1 < 1 2 Scientific In telligence. 



III. Miscellaneous Scientific Intelligence. 



1. Publications of the West Hen don House Observatory, Sun- 

 derland y by W". T. Backhouse. Vol. ii, 4to, 161 pp., 60 illus- 

 trations. (Hills & Co., Sunderland.) — The first part of tins 

 volume is a continuation of the publication which appeared in 

 1891, "On the Structure of the Sidereal Universe." These in- 

 clude both the observations by the author and discussion by him 

 of the work of others on the forms and groupings noted in the 

 Milky Way, with such structural features as can be observed 

 in other parts of the heavens, including lines and parallelisms, 

 radiated systems of stars, and rifts, of which latter, analogous 

 to the "Coal Sacks" of the southern hemisphere, the author 

 finds less conspicuous examples in photographs of many parts of 

 the heavens. The remainder of the volume consists of observa- 

 tions and comments on the Zodiacal Light, the Aurora, and 

 variable stars. w. b. 



2. A Philosophical Essay on Probabilities ; by Pierre Simon, 

 Marquis de LaPlace. Pp. iv, 196. Translated from the sixth 

 French edition by Frederick Wilson Truscott, and Frederick 

 Lincoln Emory, (Ne,w York, John Wiley & Sons, and London, 

 Chapman & Hall, Limited.) — The rendering into English of La 

 Place's classic in a form suitable for the class-room is the work of 

 Professors Truscott and Emory. The translation is timely for 

 two reasons. First, until recently, it could be truly said, on account 

 of the excellence of the matter, that " not much has been added 

 to our subject (probability) since the close of LaPlace's career." 

 Secondly, within four or five years more has been added to the 

 subject, both constructive and destructive, than during the inter- 

 val of a hundred years. The application of the theory of 

 probabilities to problems of evolution has resulted in new advances 

 in the former to meet the demands of the latter. Among these 

 results, especially significant is the monograph of Karl Pearson, 

 "On the Mathematical Theory of Errors of Judgment, with 

 Special References to the Personal Equation " (Phil. Trans., 1901, 

 pp. 237-299), which apparently overturns the larger part of the 

 current theory of errors of observation as expounded by Merri- 

 man and Airy. That such a revival of activity in this field is in 

 progress is perhaps in a measure indicated by the reappearances 

 of this earlier work. J. p. n. 



Knowledge Diary and Scientific Hand-book for 1003. Pp. 112. London. 

 1902. Issued in conjunction with "Knowledge" (Knowledge Office, 326 

 High Holborn). The varied scope of this volume will he seen from the fol- 

 lowing statement of its contents. It contains original descriptive articles on 

 the observation of comets and meteors ; how to use an equatorial telescope ; 

 the microscope and its uses : aids to field botany ; hints on meteorology ; 

 and monthly astronomical ephemeris. Also the paths of the principal 

 planets for the year, illustrated with charts ; astronomical notes and tables, 

 with an account of the celestial phenomena of the year ; and twelve star 

 maps showing the night sky for every month in the year, with full descrip- 

 tive account of the visible constellations and principal stars ; a calendar of 

 notable scientific events ; an obituary for the year. 



The publishers of Knowledge announce that in the future much more 

 attention will be devoted to microscopy. 



