718 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. IV. No. 98. 



The plates are accurately drawn and beau- 

 tifully lithographed, aiding greatly the 

 demonstrations of the text. 



The classification adopted by Dr. Allen 

 is that of the late Dr. James Aitken Meigs, 

 to which he called attention some time 

 since in the pages of Science. It has been 

 overlooked even by such writers as Topin- 

 ard and Sergi, although it anticipated both 

 of them in important points. 



The functions which determine the form 

 of the skull are considered by Dr. Allen to 

 be mainly three, the growth of the brain, 

 the interstitial changes in the bones, and 

 the action of the muscles attached to the 

 skull. The last mentioned he justly con- 

 siders deserves more attention than it has 

 received. 



The Memoir is rich in such suggestions 

 and should be consulted by all students of 

 the subject. D, G. Bkinton. 



Univeesity of Pennsylvania. 



CURRENT NOTES ON METEOROLOGY. 

 THE HIGHEST KITE ASCENT. 



Although Science of October 16th con- 

 tained a brief note on the recent high kite 

 ascent from Blue Hill Observatory, some 

 further facts as to this record-breaking feat 

 will not be out of place here. K-eference 

 has already been made in these notes on 

 previous occasions to the kite work now 

 being done at Blue Hill, and attention has 

 been called to the scientific value of this ex- 

 ploration of the free air. On . October 8th 

 all previous kite records were broken by an 

 ascent which carried the meteorograph to a 

 height of 9,375 feet above sea level, the great- 

 est altitude previously attained having been 

 7,333 feet (see Science, Oct. 2, 1896, 489). 

 The ascent began at 9.52 a. m. and ended 

 at 9.05 p. m. Seven Eddy and two Har- 

 grave kites were used, and more than three 

 miles of wire were paid out. The meteoro- 

 graph entered and passed through the 

 clouds, as is shown by a record of very dry 



air above the clouds. The temperature fell 

 from 46° on the Hill to 20° at an altitude 

 of 9,375 feet above sea level. The pull on 

 the wire was from 20 to 50 pounds at the 

 start and ranged from 50 to 95 pounds at the 

 highest point. The instrumental record 

 was one of the best yet obtained. 



The more the probable future of kite 

 meteorology is considered, the more impor- 

 tant does this means of exploring the upper 

 air seem to become. The expense is very 

 trifling as compared with the establishment 

 of mountain observatories, or of balloon as- 

 cents, and as mechanical appliances are 

 perfected for winding in the wire, and sav- 

 ing labor in other ways, the work of flying 

 the kites will continually grow less ardu- 

 ous, and the heights attained will become 

 greater. If the upper kites are sent up 

 high enough to be out of reach of the vary- 

 ing and irregular currents near the earth's 

 surface, there seems to be no reason for 

 lowering the instrument at night, and if kept 

 up 24 hours at a time, the results would be 

 still more valuable than those now attained. 

 Indeed it may be that continuous records 

 may in time thus be obtained from the 

 upper air by means of kite meteorographs. 



WATERSPOUT PHOTOGRAPHS. 



What is probably the best photograph of 

 a waterspout ever taken was secured by 

 Mr. J. N. Chamberlain, of Cottage City, 

 Mass., on August 19th, last. On that day, 

 at about 12:45 p. m., a very perfect water- 

 spout, lasting 12 minutes, formed offshore 

 from Cottage City. The photograph is re- 

 markably clear, and brings out in a strik- 

 ing manner the dark clouds overhead, be- 

 tween which and the surface of the ocean 

 is seen the spout, very symmetrically de- 

 veloped and almost exactly perpendicular. 

 The top of the spout is but slightly enlarged. 

 So that the funnel-shaped is not so marked 

 as it is often figured, while at the bottom 

 the disturbance of the surface water of th e 



