10 PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON. 
Mr. A. HAtui made a communication on 
VARIATIONS OF LATITUDE, 
discussing the observations tabulated by Mr. Fergola, and reaching 
the conclusion that the evidence fails to show that latitudes are 
variable. 
[The paper is published in the American Journal of Science, ig 
series, Vol. X XIX, pp. 223-27. ] 
Mr. R. S. Woopwarp said that he had recently undertaken the 
discussion of the subject with somewhat fuller data than those used 
by Mr. Haru. Postulating that the pole was changing its position 
by motion at a uniform rate on the arc of a great circle, he. com- 
puted the direction to be along the meridian 50° west of Green- 
wich, and the rate of motion about 2” per century. His inves- 
tigation was not yet completed, but he inclined to the opinion that 
actual change was indicated by the data used. 
Other remarks were made by Messrs. FARQUHAR, BAKER, and 
PAUL. 
966TH MEETING. Marcu 14, 1885. 
The President in the Chair. 
Fifty-four members and guests present. 
The Chair announced the election to membership of Messrs. 
Rosert Porter HaAtrns and GreorGE MitrcHELL WRIGHT. 
The Chair read a letter from Mr. A. C. Peaz, announcing the 
death, on the 13th of March, of Mr. Trrran Ramsay PEALE, one 
of the founders of the Society. Mr. Peale accompanied Colonel 
Long in his explorations of the Rocky Mountains as naturalist, and 
was afterwards a member of the Wilkes’ exploring expedition. 
Mr. H. ALLEN HAZEN made a communication on 
THUNDERSTORMS OF 1884. 
? 
This paper was a resumé of some of the investigations made by 
the Signal Office, looking to a detailed study of the origin, progress, . 
and development of thunderstorms. Over 13,000 special reports 
were received and studied. An attempt to connect thunderstorm 
frequency with the phases of the moon showed a rather marked 
