80 Scientific Intelligence. 



pies collected near the base of Mem to be of tephrite, leading to 

 the suspicion that the volcano was built up of extrusive magmas 

 of alkalic nature. This was fully confirmed by the material col- 

 lected by Uhlig, the preliminary study showing it to consist of 

 varieties of the phonolite-tephrite family. There is thus added 

 another instance to confirm the highly alkalic character of the 

 East African petrographic province, whose nature and extent 

 through the studies of Hyland, Gregory, Prior, Lacroix and 

 others, we are now beginning to appreciate. Now that the way has 

 been opened into eastern equatorial Africa, we may expect that 

 detailed studies of the region, such as Uhlig has been making in 

 the Kilimandjaro region, will furnish in geography, in geology 

 and in other fields of science, results of great importance and 

 interest. l. v. p. 



2. Glacial Studies in the Canadian Rockies and Selkirks. — 

 A paper upon the above subject, by W. H. Scherzer, is contained 

 in Part 4, Vol. II, of the Quarterly Issue of the Smithsonian Mis- 

 cellaneous Collections. This gives an account of the results 

 obtained in connection with the Smithsonian Expedition of 1904. 

 It is made particularly interesting by a series of excellent illus- 

 trations reproduced from photographs. Many of the details of 

 glacial structure are particularly well shown; as, for example, the 

 Forbes u dirt bands," the "dirt stripes," the stratification and 

 shearing exhibited in the glacial front, also the various forms of 

 moraines under many different conditions. 



3. The Solar Observatory of the Carnegie Institution of 

 Washington; by George E. Hale. 22 pp. with 5 plates. 



Contributions from the Solar Observatory, Mt. Wilson, Cali- 

 fornia, No. 2. — This second contribution from the Mt. Wilson 

 Solar Observatory (see p. 473 of the June number) details the 

 special objects aimed at in its construction and the particular 

 lines of work which it is proposed to carry through. An account 

 is given also regarding the erection of the Snow telescope, sent 

 out by the University of Chicago, and also the progress made in 

 the construction of other buildings. The present staff of the 

 Observatory is as follows: Director, George E. Hale; Astronomer 

 and Superintendent of Instrument Construction, G. W. Ritchey; 

 and Assistants, Ferdinand Ellermann and Walter S. Adams. 



4. United States Naval Observatory, Rear-Admiral Colby 

 M. Chester, U. S. N., Superintendent. Second series. Vol. IV, 

 Appendix IV. The present status of the Use of Standard Time ; 

 by Edward E. Hayden, Lieut. Commander, U. S. N. 28 pp. 

 Washington, 1905. — This paper explains the use of "standard 

 time " and shows the remarkable extension of this system over 

 the world. 



5. Publications of West Hendon House Observatory, Sunder- 

 land. No. Ill, 1905. Pp. xi, 122, with 9 plates.— This volume 

 contains the results of an extended series of observations by Mr. 

 T. W. Backhouse, upon certain variable stars, made during the 

 years 1866-1904. 



