May 24. 1895.] 



SCIENCE. 



573 



mean density of the earth. The attraction 

 of the mountain was computed fi-om contour 

 maps and from information as to its density 

 furnished by Mr. Whitman Cross of the U. 

 S. Geological Survey. A set of quai-ter- 

 second pendulums designed by Dr. Menden- 

 hall was tested at four of the stations with 

 satisfectory results. This is the smallest 

 apparatus yet made for the purpose, weigh- 

 ing but lOG pounds with packing boxes. 

 Herbert G. Ogden. 

 Washixgtox, D. C. 



THE ASTRONOMICAL AND PHYSICAL SO- 

 CIETY OF TORONTO. 



This Society, now very widely known, 

 was originallj' formed in 1884 by a few gen- 

 tlemen who, while actively engaged in busi- 

 ness pursuits, were kindred spirits in their 

 love for scientific study and met at inter- 

 vals more or less regular at theii- respective 

 residences for recreative reading, observa- 

 tion and experimentation. The member- 

 bei-ship gradually increasing, it was finally 

 decided to secure incorporation under a 

 general Act permitting the acquiring and 

 holding of real and personal property, etc., 

 and in 1890 the Society became a corporate 

 body. The first president of the new asso- 

 ciation was the late Mr. Chas. Carpmael, 

 M. A., F. R. A. S., the Director of the To- 

 ronto Magnetic Observatorj^: the vice-presi- 

 dent was Mr. Andrew Elvins, who had 

 indeed been the first to gather together the 

 few friends who had formed the original 

 nucleus, and who is still highly esteemed 

 and honored as the father of amateur as- 

 tronomy in Toronto. A constitution mod- 

 eled upon that of the Astronomical Society 

 of the Pacific having been framed and by- 

 laws adopted, a circular was addressed to 

 many scientific societies and distinguished 

 astronomers and physicists throughout the 

 world. Several of the latter became corre- 

 sponding members, while various scientific 

 bodies contributed many volumes of reports. 



etc., which formed the beginning of what 

 is now a very valuable library. Without 

 this very material aid the progress of the 

 Toronto Societj- would have been very slow 

 indeed, but as, at meeting after meeting, the 

 secretarj''s and libmrian's reports were read, 

 it became soon apparent that the heartiest 

 sympathy and support were being extended, 

 without exception, bj' all who had been 

 addi'essed. 



The first annual report of the Society was 

 an unpretentious little volume of 40 pages, 

 containing abstracts of papers read during 

 the j'ear 1890, and records of the more im- 

 portant work done at the telescope by the 

 various members who were particularly in- 

 terested in observation. The frontispiece 

 was a drawing of sun-spots and also of 

 hj-drogen flames, by Mr. A. F. Miller, who 

 has always taken a keen interest in solar 

 physics. Mr. T. S. H. Shearmen contrib- 

 uted a paper on ' Coronal Photography, in 

 the Absence of Eclipse.' In common with 

 many other enthusiastic observers, Mr. 

 Shearmen is still engaged upon this work. 

 Referring to the objection raised regarding 

 the impossibility of photographing the cor- 

 ona in full sunshine on account of the very 

 slight dift'erence between the intensities of 

 the two lights, Mr. Shearmen cites ob- 

 servations of the inferior planets seen pro- 

 jected on the corona. 



The appendix to this volume contains 

 a list of the presents donated by the 

 various observatories and scientific bod- 

 ies in the United States, and by Mr. 

 John Goldie, of Gait, Out., a life member 

 of the Society. The list of the Society's ex- 

 changes increased very rapidly after the 

 publication of the firet report. The vol- 

 ume for 1891 contained papers by Dr. J. 

 MoiTison, Mr. J. Ellard Gore and Mr. W. 

 F. Denning. An opera-glass section had 

 been formed which met during the weeks 

 alternating with the regular fortnightly 

 meetings of the Society, and much interest 



