'drawn by Dr. Huggins in 1866 (Phil. Trans., vol. clvi. p. 393); it has been amply confirmed since, and cannot be too forcibly insisted upon. We are unable to place either an upper or a lower limit to stellar dimensions or intrinsic emissive intensity. Until Arcturus was proved to be immeasurably remote, few would have been disposed to credit the existence of a sun in space at least six thousand times as efflulgent as ours is; but we know no reason why Arcturus itself should not be as vastly exceeded by some giant orb at the outskirts of the Milky Way; while we are equally debarred from asserting that among sixth, seventh, twelfth magnitude stars, there may not be found some minute bodies at half the distance from us of a Centauri. some trial-trips of thought through space. Before long, DR. H. BURMEISTER ON THE FOSSIL HORSES But when we pass from particular to general reasoning, THIS handsome volume is a continuation of the author: the aspect of the matter changes. No cause has yet been shown why the stars should be exempt from obedience to the "law of large numbers" which provides (as Prof. Edgeworth has ably shown) a clue to other labyrinths of facts. Statistics, it is true, are often misleading, but only when they are wrongly employed. The frequent misuse of a method does not justify its total rejection. And the statistical method is peculiarly liable to misuse. Attempts to get from it more than it will properly give inevitably fail; and what it will properly give are general statements which should only be generally applied. An average result may not be the less instructive because it is by its nature incapable of furnishing specific data. The stars then must, on the whole, decrease in brightness as their distances increase, and they must do so according to an underlying fixed law which will be more and more closely conformed to the larger the number of instances included in the generalization. Each descent of one stellar magnitude represents a falling off in light in the proportion of 2 to 1; it represents, accordingly, an augmentation of distance in the proportion of the square root of 25, or 159 to 1. Theoretically, that is to say, stars of any given magnitude are 1:59 times more remote than those one magnitude superior, 24 times (1'59 X 159), where the gap is of two magnitudes, and so on. This would be strictly and specifically true if all the stars were equal; but since they are enormously unequal, the rule may be grossly misleading in particular instances, and can only, by taking wide averages, be brought to approximate closely to actual fact. The determination of individual parallaxes has always, with astronomical thinkers, been subordinate to the higher aim of obtaining a unit of measurement for sidereal space. Hence continual attempts to fix the "average parallaxes" of classes of stars, which, however, remained futile so long as precarious assumptions supplied the place of direct information. Nor could this be obtained until the exigencies of the research had evoked improved means of practically meeting them. The earlier observers chose the subjects of their experiments entirely with a view to their successful issue. Stars likely, owing to their brilliancy, their swift motion, or both combined, to be nearer the earth than most others, were picked out for measurement, with results, each by itself of high interest, but worthless for generalizing purposes. It is only a few years since increased skill in the handling of methods authorized an extension of the range of their application. The first systematic plan for investigating "mean parallax" was proposed by Dr. Gill in 1883, and is now in course of combined execution at Yale College and the Cape. The completion last year of a section of the work enabled Dr. Elkin to deduce an average distance of thirty-eight light-years for the ten first magnitude stars of the northern hemisphere; but it would of course be folly to regard this avowedly "provisional and partial" result as a satisfactory basis for definitive conclusions about the distances of more remote classes of stars. the most, it makes a useful temporary starting-point for At monograph on the fossil horses of the Pampean beds of Argentina, of which the first part was published at Buenos Ayres in 1875, and is stated to have been specially brought out for the Paris Exhibition. The author has, however, not done himseif justice as regards the title of this portion of the work, since, in addition to the description of remains of the horses of the Pampean, he also describes and illustrates the osteology of Megatherium, Mastodon, and Macrauchenia, so that a better title for this volume would have been "The Fossil Horses and other Mammals of the Pampean Deposits." Like the former part, the text of this volume is printed in parallel columns of Spanish and German; and the execution of the plates leaves nothing to be desired, so far as a clear delineation of the essential features of the specimens portrayed is concerned. All the specimens forming the subject of this monograph, are, as we learn from the introduction, preserved in the National Museum at Buenos Ayres, of which the learned author is the Director; and, so far as we may judge from the description and figures, that collection of fossil mammals must be unrivalled in the excellence and completeness of its specimens. The first section of the work, or that to which the title alone properly applies, is devoted to the horses; and the author commences his description by observing that the Equide differ from all other Ungulates in that the premolars are larger than the true molars. For the more generalized species of the Pampean deposits, like Equus principalis of Lund, Dr. Burmeister adopts the Owenian genus Hippidium (Hippidion), remarking that these forms are distinguished from the modern horses by the shorter and more curved crowns of their cheek-teeth, which are of a more simple general structure, and also by a difference in the form of the narial aperture, as well as by their shorter limbs and stouter limb-bones. In the 8 FIG. 1.-Three right upper cheek-teeth of Hipparion, a, posterior, and anterior outer crescent; anterior, and d, posterior inner crescent. 4 anterior, and f, posterior pillar. structure of their upper cheek-teeth the horses of this peculiar South American group make, indeed, a decided approach to the more generalized representatives of the family, such as Hipparion. In the latter the anterior pillar of these teeth (Fig. 1, e) forms, as is well known, a "Los Caballos Fósiles de la Pampa Argent.na," Suplemento. ("Die fossilen Pferde der Pampasformation, Nachtrags Bericht.) By Dr. Herman Burmeister. Folio, pp. 65, pls. 4. (Buens Ayres, 1889.) subcylindrical column totally unconnected with the anterior crescent (c); in Hippidium this pillar retains almost the same form as in Hipparion, but becomes connected with the crescent; while in the existing horses the same pillar has become greatly elongated in an antero-posterior direction. Further, in Hippidium the first premolar, which in modern horses is generally absent, and if present is minute and deciduous, is of very large size, and always persists. The Pliocene Equus stenonis of Europe forms, however, a connecting link in respect of dental characters between the American Hippidium and the modern horses; and it is therefore to a great extent a matter of individual opinion whether or no the retention of Hippidium as a distinct genus is convenient. A new species referred to Hippidium is described from Tarija, in Bolivia. Of more typical horses the author describes additional remains of Equus curvidens, E. argentinus, and E. andium; and he adds to his description a useful word of warning in regard to the many forms of fossil horses from other parts of South America which have been described as distinct species, suggesting that all or several of these may be based merely on individual variations. In the second section of the volume we have a description of remains of other mammals from the Pampean deposits recently acquired by the Museum at Buenos Ayres. The first of these additions is an entire skull of Megatherium americanum, which shows that our previous knowledge was incomplete. This skull formed part of a nearly entire skeleton of a very large individual found in August 1888 on the Rio Salado, but which is as yet but partially disinterred. It shows that instead of the aperture of the nares being bounded superiorly merely by short nasal bones which did not reach within a long distance of the premaxillæ, there was a large prenasal bone extending nearly as far as this point; while there was also a lateral process projecting forward from the upper part of the maxilla into the nasal aperture. This prenasal bone is 4 inches in length, and it is considered probable that it became united with the nasals in the adult. Still more remarkable, however, is the presence of another ossification extending upwards and backwards from the superior surface of the extremity of the premaxilla towards the prenasal bone, from which it is only separated by a short interval. These two ossifications, we may observe, are evidently a rudiment of the complete bony arch connecting the premaxilla with the nasals in Mylodon darwini, which was on that account generically separated by Reinhardt as Grypotherium; and they serve to support FIG. 2.-The third left upper true molar of Mastodon humboldti; from the Pampean of Buenos Ayres. Two-thirds natural size. Prof. Flower's view that the last-named species is not separable from the genus in which it was originally placed. The author next proceeds to the consideration of the skull of that species of Mastodon which he terms M. antium. No mention is made of the earlier name M. cordillerum, which appears to be the proper one for this species; and in amending the usual spelling M. andium to M. antium, one cannot help wondering why the same course was not adopted in the case of Equus andium. The object of this part of the work is to show that the reference by the late Dr. Falconer to M. cordillerum (as we will call it) of mandibles from Texas, furnished with long tusks is incorrect, and that this species really had, like its near ally M. humboldti, a mandibular symphysis of the same general type as that of the elephants, without any tusks at all in the adult. Figures are given of an immature and of an adult skull with the mandible in situ to support this redetermination. Dr. Burmeister then proceeds to institute a comparison between M. cordillerum and M. humboldti, in which he states that, although very similar, a careful examination shows very clearly the distinctness of the two forms. Here we may observe that it is to be regretted that no comment or reference is made to the notices and figures published by Falconer and other English writers in refer ence to these forms; but perhaps the real explanation of this omission is that the libraries at Buenos Ayres are not so well stocked as those of London. According to our author, M. cordillerum is the smaller of the two species; the length of the mandible from the condyle to the symphysis being 75 centimetres against 85 centimetres in M. humboldti; the last dimension agreeing with the British Museum skull of that species originally described by Falconer in M. andium. Falconer's observations as to the more complicated structure of the molars of M. humbolti are in the main confirmed. A small specimen of a last upper molar referred to this species in the British Museum is (with the permission of Dr. Woodward) figured in the accompanying woodcut, to show the complexity of the crown, in which the valleys are much blocked by accessory tubercles. In the early stage of wear of this specimen imperfect trefoils of dentine are shown only on the inner columns; but when more worn trefoils would evidently also appear on the outer columns. In the well-worn upper molar of M. cordillerum, represented in Plate x., Fig. 5, of the work before us, the absence of a distinct trefoil on the outer columns, which Falconer mentioned as one of the distinctive features of this species, is well shown. Dr. Burmeister further observes that the molars of M. cordillerum are characterized by their blackish enamel, and the brown or reddish colour of the dentine; while in M. humboldti the whole of the crown is of a yellowish or white hue, with darker roots. These distinctive colours are very noticeable in many of the specimens in the British Museum, which have been respectively referred to the two species in question. The work concludes with descriptions of the remains of two species of the remarkable Perissodactylate genus Macrauchenia, viz. the typical M. patachonica of Owen, and M. paranensis, originally described by Bravard as Palæotherium. Of the former species an entire skeleton is figured, and the author concludes that the genus is, on the whole, most nearly allied to Palæotherium, although | the skull presents some remarkable resemblances to that | of the tapirs. It appears, moreover, from the presence of muscular impressions on the cranial bones, that the nose formed a short proboscis, as in the latter group. The author also gives us an elaborate description of the teeth, which are undoubtedly of a Palæotherioid type. It is further observed that in the author's opinion there appear to be no grounds for generically separating M. paranensis and the smaller M. minuta from the typical genus; and the author concludes his volume with some remarks on the proposal of Dr. F. Ameghino to regard the former as the type of the genus Scalibrinitherium, and to adopt the name of Oxydon[to] therium for the latter. The above appears to be the gist of Dr. Burmeister's new contributions to our knowledge of the wonderful Tertiary fauna of South America, which he has done so much to enrich. And we congratulate him on the results of this his latest work, and especially on the excellent illustrations by which it is accompanied, since the want of such aids to a right comprehension of the text forms such a great drawback to the work hitherto published by other contemporary South American writers on the same subject. R. L. NOTES. In his speech at Nottingham on Tuesday evening Lord Salisbury made a most important reference to the subject of what is called free education. He said :-"There is another question which we have heard a good deal discussed, and that is with regard to what has been, in my opinion, improperly termed free education. I should rather call it assisted education, because I do not know that anybody, however extreme his views, would desire that all the inhabitants of this country, whether rich or poor, whether capable of paying for the education of their children or not, should enjoy free education for those children at the cost of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. On the other hand, I have before expressed the opinion-I expressed it four years ago, before the two last general elections, at Newport-that by making education compulsory, by forcing the people to send their children to school whether they ask it or not, you were incurring a certain obligation to relieve the burden of that compulsion, where the circumstances of the parent were such that it was too heavy for him to bear. We believe that considerable progress in that direction may be made. We have already introduced measures to that effect in Scotland. I believe that with perfect consistency with sound principle, and merely recognizing the fact that where you enforce a duty upon a man you are bound to make it as easy for hun as you can-I believe that it will be possible considerably to extend that principle in England, and very greatly to relieve the difficulties of the working man in that respect. But allow me to say that I consider the question as to its rapidity, and as to its progress, to be a question for the Chancellor of the Exchequer. If he has got the money I have no doubt he will do it, but if he has not got the money he will not. But it is an object to which I believe a great deal of the money of a Chancellor of the Exchequer may very fairly be applied." The Government is to be congratulated on the pledge thus given to consider the matter. THE Royal Society will hold its anniversary meeting Saturday. After the meeting the Fellows will dine together. ON Tuesday the degree of D.C. L., honoris causâ, was on ferred in Convocation, at Oxford, upon Mr. Alfred Ris Wallace. Prof. Holland presented him for the degree, 2" dwelt upon his labours as a naturalist in Brazil, the Mainy Archipelago, and elsewhere; upon the now famous doctre elucidated by him, and upon the relations between him and VDarwin, reflecting equal honour upon both. A CONFERENCE, called by the National Association for the Promotion of Technical Education, was held in the Mancheste Town Hall on Tuesday. About 300 delegates were presco! from the different technical schools and associations through the Kingdom. The chair was occupied at first by the Mayor Manchester, and subsequently by Mr. Rathbone, M P. Gener Donnelly was present to represent the Science and Art Depar ment, South Kensington. Sir Henry Roscoe, M P., Sir I mund Currie, Mr. A. H. D. Acland, M.P., and Mr Mather. M.P., were among those present. The discus ions related the question of the working of the Technical Instruction 4, 1889. A report was read by Sir Henry Ro-coe, showing the the Act was being adopted partly or wholly in a large number of towns throughout the Kingdom. The meeting will do grea good, and we shall refer to it next week. ACCORDING to a circular which has recently been sent to the leading physicists, electricians, and others interested in the history of English science, it is proposed to establish a Gilbert Club, the inaugural meeting of which has been convened this day in the rooms of the Society of Arts at 4.30 p.m. The obje of the Club is to do justice to the memory of the illustrious President of the College of Physicians who was in the passession of, and was actually carrying on, the true experimental method of scientific inquiry at a time when Bacon was only talking and writing about it. There can be no doubt that the claims of William Gilbert, of Colchester, have been to a great extent overshadowed by the fame of the renowned Lord Chancellor, and it is much to be regretted that we have not had handed down to us more of the results of Gilbert's labours than are to be found in his celebrated work “De Magnete,” published in the year 1600. Such as it is, this work may, however, be justly regarded as the earliest English scientific classic, and its author must be recognized as the first truly philosophical investigator in the now all-important subjects of electricity and magnetism The Club has been organized for the object of bringing out an English edition of "De Magnete" as nearly as possible in the style of the original folio edition, and to arrange for a befitting celebration of the tercentenary of this work in the year 1900 To quote the circular:-"The publication of De Magnete not only marked an epoch in the science of magnetism, but constituted the absolute starting-point of the science of electricity. It has been hitherto a reproach to British electricians that they too little recognized the merits of the founder of the science. The preliminary list of members already includes the names of Sir William Thomson, Lord Rayleigh, Prof. Tyndall, Sir Jotr Lubbock, Prof. Rücker, Prof. Lodge, Mr. Preece, Prof. Reinald, Prof. Perry, Prof. G. Forbes, Prof. D. E. Hughes, Sir F. A. Abel, Sir F. Bramwell, Sir Douglas Galton, Sir H. Mance, Colonel Festing, Captain Abney, Prof. Carey Foster, Prof. W G. Adams, Prof. J. C. Adams, Prof. Roberts-Austen, Prof. Thorpe, Prof. G. H. Darwin, Prof. Liveing, Prof. Dewar, Prof. W. N. Shaw, Prof. Poynting, Prof. Ray Lankester, Mr. Crookes Mr. J. Hopkinson, Mr. Glazebrook, Mr. G. J. Symons, Dr. I. H. Gladstone, Dr. B. W. Richardson, Prof. Victor Horsley Mr. Latimer Clark, &c. DR. QUESNEVILLE, the French chemist, died on Noremler 14, at the age of eighty. He took his degree of ductor medicine in 1834, having studied chemistry under Chevreul. In 1840 he started the Revue Scientifique, a monthly periodical, which he afterwards called the Moniteur Scientifique. This periodical came to an end last month, Dr. Quesneville explaining that the task was rendered too severe by the infirmities of old age. THE chemical laboratory, presented to the Stalybridge Mechanics' Institute by the late Mrs. Margaret Platt, was formally opened last week. The laboratory, which has been provided at a cost of about £600, was projected by Mrs. Plattwho always took a great interest in Stalybridge and its social and educational welfare-shortly before her death. Unfortunately she did not live to see the completion of this valuable addition to the work carried on by the institution, but her representatives have observed Mrs. Platt's wishes in every respect. laboratory is fitted with all necessary appliances for the practical study of chemistry. At present there are twenty-two students undergoing a course of instruction. The THE ceremony of cutting the first sod on the site of the International Exhibition which is to be held in Edinburgh next year took place on Saturday last. The Lord Provost, who presided, said they were all aware that the Forth Bridge was to be opened soon, and a large number of scientific people would be present on that occasion. Therefore, it seemed a most opportune occasion to show a collection of matters connected with electricity such as had never been gathered together before. They had promises from all parts of the world, and the little difficulties that were in the way with the London Chamber of Commerce had, he believed, all been got over, and now there would be a unanimous feeling throughout the whole of the electrical world that this Exhibition should be made a great fuccess. THE Christmas lectures at the Royal Institution (adapted to a juvenile auditory) will this year be given by Prof. A. W. Rucker, F.R.S., on electricity. They will begin on Saturday, December 28. THE following are the Science Lectures to be given at the Royal Victoria Hall during the month of December :-December 3. "Snakes and Snake-poison," by Dr. W. D. Halliburton ; December 10, "A Visit to the Banks of the Rhine," by Mr. A. Hilliard Atteridge; December 17, "My Experiences in Cape Colony," by Prof. H. G. Seeley, F.R.S. 66 COUNT SALVADORI has just published the first part of a supplement to his famous work on the Birds of New Guinea and the Molucca Islands, entitled Agguinte alla Ornitologia della l'apuasia e delle Molucche." The present part consists of sixtyfour pages, and relates to the Accipitres, Psittaci, and Picaria, which were the orders treated of in his first volume of the "Ornitologia," During the seven years that have elapsed since the completion of Count Salvadori's work much has been done. Hunstein, who was an excellent collector, and whose untimely death by a tidal-wave in New Britain is deplored by all naturalists, made some valuable explorations in the Horse-shoe Range of the Astrolabe Mountains, and discovered the wonderful new Birds of Paradise, Paradisornis rudolphi, Astrarchia stephanie, and others. Mr. H. O. Forbes explored the same district, and also procured some novelties, and the adventurous expedition of the last named naturalist and his wife to the Tenimber Islands is quite one of the exploits of the last decade. Mr. C. M. Woodford has likewise added many new species to the known avi-fauna of the Solomon Islands, so that altogether Count Salvadori has had ample material for his supplementary notes. Besides giving abundant information respecting the additional synonymy and geographical distribution of the members of the three orders Treated of in the present supplement, the author adds twelve =pecies of Accipitres, fourteen Psittaci, and nine Picaria. Count Salvadori thinks that Astur sheba of Sharpe from Guadalcanar is the same as A. pulchellus of Ramsay from Fauro, but as both species are represented in the British Museum such a mistake in identification is scarcely likely. He separates the Timor Laut Astur, supposed to be identical with A. albiventris of Bouru, as a new species, Astur, or as he calls it Urospizias polionotus. Several doubtful points among the Parrots, Count Salvadori will probably be able to settle when he comes to England and examines the series of skins in the British Museum. Of Cuckoos, he describes two new species (Cacomantis arfakianus and Lamprococcyx poliurus), and Tanysptera meyeri is a new Kingfisher. It is proposed that a meteorological station shall be established at the Bermuda Islands after the completion of the telegraph service between them and Nova Scotia. Many vessels leaving Halifax, the masters being unaware of the approach of storms from the West Indies, are dismantled before they have been out three days. The establishment of the proposed meteorological station would, therefore, be of great value, and the Canadian Government has willingly consented to bear half of the cost. WE have received vol. xi. of "Aus dem Archiv der Deutschen Seewarte," containing the report of that institution for the year 1888. Great activity is displayed in the collection of observations at sea, not less than 740 logs and abstract journals having been received during the year, and synoptic charts of the North Atlantic have been published for four quarters, ending with August 1885. Several meetings have been held at the Seewarte for the purpose of preparing an atlas of clouds, and the work is now about to be published. In addition to several treatises on terrestrial magnetism, the volume contains (1) an article by Dr. Vettin on the volume of air flowing into or out of barometrical minima and maxima in different seasons, as determined from the direction, height, and velocity of clouds, observed at Berlin during the years 1882-83, in connection with the data afforded by the daily weather charts published by the Seewarte. (2) The rainfall conditions of Germany from 1876-85, by Dr. H. Meyer. The author has not been content with using the usual monthly values, but has investigated the daily observations from the original documents. He finds that periods of two to four rainy days are more frequent than the same periods of dry days. Periods of five or more wet days are more frequent on the coast here than on the coast. On the coast the probability of a change than in the interior, but longer dry periods are more probable from dry to wet is greater than a change from wet to dry, while the reverse holds in the interior. Periods of twenty or more wet days have occurred only in Western Germany, while the part of the country. same periods of dry days are of the rarest occurrence in any THE Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean for November shows that, during the early part of the month of October, an extensive area of high barometer occupied the central regions of the North Atlantic; its position varied from day to day, but on the 12th its centre moved south of the 40th parallel, and low pressure prevailed over nearly the whole of the Transatlantic routes until the 19th. At this date an area of high barometer passed eastward from the American coast, and slowly traversed the ocean, reaching the British Isles towards the end of the month. Several storms occurred north of the 50th parallel, and also along the Transatlantic routes east of the 50th meridian. Two cyclones of great violence occurred off the Atlantic coast of the United States. One developed quite suddenly on the 14th, 150 miles east of Hatteras, and after lingering there for four days, started off rapidly to the eastward; the other storm, which was central off the Carolina coast on the 23rd, was remarkable for its violence and its increase of energy after reaching the Gulf Stream. Several other storms of minor importance occurred on that coast during the month. Comparatively little fog was experienced, but ocean ice prevailed in considerable quantity to the eastward of the Straits of Belle Isle, and to some extent on the Grand Banks, in marked contrast with what is usually experienced at this time of year. A CURIOUS dwarf Japanese tree, Thuja obtusa, brought by Mr. Samuel from the Paris Exhibition, was exhibited at the meeting of the Royal Botanic Society on Saturday last. The specimen was only some two feet high, and was stated to be about 130 years old. The secretary said that these dwarf Japanese trees were good illustrations of the power of endurance of plants and trees under severe ill-treatment. In the Society's garden may be seen several specimens of the common oak, between forty and fifty years old, yet only some ten or twelve inches in height. They were planted as an edging to a flower border, and kept clipped like the old-fashioned box. THE greatest depth found by Captain Spratt in the Western Mediterranean basin was between Sicily, Sardinia, and Africa (about 10,600 feet). Recent measurements in the eastern basin by Commander Magnaghi, of the Italian Navy (Riv. Sci. Ind.) have yielded, as maximum depth, 13,556 feet, between the Islands of Malta and Candia. AT the annual meeting of the Severn Valley Field Club, at Wellington, in January last, Dr. Callaway, the President, was asked to prepare a report of the year's proceedings with a shorter account of the work of the preceding year. These reports have now been issued, and show that a resolute effort is being made to promote a taste for geology and natural history in the district, and to make the Field Club something better than a picnic society. COLONEL WOODTHORPE recently delivered, at Simla, a lecture on the Aka Expedition of 1883. It may be remembered that this tribe, which inhabits the hills north of Assam, owing to some forest disputes and a supposed interference with their trade ia rubber, seized two of our forest officers and carried them off. To recover these men, a small expedition was despatched, under the command of Colonel Woodthorpe. The Aka houses are built on piles raised above the ground, with a large space at one end, where the children play. The dress consists of a tunic of Tibetan cloth, and trousers, reaching to the feet, made of thin white material. Long trousers are worn to keep off the damdum, a troublesome little fly or mosquito. Bows and arrows and knives, with blades easily detachable from a bamboo handle, are the chief weapons. The barbs of the arrows are dipped in aconite, and are so treated that, when any attempt is made to pluck out the arrow, the barb breaks off and remains in the wound. The poison is so deadly, that even a buffalo usually falls, after running a few yards, when he has been struck by one. Some of the superstitions of the Akas are curious. If a river runs between an Aka's house and his burying-place, his soul can never go home after death. This inability of the spirit to cross water is, however, overcome, and, every year, Akas may be seen stretching a string across the stream that divides the grave from the house of the departed. The ghost can easily cross when the slightest foothold is given him. It is sometimes said about old trees (eg. an old lime in the new Gardens at Potsdam) that the present branches are properly roots; and it has been reported that trees may be planted, and will grow, in the inverted position. A scientific inquiry into this matter has been made by Herr Kny, in Germany, taking a number of plants of wild vine (Ampelopsis) and ivy, about 35 metres high. In 1884 he planted these with both ends in the ground; and in the spring of 1885, after the tops had rooted, he cut the arch at its highest point. In the first year two of the plants died, but the others (twelve vine and four. teen ivy) grew vigorously, and were still alive this last spring. To test the extent of the inversion, he cut slips from the inverted plants, and planted them in a greenhouse, some wuh their natural, and some with their artificial upper end uppermos It appeared that the callus, from which the roots spring, wa formed at both ends, but more readily at the naturally lowe end, whether this was above or below, in the experiment. Her Kny considers that, notwithstanding several years" successful culture, the inversion was not thoroughly completed. He pr poses to continue his investigation, and invites people who have gardens to make like experiments with other plants, recom mending willows, poplars, and roses. THE latest Colonial Report from Basutoland contains a statement by Sir Marshall Clarke on education in that State, wrines at the request of Lord Knutsford. The total amount granted by the Government during 1888 for educational work was £4581 amongst four missions, of which 2900 went to the Par. Evangelical Missions. The number of schools receiving Government aid was 100, with a nominal roll of 4053, and an average attendance of 3480. The education offered is, for the mosi part, of an elementary character, suitable to a people of agn cultural pursuits, whose children are withdrawn early for laber in the field. It consists of reading and writing in Sesuto, and a little elementary arithmetic and English. A higher education is offered at the missionary centres. The number of schon's under direct European supervision is 21, with about 1400 pup2on the attendance roll. At Morija, the head-quarters of the Paris Evangelical Missionary Society, the training school affors a sound English education, the staff being composed of well qualified Europeans. There is an interesting girls' school a' Koma, the chief Roman Catholic mission station, where the pupils are instructed in carding, spinning, weaving, and the elements of dressmaking, as well as in English and Sesuto Schools receiving Government aid are, from time to ture, inspected by Government officers, who check the attendance rolls, examine the pupils, and, at the end of the year, submit reports from each district. MR. H. Y. L. BROWN, the Government Geologist of South Australia, returned to the Angle Pole head camp from bis exploration trip to the Musgrave Ranges on October 7. Accordto the Colonies and India, the route was vid Cootanoorina and Arkaringa Creek to Glen Ferdinand, a trigonometrical depot. The exploration extended among the ranges to longitude 131 E, latitude 26° S. Mr. Carruthers, the Government Trigono metrical Surveyor, starting from the depot, will continue the survey towards the western boundary, and expects to return in January. The Government Geologist returned rid the River Alberga, striking the telegraph line at the Angle Pole. FROM the Report of the Ceylon Survey Department for the past year, which has just been issued, it appears that when the calculations of the northward running chain of the 13-inch triangulation were completed, it was found that the computed distance between the two stations at Delft Island differed from that of the Indian system to such an extent as to show a considerable error, probably in the Ceylon work. The resulting error is too small to be appreciable on maps even of the large scale, but, from a geodetical point of view, the outcome of so much work extending over a large number of years is disappoint ing. In order to verify the previous work, Colonel Clark: purposes carrying at an early opportunity a new system of triangles along the west coast, utilizing as many as possible of the old stations. A tentative scheme for the triangulation of the west coast has been drawn up, and when an officer is available. he will be sent to inspect the country, and report on the feas bility of the scheme. In consequence of the incompleteness of the diagrams and other records, the construction of a new series of diagrams, in which will be inserted the information gained |