SUN AND PLANETS FOR NOVEMBER, 1884. 899 



of our aborigines, and affords striking instances of the debasing and brutalizing 

 influence of the unrestricted belief in the supernatural and miraculous. 



The volume is divided into two parts, the first comprising : The southern 

 famihes of Indians; I — The Linguistic Groups of the Gulf States; II — The Mas- 

 koki Family; III — The Creek Indians. The second part is made up of the 

 Kasi-hta Migration Legends, which includes Indian migration legends, Migra- 

 tion Legends of the Creek Tribes, Tchikillis Kasi-hta Legend, the text and the 

 translation. 



Professor Gatschet has for years made the ethnology of our Indian tribes his 

 study, and this volume is one of the results. It evinces great labor in investigat- 

 ing and compihng authorities, as well as in working out his conclusions. The 

 translation of the migration legend is by Dr. Brinton, the accomplished editor of 

 the series above referred to. 



ASTRONOMY. 



SUN AND PLANETS FOR NOVEMBER, 1884. 



W. DAWSON, SPICELAND, IND. 



The Sun's usual motion eastward brings it to R. A. 14 hours 29 minutes 

 November ist, and 16 hours 29 minutes on the 30th. Its declination south on 

 the ist, is 14° 44'; and 21° 48' on the last day of the month. The length of 

 days will thus decrease during the month from 10 hours 22 minutes to 9 hours 

 24 minutes. Sun-spots were numerous in the early part of October; ninety-five 

 being observed on the 2d. But only ten were visible on the i6th. 



Saturn rises on the ist of November about 6:30 P. M. Its declination is 21° 

 48' N ; nearly as far north of east at rising as the Sun is in longest days. So that 

 this interesting planet is now very convenient for observation. Saturn is now 

 retrograding — moving westward among the stars. It. is just north of a small star 

 (Zeta Tauri) and nearly half way from Aldebaran in the big A to the twin stars 

 Castor and Pollux. Jupiter rises near i A. M. on the ist, several degrees north 

 of east ; so it is still a morning star ; being very bright and conspicuous, a little 

 east of the fixed star Regulus. Although Venus is slowly waning in brightness, 

 it is still a fair rival for Jupiter, and about two hours east of it. The phase of 

 Venus is somewhat gibbous — a little more than half-moon shape. This planet 

 will be near Uranus (about 1° north) in the morning of November 4. The same 

 day Mercury is in superior conjunction with the Sun. Neptune is still about 7° 

 southwest of the seven stars. Mars sets about 6 P. M. in the southwest, hence 

 is of no special interest. 



VIII- 26 



