Miscellaneous Intelligence. 407 



and yet a very large class of men engaged in other lines of science 

 will find it not merely a popular history but also a valuable book 

 of reference. The " materials have been derived, as a rule with 

 very few exceptions, from the original authorities." References 

 are given for nearly every important assertion, and a reader who 

 has occasion to verify or who questions any statements is thus 

 easily put in the way of examining them for himself. 



In the very numerous cases where astronomers differ in their 

 conclusions Miss Clerke has had no easy task. She has, we think, 

 been very successful in most cases in choosing the right side, or 

 else in holding an even balance between the opposing opinions. 



Occasionally, however, her success may be questioned. Re- 

 specting the large vs. small telescopes she says: "it seems clear 

 that we have reached a turning-point in the history of telescopic 

 improvement." At the time this was written she probably had 

 not in hand the latest testimony of Dr. Vogel about the perfection 

 of the images of the Vienna refractor, and certainly had not the 

 recent testimony of Professor Young. From the fact that one 

 observer with a 4-J- inch glass sees details which another with an 

 18 inch glass cannot see, practical astronomers will not, we think, 

 at once decide against the greater utility of the larger glass. 



H. A. N. 



2. The Star-guide, a list of the most remarkable Celestial objects 

 visible with small telescopes / by Latimer Clark and Herbert 

 Sadler. Macmillan & Co. 1886. — A very convenient manual 

 for the possessors of small telescopes. It gives catalogues of 

 interesting celestial objects, of test objects, variable stars, lunar 

 mountains and meteor radiants, in a form convenient for use. 



3. Photographic Study of Stellar Spectra. — In accordance with 

 the liberal provision of Mrs. Henry Draper, the study of stellar 

 spectra by means of photography is to be carried forward at the 

 Harvard Observatory as a memorial to her husband. In announc- 

 ing the plan of this work, the Director, Professor E. C. Pickering, 

 states that in order to keep the astronomical public informed of 

 the progress made, specimens of the photographs will be gratui- 

 tously distributed from time to time, the first of which is nearly 

 ready. It is desired that those immediately interested in the 

 work express their desire to obtain copies, in order that the ex- 

 pense of reproduction may be limited as far as possible. Applica- 

 tions may be made to the Harvard College Observatory ; a blank 

 form of request is pi'ovicled. 



IV. Miscellaneous Scientific Intelligence. 



1. The Fisheries and Fishery Industries of the United States, 

 prepared through the co-operation of the Commissioner of Fisheries 

 and the Superintendent of the Tenth Census, by George Brown 

 Goode, Asst. Director U. S. National Museum, and a staff of 

 associates. Section I, Natural History of useful Aquatic Animals, 

 a volume of text in 4to of 896 pages, and a second volume of 277 



