516 
Geologie, und Palaontologie.” The two chemical numbers treat 
with all the fullness and thoroughness characteristic of this 
estimable work ‘‘ Dichte,” ‘‘ Didym,” ‘‘ Diffusion,” ‘‘ Dinte,” 
“‘Diphenylverbindungen,” ‘‘ Dissociation,” ‘* Diinger,” and 
““Kisen,” and the accompanying woodcuts illustrating any diffi- 
cult experiments in the text add materially to the practical value 
of the articles. The new number, finally, of the Mineralogical, 
Geological, and Palzontological Dictionary contains important 
contributions on ‘‘ Reptilien” and ‘‘ Rhizopoden,” by Rolle ; 
on “‘Salze,” by Kenngott; on ‘‘Schichtenlehre” and 
“Schwankungen im Niveau vom Meer und Festlande,” by 
von Lasaulx—articles distinguished not more by fullness and 
compactness of matter than by clearness of dan. ne 
WITH unflagging vigour and learning the new Italian quarterly, 
La Nuova Scienza, prosecutes the mission it has undertaken of 
building up an exact philosophy on the foundation of the natural 
and historical sciences. In the last number for June, 1885, the 
articles of chief interest, all contributed by the indefatigable 
editor, Prof. Enrico Caporali, are: Modern Italian thought, 
German anticlerical evolution, and the Pithagoric formula in 
cosmical evolution. The last-mentioned paper deals with the 
evolution of gravitation, of heat, of electricity, chemical affinity, 
lower organic force, higher organic force, sentient force, social 
authority ; fatalist and free evolution. Itis held in general that 
all evolution is due more to internal energy than to outward 
conditions, in opposition to Herbert Spencer’s theory of me- 
chanical causes. 
THE address of Mr. W. H. Dall, vice-president to the Anthro- 
pological Section of the American Association for the Advance- 
ment of Science at Ann Arbor, last month, has been printed as 
a separate pamphlet. The subject of the address was ‘‘The 
Native Tribes of Alaska.” 
THE additions to the Zoological Society’s Gardens during the 
past week include a Macaque Monkey (MJacacus cynomolgus 6 ) 
from India, presented by Mr. A. Cornet; a Red Kangaroo 
(Macropus rufus 2) from Australia, presented by Mr. G. 
Wylie ; a Bonelli’s Eagle (Wisaetus fasciatus) from North Africa, 
presented by Capt. W. R. Taylor, s.s. Ampusa ; two Tawny 
Owls (Syrnium aluco), European, presented by Mr. H. Lee; a 
Nightjar (Caprimulgus europeus), European, presented by Mr. 
Cuthbeth Johnson ; a Robben Island Snake (Coronella phocarum) 
from South Africa, presented by the Rey. G. H. R. Fisk, 
C.M.Z.S.; seven Blue-bearded Jays (Cyanocorax cyanopogon) 
from Para, purchased ; a Beisa Antelope (Oryx betsa 2), born 
in the Gardens. 
ASTRONOMICAL PHENOMENA FOR THE 
WEEK, 1885, SEPTEMBER 27 TO OCTOBER 3 
(For the reckoning of time the civil day, commencing at 
Greenwich mean midnight, counting the hours on to 24, is here 
employed. ) 
At Greenwich on Sept. 27 
Sun rises, 5h. 56m. ; souths, rrh. 50m. 51°3s.; sets, 17h. 46m. ; 
decl. on meridian, 1° 48’ S.: Sidereal Time at Sunset, 
18h. 13m. 
Moon (three days after Full) rises, rgh. om.* ; souths, 2h. rm. ; 
sets, gh. 13m. ; decl. on meridian, 10° 42’ N. 
Planet Rises Souths Sets Decl. on meridian 
oh tity h. m. h. m. oon 
Merennysman20) ce LL) or 17 33 5 36N. 
Venus OP SYA Baa Sel, 1023 18 50 16 17/9. 
Mars (ike) hag teh us 16) $3.3) TO aN 
Jupiter Apso cee Lilie ot 17 29 4 46N. 
Satura! | be, 22.0 anelOn (Gg 14 17 22 19N. 
* Indicates that the rising is that of the preceding day. 
NAT OPE 
[Sept. 24, 1885 
Occultations of Stars by the Moon 
Corresponding 
Sept. Star Mag. Disap. Reap. angles oe 
inverted image 
h. m. h. m. ° o 
28 ... 48 Tauri 6 Tyree en 33 273 
28 ... y Tauri 4 23/46)... (© 43 en s0R2 79 
PO} aon fly MENT Go 6c. 4 40h. 5 4b |. waORzos 
29)... 10 Danrl) co. (ss0 4h Wie ASA SI ccc) 5) 20 ee ee ae 
20/52. DiAdG.eX3Or 5 5 41 6 51 - 109 324 
30 ... I1r Tauri... 54 3 12.3.5 4 17) egeaoe 
30s. Uy wane. 6 yice OY 53 341 
Oct. 
2. A Geminoxrum) p34) OS Ol) 30 248 
+ Occurs on the following day. 
The Occultations of Stars are such as are visible at Greenwich. 
Sept. h. 
27a oe AtO), Mercury in conjunction with and o° 52 
north of Jupiter. 
Oct. 
I II Saturn in conjunction with and 4° 15’ north 
of the Moon. 
3 19 Mars in conjunction with and 5° 4’ north 
of the Moon. 
THE ASTRONOMICAL ASSOCIATION 
HE Astronomical Association held their eleventh general meet- 
ing this year at Geneva from Aug. 19 to 22 inclusive, and the 
representatives of so many nations were present that the meeting 
fully bore out the character of an international one. Among 
the fifty members, or thereabouts, attending were: Struve, 
from Pulkowa ; Newcomb, from Washington ; Christie, 
from Greenwich ; Dunér, from Lund; Pechule, from Copen- 
hagen ; Tietjen, from Berlin; Kriiger, from Kiel ; Schur, from 
Strassburg ; Tisserand, from Paris; Sporer, from Potsdam. 
The office-bearers were: Auwers, from Berlin, President ; 
Schonfeld, from Bonn, and Seeliger, from Munich, Secretaries ; 
Bruns, from Leipzig, Treasurer: while Bakhuyzen, from 
Leiden, Gyldén, from Stockholm, and Weiss, from Vienna, were 
honorary members of the Committee. Prof. Oppolzer, who 
was also a member of the Committee, was unable to 
attend. 
The first sitting was opened by President Auwers in the aula 
of the University at 10 in the forenoon of the rgth, 
Among the scientific reports of the Committee the full commu- 
nications of Prof. Weiss on the present state of the computations 
of the orbits of the comets were of special interest. Of 
the 12 periodical comets returned at different times to their 
perihelion, $ had again been regularly determined by the same 
calculators. Of the remaining four three were removed from our 
present care: Biela’s, which, as was known, had been lost to 
observation, and the comets of Halley and Pons-Brooks, whose 
next perihelion lay too remote in the future. There was, conse- 
quently, but one periodical comet—Brorsen’s—to be taken ac- 
count of, As to the remaining non-returning comets, of the 
168 which had appeared in this century 41 were to be re- 
garded as settled, 23 had their orbits pretty well determined ; 
in the case of 58 comets a new calculation of the orbit was 
desirable for various reasons, and in all 46 had yet to be cal- 
culated definitely. There was, therefore, a wide field of labour 
open. Prof. Weiss accordingly sought to commend to the 
Society the establishment of a common calculation bureau for 
the settlement of the questions at issue, while the exact detailed 
treatment of a particular comet should in future, as hitherto, be 
left to the initiative of a single calculator. In the discussion follow- 
ing this address, Staatsrath Struve argued against the founding 
of such a bureau on the ground that the comets were of too 
peculiar a nature to accommodate themselves to the methodic 
treatment of a cal ulation bureau. No resolution was taken on 
the question. 
This report was followed by communications of a business 
character on the great zone undertaking of the Society. These 
communications were of no great extent, the undertaking being 
already in near prospect of completion. The photometric sur- 
vey of the heavens by Prof. Pickering, of Harvard College, read 
by Prof. Auwers, was heard with special interest. 
Next followed the scientific addresses. Dr. Schram, Observer 
