492 Scientific Intelligence. 



to the scientific world until the merest chance brought it to light. 

 In an extended notice which we hope to give in the next number 

 of the Journal, we shall call attention to the attractive manner 

 in which Professor Bateson has presented the Mendel essays and 

 illustrated them by confirmatory critical studies. We cannot too 

 strongly advise our readers to avail themselves of this convenient 

 annotated reprint. g. l. g. 



12. Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalamce in the British 

 Museum. Vol. VII. Catalogue of the Noctuidee y by Sir 

 George F. Hampson. Pp. xv, 709, with 184 figures; also plates 

 cviii-cxxii. London, 1908.— The earlier volumes of this import- 

 ant catalogue of Moths have been repeatedly noticed in this 

 Journal. The present volume is the seventh of the series and 

 contains the first part of the large sub-family Acronyctinae. It 

 is characterized by the trifid neuration of the hind wing com- 

 bined with spineless tibiae and smooth eyes not surrounded by 

 bristle-like hairs. This sub-family comprises some 3000 species, 

 belonging to over 300 genera, and two additional volumes will 

 be required to embrace them all. The manuscript for these is 

 stated to be ready for the press and it is expected that they will 

 appear in 1909. The supplementary volume contains 15 plates 

 each with from 22 to 32 beautifully executed figures. 



III. Miscellaneous Scientific Intelligence. 



1. Bulletin of the Mount Weather Observatory : Prepared 

 under the direction of Willis L. Moore, Chief IT. S. Weather 

 Bureau. Vol. ii, Part I. Pp. 54, 6 charts. Washington, 1909. — 

 The Mount Weather Observatory is making very important con- 

 tributions to the investigation of the meteorological conditions of 

 the upper atmosphere, as determined by kite flights and balloon 

 ascensions. These topics form the subject of an article in the 

 present number by W. J. Humphreys. It may not be generally 

 appreciated, although the facts have been presented from time to 

 time, that the observations of the past ten years, carried on by 

 balloons and by kites, equipped with suitable registering appara- 

 tus, have brought out a large number of important facts in 

 regard to the atmosphere. Three more or less distinct regions 

 are recognized : 1. That of terrestrial disturbance extending up 

 to an elevation of about 3,000 meters, in which the temperature- 

 gradient is usually irregular and often shows reversion. This 

 includes the principal region of clouds and precipitation. 2. A 

 region of uniform changes, lying between that just mentioned 

 and the 10,000 meter level in which the temperature-gradient is 

 nearly constant and approaches the adiabatic. This region is 

 comparatively free from condensation and precipitation, and 

 while at times the seat of vertical convections its normal condi- 

 tion is one of stability. 3. Above this is the region of perma- 



