412 Scientific Intelligence. 
There is a great discrepancy between the determinations of the solar 
distance that are based on the records of 1844 and 1846; but it is no 
greater than we might reasonably have anticipated. On the other hand, 
it could hardly have been expected that any comparisons based on t the 
observations of so short a period as three years, would have furnished so 
hear an approximation to the most recent and most accurate determina- 
tion of the earth’s mean radius vector. In order to obtain that approxi« 
mation, it will be seen that I took, Ist, the mean of the ranges and ratios 
for the three ora years ; 2d, the r ranges and ratios of the mea re- 
sults of the e years; 3 3d, the grand mean of these two primary 
means, I oak euk of no other method which would be so likely to 
destroy the effects of changing seasons, and other accidental disturbances. 
The following table exhibits the effects of latitude on the aerobarie 
tides. The differences between the theoretical and observed ranges may 
be owing partly to the equatorial-polar currents, and partly to insufficient 
observations. 
Station Lat. Mean height. | Mean range. Ratio. Theoret. ratio. 
Arctie Dew "8°37 29-789 in, 012 in. 000404 000527 
Girard College, 39 58 29:938 ‘060 “002004 002046 
ashingto 88 53 30-020 062 002065 002079 
St ORS ca 15 57 28282 066 2344 00256 
Equator, 0 30-709 082 -002670 “002670 
The theoretical ratios are determined by multiplying the equatorial 
ratios by — The formula, a ET ~ —, (¢ indicating the ratio of 
R 
the mean range to the mean height,) oe : 
Theoretical Ratio. Observed Ratio. 
Latitude, 0° 002190 “002670 
% 78 37’ “000432 
showing that the ratio is less near the A and greater near the equator 
than our theory indicates, a natural consequence of the centrifugal force 
at the equator ‘and the cold surface currents that produce the trade winds, 
The revolution of the sun around the great Central Sun must 4 
cause Baronateé fluctuations that may possibly be measured by de licate 
instruments and long and patient observation. The Toricellian columa 
n the suuckel of jangeteiae —Peasoz has 4 pabblbise an extended 
memoir on tungsten and its compounds, and has arrived at conc clusions 
which differ very widely from those received by. chemists. These coneli- 
sions, in the author’s own words, are as follows 
(1.) Tungsten, according to the constitution and properti 
oo oh belongs v to the group of biatomic (sic) radicals, arsenic, antimony, 
phos 
(2.) Its ng phe A ndipda ci deduced from numerous experiments . 
19is. io 153° =8)) 
(3.) shy ator es, two compounds with oxygen: 
oxyd WO,, se oxyd. 
b. mes acid WO,, tungstic acid. 
