66 Notices respecting New Books. 



leading facts of terrestrial magnetism, we strongly recommend a 

 perusal of the lecture. 



War Department Weather Maps. Signal-Service, United-States Army. 

 Friday, November 22, 1872. 



We have received the three maps of the above date, 7.35 a.m. 

 4.35 p.m., and 11 p.m. Washington time respectively. An improve- 

 ment has been introduced, particularly in the insertion of the 

 Oceanic Currents with their velocities per hour. The land sur- 

 face is coloured green, the principal mountain-ranges shown, and 

 elevations above 8000 feet left white. A distinction is made 

 between surfaces above and below 800 feet, the former being 

 darkly shaded, the latter lightly. The ordinary isobars, isotherms, 

 state of weather, &c. are shown as formerly. 



One of the latest .results of the operations of the American 

 Signal- Office, as reported in the ' New York Herald,' Nov. 16, is 

 the discovery of a vast aerial wave which passed over the States in 

 November. It originated in the Pacific Ocean, and was traced di- 

 stinctly over the whole breadth of the continent ; so that America as 

 well as Western Europe has a " great November wave." The 

 American storm- warnings in connexion with this wa^e were issued 

 from two to three days in advance. 



The issue of three maps daily is of great advantage, as it con- 

 tributes so much more efficiently to an acquaintance with atmo- 

 spheric changes, than by an issue of one map daily. The weather 

 maps of the English Meteorological Office are of great utility ; but 

 this utility would be greatly increased by two additional maps being- 

 issued daily, for 4p.m. and midnight. Probabilities, as on the American 

 plan, could then be deduced with more or less success, either officially 

 or privately by subscribers. 



The Atmosphere of the Sun. The Eede Lecture, 1871. By J. Nor- 

 mal Lockyee, F.R.S. London : Macniillan and Co. 



This Lecture contains a resume of the work effected by Mr. 

 Lockyer in connexion with Dr. Erankland, relative to their joint 

 researches on Solar Physics, an account of which has for some 

 time been before the public. The lecture, which is well conceived, 

 is based upon Newton's query of the sun and fixed stars being 

 great earths vehemently hot, from which vapours and exhalations 

 arise and are compressed and condensed by the vast weight and 

 density of their atmosphere. 



The remarks of Mr. Lockyer, bearing on the reply to Newton's 

 query, are of somewhat a desponding character, inasmuch as they 

 allude to the more than century and half century that the world 

 has had to wait for the "outcome" of the splendid genera- 

 lization by which the proof has been obtained, that the sun and 

 fixed stars are undoubtedly " vehemently hot." ^or is his tone 

 more encouraging towards the close of his lecture ; for in speaking 

 of our witnessing the birth of a new science, he says it is one 

 which requires costly apparatus and appliances above the means 

 of most individuals, with thoroughly organized work extending over 

 centuries. How then is the science of the sun to progress ? 



