passage do«n the 

 Lena, was not properly established until October 20, 1882 ; from 

 that date it has been able to carry out all the work laid dow n in 

 the programme. It will continue its observations for another 

 winter. 



" 13. France — Cape Horn (Orange Bay, Terra del Fuego). — 

 According to a report from Prof. Mascart, dated November 17, 

 the Expedition has returned safely to Paris, with a rich store of 

 materials. 



"14. Germany — The Island of South Georgia (Moltke 

 Harbour). — This Expedition has al-o safely returned, according 

 to a communication from Dr. Neumayer. 



"Of the fourteen Expeditions, therefore, three will continue 

 their observations f.jr about another year (Lady Franklin Bay, 

 Sodankyla, and Lena delta) ; the continuance of a fourth (Point 

 Barrow) is at present unknown, the other ten have safely 

 returned." 



MOVEMENTS OF THE EARTH'' 



III. — Rotation of the Earth 



"T^HE several ideas concerning the movements of the earth 



-*■ which were introduced in the last lecture will in the present 



one have to be dealt with in greater detail. 



It was then agreed that if the whole expanse of the heavens 

 were to travel with a perfectly equable motion in one direction, 

 such a motion for instance as would result from all the stars being 

 fixed to a solid transparent substance like those crystal spheres that 

 the ancients really be ieved to exist ; or if, on the other hand, the 

 earth herself, instead of being free to turn as she listed with 

 varying velocity in any direct! m, really went with perfect con- 

 stancy in the direction oppo ite to the apparent ruotion of the 

 stars, the visible effects w ould be the same in both cases, so that 

 an appeal to our eyes would n .t suffice to enable us to say 

 whether the earth moved or whether she remained at rest while 

 the celestial sphere revolved around her. 



Under these circumstances what is to be done ? It has been 

 seen how, both w ith regard to the measurement of space and the 

 measurement of time ftr astronomical purposes, those interested 

 in the physics and beauties of the various classes of celestial 

 b( dies cutside our own earth have picked and chosen now one 

 bit of physical science and now another to help them in their 

 inquiries; and with regard to this very important question, 

 "Does the eaith move or is she at rest?" we shall see how 

 very beautifully and perfectly the question has been answered 

 by the application of certain mechanical principles. 



The majoiiiy of people, I suppose, have some acquaintance, 

 however slight, with machinery — with steam engines for in- 



^ Continued from p. 69. 



