VkBrnAar ST, IBBS.]
��167
��cue all the gpecimeos illuslraling a eitigle species upon > tepftnite block. A slaiidanl size of block is adopted for what may be termed Ihc 'unit block.' The size of this block will depend on the size of the dtswen la the cabinet- Other blocks which are mulliplea of this eize are also used. The blocks are nutde of soft non-resinous wood, buswood, or cuciim- ber-tree. They are cut from well-seasoned boards Uiree-elshtha of an inch in thickness. I do not find it nvctmrj to fasten the larger blocks in place In mny wajr. beyond keeping the full number of blocks in each box. In each end of each block there Is a groove (see figure). Small bard-wood strips are
��^^M Ti
��made to fit Into tliese grooves. In cose of the larger blocks, these Btrin* tend to prevent warping. The narrower blocks, such as would be used to mount a single row of small beetles, are Casleneil together by means of three strips Into groups of three or four. Each of these groups are as stable as a single large block. When the blocks are in place in a drawer, the Btrlpi are entirely concealed. As the blocks can
■ ^jjjj ncircularsaw, and Ihe grooves and strips
in the same way, they are not necessarily ex- laive. J. Henry Comstock.
��K
��TOO MANY NAUriCAl ALMANACS.
Aboctt the most diatinguiahing Tentiire which
cbaract^rizcs the oxertioiis of men at the preS'
ent time is that of co-operntion. Not only do
men act in conjunction with others al home in
li n ill g desirable and similar ends, bitt there
growing lo be more and more a union of
irposc for the attainment of sncti ends
throughout the entire civilized world ; and this
has already assttmed proportions never before
known in hnman history- It is amply illua-
ited in the numerous international conven-
I, Kssouiations. and congresses, only a few
irs ago quite imknown, or in embryonic ex-
ialence only in a few scientiltc heads too wise
to propound such things l>efore the eligible
moment.
Now, all this is the beat sort of evidence of the world's general scientific growth; for the principle of conjoined and united endeavor is based on the broadest science. If. tiien, the work in any science, or of any body of scien- tific men, should be more entitled than another nd more willing to accept, tlie
��advantages accruing from co-ordination of effort, it would seem that the exact sciences should have the preference. The resolutions of the International prime meridian confer- ence, held at Washington last autumn, are now familiar to all. The action of the astronomer royal of England, the firat of January, lS8.i, in regulating the time-keepers of the observa- tory in accordance with these resolutions, may be expected lo necessitate further changes in the details of observatory work, and the pub- lication of observations, as also modtScations in the printing of nautical almanacs and astro- nomical ephemerides, or a different understand- ing of them as now printed-
All these matters ought to be ileflnitely settled at no late day ; and, as a large number of governmeuts are interested therein, their representatives should convene in a eongreaa for mutual agrccmeul on the details of the modifications to be made. Such a congress might also deliberate ujKin the .-ulvisability of adopting certain suggested improvements of the Gregorian calendar at the end of the pres- ent century. Such power should he granted, that the deliberations of the congress might determine, as well ns recommend.
Whatever may be said of the national obser- vatories, we are not sure that the delibera- tions of such a congress, if eonducled on the broadest ground, would not lead to n resolu- tion recommending the discontinuance of two or three of the nautical almanacs now pub- lished. In so far as the uses of the navigator are concerned, all nations will now e.tpcrience the need of a nautical almanac for their several meridians, much the same as all patent-medi- cine firms and pill-venders feel the need of an almanac and calendar for the conservation of individual interests: it saves themselves and their patrons the indignity of referring to somebody's else almanac, and advertises the fact that they are enterprising enough to have one.
Uowbeit, whether or not heroic measures of this sort are advisable, — resulting in a saving to astronomical sciouce of fi-om seventy-five thousand lo a hundred thousand dollars n year.
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