428 



SCIENCE. 



[Vol. VI., No. 145. 



The November meteors. — The regular Novem- 

 ber meteors or Leonids, moving in the orbit of 

 Temple's comet (1866 I), are due between the 12th 

 and 15th of the month, probably reaching a maxi- 

 mum display on the night of the 13th. The 

 investigations of Prof. Kirkwood seem to indicate 

 the existence of three separate clusters moving in 

 this orbit, and there is a possibihty of the earth 

 intersecting a portion of one of the clusters the 

 present year. Mr. Denning has pointed out that 

 toward the end of the month circumstances ap- 

 pear to be extremely favorable for a recurrence of 

 the Andromeda meteors (see Science, vi. 279). 



Lick observatory. — In a letter to the Sidereal 

 messenger, dated Oct. 20, Professor Holden ex- 

 presses his thanks to the many astronomers and 

 societies that have generously contributed to the 

 library of the Washburn observatory, and he 

 bespeaks a similar generosity for the Lick obser- 

 vatory, of which he is about to take charge. He 

 requests that parcels intended for the observatory 

 be addressed to the Library of the Lick observatory, 

 San Jose, Santa Clara county, California, while 

 such as are intended for himself personally be 

 directed to Berkeley, California. Professor Hol- 

 den says, " Real astronomical work at the Lick 

 observatory will begin as soon as possible. Under 

 the provisions of the trust, no salaries can be paid 

 to observers until after the completion of the 

 observatory ; and tliis date depends upon the time 

 at which the large telescope is finished by the firm 

 of A. Clark & Sons. Every tlung else is practi- 

 cally complete. I have hopes that some arrange- 

 ment may be made by which the meridian circle 

 and the 12-inch Clark refractor may soon be put 

 to use." If the immediate inauguration of sys- 

 tematic observations at this observatory is con- 

 tingent merely upon obtaining a fund sufficient to 

 employ assistants during the two years, more or 

 less, which must elapse before the permanent 

 funds are available, we sincerely hope that the 

 well-known liberality of Cahfornia will come to 

 Professor Holden's aid in advancuig the interests 

 of her magnificent gift to science. 



NOTES AND NEWS. 



The Scientific American of October 31 contains 

 an article by John C. Goodridge, jun., entitled 

 ' Can the temperature of the Atlantic states be 

 changed ? ' It is neatly illustrated by two charts, 

 and presents a dangerously entertaining, one-sided 

 statement that wiU doubtless be pleasant reading 

 to the uninformed. The error that vitiates the 

 whole argument is the imphcation that the low 

 mean temperature of our Atlantic states depends 

 on their being next to the Labrador current that 



brings cold water down the coast, and shoves the 

 Gulf stream out to sea. To remedy this defect, 

 it is proposed to dam up the Straits of BeUe Isle, 

 as if aU the cold water came through that narrow 

 passage, and none reached us from the east coast 

 of Newfoundland ! But even if we grant this, and 

 build the dam, our winters would still be cold, for 

 then- low temperature depends on the winds from 

 the great north-western interior, and not on the 

 chill of the Atlantic waters. 



— A circular has lately been issued by the 

 University of Michigan, descriptive of a scheme 

 of undergraduate geological study, leading to the 

 degree of bachelor of science after four years' 

 work. The subjects belonging strictly to geology 

 are taught by Professors Winchell, Pettee, and 

 Cheever, and embrace general geology and paleon- 

 tology, mineralogy and lithology, economic geol- 

 ogy and metallurgy. Besides these, the cur- 

 riculum includes a certain amount of mathematics, 

 chemistry, physics, French, German, and drawing, 

 and allows moderate excursions among elective 

 studies. Field-work has no special time allotted 

 in the course, although it is noted that students 

 ' will incidentally acquire skill ' in it. This, and 

 the omission of surveying as a required study, 

 seem to us as defects in the plan ; the amount of 

 French and German also seems to fall short of 

 that needed to give an effective use of these 

 essential languages ; but, as a whole, the course 

 must give a good knowledge of theoretical and 

 practical geology to the inquiring student. 



— The Appalachian mountain club announces 

 that a room of moderate size, suitable to the purposes 

 of the club, has been rented in the Ticknor man- 

 sion, on Park Street, Boston, possession to be 

 given about November 15. The club is not yet in 

 condition to employ a paid librarian or attendant, 

 but it is expected that by unpaid attendance the 

 room can be open to all club members, without 

 charge, during the afternoon hours of several days 

 in the week, and perhaps, if a sufficient volunteer 

 force can be organized, every afternoon. It is 

 confidently believed that when the books, maps, 

 and photographs of the club are brought together, 

 and made for the first time accessible, the room 

 will prove a very attractive resort to members, 

 and that the plan may be even so successful as to 

 warrant, within a few years, a removal to larger 

 quarters in the same attractive building. 



— A meeting of the local committee to arrange 

 for the coming session in Washington, of the 

 American public health association, was held Nov. 

 3. The committee on transportation reported 

 that a uniform reduction of rates had been secured 

 for members on the railroads all over the country. 



