TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION A, 341 
of locomotives. The result of the latter has been to decrease the consumption of 
fuel. 
Later instruments were devised to record earthquake motion which cannot be 
felt, with th@result that a person living in any one part of the world can record 
and obtain definite information about any darge earthquake originating even as far 
off as his antipodes. ‘These records of the unfelt movements of earthquakes indi- 
cate the time, the position, and, what is of more importance, also the cause of 
certain cable interruptions. The practical importance of this latter information, 
especially to communities who may by cable failures be suddenly isolated from the 
rest of the world, is evident. The many occasions that earthquake records have 
furnished definite information respecting disasters which have taken place in dis- 
tant countries, correcting and extending telegraphis reports relating to the same, 
is another indication of the practical utility of seismic observations. Seismograms 
have frequently apprised us of sea waves and violent earthquakes in districts from 
which it is impossible to receive telegrams, whilst the absence of such records has 
frequently indicated that information in newspapers has been without foundation, 
or at least exaggerated. The localisation of the origins of these world-shaking 
earthquakes, besides indicating sub-oceanic sites of geological activity, indicates 
positions where the hydrographer may expect to find unusual depths. They have 
also shown routes to be avoided by those who lay cables. 
Seismograms of unfelt movements throw light upon what have, up to recently, 
been regarded as unaccountable deflections in the photograms from magnetographs, 
barographs, and other instruments sensible to slight displacements. They have 
also explained unusual rates in certain timekeepers. 
The most important scientific result obtained is dependent upon observations 
on the rate at which motion is propagated in various directions throughout the 
world. Until these observations had been made our knowledge respecting the 
interior of the earth chiefly related to its density and temperature ; now we know 
much respecting its rigidity. 
The general result of incentives which had their origin in Japan is that nearly 
every civilised country in’ the world has had its attention directed to seismology, 
has established seismographs, and recoguises the scientific and practical importance 
of a new science. 
3. Report on the Investigation of the Upper Atmosphere by Means of Kites. 
See Reports, p. 81. 
4, Report on Meteorological Observations on Ben Nevis, 
See Reports, p. 77, 
5. On the Teaching of Elementary Mathematics, 
By Professor Joun Perry, 7.2.8. 
6. Report on Magnetic Observations at Falmouth Observatory. 
See Reports, p. 80. 
7. The Experimental Foundations of the Theory of Heat Conduction. 
By Cuarwes H. Less, D.Sc. 
The author reviewed the recent experimental work which has been done on the 
subject of heat conduction, and showed that the weight of evidence furnished 
thereby is in favour of the thermal conductivities of many bodies decreasing ag 
the temperature increases, 
