JUNE 21, 1901.] 
partment of Agriculture, contributes his fourth 
‘ Notes of Travels,’ dealing with ‘ Coffee grow- 
ing in Brazil and the giant Jequitiba trees.’ 
The usual Book Reviews, Minor Notices, Notes 
for Students, Open Letters, and News Items 
close the number. 
Terrestrial Magnetism and Atmospheric Elec- 
tricity for May contains the following articles: 
‘Summary of the Results of Recent Investigations 
in Atmospheric Electricity ’ (Concluded) : F. EXNER. 
“The Physical Decomposition of the LEarth’s 
Permanent Magnetic Field—No II.’ ; ‘ The Composi- 
tion and Characteristics of the Uniform Magnetic 
Field’: L. A. BAUER. 
“Résumé of Magnetic Work at Bombay Observa- 
tory in 1897.’ 
‘The Magnetic Work of the Norwegian North Polar 
Expedition, 1893-1896’ : D. L. HAZARD. 
‘Summary of Results of Recent Comparisons of 
Magnetic Instruments’: L. A. BAUER. 
“Schuster’s Researches on the Solar Rotation and 
the Lunar Period in the Earth’s Magnetism.’ 
‘Biographical Sketch of William Ellis’ (with 
portrait). 
THE number of Popular Astronomy for the 
months of June and July has for its frontis- 
piece the orbit of the new comet discovered by 
Halls, of Cape Colony; the elements and 
ephemeris as computed by Dr. Kreutz accom- 
panies a brief article upon the comet. Among 
the other short articles is one by H. C. Picker- 
ing on the ‘Variability of Light of Eros.’ 
From the British Journal of Photography there 
is reprinted an article on the scientific value of 
photography for astronomical investigations. 
The recent eclipse is still too near us to have 
obtained full knowledge of the results, but a 
discussion of ‘What Eclipses Teach Us,’ 
comes from the pen of David P. Todd, who 
went out with the Amherst party to Sumatra. 
Miss Mary Clark Traylor gives an explanation 
of the method of computing an ephemeris of a 
planet or comet, of interest to the amateur as- 
tronomer. Spectroscopic notes, planet notes 
and the usual planet tables are included in the 
number. 
THE Museums Association of Great Britain 
will commence in July the publication of a 
monthly journal devoted to the interests of 
museums in general. Besides the proceedings 
of the Museums Association it will contain 
SCIENCE. 
985 
current news of museums and art galleries, il- 
lustrated descriptive articles, reports of mu- 
seums, reviews of books and brief notes. Mr. 
F. A. Lucas, of the U. S. National Museum, 
will act as the American correspondent of the 
journal, and he will be glad to receive any 
articles, no matter how brief, pertaining to 
the work of museums in the United States, or 
they may be sent directly to the editor, Mr. 
E. Howarth, of the Sheffield Museum, Eng- 
land. 
SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES. 
PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON. 
THE 536th regular meeting was held May 11, 
1901. The special order of business was to 
consider the question of incorporating the 
Society under the general laws of the United 
States for the District of Columbia. After dis- 
cussion it was unanimously 
Resolved, That the Philosophical Society 
adopt the recommendation of the General Com- 
mittee to incorporate the Philosophical Society 
of Washington, and that the carrying into effect 
of the foregoing resolution be entrusted to the 
General Committee. 
The 537th meeting was held May 25, 1901. 
The Chairman, Y. P. Rathbun, stated that pur- 
suant to the instructions of the Society at the 
last meeting the General Committee had filed 
Articles of Incorporation on May 20, 1901, 
said Articles being signed by three of the 
founders of the Society and 23 past presidents 
and other officers of the Society. He also 
stated that at a meeting of the incorporators 
just held all the members of the Society had 
been elected to the incorporated society. 
A code of by-laws was adopted, and the 
former officers were elected to corresponding 
positions in the new Society. 
President Walcott then took the chair. In 
response to a question, and after discussion, he 
ruled that the organization was to be continuous, 
and that the present meeting did not begin a 
new series. 
The first regular paper was by Dr. G. M. 
Sternberg on the ‘Transmission of Yellow 
Fever by Mosquitoes.’ (This paper will appear 
in The Popular Science Monthly.) . 
