STARS AND BIRDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 139, 14 June 1934, Page 9

STARS AND BIRDS.

SCIENTIFIC STUDY. ASTRONOMICAL ADVANCES. THREE KINGS EXPEDITION. The light and shade of variety in scientific study imparted additional interest to the two lectures which, under the auspices of the Auckland Institute and Museum, were delivered last night in the science nail of the Auckland University. Recent advances in astronomy were traversed by Mr. E. G. Jones, and some of the results of the recent scientific expedition to the Three Kings Islands were described by Messrs. R. A. Falla and A. W. B. Powell, whose remarks were illustrated by lantern slides, followed by a lilm taken by Dr. W. A. Fuirclougli. There was a large attendance, and Mr. A. T. Pycroft presided. Many of the landmarks in the great progression of astronomical science and its researches were reviewed by Mr. Jones, who placed as the most outstanding event of recent years the discovery in I'XW of the new planet Pluto, arising out of tho intensive investigation of, and the application of advances in photography to the hitherto unexplained irregularities in the orbit of the planets Neptune and Uranus. Although the mass and volume and other details of the new heavenly body had yet to be determined fully, it had been ascertained that the planet was ;5 J (>6ii,OOO,OOO miles distant from the sun, that its size was about that of Mars —half the size of the earth —and that it went round the win in 247 years. Actually hundreds of minor planets were being discovered at the rate of three a week. Life on Mars? Mars was the one planet which had tho possibility of supporting life, although there was no definite evidence of the existence of life there. It had been suspected that the atmosphere contained water vapour and oxygen, both of which were essential to life, and the spectroscopic observations had given further information as to the temperature of the surface of Mare, which was supposedly a shade ever the freezing point of water, or about the same temperature as rules at the peak of Mount Eginont. The continual observation of the sun was described by the lecturer, who explained that astronomers wore now learning more about the 6-urroundings of the sun, particularly the corona (the luminous glow) which, through ordinary apparatus could be photographed without waiting for an eclipse. Mr. Jones referred to observations which had been made into the source of the sun's energy, and dealt also with the mechanical discoveries brought to the use of astronomers, mentioning that aluminium and not the usual silver coatings would be applied to tho mirrors of the new mighty Mount Wilson telescope, the construction of which was estimated to cost about £1,250,000. To show the extent to which comet* were being discovered. Mr. Jones said that 13 had been found in 1932, which was a record, and six in 1933. Since the Battle of Hastings, when the famous Halley's Comet made its appearance. 442 comets had been catalogued to 1932. With the Birds. With the aid of lantern eiides and a graphic running commentary, Mr. Falla took his audience over those tracks of the expedition to the Three Kings Islands, which led to the observation of bird life. On Great King bellbirds were numerous, but they differed from those on the mainland, being a distinct subspecies, larger in every respect, with a lack of yellow Colouring on the plumago altering their appearance rather strikingly. Isolation and slightly different conditions of life had resulted in the species becoming distinct from the neighbouring race. With the paroquet specimens obtained on the Hen, Chicken and Three Kings Islands, the yellow colouring factor was again missing, leaving the plumage a dull, greyish green. Hawke and owls, the common birds of prey, were found in abundance on Three Kings. Of the introduced birds seen —the blackbird, starling and quail—the last-named, as far as was known, was not the supposedly extinct New Zealand quail, but a first cousin to the Australian quail and an indigenous bird, of which specimens had etill to be collected and definitely placed. How specimens of were obtained from the ocean's bed was explained by Mr. Powell, who described the dredging operations and the process of selection and classification of the results. He dealt also with the collection of new land snail species. An excellent series of lantern slides accompanied the description. The lecturers were Recorded votes of thanks.