184 The American Naturalist. [February, 
lengthwise through the car to a water monometer. The monometer has 
a tube with a rise of 4 or 5 in 400, and is provided with a pivotal mount- 
ing and a level. 
The pressure near the train is comparatively small, and increases as 
the collector is thrust further out. It approaches a limit corresponding 
to the train velocity at the instant. Professor Nipher finds the relation 
between the limiting pressure and velocity to agree exactly with the 
formula P= vy’, where v is the train velocity in centimeters per second, 
P is the pressure in dynes to the square centimeter, and S is the density 
of air in C. G. units at the temperature and pressure of the observations. 
He finds the pressure a maximum when the axis of the collector is 
parallel to the direction of motion with the mouth to the wind. Turn- 
ing the collector until the axis makes an angle of about 80° with this 
position, the pressure reduces to zero. At greater angles the pressure 
becomes less than atmospheric pressure by an amount which reaches & 
maximum at the angle of 90°, and passes through a minimum at an 
angle of 80°, when the collector is in a trailing position. The sum of — 
the coefficients for the two positions of maximum compression and mini- 
mum exhaust is almost exactly the same as Langley obtained with a 
pressure board when exposed normally to the wind. 
The result shows that a large amount of air is dragged along with the 
train, the motion being communicated to air many feet away. This air 
is a source of danger to one standing too near the train when at full 
speed. One is likely to be toppled over, and the blow of the air com- - 
municates a motion of rotation, which may cause one to roll under the 
train if the nature of the ground does not prevent such a result. It was 
remarked, however, that where trains have a right to run at any speed: 
no prudent person would stand so near to a train as is necessary in 
order to be in danger from this source. 
The following officers were declared elected for the year 1897 : Presi- 
dent, M. L. Gray; First Vice-President, E. A. Englar; Second Vice- 
President, Charles R. Sanger ; Recording Secretary, William Trealease ; 
Corresponding Secretary, F. C. Runge; Treasurer, Enno Sander ; Li- 
brarian, G. Hambach ; Curators, Julius Hurter, J. H. Kinealy, E. Evers; 
Directors, M. H. Post, Joseph Grindon. 
One person was elected to active membership—Wii1am TREA- 
LEASE, Recording Secretary. 
Nebraska Academy of Sciences.—The Seventh Annual Meet- 
ing was held at Lincoln, December 29, 1896, with the following pt 
gram: 
