February 27, 1885.] 



SCIENCE. 



167 



case all the specimens illustrating a single species 

 upon a separate block. A standard size of block is 

 adopted for what may be termed the 'unit block.' 

 The size of this block will depend on the size of the 

 drawers in the cabinet. Other blocks which are 

 multiples of this size are also used. The blocks are 

 made of soft non-resinous wood, basswood, or cucum- 

 ber-tree. They are cut from well-seasoned boards 

 three-eighths of an inch in thickness. I do not find 

 it necessary to fasten the larger blocks in place in 

 any way, beyond keeping the full number of blocks 

 in each box. In each end of each block there is a 

 groove (see figure). Small hard- wood strips are 



made to fit into these grooves. In case of the larger 

 blocks, these strips tend to prevent warping. The 

 narrower blocks, such as would be used to mount a 

 single row of small beetles, are fastened together by 

 means of these strips into groups of three or four. 

 Each of these groups are as stable as a single large 

 block. When the blocks are in place in a drawer, 

 the strips are entirely concealed. As the blocks can 

 be cut with a circular saw, and the grooves and strips 

 made in the same way, they are not necessarily ex- 

 pensive. J. Henry Comstock. 



TOO MANY NAUTICAL ALMANACS. 



About the most distinguishing feature which 

 characterizes the exertions of men at the pres- 

 ent time is that of co-operation. Not only do 

 men act in conjunction with others at home in 

 attaining desirable and similar ends, but there 

 is growing to be more and more a union of 

 purpose for the attainment of such ends 

 throughout the entire ^civilized world ; and this 

 has already assumed proportions never before 

 known in human history. It is amply illus- 

 trated in the numerous international conven- 

 tions, associations, and congresses, only a few 

 years ago quite unknown, or in embryonic ex- 

 istence only in a few scientific heads too wise 

 to propound such things before the eligible 

 moment. 



Now, all this is the best sort of evidence of 

 the world's general scientific growth ; for the 

 principle of conjoined and united endeavor is 

 based on the broadest science. If, then, the 

 work in any science, or of any body of scien- 

 tific men, should be more entitled than another 

 to receive, and more willing to accept, the 



advantages accruing from co-ordination of 

 effort, it would seem that the exact sciences 

 should have the preference. The resolutions 

 of the International prime meridian confer- 

 ence, held at Washington last autumn, are now 

 familiar to all. The action of the astronomer 

 royal of England, the first of January, 1885, 

 in regulating the time-keepers of the observa- 

 tory in accordance with these resolutions, may 

 be expected to necessitate further changes in 

 the details of observatory work, and the pub- 

 lication of observations, as also modifications 

 in the printing of nautical almanacs and astro- 

 nomical ephemerides, or a different understand- 

 ing of them as now printed. 



All these matters ought to be definitely- 

 settled at no late day ; and, as a large number 

 of governments are interested therein, their 

 representatives should convene in a congress 

 for mutual agreement on the details of the 

 modifications to be made. Such a congress 

 might also deliberate upon the advisability of 

 adopting certain suggested improvements of 

 the Gregorian calendar at the end of the pres- 

 ent century. Such power should be granted, 

 that the deliberations of the congress might 

 determine, as well as recommend. 



Whatever may be said of the national obser- 

 vatories, we are not sure that the delibera- 

 tions of such a congress, if conducted on the 

 broadest ground, would not lead to a resolu- 

 tion recommending the discontinuance of two 

 or three of the nautical almanacs now pub- 

 lished. In so far as the uses of the navigator 

 are concerned, all nations will now experience 

 the need of a nautical almanac for their several 

 meridians, much the same as all patent-medi- 

 cine firms and pill-venders feel the need of an 

 almanac and calendar for the conservation of 

 individual interests : it saves themselves and 

 their patrons the indignity of referring to 

 somebody's else almanac, and advertises the 

 fact that they are enterprising enough to have 

 one. 



Howbeit, whether or not heroic measures of 

 this sort are advisable, — resulting in a saving 

 to astronomical science of from seventy-five 

 thousand to a hundred thousand dollars a Year. 



