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An additional research is now being prosecuted at the Harvard College Observatory, with the object of determining the distribution of variable stars in various regions of the sky. The method is a photographic one, and consists of superposing negatives of a certain region on a contact print taken from a second negative of the same region, obtained at a different time. In the instances described, five negatives of each region were employed, four of which were compared with prints frOm the remaining one. The stars showing signs of change are marked, and on subsequent reduction, some of these may prove to be known variables, some to be new variables, some are stil- suspected of variability, and some may be due to photographic defects. F"om the number of actual new variables found by superposing plates of the same relgon, an estimate may then be made of the number stil- undiscovered. In the trials so far made the results appear so promising that it seems best to cover the whole sky by the method as soon as possible, and thus provide for determining the probable distribution, and later the work can be confirmed and extended by means of photo graphs with a larger instrument. As the result of this prel-minary count, it appears that the greater proportion of existing variables have been detected, and of those still undiscovered it is probable that al- are faint, Bone being estimated as brighter than the eighth magnitude, or having a range of variation of more than a' magnitude. The odor of plants is due to active constituents in the volatile essential oils, the proportion of which varies at different periods of the growth. In order.to study the formation and distribution of the essential oil MM. Charabot and Lalowe have made a series of determinations of the amounts present in different stages in different parts of the plant, taking absinthe (Artemisia absrynthiwm) as typlcal of an odor-forming plant. They find tit in the first stage, a long time before blossoming, the roots are free from essential oll, while the leaves contain about eleven times as much as the stalks. In the second stage, the beginning of blossoming, the roots become richer than the leaves in the oll- though al- the organs show a considerable increase, the proportion in the leaves, for instance, being about doubled. In the third stage, advanced blossoming, the accumulation of oll in the roots is more pronounced, but there is a cUminution in the stalks, leaves, and particulariy in the blossoms, showing that there is a consumption of odoriferous constituents in the process of fertilization. In a typlcal experiment the relative amounts yielded by the plant on July 10 and August 4 were 1,055 and 766 mil-i- grammes. Hence it is evident that for the practical purpose of extracting the scent from flowers it is advisable to prevent fertil-zation, or, better stil-, to extract the essential oil alt an eari-er period. In the fourth stage, when blossoming is over, the relative proportion of oll in the roots is greater, and there is also a si-ght increase in the proportion in the stalks. The small absolute increase in the amount of oil then yielded bj the whole plant is to be attributed to the appearance of new leaves. Among the most recent finds which have been made alt Carthage by Rev. P. Delattre are a number of sar- cophalg which present a great interest. In many of these the top cover is sculptured in rel-ef with a figure of 1-fe size, carved out of marble, and beautiful-y tinted in various colors. One very fine specimen was found in the necropol-s at a depth of twenty-five feet. On the cover is a figure of a woman executed in the Greek style, with a long garment reaching to the ankles and a vell covering the head. Great technical skili is shown in treating the different tissues. The flesh parts are wel- pol-shed, and the eyes are painted, gving a 1-fe-Iike aspect. The halr is glided. Inside the sarcophagus were found the remains of the person, with some broiwe objects. A second sarcophagus was that of a person supposed to be a priest. The sculptured figure has abundant halr and a curiing beard. It wears a long robe with short sieeve. Here also the eyes are painted, and are very expressive. Among the remains are a massive gold ring with a portrait similar to the above, aso three other gold rings, amulets, etc. ; One of the most recent finds was a sarcophagus with the sculptured figure of a woman wearing a long tunic of fine wool of a pinkish hue, with a gilded belt passing under the breast. The lower part of the body is enveloped in whet appears to be two great vultures' wings, according to the Ejgiptian style. The whole figure hears traces of painting and gilding. As to the remains,* they are imbedded in a resinous matter, as is often seen. M. Delattre examined.the specimens care- fuliy to observe the painting before they came up to cfoyl-ght; as the colors faded almost alt once, and he found the color and gliding to be quite bril-iant both on the flgures and on the moldings of the sarcophagi. These specimens form an important addition to the Carthage Museum.
