I 62 



NA TUBE 



[June 13, 1907 



to the sun, ranging from — o-i km. (September 23, 1906) 

 to —15-3 km. (October 29, 1904). 



The velocities determined for f Cygni vary only from 

 + 14-3 km. to 157 km. (Astronomische Nachrichten, No. 

 4 18 1, p. 87). 



Minor Planets discovered during 1906. — In No. 21 

 (p. 261, May 23) of the Naturwissenschaftliche Rundschau 

 Prof. Berberich discusses the minor planets discovered 

 during 1906. In all, the discovery of 12b of these objects 

 was announced, but of these thirteen were undoubtedly 

 objects which had been seen before, whilst sixty-nine 

 await further observation. The orbits of twenty are now- 

 known to be elliptical, whilst twenty-one others are prob- 

 ably so ; in three cases a circular orbit fits the observational 

 results better. Prof. Berberich gives a comparison between 

 the orbital elements now determined and those previously 

 calculated for the asteroids shown to be identical with 

 bodies discovered earlier. The magnitudes, designations, 

 and details of discovery are also given for those probably 

 having elliptical paths. 



The Spectrum of Saturn. — The results of a photo- 

 graphic study of the spectrum of Saturn, made by Mr. 

 \'. M. Sliplier during the autumn of 1905, appear in 

 Bulletin No. 27 of the Lowell Observatory. The spectra 

 were taken on plates especially sensitised to the orange- 

 red, and extend to \ 6563. The comparison spectrum, 

 photographed on either side of the planet's spectrum, was 

 that of the moon at about the same altitude, so that 

 differential effects of the earth's atmospheric absorption 

 were eliminated. The following absorption bands appear 

 in the Saturnian spectrum, their relative strengths being in 

 the order given : — AA 0193, 5430, (3145, 645. 577. 



The first named is a very strong band, broad and sym- 

 metrical, and traceable down to the band at A 614-;. None 

 of these bands is to be found in the spectra of the rings, 

 although a much weaker absorption than that producing 

 A 6193 should be indicated if it existed. This points to the 

 conclusion that if the rings possess any atmosphere at 

 all it is much rarer than that surrounding the ball of the 

 ;Manet. No trace of absorption due to the presence of 

 aqueous vapour is shown on the spectrograms. 



Mr. Slipher also gives an interesting comparative table 

 of the spectra of the four outer planets, Saturn, Jupiter, 

 Uranus, and Neptune, which indicates that the planets 

 which are similar telescopically have similar spectra. The 

 f-xcellent plate accompanying the paper shows reproductions 

 of the spectra of these four planets taken with various 

 comparisons. 



Oxford University Observatory. — The thirty-second 

 annual report of the Savilian professor of astronomy, deal- 

 ing with the period May i, 1006, to April 30, 1907, contains 

 but little which is of general interest. 



The proof-reading and printing of the astrographic 

 results for the Oxford zone have occupied the time of the 

 staff fully during the past year, and will, with the necessary 

 re-measurement and checking, continue to do so for some 

 few years ; consequently, no other serious piece of work 

 can be undertaken. Vols. i. (zone -f3i°) and ii. (zone 

 + 30°), and the greater part of vol. iii. (zone -1-29°), are 

 now printed, the two former being also bound. 



CELEBRATION OF THE BICENTENARY OF 



LINN^.US. 

 'T'HE Linn^ Fest ' which has just come to an end was 

 a complete success in every way. The meeting was 

 admirably managed, and the delegates were treated with 

 the most generous hospitality. At Upsala - they w-ere 

 especially indebted to the Rector of the University (Dr. 

 Schiick) and to Mr. Aksel Andersson, of the Universitv 

 library. The last-named gentleman was tireless in his 

 efforts to rule his troublesome pack, and, indeed, lost his 

 voice in that service, and became as hoarse as a hunts- 

 man after a long day. Many of the delegates arrived on 



1 .\n interesting satheritie took pl.-ice on May it at Rashu't, the birth- 

 place of Linn;eiis. where a ceremony was arranged, includine a visit to the 

 rh'irch in which h- was rhristenert. Manv delegates attended at the invi- 

 ta>ion of the Re-ior of the Universitv of Lund. 



2 Modern spelling reform has convert»'l the name to Uppsa'a. 



NO. 1963. VOL. 76] 



May 22 ; the remainder reached Upsala by special train 

 on the inorning of May 23 — the first day of the Fest. At 

 the station they were met by the students of the University, 

 looking uncommonly smart ip dress coats and white caps, 

 their fuglemen decorated with huge blue and yellow 

 scarves. They struck us as a very fine set of young men 

 as they marched past with their banners and saluted us. 

 The guests were also honoured by the presence of the 

 women students, who wore white caps like those of the 

 men, which they removed in a masculine iTianner by way 

 of salute to the assembled delegates. At mid-day was held 

 the great meeting in the .Aula of the University, when the 

 delegates presented their addresses, heard the oration of 

 the Rector, and listened to Holmgren's hymn in honour 

 of Linnaeus and Liljefoss's inusic to Snoilsky's poem 

 " The Prince of Flowers." 



The delegates of each nation formed a group, and the 

 groups wont up in alphabetical order, beginning with 

 America and ending wilh Osterrike (Austria), the modified 

 o being the last letter in the Swedish alphabet. Each 

 group had a leader, who iTiade a short speech as he passed 

 the Rector's throne, this office being performed for England 

 by Sir Archibald Geikie with conspicuous success. It was 

 a relief to those delegates who are not quite clear about 

 Latin quantities to find that addresses were merely handed 

 in. After their leader's speech the delegates descended 

 into the body of the hall, filed passed the Crown Prince 

 and other Royal personages with bows of varying degrees 

 of elegance, and so got safely back to their seats. 



-Among the delegates were the following well-known men 

 of science : — Profs. Farlow, Harvard ; XVarming, Copen- 

 hagen ; Elfving, Helsingfors ; Prince Roland Bonaparte, 

 Academic des Sciences, Paris ; France being also repre- 

 sented by MM. Flahault, Giard, and Mangin ; Profs. Moll, 

 Holland ; Wille, Christiania ; Borodin and Palladin, St. 

 Petersburg ; Casimi' de Caitdolle, Geneva ; Engler, Berlin ; 

 Goebel, Munich ; Haeckel, Jena ; Pax, Breslau ; Peter. 

 Gbttingen ; Pfeffer, Leipzig ; Wiesner, Vienna. Halle h.id 

 the distinction of being represented by a mathematician. 

 Prof. Wangerin, who came as the president of the Leopold. 

 Car. .Academy. The delegates from " Storbritanien och 

 Irland " were : — Sir .A. Geikie, Royal Society ; Dr. Bather, 

 British Museum and Zoological Society ; Air. Carruthers, 

 Linnean Society ; Mr. F. Darwin, Cambridge and the 

 Royal Society ; Mr. Daydon Jackson, who was personallj 

 invited ; Mr. Morice, Entomological Society ; Prof. Poulton. 

 Oxford ; Lieut. -Colonel Prain, Kew Gardens ; Dr. Rainy. 

 College of Physicians, Edinburgh, and the I'niversity ; Dr. 

 Church, Edinburgh. The Society of Arts of London was re 

 presented by the Swedish professor Sjogren. Great Britain 

 was in the proud position of having more delegates than 

 any other nation. Prof. Bailey Balfour, whose name 

 occurs on the official list, was unfortunately absent. 



-At the conclusion of the meeting the delegates were 

 presented to the Crown Prince, who afterwards conferred 

 the Order of the Polar Star on some of them, among 

 whom were Mr. Daydon Jackson and Prof. Poulton. 



The festivities were not nearly concluded. There w-as 

 a concert at 4.30 p.m. given in the Botanic Garden by the 

 students, whose remarkably linished singing was much 

 admired. 



In the evening the guests were divided between the 

 hospitable tables of the Rector and the -Archbishop. .At 

 the Rector's parly, the toast of the Linnean Society was 

 given by our host, whose generous reference to the Linnean 

 treasures in London was warmly appreciated by the 

 Englishmen present. The evening concluded with a grand 

 leception in the University buildings. 



On the following day (May 24) was held a great " pro- 

 motion " of doctors, which by a revival of ancient customj 

 look place in the cathedral. The building was filled with| 

 a great crowd, and the students again gave a picturesquel 

 touch by their m.Tssed white caps. The proceedings began 

 with the creation of thirty Swedish D.D.'s named by the 

 King and " promoted " by the .Archbishop. 



Then came Doctors of Law and Medicine, among the 

 latter being Dr. R.niny, of Edinburgh. Prof. Haeckel was 

 in a class by himself as a Jubilee Doctor. Each M.D. was 

 presented with a remarkable headdress, being, in fact, 

 tall hat covered with pleated black material, and with thes^ 

 they were respectfully crowned by the promoter. -A 



