poi Ne. 
FRIDAY, MAY 16, 1884. 
COMMENT AND CRITICISM. 
THOoseE interested in making out the connec- 
tion between the periods of recurrence of the 
solar spots and every kind of meteorological 
phenomena, crops, panics, and the like, will de- 
rive little that is comforting from the unusual 
spottedness of the sun’s surface of late. Just 
as astronomers may be said to have concluded 
that the sun-spots wax and wane according to 
some pretty regular period, the length of which 
appeared to be determined with a fair approach 
to the desired accuracy, the sun itself inter- 
rupts the continuity of their successful predic- 
tion by an abnormal lagging of the present 
maximum : for the epoch of this phenomenon, 
as inferred from the best interpretation of the 
records of the past, lies somewhere in the year 
1882, or the early part of the year following. 
In point of fact, there appears to be ground 
for doubting whether the true maximum may 
not, even now, be a thing of the future. 
Rather less of encouragement will those as- 
trological theorists of sun-spot periodicity re- 
ceive who stand stoutly for the notion that the 
increase and decline of the spots are trace- 
able to planetary position and influence, even 
if there were no other spot-phenomena, which 
this theory is powerless to explain. And the 
meteor-origin theorists are in almost equal dif- 
ficulty. On the other hand, the more plausible 
explanation of this periodicity — that the solar 
globe determines within itself, and independ- 
ently of all exterior perturbing action, the ex- 
tent and duration of the absence or prevalence 
of the spots on its surface — receives re-enforce- 
ment rather than otherwise from the present 
manifestations of spot-activity; for, on this 
theory, the periodicity is more likely to be 
irregular than the reverse. The new periods 
of short duration, discovered by Professor 
No. 67.— 1884. | 
Stewart, are likewise, on this same basis, ac- 
counted for most easily, and with greater accu- 
racy. The likelihood that solar energy, as 
displayed in spot-production, has been on the 
increase during the year 1883, and the cer- 
tainty that it has not largely waned since that 
time, render it very probable that we have 
not yet accumulated sufficient data for decid- 
ing with exactitude upon the true epoch of the 
present spot-maximum. 
D. H. Tarsor of Sioux City, Io., has 
addressed an open letter to the Hon. W. B. 
Allison to advocate the establishment of a zo0- 
logical preserve within the boundary of the 
Yellowstone Park, where bears and deer shall 
be enticed to breed and abide, defended by 
a guard from human encroachment. There 
is to be an honest, competent observer in 
charge, who is to make notes, which may ‘‘ be 
published in like manner as the reports of 
the Smithsonian institution.’’ Mr. Talbot’s 
scheme is vague; its opponents will call it 
visionary : nevertheless, we entirely agree with 
him as to the interest and value of reserving 
some territory where our large mammals may 
be secure from extirpation ; but we do not feel 
assured, that if, as Mr. Talbot proposes, three 
species of bears are to be brought within one 
comparatively small territory, together with 
some ten other animals, mostly deer, all the 
happy family will survive the intensified strug- 
gle for existence. Nevertheless, Mr. Talbot’s 
scheme is a valuable suggestion, which we 
trust will receive careful consideration from 
the proper authorities. 
SHORTLY after the announcement of the law 
of storms by Dove and Redfield, fifty years ago, 
mariners became familiar with the expressions 
‘dangerous’ and ‘ manageable semicircle,’ re- 
ferring to the sides of the storm-disk where the 
velocity of the winds was respectively re-en- 
