316 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. XXIII. No. 5S2. 



crystalline form and much less frequently of 

 sub-cooled water drops. Cumulus, nimbus, 

 stratus, alto-cumulus and strato-cumulus are 

 composed of water drops, which may be sub- 

 cooled, or of ice pellets, sometimes mixed with 

 small regular crystals. 



INVESTIGATION OF THE UPPER AIR IN ENGLAND. 



Nature (December 14, 1905) reports that 

 the Meteorological Committee has assigned 

 from the parliamentary grant under its con- 

 trol a sum for promoting the investigation of 

 the upper air by kites and other means. It is 

 proposed to establish an experimental station 

 for kite ascents and other experimental in- 

 vestigations; to develop and extend the in- 

 strumental equipment, so that facilities may 

 be afforded for the cooperation of other ob- 

 servers upon sea and land, and to provide for 

 the publication of the observations. Mr. W. 

 H. Dines will undertake the direction of the 

 operations for the Meteorological Office. The 

 cooperation of marine observers will be en- 

 listed, and several offers of assistance in the 

 work at land stations have already been re- 

 ceived. 



TEMPERATURE AND RELATIVE HUMIDITY DATA. 



Bulletin O of the United States "Weather 

 Bureau contains a useful collection of data 

 concerning the temperature and relative hu- 

 midity of the United States. The tables in- 

 clude the following: highest and lowest tem- 

 peratures recorded at "Weather Bureau stations 

 for each month (with charts) ; monthly and 

 annual mean maximum and mean minimum 

 temperatures; monthly and annual mean rela- 

 tive humidity. If we are not mistaken, these 

 data have all been published in the ' Annual 

 Eeports of the Chief of the "Weather Bureau,' 

 but it is very convenient to have them in a 

 separate Bulletin, of less bulky proportions 

 than the annual reports. 



E. DeC. "Ward. 



THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES. 

 January 15. — The Secretary of the Treasury 

 transmitted a communication from the Secre- 

 tary of the Interior, submitting an estimate 

 of appropriations for the International 



Seismological Association. Referred to the 

 Committee on Appropriations of the House 

 of Representatives. 



January 26- — Mr. Laeey introduced a bill in 

 the House to protect birds and their eggs in 

 game and bird preserves. Referred to the 

 Committee on Public Lands. 



Mr. Babcock introduced a bill to prohibit 

 the killing of birds and other wild animals in 

 the District of Columbia. Referred to the 

 Committee on the District of Columbia. 



January SO. — Mr. Cushman introduced a 

 bill for the protection and regulation of the 

 fisheries of Alaska. Referred to the Committee 

 on the Territories. 



February 1. — A bill to establish a fish-cul- 

 tural station in the state of Utah was con- 

 sidered as in committee of the whole. It pro- 

 poses to appropriate $25,000 for the establish- 

 ment of a fish-cultural station in the state of 

 Utah, including purchase of site, construction 

 of buildings and ponds, and equipment,- at 

 some suitable point to be selected by the Secre- 

 tary of Commerce and Labor. The bill was 

 passed in the Senate. 



A bill to appropriate the sum of $25,000 un- 

 der similar conditions to those of the first bill, 

 to establish a fish-cultural station in the state 

 of Wyoming, was also passed. 



A bill to establish one or more fish-cultural 

 stations on Puget Sound, state of Washing- 

 ton, was considered as in committee of the 

 whole. It proposes to appropriate $50,000 

 for the establishment of one or more fish-cul- 

 tural stations on Puget Sound, state of Wash- 

 ington, for the propagation of salmon and 

 other food fishes, including purchase of sites, 

 construction of buildings and ponds, purchase 

 and hire of boats and equipment, and such 

 temporary help as may be required for the 

 construction and operation of the fish-cul- 

 tural stations, at a suitable point or points 

 to be selected by the Secretary of Commerce 

 and Labor, the number of fish-cultural stations 

 to be determined by the Secretary of Com- 

 merce and Labor. Passed in the Senate. 



February 8- — The bill to establish a fish- 

 cultural station in the city of Fargo, North 

 Dakota, passed the Senate. 



