Miscellaneous Intelligence. 91 



III. Miscellaneous Scientific Intelligence. 



1. Annual Report of the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, 

 S. P. Langley, Secretary, showing the operations, expenditures, 

 and condition of the Institution for the year ending June 80, 

 1903. Pp. lxi, 376 with 124 plates. Washington, 1904.— This 

 volume contains the usual account of the administrative activity 

 of the Smithsonian Institution in its different directions. The 

 work in one of these in particular, the International Exchange 

 Service, is presented in a very interesting form. In an Appendix 

 a striking exhibit is made of the extent to which this service has 

 been developed ; upwards of 150,000 packages were sent out to 

 all parts of the world between July, 1902, and June, 1903, this 

 work having nearly doubled in six years. The value of this ser- 

 vice to the science of the country can hardly be overestimated. 

 Another Appendix describes the additions to the National Zoo- 

 logical Park, with some interesting illustrations ; still another 

 gives a report of the work of the' Astrophysical Observatory for 

 the year ending June 30, 1903. It is interesting to note here 

 that the holographic work carried on showed the earth's atmos- 

 phere to have been more opaque than usual, the direct solar radia- 

 tion having been reduced about 10 per cent on an average 

 through the entire spectrum. It is also shown to be probable 

 that the radiation has been decreased outside of the earth's atmos- 

 phere. A new determination of the temperature of the sun, 

 based upon the distribution of the solar radiation in the spec- 

 trum, has yielded the result of 5,290° Centigrade above the abso- 

 lute zero. As usual, the larger part of the volume of about 800 

 pages is given to the republication of a well-chosen series of 

 scientific papers, showing the progress made in all departments of 

 science. These are fully illustrated and form a most interesting 

 series, which ought to be accessible to all intelligent people. 



2. Bulletin of the Bureau of Standards ; S. W. Stratton, 

 Director. Vol. I, No. 1, pp. 124. Washington, 1904 (Depart- 

 ment of Commerce and Labor). — The Bureau of Standards, estab- 

 lished some four years since, in addition to its regular testing 

 work, the value of which is now thoroughly appreciated in the 

 country, has recently undertaken the publication of occasional 

 Bulletins. These will contain the results of investigations and 

 researches carried on in connection with the Bureau, and which 

 are likely to be of general interest in the country, either on the 

 scientific or technical side. The Bulletins will be issued as often 

 as they are required to present papers which are ready for publi- 

 cation. The first number, issued November 1st, contains eight 

 articles. L. A. Fischer discusses a recomparison of the United 

 States prototype meter ; K. E. Guthe gives a study of the silver 

 voltameter, and also describes fibers resembling quartz made 

 from asbestos (amphibole) and steatite ; F. A. Wolff discusses 

 the so-called international electrical units ; P. G. Nutting has 

 papers on the spectra of mixed gases, on secondary spectra, and 



