542 
NATURE 
[Oct. 1, 1885 
brass, tracing (chiefly by means of etymology) the history and 
the migration of European plants and animals to their home in 
Asia. 
Messrs, Crospy Lockwoop AND Co, make the following 
announcements for the approaching publishing season :—‘“ Electro- 
Deposition,” by Alexander Watt, author of ‘‘ Electro-Metal- 
lurgy”; ‘‘The Prospector’s Handbook, a Guide for the 
Prospector and Traveller in Search of Metal-bearing or other 
valuable Minerals,’? by J. W. Anderson, M.A., F.R.G.S. ; 
‘*The Engineman’s Companion, a Practical Educator for 
Enginemen, Boiler Attendants, and Mechanics,” by Michael 
Reynolds ; ‘‘ The Combined Number and Weight Calculator,” 
by Wm. Chadwick, Public Accountant ; ‘‘ Our Temperaments, 
their Study and their Teaching, a Popular Outline,” with illus- 
trations, by F.R.C.S.E. ; ‘‘ The Artist’s Tables of Pigments,” 
by H. C. Standage ; “Land and Marine Surveying,” by W. 
Davis Haskoll (entirely new edition); ‘‘ The Metal Turner's 
Handbook, a Practical Manual for Workers at the Foot Lathe,” 
by Paul N. Hasluck (second edition, revised), being the first 
volume of a new series of ‘‘ Handbooks on Handicrafts.” 
THE ‘‘Sun” Knife-cleaner has some points which deserve 
notice. It is supported on a light cast-iron standard, the upper 
portion of which is bored out and faced to make the bearing 
where alone perfect fit is required. A cast-iron spindle is fitted 
into this bearing, and supports upon a flattened face two spring 
disks made of cast steel finely tempered, dished in the centre 
and having rays upon them like the spokes of a wheel, which turn 
slightly outwards at their ends, so as to form a tapered space 
adapted to the wedge form of the length of the knife. These 
springs are so mounted upon the spindle that the rays of the one 
are opposite to the space, between the rays of the other. The 
spindle is terminated by a screw upon which a thumb nut is 
fixed to hold the handle in position and keep the working parts 
together. By means of this screw the springs can be pressed 
more or less closely together as required. Leather rings are 
riveted to the inner faces of the springs, and form the surfaces 
upon which the knives are cleaned and polished ; the rivets are 
in the dished portion of the springs and so out of the way of the 
knife-blade ; the polishing powder is supplied through a hole in 
the face of the front spring. The knife whilst being cleaned is 
supported below a wrought-iron piece cast into the standard 
and passed in and out of the machine. The difficulty in clean- 
ing a knife is due to its double wedge form. A knife is a long 
wedge from the tip to the shoulder, and a short wedge from the 
edge to the back, and it is evident that the pressure brought to 
bear upon it must be of an elastic character, so as not to grind 
the knife away. As regards the length of the knife this is 
effected by the outward taper of the rays of the springs. The 
two leather rings between which the blade is passed in and ont 
being pressed against the blade of the knife by the rays of the 
springs as described, it is evident that there is an elastic pressure 
upon it; the spring on the one side diminishes in its bearing 
pressure, as that on the other side increases, and hence an 
equable pressure is applied to all parts of the blade, as is proved 
by the excellent polish produced. A small portion of powder 
being supplied through the hole in the front spring, the knife is 
placed with its edge downwards below the wrought-iron support 
and passed slowly in and out of the machine between the leather 
disks with the left hand, whilst the right hand is employed in 
turning the handle of the machine in the direction of the hands 
ofaclock. In this way from one inch to two inches in depth of 
the surface of each leather (depending upon the size of the 
machine) presses elastically upon the blade. This being the 
greatest frictional resistance at any moment between the blade 
and the polishing surfaces, the labour of cleaning is reduced to 
a minimum, while the knife can be polished to the shoulder owing 
to the leathers being bevelled. Special tools have been designed 
for cutting and bending the wrought-iron supports in one opera- 
tion, for cutting and bevelling the leathers, and riveting and 
fitting them to the springs. These machines are swpplied in 
four sizes. ; 
IN contrast to the weather in Southern Norway during May 
and June (NATURE, vol. xxxii. p. 354) the weather of July was 
warmer and more normal, the mean temperature of the month— 
viz. 17°1° C, being 0°5° above the normal, 16°6°. This is chiefly 
due to the southern winds prevalling in the first part of the 
month. On July 21, however, the weather changed, northern 
and north-western winds prevailing, with clear and dry air, and 
in consequence of the great radiation, the temperature fell severa] 
times very low during the second part of the month. The 
minimum temperature—viz. 6°4° C.—was registered at Christiania 
on the night of the 22nd., and the highest—viz. 29° C.—on the 
6th. The rainfall was 40 per cent. below the normal. With 
the exception of the coast towards the Naze, the month has 
been cold throughout the land on the whole, the most unfayour- 
able parts being the west coast, where the temperature was 1° C, 
below the normal mean. In the mountains and in East Fin- 
marken it sank several times below o°% The rainfall in the 
southern and eastern parts was below the average, but in th 
northern and north-western parts it was above it. The greatest 
rainfall was registered in Finmarken, where, in Alten, for 
instance, it was 142 per cent. above the average. 
THE additions to the Zoological Society’s Gardens during the 
past week include a Macaque Monkey (Macacus cynomolgus 6 ) 
from India, presented by Mrs. Paterson ; a Humboldt’s Lagothrix 
(Lagothrix humboldti) from the Upper Amazons, presented by 
Mr. F. J. Hammond ; two Macaque Monkeys (AZacacus cyno- 
molgus) from India, presented respectively by Mr. F. Debenham 
and Miss Lucy McArthur ; two West Indian Agoutis (Dasyprocta 
cristata), seven Crab-eating Opossums (Dédelphys cancrivora), 
two Rough Terrapins (Clemmys punctularia), two Brazilian 
Tortoises (Zvstudo tabulata), two VTeguexin Lizards (eins 
teguexin), two Tuberculated Iguanas (Lexana tuberceiata), nine 
Giant Toads (Bufo agua) from Trinidad, presented by Mr. F. J. 
Guy ; two Palm Squirrels (Scéwrus palmarum) from India, pre- 
sented by Mr. A. Bellamy; a Great Kangaroo (/acropus 
giganteus 8), a Rufous Rat Kangaroo (Hypsiprymnus refescens) 
from New South Wales, a Roan Kangaroo (JJacropus eru- 
bescens 2) from South Australia, presented by Mr. C. Czarnikow, 
F.Z.S. ; a Common Crossbill (Zoxia curvirostra), British, pre- 
sented by Mr. H. S. Eyre; a Green Lizard (Lacerta veridts) 
from Jersey, presented by Mr. G. V. Colliver ; a Guinea Baboon 
(Cynocephalus sphinx) from West Africa, two Bonnet Monkeys 
(Macacus sinicus) from India, two Aélian’s Wart Hogs (Phaco- 
cherus africanus 6 36) from Africa, deposited ; a Garnett’s 
Galago (Galago garnetti) from East Africa, a Harnessed Ante- 
lope (Zragelaphus scriptus 9 ),an Elate Hornbill (Ceratogymna 
elata) from West Africa, a Puff Adder (Vipera ariefans) from 
South Africa, a Lacertine Snake ( CaVlopeltis lacertina), European, 
an Aldrovandi’s Lizard (Plestiodon auratus) from North-West 
Africa, purchased; a Leopard (/é/is fardus), born in the 
Gardens. 
ASTRONOMICAL PHENOMENA FOR THE 
WEER, 1885, OCTOBER 4-10 
(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 October 4 
Sun rises, 6h. 8m. ; souths, 11h. 48m. 37°5s. ; sets, 17h. 29m. ; 
decl. on meridian, 4° 31’ S.: Sidereal Time at Sunset, 
18h. 29m. 
