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the American astronomers. Moreover, upwards of 100 measurements of 
cusps were made at Nagasaki, besides many excellent observations of the 
meridian transit of the Sun and Venus. The French observations under 
Janssen were thus reported by the Astronomer-Royal, at the meeting of the 
Astronomical Society on December 11 : “ The weather at Nagasaki was 
magnificent; the transit observations in Japan were most successful. Obser- 
vations of the contacts were made b} r revolving photographs. That is what 
we call Janssen’s plan, and I suppose this report, though no name is sent, 
comes from Janssen himself: ‘ Fine telescopic images. No ligament. 
1 Venus seen over sun’s corona.’ That is a singular report, which we have 
not from any other station. It is what in our language we should call over 
the chromosphere, but I cannot say how much is included in the word 
i corona.’ ‘ Glass photographs and silver plates.’ I call attention to this be- 
cause the expression is rather obscure to many of the younger Fellows of the 
Society. Glass photographs are common ; but silver plates are only known 
to those who remember the original daguerreotypes, and it is apparently to 
them that reference is made; and it is important when we remember that in 
exactness there is no comparison between a glass plate and a daguerreotype, 
the latter being infinitely more accurate. The telegram continues: 
i Cloudy at intervals ; two members of our mission have made observations 
successfully at Robe.’ I cannot say what this news is ; it is one of the 
difficulties in which telegrams frequently leave us.” 
The admission relating to the superiority of daguerreotypes over glass 
photographs is noteworthy, as is pointed out in the excellent series of 
reports in the “Times” (by Mr. Lockyer, we believe), for the use of glass 
photographs by the British parties was specially sanctioned by the Astrono- 
mer-Royal. Success was also achieved at several other Russian Halleyan 
stations. At Roorkee, in North India, fine weather prevailed through- 
out;; and besides observations cf all the contacts, upwards of 100 photo- 
graphs were secured. 
The Southern Halleyan observations as yet reported are those made at 
Melbourne and Hobart Town. Professor Newcomb considers that the Ameri- 
can work at Hobart Town, combined with that accomplished by the Ame- 
rican parties at Wladiwostock and Nagasaki, will suffice to give the solar 
parallax within the fortieth part of a second of arc. 
As we write we hear news of the successful observation of the transit at 
Chefoo (or Tschifu), in North China, by the German astronomers sta- 
tioned there. As they have made good heliometric observations and 
secured good photographs, this is an important Halleyan success. 
Latest Intelligence, to Dec. 26. — We regret to have to announce the com- 
plete failure of the English party in New Zealand, almost nullifying the 
Egyptian success. The Americans in New Zealand secured the chord of 
transit by photographs, but missed egress. At the Sandwich Isles partial 
success was achieved by tw 7 o parties, Honolulu and Atooi, though the Jans- 
sen photographic method failed. Barnacle and Forbes, at Owhyhee, saw 
nothing. At Reunion the Dutch had only partial success. 
Solar Parallax from Observations of Flora . — Dr. Galle writes thu3 from 
Breslau to the Astronomer-Royal : “ As I availed myself of your kindness 
last year, in recommending that observations should be made of the planet 
