636 
NATURE 
- [Oct. 29, 1885 
Short abstracts of various papers read before the society are 
given in the 7vamsactzons. 
A MIssIon of thirteen youths, belonging to the best families 
in Cambodia, has arrived in Paris for the purpose of study. 
They have been placed under the care of M. Pavie, who has 
constructed a line of telegraphs between Siam and Cambodia. 
This is the first time since 1864 that Cambodians have come 
abroad for purposes of education. 
THE additions to the Zoological Society’s Gardens during the 
past week include a Vervet Monkey (Cercopithecus lalandii 6 ) 
from South Africa, presented by Mr. George E. Crisp; a 
Malbrouck Monkey (Cercopithecus cynosurus 6) from West 
Africa, presented by Miss Ethel O’Donoghue; a Kinkajou 
(Cercoleptes caudivolvulus) from Demerara, presented by Mr. 
John Carder; four Common Squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris), six 
Common Dormice (Muscardinus avellanarius), British, pre- 
sented by Mr. Thomas Weddle ; a Tennant’s Squirrel (Sczurvs 
tennanti) from Ceylon, presented by Miss Maude Bovill; two 
Vulpine Squirrels (Sczurus vulpinus) from North America, pre- 
sented by Capt. E. E. Vaill; a Coypu (AZyofotamus coypus) 
from South America, presented by Mrs. Amelia Appleton ; a 
Robben Island Snake (Coronella phocarum) from South Africa, 
presented by the Rev. G. H. R. Fisk, C.M.Z.S.; two Sly 
Silurus (Sz/urus glanis), European, presented by the Marquis of 
Bath, F.Z.S.; a Red Lory (Zos rubra) from Moluccas, an 
Alexandrine Parrakeet (Puleornis alexandri) from India, de- 
posited. 
OUR ASTRONOMICAL COLUMN 
PERIODICAL COMETS IN 1886.—Of the now somewhat nume- 
rous list of comets of short period, two will be due at perihelion 
in the ensuing year :—(1) The comet Tempel-Swift, or 1869 III. 
and 1880 IV., which is likely to return under circumstances that 
will render observations impracticable, so far at least as a judg- 
ment can be formed without actual calculation of the perturba- 
tions. (2) Winnecke’s comet, last observed in 1875, its track in 
the heavens near the perihelion passage in December 1880 not 
allowing of the comet being seen at that return; the perturba- 
bations may be very sensible during the present revolution : 
neglecting their effect, the mean motion determined by Prof. 
Oppolzer, for 1880, would bring the comet to perihelion again 
about August 24°5, under which condition its path would be as 
follows :— 
R.A. Decl. Distance from 
5 és Earth 
July 25°5 177°5 +10°2 1°17 
Septe a3 shea eed ay, —24°9 0°98 
23h. 24Out — 30°2 0'64 
Os 2H ne ALS — 35°6 0°64 
23°50 se 8305.0 — 36°0 O'77 
The actual orbit of Winnecke’s comet approaches very near to 
that of the planet Jupiter in heliocentric longitude 110°, at 
which point the comet arrives 720 days or 1°97 years before 
perihelion passage, the distance between the two orbits is then 
less than 0’06 of the earth’s mean distance from the sun. 
It is very possible, however, that the comet which may most 
interest astronomers in 1886 will be that observed in 1815, and 
known as Olbers’ comet, which, according to the elaborate 
calculations of Dr. Ginzel, will again arrive at perihelion in 
December 1886. The most probable date that can be inferred 
from the observations of 1815, and the computation of planetary 
perturbations in the interval is December 16, but unfortunately 
the observations did not suffice to determine the mean motion in 
1815 with precision, and consequently Ginzel found for the 
limits of the period of revolution 72°33 and 75°68 years, hence 
the comet may reach its perihelion many months earlier or later 
than the date given by calculation. Extensive sweeping 
ephemerides have been published, and it may not be too soon 
to direct attention to a search for the comet at the beginning of 
the next year, or as soon as the region in which its orbit is pro- 
jected at the time can be advantageously examined. 
A CATALOGUE OF 1000 SOUTHERN STarS.—Vol. iii. of 
**Publications of the Washburn Observatory” is to contain a 
catalogue of 1000 stars between 18° and 30° of south declination, 
formed by Rey. Father Hagen and Prof. Holden from the 
observations of Prof. Tacchini at Palermo during the years 
1867-69, which were printed in the z/letzno of that observatory 
between April, 1867, and July, 1869, and with which Prof. 
Holden says he became acquainted through M. Houzeau’s 
Vade-Mecum. ‘The stars observed are from the 6th to the 9th 
magnitudes, and the magnitudes appear to have been very care- 
fully noted, while it is remarked that the positions are excellent. 
They are reduced to the year 1850, but the mean epoch of observa- 
tion of each star is appended. ‘The copy before us is a reprint 
from the above-named yolume. Tacchini’s observations were 
made with the Palermo meridian circle fully described in the 
Bulletino. 
ASTRONOMICAL PHENOMENA FOR THE 
WEEK, 188s, NOVEMBER 1-7 
(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 November 1 
Sun rises, 6h. 56m. ; souths, 11h. 43m. 40°9s. ; sets, 16h. 31m. ; 
decl. on meridian, 14° 35’ S.: Sidereal Time at Sunset, 
Igh. 15m. 
Moon (two days after Last Quarter) rises, oh. 13m. ; souths, 
7h. 20m. ; sets, 14h. 14m. ; decl. on meridian, 9° 37’ N. 
Planet Rises Souths Sets Decl. on meridian 
. m. h. m. . Mm. ohane 
Mercury ... 7 57 12 22 16 47 18 25S. 
Venus yiot Te 14 46 18 21 25 50S. 
Mars SE TY on Gf) 1633 14 32 14 20 N. 
Jupiter 2Ek es een eeOmEO 15 23 22s 
Saturn o NOY IGS oa 3} SG} L2 22 18N. 
* Indicates that the rising is that of the preceding day. 
Phenomena of Jupiter's Satellites 
Noy. h. m. Nov. h. m. 
I. 1648) Ujocesreap: 6 5 18 I. tr. egr. 
i wos Sy ul IG Gelcleris |) 7 2 39 I. occ. reap. 
6) 9-2.) 3) 0) eatreane. 
The Phenomena of Jupiter’s Satellites are such as are visible at Greenwich. 
Saturn, Noy. 1.—Outer major axis of outer ring = 44’"0; 
outer minor axis of outer ring = 189 ; southern surface visible. 
Nov. h. 
I 4 Mars in conjunction with and 4° 16’ north 
of the Moon. 
3 7... Mercury at greatest distance from the Sun. 
3 9 ... Jupiter in conjunction with and 0° 52’ north 
of the Moon. 
Mercury in conjunction with and 6° 16’ 
south of the Moon. 
pee 
THE SCOTTISH METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY 
At the annual meeting of this Society the Report of 
the Council stated that thirty-eight new members had 
been added to the Society during the year, and the membership 
now numbered 698. A new station had been. established on 
the island of Fidra, at the mouth of the Firth of Forth, and that ob- 
servations had been made for the Society at San Gorge, Central 
Uruguay. A large number of naturalists and others had availed 
themselves of the facilities for research offered by the Scottish 
Marine Station during the summer, there being thirteen working 
at the laboratories at the present time. Communications were 
now going on between the Council and several influential gentle- 
men in Glasgow, which it was hoped would result in the 
establishment of a permanent station for marine research on the 
Clyde. Mr. H. N. Dickson, of the Marine Station, communi- 
cated the results of experiments and observations which, during 
the past two months, he had been conducting at Granton, with 
the view of collecting data from which to determine the correc- 
tions to be applied to the readings of thermometers exposed in 
the ordinary Stevenson screen, in use in many places over the 
world. Having referred to the errors to which the ordinary 
screen gives rise, consequent on the varying atmospheric motion 
and radiation, he proceeded to say that his investigation was 
carried on chiefly by means of improved screens designed by Mr. 
John Aitken of Darroch, and that the dew points from the dry 
