[Vol, T.. Wo. im.
��bel are in cavo-relievo. aimilar to many of the AMifrUii sculptures. M<i8t. oC Lbese carvings repre- •ent nacriSce and adoration. Dr. Hsbel (Mnsldera that they represeril a period of culture when Iha people were passing from Ihe wonhlp of llie sun and other heavenlj bodies to that of man, or the begin- ning of anthropomorpliiam. One of tbe^ mono- litliR. which U a stone twelve feet high, three feet wide, ami two feet thick, is reproduced In the accoui' paoyiiit; figure. It ia supposed to represent a priest offering the sacrifice of a human being. He holds the bead In hia left hand, and in his right is the knife with which be bu severed the head from the boily upon which he stands. At the tower part of the stone two attendant figures are representcit, each currying a human head. One of these stualler flgures has a skull for a head, and 1b supposed to symbolize death. This llgure also occurs on other of these carved stones. The elaborate ornamentation of the naked body of the priest Is cbaracterlsEic of all the Qgnre> given by Habel. In this instance the head- drtis Is in the form of a crab, and the hair Is arranged In It S'-rt of queue, with many decorations appended. The ear has a small linglnthelobe, from which hangs a larger ring. Around the neck la a cord and tassel, and abnut the waist is an elaborate girdle having at Ibf back the head of an aulmal. Just below the right knee there Is a garter. This occurs on all sim- ilar figures, The left foot is protected by a sandal. In suuie of the other figures both feet bave sandals, and in one both are naked, The curved figures above the right hand of the priest, and below Ihe bo'ly of the victim, arc supposed to represent »peecb, as they occur with various modlQcaLlous In several other earrings. In connection with these singular Central- American works of art, it is of Interest to recall the carved shells found in mounds In the United States, and recently figured by Mr. Holmes in the report of the Bureau of ethnology, as the ex- pressiiin uf ideas in a similar manner suggests a cum- mon origin.
TtlE PROPOSED CHANCE IN THE ASTRONOMICAL DAY.
Two emloent astronomers have recently given their views on the proposed change of the astronom- ical day, and both are Inclined to favor the change. This discussion, which Is ot particular interest to aitroncimers, Is on the sixth resolution of the Prime- meridian conference of Wasbingti>n, — " that the con- ference expresses the hope, that, as soon as may be practicable, the astronomical and nauileal days will be arranged everywhere to begin at mean inldnlgbL" The present custom, as we know, Is for the nstrono- mpr to begin his day at noon of the civil day; and we are glad to find given at some length the opinions of ■ucli authorities as Struve and Oppolxer.
Professor Struve, director of the Pulkowa obser- vatory, in a pamphlet ' of iwenty'Sevcn pages, gives a very interesting account of the causes which led to
��' IMck
��n, IBU. r, p.
��m.
��tbe international conference, and the results which it reached. In regard to the change in the beginning of the astronomical day, he thinks that the question before astronomers Is not only of giving up a long- established custom, with consequent changes of rules of many years' standing, but It also involves a serlooa interruption of astronomical chronoli^y. Witboat a doubt, the astronomer would bave to make a de- cided sacrifice in conforming to the with of the con- ference; but, after alt, this sacrifice is no greater than our forefathers made when they changed from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar, — a sacrifice to convenience of which we are still made aensibia whenever we liave occasion to go back to early obser- vations.
We need have little hesitation in making a slmilw sacrifice, If It will prevent discordance between ibe civil and scientific custom of reckoning time, partic- ularly troublesome where astronomical estabUsb- ments come in contact with the outer world.
Professor Struve states that the Pulkowa observa^ l^ry is prepared to adopt the new time, Ibe only question being as to the epoch when the changt sbnuld be Introduced in the publications of the ob- servatory. He is inclined to recommend that this should be deferred until some agreetoent can bo reached by astronomers, anil until the new time la adopted In the Epbemerldei. This might be for tha year ISiK), or perhaps, better stIU, at the beginning ot the next century.
Professor Oppolxer has contributed a paper on the proposed change of Ibe astronomical day to tho Uarch number of the MantMy nUlces of the ttoyol a»(ronoin(cu! society (vol. xlv. pp. 206-21*8). Ho says, "When once such a universal time is intro- duced for all purposes, it Is quite natural that the question must arise, If lliere is indeed so great • ne- cessity to retain In astronomy, and only in astronomf, a different reckoning of time. 1 fail to see this necea- »\lj, and 1 do not think that It would cause an; serious trouble or confusion if a change were to be made in our astronomical reckoning; whilst a special mode of reckoning time in one science only, when tSl others use Ihe generally adopted standard, wltl, wiUi- out doubt, be a source of error and confusion." Ha then takes up In some detail the objections urged against the proposed change by Professor Newcomb in a previous coramtmicaliun to the same publica- tion (vol. xlv. pp. 122, 12-^), and be discusses Iha changes which would be necessary in the Ephente- rldes. Professor Oppolzer proposes to give practical efifect to bis views bj adopting the new reckoning oC time in an extensive list of eight thousand solar, and fifty-two hundred lunar, eclipses which he is now preparing for publication.
It Is dlfBcult to see bow this matter will fioaUf tie decided. It is evidently a quetlion for ^truoo- mers to settle among themselves; tut so far thef seem to bo very evenly divided. For insli of some twelllyaeven astronomers whose oplniuoSi,] more or less decided, bave been accessible for ft( count, thirteen seem inclined to favor the proposed, change, while fuuneen are opposed to it. Andamonc.
��I
�� �
