November 22, 1901.] 



SCIENCE. 



807 



Griffin, Ga. , situated near the northern 

 edge of the path of totality and experiencing 

 a duration of only 38 sec. The reason for 

 the brightness of the air was evidently the 

 sun shining on the clouds, which in turn 

 illuminated the atmosphere. The clouds 

 were cirro-cumulus, and, no doubt, very 

 high. 



It is almost too early to tell just how 

 much our knowledge of the sun has been 

 increased, but it is certain that much of 

 scientific value will be added to science as 

 a result of the observations of the eclipse of 

 May 18, 1901. 



To astronomers the voyage itself was 

 interesting in showing the stars of the 

 southern hemisphere, and in losing sight 

 for a couple of months, of Polaris, the star 

 that appeals to all of us as a personal friend. 



Perhaps, outside the eclipse, the most 

 striking feature of the expedition astro- 

 nomically was the independent discovery 

 on May 3 of the great comet, the honor be- 

 longing to Mr. Dinwiddle of the Naval Ob- 

 servatory. It was indeed a magnificent 

 sight, appearing shortly after sunset, with 

 a sweeping tail visible to the naked eye for 

 more than eight degrees in length. We 

 watched eagerly during every clear night — 

 but unfortunately there were not very many 

 beautiful nights — and it was photographed 

 by Professor Barnard. But, if the great 

 comet was seen, the sudden outburst of the 

 star in Perseus escaped our attention. After 

 leaving San Francisco, heavy weather and 

 cloudy nights were experienced till after 

 leaving Honolulu, February 28. As there 

 is as yet no cable to the Hawaiian Islands 

 — but this, we hope, is to come in the near 

 future — no tidings were received of the 

 new star until after the arrival of the party 

 in Sumatra, when Perseus was no longer 

 visible. 



The expedition arrived in San Francisco 

 July 16. 



The next eclipse that will be generally 



observed is that of August 30, 1905, which 

 will be visible in Labrador, Spain, and 

 northern Africa. The points of investiga- 

 tion will be along the same lines as carried 

 out by the American parties, but it is to be 

 hoped that better weather conditions will 

 be experienced than in the Sumatra eclipse 

 of May 18, 1901. 



S. A. Mitchell. 

 Columbia University. 



SCIENTIFIC BOOKS. 

 Alaska: Volume I., Narrative, Glaciers, Na- 

 tives, by John Burroughs, John Muir and 

 George Bird Grinnell ; Volume II. , His- 

 tory, Geography, Eesources, by William H. 

 Dall, Charles Keeler, Henry Gannett, 

 William H. Brewer, C. Hart Merriam, 

 George Bird Grinnell and M. L. Wash- 

 burn. New York, Doubleday, Page and 

 Company. 1901. [Superimpriuted] Harri- 

 man Alaska Expedition, with the cooperation 

 of the Washington Academy of Sciences. 

 [Edited by Dr. C, Hart Merriam.] With 39 

 colored plates, 85 photogravure plates, 5 

 maps and 240 text figures. Pp. xxxvii + 383. 

 Price, $15. 



The Harriman Expedition of 1899 was one 

 of the scientific events of that year ; and the 

 issue of this sumptuous summary of results is 

 one of the literary events of the current year. 

 Conceived as a pleasure trip, matured in mind 

 as a summer school for a family and a few 

 friends, the Harriman outing took final form as 

 an expedition for research in a region of para- 

 mount present interest to science, industry, 

 commerce and public policy. The sea trip — 

 the essential part of the expedition — was made 

 in the steamer George W. Elder, with an aggre- 

 gate personnel (including officers and crew) of 

 126. The ' scientific party ' numbered 25, and 

 there were three artists, two photographers, two 

 stenographers, a surgeon, an assistant surgeon 

 and a trained nurse, besides eleven hunters, 

 packers and camp hands. Nor was the ' scien- 

 tific ' corps such in name only ; none were 

 smatterers, and all ranged from distinction 

 through eminence to preeminence in their re- 

 spective lines, which included anatomy, botany. 



