CHRONICLES OF SCIENCE, With Proceedings of Learned Societies at Home and Abroad, and Notices of Recent Scientific Literature. 1. AGRICULTURE 2. ARCHEOLOGY (PRE-HISTORIC) PAGE 3. ASTRONOMY (including the Proceedings of the Royal Astro 6. ENGINEERING-CIVIL AND MECHANICAL 7. GEOLOGY AND PALEONTOLOGY (including the Proceedings of the Geological Society and Notices of Recent Geological Works) 517 524 528 532 537 THIS number of the Quarterly Journal of Science brings to a close a series which has for seven years been conducted under one management, and as the periodical now passes out of the hands of its present Editor, he craves permission to say a few words concerning his stewardship. Of the status which the Journal has acquired, it will be the most becoming to say but little. The list of publications regularly acknowledged in each number as having been received from authors and learned societies in all quarters of the civilized world, sufficiently indicates that it has found readers in every clime and nationality, whilst the best criterion of its scientific value is its list of contributors. Amongst those who have from time to time communicated to its pages the fruits of their labours or the result of their reflections are the well-known names of ANSTED, CARPENTER, CROOKES, DAUBENY, FAIRBAIRN, FRANKLAND, GEIKIE, GLADSTONE, HERSCHEL the Elder, HUGGINS, HULL, HUNT, LACAZE DUTHIERS, The LANKESTERS (father and son), Mallet, ChalMERS MORTON, NASMYTH, ODLING, PENGELLY, PHILLIPS, RAMSAY, ROLLESTON, SCOTT RUSSELL, SCLATER, ANGUS SMITH, SORBY, BALFOUR STEWART, WILLIAM Turner, Alfred WALLACE, and others hardly second to those in reputation. Some of the foregoing, along with other earnest, sound, scientific writers, have from quarter to quarter chronicled the progress of scientific discovery, each in his particular branch, and only once or twice during seven years does the Editor recollect having received a remonstrance for unfair criticism. But the experience acquired during the past history of the Journal clearly points to the necessity for a change in its management. The names of CHURCHILL and LONGMAN are sufficient guarantees that all has been done that was possible to make the Journal a permanent contribution to our scientific literature. One defect, however, has been the absence of its Editor from the centre of English intelligence, and that will be henceforward removed. In the interests of science only, the present Proprietors and Editor have transferred the property and management of the Journal to a gentleman whose name has been conspicuous on its title-page from its commencement. MR. WILLIAM CROOKES, F.R.S., Editor of the 'Chemical News,' of 3, Horse-shoe Court, Ludgate Hill, will henceforward be the sole Proprietor and Editor of the QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF SCIENCE.' He is a valued friend of the present Editor, who will continue to give him his cordial and earnest support, and who now solicits for his successor the same kind consideration as he has himself received from his collaborateurs and from the readers of the Journal. THE EDITOR. THE QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF SCIENCE. OCTOBER, 1870. I. THE ECLIPSE OF AUGUST 7, 1869.-" ANVIL" PROTUBERANCE. By W. S. GILMAN, jun., New York. THOSE who observed the solar eclipse of last August with a sizeable telescope will not soon forget the startling effect produced by the appearance of the large oval protuberance on the western limb of the moon. We were unusually favoured as to atmosphere at our station near Sioux City, Iowa, and when in addition to this it is stated that our observations were made by the aid of a 4-inch refractor-one of Mr. Alvan Clark's best-it will not seem strange that the details about to be recorded were so readily obtained. The "anvil" protuberance, for such the object is recorded in my notes, was seen by one of our party several moments prior to the totality. Several months' study of the sun's surface had prepared me to expect the more remarkable protuberances in the southern hemisphere, and having selected the south-western quadrant as an especially favourable locality, from the presence of faculous ridges near the limb two days prior to the eclipse, the bright "anvil"shaped mass instantly attracted my attention. Its extraordinary brilliancy enabled me afterwards to keep it in view when a considerable crescent of the reappearing sun had rendered the corona invisible. A hasty glance at other portions of the moon's limb satisfied me that the "anvil" protuberance possessed greater interest than any other, and I therefore devoted my whole time to its consideration, except so much as was employed in obtaining several outline sketches of the corona. In a forecast of the probable positions of protuberances, which I made on August 5 (see Fig. 1), the double prominence at A occupies very nearly the position of the object under discussion. In Fig. 2 we have the appearance of the sun's disc on the same day, and near that part of the limb subsequently occupied by the "anvil," we notice a cluster of bright faculous spots. It was the VOL. VII. 2 H |