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will be found about 1° p y Cygni, a little n. I noted it 7 mag. 1865, Sept. 22, but subsequently ascertained that, in the Larger Star Maps of the S.D.U.K., there is a 5 mag. star not far from its position, though rather more n. Argelander places a 6 mag. (166 Bode) much nearer my place. Is there room for a suspicion of variable light? There is also a 7 mag. star, solitary as regards rivals, though with a delicate 11 mag. attendant, pointed at by a line drawn from the 9 mag. star in the group of e Lyra, through the southern of these two pairs, which shows a pale but evident carmine hue. It is registered as Bessel (Weisse) xviii. 1169.

An object of more signification than these is o' Cygni, the outlying member of the group oo, described as No. 58 of our list (INT. OBS., ii. 304). The second and third stars of this fine combination were each described as cærulea by Struve, as far back as 1835; with the addition that all the colours were insignes, remarkable. He then expressly states that the blue stars maintained their tint whether the strong yellow lucida was in the field or not, so as to exclude the idea of contrast. In 1838 Smyth gave the same hues, and noted the same proof of independent colour. But in 1850 I entered the colours, with a 3-inch achromatic, deep yellow, white, and blue; and in 1865 I found, with 5 inches, the 5 mag. star, "white, or very pale yellow, with a sort of eye of blue, but certainly not at all like 7" (the closer star) "which I found kept its colour when 4 was put out of the field. I had not at this time identified this as o Cygni, and was quite ignorant of my former observation upon it." June 27, 1867, my 9 inch "With" mirror showed them as strong orange, fine blue, and very pale yellow, or in Smyth's chromatic notation, O2, B, Y', the latter with a cast of blue, a strange but accurate description." The slight yellow tinge associated with reflection from these silver films would account for the deeper hue here ascribed to the great star; but not for the yellowish cast of the one in question, as fortunately it had been previously noticed with a very fine object-glass. It requires, however, to be noted by the way that those who possess these powerful instruments should look occasionally to the condition of the mirrors, especially the plane, or "flat," in such observations, as a slight degree of tarnish or cloudiness, such as may be expected to form from time to time, and may be readily and safely removed by gentle friction on a suitable rubber, would have a material influence on stellar hues. Were it not for the direct comparison with the unquestioned blue star at so short a distance, this might have been more lightly dismissed as a case of "chromatic personal equation;" but, under the circumstances, it seems to deserve more atten

tion, as inferring the probability of actual change; and those who are interested in this curious subject will find this group well worthy of study. My own impression has the strong confirmation of Knott, who, in July, 1865, noted D (the star in question)" white, with pale dash of blue. D is certainly not so blue as C."

While speaking of coloured light, it may not be uninteresting to note the comparative absence of any decided hue in the larger stars of the Pleiades, as contrasted with many other parts of the sky, for instance, the galaxy region of Sagitta, where most of the leading stars show yellow, or ruddy light.

This opportunity should be taken for a careful study of the colours of the beautiful double star a Piscium (INT. OBS., iii., 55), as to which there is a remarkable discrepancy among astronomers. I have never been able to satisfy myself as to their real character.

The possession of the beautifully-figured 9-inch “With " speculum, already alluded to, leads to the addition of the two following objects as tests for those who may be equally fortunate in optical means.

168. Cygni (Σ 2579), at the end of the p arm of the cross represented by the principal stars of that asterism. 18. 256. 3 and 9. Pale yellow and sea-green. Such were Smyth's data for this celebrated but very difficult binary, 1842 56, which I saw 2"-5 apart, 1783-72, but single 1802, 1804, as did H. and South 1823, and South 1825. Σ, however, found it 1"-91, 1826-55; Smyth 1"5, 1837-78; Dawes 1"-67, 1865-38; Knott 1"-7, 1866 68; while its orbital revolution has carried it through zero from the nf into the np quadrant, from 's 71°-39, 1783-72, by a regular gradation to Knott's 348°31, 1866-68-the "periastron" being considered to have occurred in 1860. This extremely difficult test I have seen so fairly with 450 in only a moderately favourable state of air, and at a comparatively low elevation, that it may be inferred to be easy under really advantageous circumstances; on the majority of nights it would, of course, be waste of time to look for it. The other object is

169. μ Andromeda; the 4th mag. star next np B, in the line pointing upwards to the Great Nebula. This has a companion at 45′′ and 115°, 16 mag., which is consequently as severe a test of light as the previous pair is of definition. It is so minute that Smyth saw it but once with his 5.9-inch object-glass, and when the larger star was hidden by a bar in the field.

This most delicate point I have caught up without much trouble, and that while, from a mistake as to the angle, I had so little expectation of seeing it where I found it, that I had

been diligently gazing at a spot 90° distant. It was but just steadily visible, but showed itself in the full presence of its blazing companion, so that it may be fairly inferred that this telescope reaches 17, at any rate, of the 20 magnitudes grasped by the 18-inch front view of H.'s metallic mirror. It may be mentioned that this speculum, which, however fine, can at any time be equalled, if not surpassed, by its truly successful maker, shows a black division, with 450, between the components of y Andromeda, and, with a low power, traces for a long distance both of the remarkable "canals," or rifts, in the Great Nebula in the same constellation (INT. OBS., iv. 347).

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While in this neighbourhood, we may look with a low power about fp, where we shall find a deep orange single star, and a pretty open pairs of it, all of about 7 magnitude.

CLUSTER AND NEBULE.

46.-4575 Gen. Cat. ( viii. 56) is a charming group of stars of various sizes, to be found 30 n of y Cygni, a little f. H. saw it 5' long, 3' broad, and counted forty stars, two 7.8 mag., the rest 11 mag. In another observation he speaks of stragglers 10-16 mag.

47.-218 Gen. Cat. This curiously-placed and readily found nebula is in the field with 8 Andromeda, a very strong yellow (Y) star; it lies at a short distance np, and is very easily seen in my reflector. H. calls it pretty bright, considerably large, gradually brighter in the middle.

A more singular object awaits us at no great distance, which we shall point out by the intersection of two straight lines, one drawn from y Andromeda, to y (the central star) in Cassiopea, the other from B Androm., to the glorious cluster in the Sword Hand of Perseus: near the point of their crossing are two 4 mag. stars, 20 apart; the further n of these is Persei, and 1° of this is the nebula we are going to

describe.

48.-385, 386 Gen. Cat. (M. 76). This is not a very conspicuous object with ordinary instruments, though it was "very bright" in 's reflectors; but its most remarkable feature is its double character, consisting evidently of two closely-connected lobes, and resembling a good deal the "Dumb-bell" in miniature, at least as that object was commonly figured before it came under more careful review. It has been examined by Huggins, with the following truly curious result:-"Both parts of this double nebula give a gaseous spectrum" (as is the case with the Dumb-bell nebula).

"The brightest only of the three lines usually present was certainly seen. The second line is probably also present. I suspected a faint continuous spectrum at the preceding edge of No. 386" (the ƒ nebula).

TRANSITS OF JUPITER'S SATELLITES.

Dec. 4th. II. shadow in transit, 6h. 2m. to 8h. 51m. II. egress, 6h. 15m.-7th. I. ingress, 7h. 54m.-9th. I. shadow egress, 6h.-11th. II. ingress, 6h. 4m., shadow ditto, 8h. 39m. -16th. I. shadow in transit, 5h. 37m. to 7h. 56m. 1. egress, 6h. 42m. IV. will be in transit while the planet is visible.-21st. III. shadow egress, 7h. 45m.-23rd. I. ingress, 6h. 21m., shadow, 7h. 33m.-28th. III. egress, 7h. 16m.29th. II. shadow egress, 6h. 1m.

OCCULTATIONS.

Dec. 8th. B.A.C. 830, 6 mag. 8h. 2m. to 8h. 10m.—9th. f Tauri, 4 mag. 3h. 18m. to 3h. 43m.-11th. 130 Tauri. 6 mag. 8h. 49m. to 9h. 24m.-13th. 5 Cancri, 6 mag. 11h, 29m. to 12h. 31m.-28th. B.A.C. 7097, 6 mag. 3h. 49m. to 4h. 49m.

TERMITES, OR WHITE ANTS, IN INDIA.

BY CAPT. R. C. BEAVAN, C.M.Z.S.

In a tropical climate like that of India, it is well known what numbers of destructive creatures, of all sorts and kinds, are rapidly generated in the warmth, and prove, more especially to the naturalist, a source of the greatest trouble and annoyance. Amongst the worst of these may perhaps be classed the Termites, or White Ants; and I propose to give a short account of what seems to be a beneficent provision of nature in the process by which at times they are nearly annihilated. Working in the dark as they do, and always hidden under cover, for they invariably form an exterior tunnel of mud under which to operate when they find it necessary to cross some hard substance that they cannot penetrate (such as iron, or the brick walls of one's house), it is not easy to imagine how they can possibly

be got at or destroyed by their natural enemies; nor, indeed, could they, were it not for the fact that, at a certain stage of existence, the majority of them are obliged to leave their secure underground retreats, and to take to the winged state. It is generally of a dry, calm evening,* frequently after rain, that from various crevices in the walls or stone flooring of the verandah myriads of unwinged white ants are seen to issue, as if forming both the escort and advanced guard of the grand army which, provided with wings, are about to follow. The toads, Bufo melanostictus, and frogs (Sp. incog. nobis) are on the look out for the former, and immediately congregate near the spot. Again and again is the tongue darted out, at every sweep clearing off several; and there they will stay and continue to feed, until their bloated appearance proclaims that they are full to repletion; when, suddenly, out come the winged host, which, rising with fluttering wings into the air, are met by birds and bats innumerable, and few escape. On the occasion referred to, we noticed the following birds of some twelve different species making sad havoc amongst the winged white ants which were rising from our verandah. Usually rather wild, on this occasion they were perfectly fearless and tame; and the perpetual snap-snap of their beaks whilst hovering in mid-air, and the sudden disappearance of every white ant that rose beyond a certain height from the ground, was a curious sight to see. The birds observed on this occasion were:-1st, the black-headed oriole, Oriolus melanocephalus; 2nd, the common king crow, Dicrurus macrocercus; 3rd, the tree-pie, Dendrocita rufa; 4th, the magpie robin, Copsicus santaris; 5th, actually a small owl not usually diurnal in its habits, Athene Brahma; 6th, the common babbler (or "seven brothers" of the natives, because they generally associate in that number), the Malacocircus terricolor of naturalists; 7th, the scarlet-vented bulbul, Pycnonotus pygœus; 8th, the common grey-necked crow, or jackdaw of India, Corvus splendens; and we think we also observed the green bee-eater, Merops viridis; whilst higher up in the air might be seen the common pariah kite, Milvus govinda, and the Brahmin kite, Haliastur Indus, swooping down on those unfortunates which escaped the birds at lower elevations. In addition to these may be mentioned the common Indian swift, Cypselus affinis, and, in fact, all birds which feed on insects would, we imagine, readily do the same. As it gets dark, the ants increase in number, and the birds, already filled to repletion, gradually go off to their roosting-places, and it seems as if they (the ants) were going to escape after all. But just at this moment another more terrible enemy makes The following notes were made at Barrackpore, on the 8th November, 1864.

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