) 
Miscellaneous Intelligence. 439 
While mapping the proper motions of the stars, Mr. Proctor has 
been led to notice that the rich cluster around z Persei falls almost 
exactly on the intersection of the Milky Way with the great circle 
which may be termed the equator of the solar motion; that is, the 
great circle having the apex of the sun’s motion as a "po e. is 
circumstance points to that remarkable cluster, rather than to the 
Pleiades, as the center of the sidereal system, ‘if indeed that sys- 
tem has a center cognizable by us. en we remember that for 
every fixed star in the Pleiades there are hundreds in the great 
cluster in Perseus, the latter will seem the worthier region to be 
the center of motion. The author is disposed, however, to 
regard the cluster in Perseus as the center of a portion of the 
sidereal system, rather than as the common center of the Galaxy. 
—Nature, No. 8, March 3. _ 
V. MISCELLANEOUS SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE. 
National Academy of Sciences: List of Papers read at the 
Moin, in April, 1870, at Washington, D. C.— 
On the measurement of wave-lengths by means of indices of re- 
fraction; by Dr. Wolcott Gibbs, 
On the ¢ ming Transits of Venus, and the mode of observing 
them; by Prof. Simon Newco 
Meridional ares measured in a eate with the U. S. Coast 
Survey; by Prof. J. E. Hilgard. 
The Relations of the four Archetypes of structure of the Animal 
Kingdom, as parts of one Life System; by Prof. A. Guyot. 
bservations on the Measurement and Iconography of Crania ; 
by Dr. Geo, A. Otis, 
The northmen in Greenland ; by Dr. L I. Hayes. 
vee on the apparent inequalities of long period in the 
moon’s mean motion, and on the possible variability ‘of the sidereal 
day; by Prof. Simon Newcomb. 
On the isan of Compasses in iron-clad ships ; by Prof. Wm. 
Harkness, U. 8. N 
On Artificial deformation of Skulls; by Dr. Geo. A. Otis, U.S. A. 
On the proposed rae observatory in the Argentine Re- 
public; by Dr. B. 
Scientific operations now | in pro 
tution; by Prof. Jose enry. 
On the Jo ti Re of Barometers; by Dr. B. F. Craig. 
On the influence of the interior structure of r% arti on pre- 
cession and nutation ; by Gen. J. G. Barnard, U. 8. A. 
Reduction of photographic observations of Priesepe ; ; by Dr. B. 
A. Gould. 
On the Lignites of Western America; by Dr. J. S. Newberry. 
On the use ae certain Artificial Lights 3 in eee soeraphires objects 
as seen with the microscope ; yee 
On the classification of Clow ae e 
New breeds of Hard; Be Woena gece’ feed on the “ Ailan- 
thus and Oaks,” and the enttdlrt of their introduction into the 
country as a future industry; by J. Q. A. Warren. 
gress by the Smithsonian Insti- 
