The Harvard Observatory has ordered a large new telescope for use at the station at Arequipa, Peru. The new order is the result of the satisfactory tests, made through the telescope purchased last spring. Only the lenses of the latter have as yet been received, but the mountings, are now nearly ready and it is expected that the telescope will be in working order in a few weeks. The clearness of several photographs taken recently has demonstrated the peculiar power of these lenses, and it is believed that the telescope will be of great value in the investigations to be pursued this winter.

The Observatory will shortly issue an extensive work on variable stars. This book has been in course of preparation for some time and contains the most complete and detailed account of variable stars yet published. All of the known variables are separately considered in such a manner that the book may be used to great advantage for reference.