June S, 1883.] 



SCIENCE. 



529 



of the temple sculptures; and tlie Boston Museum 

 of fine arts has appropriated two thousand dollars 

 towards the purchase and transportation of antiqui- 

 ties, with the understanding that they shall become 

 the property of the museum. 



The different departments of the Assos work 

 will be ably worked iip by the several gentlemen in 

 charge. The study and preparation of the inscrip- 

 tions have been placed in charge of Dr. Sterrett, who 

 has been connected during the past year with the 

 school of classical studies which was established at 

 Athens by the institute. The geology of the Troad 

 will also be fully treated; and a large number of 

 photographs o£ the site and the excavations, as well 

 as of the objects found, has been made. 



Mr. Clarke, in a letter dated April 4, gives an 

 interesting account of recent finds, in the way of 

 figurini (thirteen were found in one sarcophagus) 

 glass, pottery, small bronzes, coins, etc. Besides 

 this, excavations have been continued at the Agora, 

 the west end of the Stoa, and on the fortifications. 

 Moreover, Mr. Clarke has finished his second series 

 of measurements of the temple, made with a heavy 

 steel tape, which will be tested by some public stand- 

 ard to insure perfect accuracy in what will be one of 

 the most important results of the expedition. 



The second annual report of the committee of the 

 American school of classical studies at Athens was 

 presented as a part of the fourth annual report. 

 From this it appears that the school has been suc- 

 cessfully established, and carried through the first 

 year of its existence, under the able management of 

 Professor Goodwin. There have been seven regular 

 members who have pursued definite subjects of In- 

 vestigations, the results of which will be embodied 

 in theses which may be published in the bulletins of 

 the school. 



On Wednesday evenings, meetings have been held 

 in the library, at which papers have been presented 

 by the director or one of the members, and after- 

 wards discussed ; on Fridays, meetings were held for 

 the study of Aeschylus and Thucydides; and on 

 Saturdays, excursions were made to places of historic 

 interest within easy reach of Athens. 



During the year five colleges have joined the sup- 

 porters of the school, the list of which now numbers 

 fourteen; while several institutions which have been 

 Invited to join have not yet returned a definite an- 

 swer. Next year Professor Packard of Tale will go 

 out to take charge of the school, under the arrange- 

 ment by which the supporting colleges send each 

 year, in turn, a professor. The desirability of having 

 a permanent official connected with the school is 

 pointed out, and a strong appeal made for the creation 

 of a special fund, which shall enable the committee 

 to appoint such an officer. 



After the reading of the report, a spirited and in- 

 teresting account was given by Mr. Louis H. Aym^, 



U. S. consul at Merida, Yucatan, of his investiga- 

 tions in Central America, and of his plans for future 

 work. 



The most important business transacted at the 

 meeting was the appointment of a special committee 

 of consultation, to consider what steps could be 

 ta,ken to create and maintain an interest in the work 

 of the institute in New York. They will report to 

 the executive committee with a view to the estab- 

 lishment of a permanent committee to take part In 

 the management of the Institute. 



The necessity of making constant appeals to the 

 public for funds to carry on the work of the Institute 

 has led the executive committee to the resolve not 

 to undertake any new work for the present, unless 

 the money needed should be voluntarily contributed. 

 The work already begun will be finished during the 

 year; and for this purpose at least four thousand dol- 

 lars above the amount to be counted upon from the 

 annual fees will be needed. 



The election of officers of the Institute for the 

 coming year resulted In the choice of the old board, 

 with the exception of Mr. W. R. Ware, whose res- 

 ignation was accepted, and for whom Mr. Stephen 

 Salisbury, jun., of Worcester, was substituted. 



— The annual meeting of the Society of arts of the 

 Massachusetts institute of technology was held at 

 the institute May 10. Mr. George F. Swain was 

 unanimously elected secretary of the society for the 

 year beginning Oct. 1, 1883. The following-named 

 gentlemen were elected as members of the execu- 

 tive committee for the ensuing year: Mr. Jacob 

 A. Dresser, Hon. F. W. Lincoln, Mr. Howard A. 

 Carson, Mr. Waldo O. Koss, and Mr. C. J. H. Wood- 

 bury. Professor William H. Niles made a report of 

 the work of the permanent meteorological committee 

 of the society since its appointment about a year 

 ago. The committee was formed at the request 

 of the chief signal-officer of the United States to 

 co-operate with the signal-service as far as possible In 

 a general way, and especially to become acquainted 

 with the workings and requirements of the service 

 at the Boston station with the view to suggesting 

 directions for Increasing, if possible. Its value and 

 efficiency. The committee has found In Sergeant Cole 

 a thoroughly competent head to this station. By 

 recommendations to the chief signal-officer, the 

 committee has been able to effect a material gain In 

 the way of increased reports received at Boston, in the 

 use of more powerful signal-lights for warnings at 

 night, and in some other particulars. The committee 

 has taken under consideration certain other proposed 

 changes relating to the utility of the station in the 

 city, and of the associated display-stations. Profes- 

 sor Nlles deplored the present unfortunate Impair- 

 ment of the work of the signal-service through the 

 failure of Congress to make the necessary appro- 

 priations. The number of morning reports received 



