Page:Science vol. 5.djvu/70

 [Vol.. v., NO. JOB.

��oE llieie offices U a clock which is L'orre^^ted daily, at noon of standard time, by meana uf an automatic Btlachment (the invention of Ur. W. F. Gardner, the inatmnient-malter of the ohservaloryj, actuated by tUe Cttrrent which mattes the signal for dropping the lime-ball at thfi observatory, and on the Western tmion tclegrapli company's building in New York.

In the publicalion of lU annual volumes, the ob- ■ervntory has been much embarrassed, owing to the limited amount of the printing-fund of the depart- ment. The volume for 1880, which it was e^ipected would be ready by the 1st of January, was not received until October; and the computations, even with the small working force available, have been carried much beyond the printing.

In regard to the proposed new observatory, the superintendent says, —

" I DWinat too orncillf urgv upon Ibc bunmo Ihe npouilty at eommenclnE the balldingi for Itau n«w otaiitvuotr. The ground baviDff htea puichtucd. and the plaoA mode and ApprovB^, Lhtrc seenii to be no good KaMto vLiy the eoDHlruation abtnrld not b«gln. Tbe pretenc tUf li nolanouily DnhenMiy, mid the bttlldlngi ■» dlldpldBtei"

��bering thre

��lof CI

��balldli

��•X the coti •c ukiid

��D ordir

��JH It In conumplatioii lUbllihoienl In pirtinulu li. I reipeolfully rcquett ro^rLih-d for Lbu ptirpuAi

��delayed. m»j be begoii

An estimate of S586,133 la submitted for erecting the uecessary buildings.

An appendix contains a report by Professor William Uarknesa, showing the progress made in the redac- tion of the transit of Yenus observationa. The photographic negatives (over Bfteen hundred) have all lieen measured, and very considerable progress has been mails in the compulations necessary for the reduction of these measurements. An extended ItiveBtigation Is now being made of the focal lengths of the photographic objectives, and the radii of cur- vature of the helioBlat nijrrors.

��Thk author nt the report before ns is well known in ffew-England araheological circles, having won for himself a fair name through the publication of three essays, — on the art of war and mode of warfare, the distribution and tenure of land, and the social organ- ixation and mode of government, in ancient Mexico. In consequence of these scholarly discussions, the archeologlcal institute, in 1880, coramisaioned Mr. Bantlelier to investigate the conditloii of the sedeu- lary Indians of New Mexico, and In 1831 a second e commissioned him to carry out an archeotogic exploring-tour through Mexico proper. The report under consideration, profusely illustrated, and num-

���I hundred and t»enty-5i» pages, gives a of the results of Mr. Bandeller's studi- ous researches on his second expedition.

The account. It seems to us, has assumed rather the form of a scientific narrative than that of an official report made to a committee. The author was able to draw upon an immense stock of preparatory atudiea; and, accustomed to look at ancient Mexico through the spectacles of the chroniclers, the objects that strike hla eye at each step on the classic soil remind him of some passage read, the true meaning of which he now strifes to detect, with the help of ocular inspection and learned reasoning. Thus, also, the grandeur of the surrounding scenery invites him give UB data of hypsometry and meteorology, of vege- tation and interesting culture- plants. He compares statistics of old with those of the present time, and cautiously avoids entering into controversy with the theories urged by other scholars or non-scholars to solve the origin of the mysterious temple and palace builders of Mexico. To be brief, by a very adroit In- lerspersion into his text of nicely presented scientific cnuserjes, Mr. Bandellcr, it appears to us, may have secured for himself a larger number of readers than If he had chosen to offer a compact and matter-oE- faet report.

The text Is divided into four chapters. In the first chapt«rthe author, reposing on a atearacr'a deck, calls us to his side, and, pointing toward the vaat main, allows us to partake of the rich slock of his reminis- cences. He tells us of the legends hovering around the ancient province of Huaateca, lis forest-buried cities, the colossal structures of Papantla and Ui- santla, and deplores the fact that a thorough explora- tion of these hitherto but vaguely described ruins is bcyrind Ihe limits of his mission. On bis road from Vera Crnz to the capital, he engages in discussions on the itapet once taken by Mexico's first conqueror, the natural and artificial obstructions that Cortex met with, and the allies he was ao fortunate as to secure in the ludians of Tloscala. After Mr. Bandeiier'sar- rival in the capital, he very judiciously sets forth to acquaint himself with the best authorities in Mexican archeology. He takes their advice and suggestions, carefully examines the objects of antiquity preserved in the museum, and collects valuable data on the former expanse and limits of the renowned lagoons, and the modern efforts made for their regulation and draining (pp. 49-78). In the third chapter, Mr. Baude- lier's independent and main work is given. It bears testimony to the mo.it thorough exploration ever made of the often -deacri bed pyramid of Choiula, its struc- ture, appendages, and surroundings. No hewn stone, no sculpture, no masonry or mound, remains unexam- ined; and no bint picked up from ancient reports, if serving bis purposes of reconstruction, is slighted, but dexterously employeil to give fuller shape and brighter color to the picture we are wont to form of the once stately and now decaying fabric. He suc- ceeds, finally, In showing that in former times the giant pyramid illd not stand isolated, but east and west of it were two companions, considerably small- er, however, and of the well-known teocalll-sliape,

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