manufacturing supremacy which has heretofore distinguished her, and that it is high time that the Government of this country should take steps to retain that supremacy, and that means towards that desirable end is the appointment of a responsible Minister of Education whose duty it will be to see that our education machinery in all departments, both in extent and in efficiency, is kept up to the wants of the age, and that a thorough general education in the scientific principles on which the arts are founded (and without which training mere technical schools are of no use), is put within the reach of all, this society resolves that the candidates for the representation in Parliament of the County and City of Perth be respectfully requested to state, whether, in the event of their being elected they will use their influence to urge upon the Government; (1) the appointment of such responsible Minister of Education; (2) the promotion of scientific exploration expeditions, such as that of an Arctic expedition which the late Government was in vain requested to promote; (3) the providing of means for carrying on unremunerative scientific research." The secretary was accordingly directed to communicate with the candidates.

THE post of Hydrographer to the Navy has been bestowed by Mr. Goschen on Capt. J. O. Evans, R. N., C.B., F.R.S., in succession to Rear-Admiral Richards, C. B., F.R.S., who has retired.

THE first four wranglers on this year's Cambridge Mathematical Tripos, are, George C. Calliphronas, of Gonville and Caius College; Walter W. R. Ball, of Trinity College; James R. Harris, of Clare College; and Andrew Craik, of Emmanuel College.

THE following lectures in Nat ural Science will be given at Trinity, St. John's, and Sidney Sussex Colleges, during Lent Term, 1874-On Sound and Light (for the Natural Sciences Tripos), by Mr. Trotter, Trinity College, in Lecture-room No. 11 (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, at 11, commencing Wednesday, Feb. 4); On Electricity and Magnetism (for the first part of the Natural Sciences Tripos and the special examination for the Ordinary Degree), by Mr. Trotter, Trinity College, in Lecture Room No. 11 (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, at 11, commencing Thursday, Feb. 5); On Inorganic Chemistry, by Mr. Main, St. John's College (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, at 12, in St. John's College Laboratory, commencing Thursday, January 29). Attendance on these lectures is recognised by the University for the certificate required by medical students previous to admission for the first examination for the degree of M.B. Instruction in practical chemistry will also be given. On Paleontology (the Annuloida, &c.), by Mr. Bonney, St. John's College (Tuesdays and Thursdays, at 9, commencing Tuesday, February 3). On Geology (for the Natural Sciences Tripos, Physical Geology), by Mr. Bonney, St. John's College (Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, at 10, commencing Wednesday, February 4). Lithology: demonstrations with the microscope every Saturday at 11, commencing February 7. The class will be limited to six, and preference gived to members of the above colleges. Elementary Geology (for the First Part of the Tripos and the special examination) (Tuesdays and Thursdays, at 11. commencing Thursday, February 5). On Botany, for the Natural Sciences Tripos, by Mr. Hicks, Sidney College (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, at 11, in Lecture-room No. I, beginning on Tuesday, February 3). The lectures during this term will be on Vegetable Histology and Physiology. A Course of Practical Physiol gy, by the Trinity Prælector in Physiology (Dr. Michael Foster) at the new museums. Lectures on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, at 12, commencing Tuesday, January, 27. This course is a continuation of that given last term.

DR. SCHMIDT, Professor of Astronomy in the University of Athens, has just completed his great map of the Moon. It is

two metres in diameter, and is a marvel of accurate mapping and minute draughtmanship. The shading is so exquisite that any part of the map may be examined by a lens without the appearance of coarse or rough work. The map represents the labour of thirty-four years. and is without doubt one of the greatest astronomical results of the century.

THE discourse at the Royal Institution on Friday next, Feb. 6, at 9 P.M., will be by Mr. A. H. Garrod, Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge, "On the Heart and the Sphygmograph."

A MARINE and Fresh-water Aquarium is to be established in the Central Park, New York, in connection with the Free Museum and Menagerie already erected there; it will be placed under the superintendence of Mr. W. Saville Kent, F.Z.S., who was, until a short time ago, Curator of the Brighton Aquarium. It is intended to raise the requisite funds by public subscription, and we are very pleased to be able to add that it is proposed to endow the Institution, so that it may be made avail. able for the purposes of scientific research.

A PROJECT is on foot for the erection of a public aquarium at Liverpool, and a Company has been formed for this purpose; a suitable site has been secured close to the Philharmonic Hall, and operations will, we believe, be commenced at once. It is estimated the building will cost about 45,000l.

THE exhibition of appliances for the economic consumption of coal, which has been formed in the Peel Park, Salford, by the Society for Promoting Scientific Industry, was formally opened on Friday. Mr. J. Lowthian Bell, who had been announced to open the Exhibition, was prevented from being present, but forwarded the copy of an address which he had intended to deliver. This was read by the secretary, Mr. Larkins. The Exhibition will remain open for some weeks, and wil doubtless receive its share of public notice when the elections are occupying less attention than they are at present.

WE learn from the Atheneum that the Trustees of the British Museum have agreed to resign their patronage into the hands of the Government.

AN interesting peculiarity in the habits of some Indian Siluroid fishes has been noticed at a recent meeting of the Zoological Society by Surgeon F. Day, which will be described in full in the forthcoming Part of the Proceedings of that Society. Mr. Day, when fishing at Cassegode, found that, after having caught a large number of specimens of various species of Arius and Osteogeniosus, there were several siluroid eggs at the bottom of the boats, and in the fish-baskets. These eggs were,

on an average, half-an-inch in diameter; and on looking into the mouths of several of the males of both genera, from fifteen to twenty eggs were seen in each; those in the boats and baskets having evidently dropped out from a similar situation. The eggs were in different stages of development, some advanced so far as to be just hatched. They filled the mouth, extending as far back as the branchia. No food was found in the alimentary canal, though in the females it was full of nutriment.

IN a paper on the Meteors of January 2, read before the author states, founding on data extending from A.D. 849 to 1864, American Philosophical Society, by Prof. Daniel Kirkwood, the that the meteors of this group have probably a period of thirteen years; that the mean distance is 5.53, aphelion 10.06; and that the source of the meteors may be the fourth comet of 1860, which in its ascending node approaches very near the point passed by the earth about January 3. If the period be thirteen years, the comet should have returned in the latter part of 1873, and the maximum fall of the associated meteors should occur about 1877.

material having been collected by Drs. von Fritsch and Rein. The new types are not very numerous, but the remarkably wide distribution of spider-species is confirmed; and good illustration afforded of the influence of climate and other local conditions in modifying type forms. Dr. Rein describes some plants found in the neighbourhood of Mogador, and also furnishes a sketch of the vegetation of the Bermudas. A new species of perforating cirripede, Kochlorine hamata N., is described by Dr. Knoll; M. Scheidel contributes a note on lake dwellings and their inhabitants; and there are interesting accounts of journeys to Iceland, and to the Puglia Petrosa, in Italy.

We have received the first Annual Report of the “ 'Haileybury Natural Science Society." It contains preliminary lists of the fauna and flora of the place, together with observations on the meteorology of the locality, and a humorous description of an experimental dinner at which the principal dish consisted of esculent snails which had been specially fed and fattened for the purpose by certain members of the Society. It need scarcely be added, that the repast amply rewarded the members for their generous devotion to the cause of Science.

THE additions to the Zoological Society's Gardens during the past week include three Mauge's Dasyures (Dasyurus maugai) from Australia, presented by Mr. J. Shaw; two Vulturine Guinea Fowl (Numida vulturina) from East Africa, presented by Dr. J. Kirk; a Chilian Sea-Eagle (Geranoaëtus aguia) from Bahia, presented by Mr. J. Judge; an Indian Leopard (Felis pardus) presented by Mr. G. D. Elphinstone; two Orang Outangs (Simia satyrus) from Borneo, and a Ungko Gibbon (Hylobates variegatus) from Sumatra, deposited; two Wanderoo Monkeys (Macacus silenus) from the Malabar Coast; a Brown Monkey (Macacus brunneus) and two Adjutants (Leptoptilus argala) from India, two Pheasant-tailed Pigeons (Macropygia phasianella) from N.S. Wales, and two Jambu Fruit Pigeons (Ptilonopus jambu) from the Indian Archipelago, purchased.

SCIENTIFIC SERIALS

American Journal of Science and Arts, December 1873.—In a paper on the magnetic permeability (that is "conductivity," according to Faraday), and the maximum of magnetism of iron, steel, and nickel, by Mr. Henry Rowland, C.E., the results are expressed, and the reasoning is carried out in the language of Faraday's lines of magnetic force. The quantity introduced, in mathematical theories of induced magnetisation, depending on the magnetic properties of the substance, is in these treated as a constant; but it was shown, in twelve cases of iron and two of nickel, to vary between wide limits. The author finds that the magnetisation of good iron can never exceed 175,000 times the unit magnetic field (on the metre, gramme, second, system), nor can nickel exceed 63,000 times; and from these data, and with aid of a formula of Prof. Maxwell's for tension of lines of force, it is inferred that the greatest weight which can be sustained by an electro-magnet with an infinite current, is, for iron, 354 lbs. per square inch of section, and for nickel 46 lbs. results of experiment closely agreed with this.-Prof. Henry Draper communicates a note on diffraction-spectrum photo. graphy, accompanied with a photograph printed by the Alberttype process. (See NATURE, vol. ix. p. 223.)-We note several geological papers, one of them, by Prof. Fontaine, describing a remarkable deposit of bituminous matter, termed Grahamite, in Ritchie County, West Virginia, chemically resembling the mineral Albertite of New Brunswick, but differing considerably from this in its geological relations.-The age of the Lignitic formation of the Rocky Mountain region is far from decided, owing to the contrary evidence afforded by fossil plants and animals; and the editors propose to cite the arguments from various sources, in order, if possible, to bring about agreement. They give in this number the conclusions of M. Lesquereux

The

from fossil plants. He refers the Lignitic beds to the Upper and Lower Eocene; and he gives a number of facts showing the dis. connection of American Eocene flora from that of the Cretaceous, indicating truly separate formations.-Mr. Comstock describes the geology of Western Wyoming. -Mr. Verrill communicates the results of a recent dredging expedition on the coast of New | England. It was ascertained that the body of cold bottom water approaches so nearly to the Coast of Maine as to manifest itself distinctly within twelve or fifteen miles of Cape Elizabeth, both by its highly Arctic fauna, and its icy temperature, even in summer. In a letter from Cordoba, dated Sept. 8, 1873, Dr. Gould describes a remarkable swarm of locusts then occurring.

Astronomische Nachrichten, No. 1970, Jan. 14, contains the following papers :-On the determination of longitude by star-occultation and the telegraphically determined longitude between Madras, Singapore, and Batavia, by Dr. Oudemans. The author mentions his observations in 1859 as giving a longitude for Batavia of 7h. 7m. 12'5 s., also others in later years giving rather a less result. In 1870-71, however, the telegraphic communication with Singapore was used, giving a mean result of IIm.140 895 s. longitude from that place. The same author gives a note on Kaiser's original proof of Foucault's pendulum researches. The proof is given by Prof. Oudemans, by which the plane of motion of the pendulum moves in azimuth in I sec., 15". sin p. It is too long to give in full here, but appears simple and good. Prof. Oudemans has also two other papers on position observation made during the eclipse of Dec. 1871 at Java, and on the Spheroidal form of the earth, which consist chiefly of equations and tables which we have not space to introduce.-Dr. Holetschek gives ephemerides of a number of the minor planets.

Der Naturforscher, December 1873.-This number contains notes from the Bothkamp Observatory. In one of them M. Vogel gives observations of the spectra of several fixed stars, comparing the results obtained by Huggins and Miller. Another treats of periodic changes in the atmosphere of Jupiter. The observation that the occurrence of certain coloured stripes in Jupiter, and of bright egg-shaped spots in his equatorial zone coincided with the maximum epoch of sunspots, appears to be confirmed by a number of fresh data collected by the writer, Dr. Lohse. A third note describes observations of Venus in 1871-73, by M. Vogel, who thinks it probable that the planet is surrounded with an atmosphere in which floats a thick and dense layer of condensation products, so that little insight is afforded to the planet's surface, and the observation of spots helps but little to ascertaining the time of rotation or the position of the axis of rotation.In physics, we have a note on the curious fact which M. Budde has recently studied, viz., that chlorine, when acted on by very refrangible rays of light, undergoes expansion and heating. Some experiments, made by M. Hirn, on the optical properties of flame, tend to show that Ĥame is not perfectly transparent to light (as Arago and M. Offret have affirmed), but that particles in the glowing state are; the weakening of light in its transmission through flames is due to the various refractions it undergoes, and consequent dispersion. The author is led to some speculations on the sun's temperature, and he puts the case thus: If the glowing parts of the photosphere are intransparent, the temperature must (according to mathematical calculation), be nearly six million degrees; if they are transparent, it must be considerably less; and the lower, the greater the transparency. The problem is one for experimental physics, the question being, Are all solid or liquid bodies transparent and diathermanous when brought to a very high temperature? M. Hirn, we have seen, inclines to reply in the affirmative. We find accounts of Prof. Guthrie's discovery of a new relation between heat and electricity, and M. Herwig's experiments on pulverisation of electrodes in the voltaic arch.-Chemistry is represented by papers on the laws governing water of crystallisation, and the reduction of carbonic acid by phosphate of iron.-The action of camphor on plant life has been recently studied by M. Vogel at Munich, in a series of experiments which confirm an almost forgotten observation by Barton in the last century, that camphor has a stimulant effect on plants analogous to that of spirituous liquors or opium, in certain quantity, on the human system. There are also botanical notes on the influence of CO, on verdant growth of plants (M. Böhm), and on the geographical distribution of the Cupulifera (M. Oersted); and, in technology, M. Riche discusses the physical properties of certain alloys.

SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES

LONDON

Geological Society, Jan. 21.--Prof. P. Martin Duncan, F.R.S., vice-president, in the chair.-"The secondary rocks of Scotland (second paper). On the ancient volcanoes of the Highlands and their relations to the Mesozoic strata," by J. W. Judd, F.G.S. That the rocks forming the great plateaux of the Hebrides and the north of Ireland are really the vestiges of innumerable lava-streams, is a fact which has long been recognised by geologists. That these lavas were of subaerial and not subaqueous origin is proved by the absence of all contemporaneous interbedded sedimentary rocks, by the evidently terrestrial origin of the surfaces on which they lie, and by the intercalation among them of old soils, forests, mud-streams, river-gravels, lake deposits, and masses of unstratified tuffs and ashes. From the analogy of existing volcanic districts, we can scarcely d ubt that these great accumulations of igneous products, which must originally have covered many thousands of square miles, and which still often exhibit a thickness of 2,000 ft., were ejected from great volcanic mountains; and a careful study of the district fully confirms this conclusion, enabling us, indeed, to determine the sites of these old volcanoes, to estimate their dimensions, to investigate their internal structure, and to trace the history of their formation. The following is Mr. Judd's conclusion on the subject of his paper :-It appears that during the Newer Paleozoic and the Tertiary periods, the north-western parts of the British archipelago were the scene of displays of volcanic activity upon the grandest scale. During either of these, the eruption of felspathic lavas, &c., preceded, as a whole, that of the basaltic; and in both the volcanic action was brought to a close by the formation of "puys." The range of Newer-Palæozoic volcanoes arose along a line striking N.E. and S.W.; that of the Tertiary volcanoes along one striking from N. to S.; and each appears to have been connected with a great system of subterranean disturbance. It is an interesting circumstance that the epochs of maximum volcanic activity, the Old Red sandstone and the Miocene, appear to have been coincident with those which, as shown by Prof. Ramsay, were characterised by the greatest extent of continental land in the area. The Secondary strata were deposited in the interval between the two epochs of volcanic activity, and the features which they present have been largely influenced by this circumstance. Apart from this consideration, however, the volcanic rocks of the Highlands are of the highest interest to the geologist, both from their enabling him to decipher to so great an extent the "geological records of the district, and from the light which they throw upon some of the obscurest problems of physical geology.-Remarks on fossils from Oberburg, Styria, by A. W. Waters, F.G.S. The author noticed the limited occurrence of Eocene deposits in Styria, and referred briefly to the researches of Prof. Reuss and Prof. Stur upon them. He then indicated certain species of fossils which he had detected in these beds, adding about nine species to Stur's list.

Anthropological Institute, Jan. 27.-Prof. Busk, F.R.S., president, in the chair.-Aniversary Meeting.-Before proceeding to read his address, the president referred to the financial condition of the Institute, which, although it showed that the receipts were adequate for the necessary expenditure on the present economical principles of management, would not admit either of paying off any more of the debt or of increasing the scope and usefulness of the Institute. Until the unfortunate and utterly indefensible secession of members early in 1873, on a purely personal question, the Institute, since its formation, had paid off the combined debts of the two old societies at the rate of 100l. a year. He appealed to the loyalty of the members now forming the Institute to make a united effort finally to extinguish the debt of 800/. A year's income would do it, and it was suggested that if each member contributed one year's subscription, that great result would be attained and the Institute would certainly before long occupy a high position amongst the scientific bodies of the kingdom. As an encouragement to the body of members and as an earnest of the sincerity and vigour of his colleagues in management, the president had much plea sure in announcing that nearly 250l. had been promised by members present at a council-meeting held that day, provided the sum of 500l. be contributed by other members of the Institute. The president then delivered the annual address, in which he viewed the work done during 1873 by English and foreign

anthropologists. Amongst a large number of topics he adverted at considerable length to the important contributions to craniometry, by Dr. H. von Jhering and Dr. Paul Broca, criticising the respective methods employed by those distinguished anthropologists; and concluded that part of his address with the observation that the study of craniology is almost futile when applied to highly civilised, and consequently much mixed peoples, and that its results are the more certain in proportion to the purity of race. That purity at the present time was rapidly disappearing, and with it the surest data for the determination of the problems involved in the antiquity and physical origin of man. The following was the list of officers and council elected to serve for 1874 :-President-Prof. Geo. Busk, F.R. S. Vice

presidents-John Evans, F.R.S.; Col. A. Lane Fox, F.S A.; A. W. Franks, M.A.; Francis Galton, F.R.S.; Prof. Huxley, F.R.S.; Sir John Lubbock, Bart., F.R S. Director-E. W. Brabrook, F.S. A.-Treasurer - Rev. Dunbar I. Heath, M.A. Council-Dr. John_Beddoe, F.R.S.; W. Blackmore; H. G. Bohn, F.R.G.S.; Dr. A. Campbell; Hyde Clarke; Dr. J. Barnard Davis, F. R.S.; W. Boyd Dawkins, F.R.S.; Robert Dunn, F. R.C.S.; David Forbes, F.R.S.; Sir Duncan Gibb, Bart, M.D.; George Harris, F.S. A.; J. Park Harrison, M. A. J. F. McLennan; C. R. Markham, C.B. F.R.S.; Frederic Ouvry, F.S.A.; F. G. H. Price, F.R.G. S.; J. E. Price, F.S.A.; F. W. Rudler, F. G. S.; C. R. Des Ruffières, F. R. S. L.; E. Burnet Tylor, F.R.S.

EDINBURGH

Royal Physical Society, Jan 28.-Mr. Scot Skirving, president, in the chair.-The following communications were read: Note on the Crushed Boulders from the Old Red Conglomerate in Kincardineshire, by James C. Howden, M.D., -On Crushed Boulders from Arbroath, and other localities, by Mr. Charles W. Peach.-Report of the Dredging Committee for 1873, by James Middleton, M.B., convener. The meeting of the committee had been held conjointly with the Naturalists' Field Club. In all about 133 species of animals had been obtained, including two new to the Firth of Forth.Note on the Suspension of Clay in Water, by Mr. William Durham. This research was undertaken in continuance of those recorded in the papers on the same subject read at the last meeting. As the general result of Mr. Durham's elaborate and careful series of experiments, it was found that clay held in suspension by water sinks more quickly if the water is slightly acidulated, and more slowly if a slight amount of an alkali is added, but that the conditions are reversed if a large amount of either substance is mixed with the water.

MANCHESTER

Geological Society, Jan. 27.-Mr. J. Dickenson Hill in the chair.-Mr. J. Aitken exhibited some new fossil fishes from the millstone grit, Yorkshire, and read a paper descriptive of the bed whence they were obtained. He said that evidences of fossils had been brought to the surface during the excavations connected with the scheme for taking water from Widdop colliery to the borough of Halifax by a tunnel cut through Wadsworth Moor, about two miles north of Hebdenbridge. After an examination, by no means exhaustive, there had been discovered seven specimens of Goniatites, three of Nautili, two of Orthoceratites, two of Avicula pecten, two of Posodonia, one of Gastropod, one of Milamia, fish remains, &c. The discovery of the most remarkable character was a new species of Acrolepis presenting peculiar characteristics. The situation in which these remains

occurred was near but somewhat above the middle of the shells which usually divided the third floors from the fourth or undermost grit.

GÖTTINGEN

Royal Academy of Sciences, Nov. 1, 1873.-M. Schering communicated a paper on the Hamilton-Jacobi theory for forces whose measurement depends on the motion of bodies.-MM. Wagner, Philippi, and Tollens described some researches on the Allyl group, made with the view of establishing the constitution of allyl alcohol, and of some of its compounds, especially acrylic acid. They find new evidence, in opposition to Wislicenus, that acrylic acid, as well as acetic acid, propionic acid, and all other organic acids, contains the group CO2H, and may therefore be classed with them.--MM. von Grote and Tollens described an acid obtained from cane sugar by means of dilute sulphuric acid; and M. Tollens gave the first results of an investigation as to combinations of starch with alkali.