32 BULLETIN OP TUE 



contact was observed. Quite a number of measurements of dis- 

 tances were made during a cessation of the storm, the sun appear- 

 ing at intervals through the clouds. 55 full-sized photographs 

 were taken while the planet was on the disk of the sun, and 11 

 with the Janssen apparatus between the 3d and 4th contacts. 



Prof. Harkness reports that at Hobart Town bad weather 

 prevented observations of contacts, but many photographs were 

 taken. 



Mr. George Davidson, of the U. S. Coast Survey, at Naga- 

 saki in Japan, obtained photographs with the Jaiisseu apparatus 

 to within 10^ or 15' of the actual time of the 1st contact; then 

 the clouds thickened, and when it brightened again the planet 

 was 10', possibly 15', on the limb of the sun. Measurements of 

 cusp-distances were made when the planet was half on the disk 

 of the sun, until near the time of the 2d contact. The 2d con- 

 tact was observed with the equatorial, and by Mr. Tittman with 

 a smaller telescope, but through clouds. At this and the 3d 

 contact there were very slight disturbances, no ligament, no baud 

 or black drop, no distortion. Good micrometric measurements 

 were made of the separation of the limbs and of the horizontal 

 diameter of Venus. The meridian transits of both bodies were 

 observed with the transit instrument, and at the same time 1 

 micrometric readings were made by Mr. Tittman with another 

 instrument for the difference of declination of the upper limbs of 

 the sun and Venus. 



Clouds covered the sun about 10' before and cleared off 5' 

 after the 3d contact, with the minute cusps of the sun almost 

 touching and sharply defined ; clouds and rain followed. 



About 60 good photographs were taken. 



There was no part of the day when the sun was wholly unob- 

 scured, and the work was often interrupted by clouds. Of these 

 there were two strata: the upper moderately thin, of cirrus and 

 cirro-stratus, and persistent ; the lower heavy and dense, of 

 cumuli stratus. When the sun was seen it was through breaks 

 in this stratum. 



At Wladiwostok, Professor Hall reports that the buildings 

 were finished and the instruments all mounted by the middle of 

 October. The final adjustment of the photographic apparatus 

 was made and regular practice in photography was begun Nov. 

 8th. The latitude of the station, + 43° 6' 35.1", was deter- 

 mined by the American method. The difference in longitude 

 between Wladiwostok and Nagasaki, Japan, was determined 

 early in November. The values of the magnetic constants were 

 observed about the same time. 



On Dec. 9th, everything was in readiness for observing the 

 transit of Venus. The 1st and 2d contacts of the planet were 



