286 



NATURE 



\Jfan. 22, 1880 



of Photography," by Capt. Abney, F.R.S. ; May 13, "On 

 some Physical Applications of Light," by Prof. W. G. Adams, 

 F.R.S. 



The Thunderer gun experiments were continued at Woolwich 

 last Friday, the object on that day being to test what is known 

 as the "wedging" theory — the supposition that the tilting or 

 displacement of the wad had to do with the bursting of the 

 original gun. The experiments on Friday tended clearly to dis- 

 prove this theory. 



The Public Works Department at Yedo have just published 

 the Reports of Progress for 1878 and 1879 of the Geological 

 Survey of Japan under Mr. B. S. Lyman. 



THE Indian papers state that experiments are about to be 

 made in Cyprus to test the possibility of cultivating mango 

 seeds, as well as the seeds of other Indian fruits and vegetables. 



Earthquakes are reported (1) from Weisskirchen, where on 

 December 22 at 5 A.M. a violent shock was felt; (2) from St. 

 Blasien, in the Black Forest, where a shock was noticed on the 

 same day at 10 P.M. ; (3) from Idria (Carniola), where a subter- 

 ranean explosion took place at S.30 P.M., combined with a 

 violent shaking of the ground and a cannon-like report. Several 

 shocks were felt at Churwalden (Switzerland, canton of Chur) 

 on January 7, between 2 and 4 A.M. ; the last shock was accom- 

 panied with a noi>e like that of thunder, so that people were 

 awoke and dogs howled. In the Domochleg and at Savagnino 

 only two shocks were felt, at 3I1. 45m. and at 4I1. 30m. The 

 shocks had the direction from north to south." 



At Freiburg, in Breisgau, the beautiful and rare pheno- 

 menon of the fata morgana was observed at noon on December 

 16. While the sun was shining the fine pyramid of the Cathedral 

 tower showed itself reflected above, of course with the point 

 downwards. The reflecting stratum of air was almost at the 

 level of the summit of the tower, thus producing a most peculiar 

 effect. 



We are glad to see that the Epping Forest Field Club has 

 been successfully formed, under the presidency of Mr. R. 

 Meldola. From the tone which prevailed at the meeting of 

 January lo, we should think the Club is likely to do good work. 

 The original list of members is a pretty large one, and contains 

 several well-known names. 



The continuation of frosty weather has produced unprece- 

 dented effects on the Lower Loire round Saumur. The bed 

 of the river having an extent of about 1,000 yards, and the 

 depth of water being very shallow, the Loire was entirely 

 frozen and the flow of water towards the sea was almost entirely 

 stopped. The consequence was that the level of the water was 

 raised, and the walls protecting the low lands in danger of being 

 submerged. It was necessary to employ dynamite to open a 

 channel for the water. Unfortunately a part of the stream has 

 found its way into the low lands. New ice is coming from the 

 high lands, and the military have been ordered to work under 

 the orders of civilian engineers. 



An ascent of Mount Ilekla was made last summer by a lady, 

 Miss Th. Petursson, daughter of the Bishop of Reykjavik, for 

 the purpose of geological investigations. According to her 

 observations the temperature at the bottom of the larger craters 

 has of late risen considerably, while dense white columns of 

 steam were rising from creva>ses and holes which were hardly 

 visible. The sulphurous odour of this steam was stronger than 

 usual. The observations seem to indicate an approaching erup- 

 tion of the volcano. 



An interesting archaeological discovery has been made near 

 Lehmke (in the district of Oldenstadt) consisting of some 1,200 



mediaeval metal plates, so-called braetue. Most of them bear 

 the stamp of a lion in varying position-, others that of a figure 

 with sword and standard, and a horizontal key below. The 

 objects in question are now in the possession of the " Kreis- 

 hauptmann " of Oldenstadt. 



The German Postmaster-General, Herr Stephan, and Dr. 

 Siemens, have succeeded in constituting an electro-technical 

 society, which has for its objects the furtherance and deve- 

 lopment of the technical application of electricity, the 

 progress of the knowledge of electricity by means of its technical 

 appliances, and the establishment of a place of meeting for 

 German technical electricians, whose scientific and commercial 

 interests will, of course, be greatly benefited by such mutual 

 intercourse. 



The additions to the Zoological Society's Gardens during the 

 p.ist week include a Rhesus Monkey [Macacus erythneus) from 

 India, presented by Mr. F. C. Grosvenor ; two Bankiva Jungle 

 Fowls (Gallus bankiva), two Starred Tortoises (Tes/udo stellata) 

 from India, presented by Mr. W. Dunn, C.E., C.M.Z.S. ; a 

 Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica), a Grey Plover (Sqitalarola 

 helvetica), six Knots (Tringa canulus), thirteen Dunlins (Tringa 

 cinclus), European, presented by Mr. F. Cresswell ; three 

 Chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera) from South America, a Grey 

 Struthidea (Struthidea cinerea) from Australia, a Red-throated 

 Amazon (Chrysotis collaiia) from Jamaica, purchased ; two 

 Fulmar Tetrels (Proceliaria glacialis), North European, de- 

 posited. 



OUR ASTRONOMICAL COLUMN 



The Orion-Trapezium. — The following letter has been 

 addressed to us by Prof. Holden, of the Naval Observatory, 

 Washington : — 



"In Nature vol. xxi. p. 117, there is a note on a seventh 

 star in the Orion-trapezium, which is 636 of G. P. Bond's Cata- 

 logue. It is there rated as mag. i3 - 3. Two other stars, 612 

 and 61S of Bond's catalogue are as near one of the larger stars as 

 636 is, and if it is intended to extend the nomenclature of seventh 

 star, eighth star, &c, to these stars (which seems inadvisable), 

 they should be included. Their positions from B l Orionis are : — 

 Mag. a u (1857-0) a a (1857-0). 



612 13-5 - l6'4 + 24-6 



618 13-1 - 1C4 + 24*6 



The magnitudes are too faint for Argelander's scale extended, 

 but serve to compare with that of 636 viz. 13*3. 



"As tests for large telescopes, quite a number of small stars 

 discovered by Bond may be mentioned, whose positions are 

 given in Annals of the Harvard College Observatory, vol. v. 

 All of these really exist, as they have been repeatedly seen with 

 the 26-inch refractor of this Observatory. They are Nos. 595 

 (13-9111.), 601 (15-6), 608 (14-3), 621 (15-6), 625 (15-6), 631 

 (14-3), 666 (13-9), 677 (14-8), 676 (13-1), 642 (15-6), 675 (15-2). 

 The faintness of these stars (which are much better seen with a 

 low power than with a high one) speaks well for the diligence of 

 the late George Bond, whose search in this region was very 

 thorough. Oiher small stars exist in the neighbourhood as 

 follows : — 



" 1. Rosse, No. 56, near G.P.B. No. 581. 



"2. A star, s.p., G.P.B. No. 724. 



"3. A double-star, n.f., G.P.B. No. 685. 



" (2 and 3 were discovered by Lassell.) 



"4. Three stars in or near the region bounded by the lines 

 641 to 663, 663 to 652, 652 to 641. 



" 5. A star or mass of nebula which is not yet three years of 

 age, has developed itself in the middle of the dark channel 

 half way between 669 and 642. The star (?) itself is, roughly, 

 equally distant from 669, 641, and 642. 



"There are no stars within the trapezium. 



" Cooper reports a star following G.P.B. 516 a few seconds. 

 I cannot find it. . 



"Any observations on these stars or on the celebrated variable 

 654 (frequently observed here) will be gladly received by me, 



