670 SCIENCE. 
spare seismograph has been loaned to the 
U. S. Observatory at the Mare Island Navy 
Yard, on the condition that records and re- 
ports of earthquake shocks shall be sent to 
Mt. Hamilton. Several observers, mostly 
in the neighborhood of San Francisco, also 
kindly send reports. The collected results 
are published yearly by the U. S. Geolog- 
ical Survey. 
METEOROLOGICAL INSTRUMENTS. 
Meteorological observations are made 
three times daily. Monthly summaries are 
furnished to the U. S. Weather Bureau. 
The daily records of the self-recording in- 
struments are filed for future reference. 
The time-service has been conducted as 
heretofore. 
MISCELLANEOUS OBSERVATIONS AND COMPUTA- 
TIONS. 
The Leonid meteors were observed and 
chartered by several members of the Obser- 
vatory staff in November, 1898. The re- 
sults were sent to Harvard College Obser- 
vatory for discussion in connection with 
other data. 
The reduction of Professor Schaeberle’s 
meridian observations has been in the 
hands of Mr. Aitken. During the year the 
Right Ascension and Mean Place reductions 
were completed, the separate observations 
made in each year were collated and the 
discrepancies removed. The Coast Survey 
stars were reduced to the epoch 1880, the 
observations of different years collected, and 
the final places checked by comparison with 
other catalogues. The Struve stars are now 
being reduced to the epoch 1880, and the 
entire work will be completed during the 
present year. 
Two orbits and ephemerides for comet 
1898, IX. (Perrine), were computed by Mr. 
Perrine. 
Elements and ephemerides for comet,1898, 
V. (Giacobini), and for comet, 1898, X. 
[N. S. Von. X. No. 254. 
(Brooks), and elements for comet, 1899, 
a (Swift) were computed by Professor Hus- 
sey. 
The definitive orbit of comet, 1896, III. 
(Swift), was computed by Mr. Aiken. 
An orbit and ephemeris for comet, 1898, 
VIII. (Chase), were computed by Mr. Cod- 
dington and Mr. Palmer. 
A computation of the definitive elements 
of comet, 1897, III. (Perrine), is being 
made by Mr. Palmer. 
Orbits and ephemerides of the new aste- 
roids (439) and (440), and ephemerides for 
most of the Watson asteroids, were com- 
puted by Mr. Coddington. 
Two sets of elements for the planet Hros, 
and circular elements of the asteroids (439) 
and (440), were computed by Professor 
Hussey. 
Announcements have been telegraphed 
to Harvard College Observatory, for distri- 
bution, at various times. 
Measurements of the wave-lengths of 
lines in the spectre of third type stars, and 
of the positions of nebule on plates taken 
with the Crossley Reflector, have been made 
by Mr. Palmer. 
A report on the Crocker Eclipse expedi- 
tion to India is being prepared by Professor 
Campbell. * * * 
James EH. KEELER. 
Lick OBSERVATORY. 
THE EARLY PRESIDENTS OF THE AMERICAN 
ASSOCIATION. 
1G 
Amone our honorary fellows is the name 
of one who was not only a founder* of the 
Association of American Geologists in 1840, 
but also a founder of our own Association, 
* The following quotation concerning the formation 
of the Association of American Geologists is given in 
a sketch of Professor James Hall, accompanied by an 
engraved portrait on wood that appeared in the Popu- 
lar Science Monthly, Vol. XXVI., p. 122, November, 
1884 : ‘‘The comparison of observations and inter- 
change of views led to the opening of correspondence, 
