Miscellaneous Intelligence. 83 



The writer remarks that his attention was called in June, 1896, 

 to some rapid changes of water level on Lake Huron, at the mouth 

 of the river Kincardine. Here the observed rise and fall appear- 

 ing to be regular, a set of observations were made with a tempo- 

 ary float. By this means a uniform rise and fall of about three 

 inches were found to occur, averaging nine minutes, that is about 

 eighteen minutes for each undulation ; the float moved up stream 

 at the rate of a mile and one-half an hour. 



This phenomenon led the author to discuss the analogous 

 observations made at Toronto and St. John, in connection with 

 the changes of barometric pressure; these being plotted on a 

 large scale. The conclusion is reached that the secondary 

 undulations described are due to atmospheric waves or billows 

 started in the upper atmosphere. Some special points in this 

 connection are treated of at length. The author concludes by 

 remarking that, if the above explanations are correct, it might be 

 of great value, in place of eliminating these secondary undulations, 

 when tabulating the primary ones, to increase the amplitude of 

 these secondaries, by lengthening the cylinder, to use one sheet 

 per day to prevent confusion of traces, and make a special study 

 of them, respecting their intensity and time interval, in conjunc- 

 tion with synoptic charts during different types of weather. It 

 appears as if these gauges are extra sensitive barometers, locally 

 forewarning the approach of important storm centers many hours 

 previous, in fact, during a rising or stationary barometer and 

 before the shift of wind. 



2. The Zoological JBxdletin. — It is announced that "The 

 Zoological Bulletin " is to be published as a companion serial to 

 the "Journal of Morphology." It is designed to give prompt 

 publication to shorter contributions in animal morphology and 

 general biology, with no illustrations beyond text-figures. It is 

 to be expected that there will be sufficient material for at least 

 six numbers a year of about fifty pages each. 



The editorial work will be directed by C. O. Whitman and W. 

 M. Wheeler, assisted by a number of collaborators, whose names 

 will appear on the title-page. The subscription price per volume 

 of six numbers will be $3.00, and single numbers will be sold 

 separately at 15 cents each. The first number is now nearly full, 

 and may be expected to appear in June. (Ginn & Company, 

 Publishers.) 



OBITUARY. 



Alvan Graham Clark, the astronomer, died of apoplexy in 

 Cambridge, Mass., June 9, 1897. He was born in Fall River, 

 Mass., July 10, 1832, and was the youngest of two sons. Having 

 received a good school education and prepared himself for the 

 profession of a practical machinist, he entered into partnership, 

 on coming of age, with his father, Alvan Clark, and his brother 

 in the manufacture of optical instruments. The unrivalled skill 

 of all three in the figuring of large objectives, and their great 

 achievements, are too familiar to need comment. The youngest 



