234: Miscellaneous Intelligence. 



approximately, the mean heights, in feet, of the principal forms : 

 — Stratus, 2000 ; nimbus, 5000 ; cumulus (base), 4500, (summit) 

 6000; cumulo-stratus (base), 4600; "false-cirrus" (a form which 

 often accompanies the cumulo-stratus), 12,800; cirro-cumulus, 

 21,000; cirrus, 29,000 (the highest being 41,000). The maxi- 

 mum of cloud-frequency was found to be at levels of 2300 and 

 5500 feet. Generally speaking, all the forms of cloud have a 

 tendency to rise during the course of the day; the change, ex- 

 cepting for the cumulus-form, amounting to nearly 6500 feet. In 

 the morning, when the cirrus clouds are at their lowest level, the 

 frequency of their low T est forms — the cirro-cumulus — is greatest ; 

 and in the evening, when the height of the cirrus is greatest, the 

 frequency of its highest forms — the cirro-stratus — is also greatest. 

 With regard to the connection between the character of the 

 weather and the height of the clouds, the heights of the bases of 

 the cumulus are nearly constant in all conditions. The summits, 

 however, are lowest in the vicinity of a barometric maximum ; 

 they increase in the region of a depression and attain their great- 

 est height in thunderstorms, the thickness of the cumulo-stratus 

 stretching sometimes for several miles. The highest forms of 

 clouds appear to float at their lowest levels in the region of a 

 depression. The forms of clouds are identical in all parts of the 

 world, as has been shown in papers lately read by the Hon. R. 

 Abercromby before the English and Scottish Meteorological 

 Societies. — Nature xxxvi, 206. 



2. American Association for the Advancement of Science. — 

 The thirty-sixth meeting of the Association was held in New 

 York City during the week from August 10th to August 16th, in 

 the buildings of Columbia College. The meeting opened with 

 an address of welcome from Rev. F. A. P. Barnard, President of 

 the institution which had offered hospitality to the members of the 

 Association, to which the President, Professor S. P. Langley, re- 

 plied. The opening addresses before the Sections by their Vice- 

 Presidents were as follows : Section B, W. A. Anthony, on the im- 

 portance to the advancement of physical science of the teaching of 

 physics in the public schools ; Section C, A. B. Prescott, on the chem- 

 istry of nitrogen as disclosed in the constitution of the Alkaloids; 

 Section D, E. B. Coxe ; Section E, G. K. Gilbert, on the work of 

 the International Congress of Geologists ; Section F, W. G. Far- 

 low, on vegetable parasites and evolution ; Section H, D. G. 

 Brinton, on a review of the data for the study of the prehistoric 

 ehronology of America; Section I, H. E. Alvord, on economy in 

 the management of the soil. 



In the evening of the opening day the retiring President, Pro- 

 fessor Edward S. Morse delivered an able address upon Evolu- 

 tion. A lecture by Professor Henry Drummond of Glasgow, on 

 the Heart of Africa, giving observations on a recent scientific 

 tour to the region of the Zambesi and Lake Tanganyika, was listened 

 to by a large and interested audience on Monday evening. 



The list of papers accepted is given below ; some of them were 



