volumes, the form of which, however unsuited to our bookshelves, probably recalls to the Government printers the blue-books of the old home-country. No time has been lost, moreover, in the prosecution of researches which furnish something worthy to record, The Karroo beds similarly contain boulders of the rocks that preceded them, including the granite that rose beneath the Waterberg series. These boulders occur in the Glacial beds at the base of the system, corresponding with the Dwyka conglomerate of Cape Colony. These beds were laid down in a region already traversed by large streams, and it is very interesting to note that the modern Elands River, Bronkhorst Spruit. and Wilge River have cleared the Glacial beds out of the ancient channels, and have followed in the course of valleys that were long fossilised and lost to view. As in Cape Colony, the Lower Karroo beds lie on handsomely glaci ated surfaces. Dr. Molengraaff directed attention to these in 1898, and Mr. Mellor has described numerous new and admirable in stances (Fig. 2). The uniform direc tion of the striæ from one exposure to another points to an ice-sheet, and not to local glaciers. The fact that the movement was from north to south, speaking in general terms. both in the Transvaal and in Cape Colony, only adds zest to the search for an explanation of this old Glacial epoch in the southern hemisphere. It is satisfactory to find that Dr. Molengraaff now concludes that even in the Vryheid district the ice-movement was from N.W. to S.E. i.e., contrary to his previous suggestion. FIG. 1.-Waterberg sandstones near Balmoral, containing fragments of Pretoria quartzite. and the results have here been illustrated on an excellent and liberal scale. Topographic work has been undertaken where existing surveys are deficient, and it seems probable that the geologists will run ahead, for some years to come, of the accurate mapping of the country. The beds dealt with are, firstly, the Pretoria series of quartzites and shales, which must have a high antiquity; secondly, the Waterberg sandstones and grits, which are now for the first time proved to be distinctly unconformable on the Pretoria series; and thirdly, the Karroo system, or rather systems, which opened under Glacial conditions, and were laid down on the denuded surface of the folded Waterberg series. The two earlier series are thus clearly pre-Carboniferous. The Pretoria series is in places enormously swollen by the intrusion of diabase, which has worked its way along the bedding-planes with remarkable regularity. Where it breaks across the beds, it becomes slightly modified and charged with fragments from the quartzites. The Waterberg series near Balmoral has been invaded laccolitically by a granite, which is correlated with the red granite of the northern Transvaal. On its upper surface, which follows the planes of stratification of the overlying beds, it passes into a platy rock of the compact quartz-porphyry type. Mr. A. L. Hall found in the area allotted to him an interesting series of igneous rocks, including a norite which, near Onderstepoort, has given rise to considerable masses of magnetite by a process of segregation. FIG. 2.-Glaciated surface (Permo-Carboniferous glaciation), north of Douglas Colliery, near Mr. E. T. Mellor regards the Waterberg series, with its coarse breccias and conglomerates, as deposited in waters swayed by powerful currents, torrents from the land being responsible for the earlier beds. Fragments of the Pretoria quartzites are found in these, affording additional proof of the unconformity (Fig. 1). Bal.noral. It is not so clear, however, that similar internal processes, taking place during cooling, will account for the passage of the norite into red granite, described as occurring near the farm of Doornpoort. The facts noted, particularly the mottling of the granite near its margin, where it contains augite and decomposed hornblende, seem to point rather to the formation of a composite rock along an intrusive junction. Messrs. Kynaston and Hall conclude this important report with an account of what they style "diamondiferous" pipes and alluvial deposits. It is suggested that the diamond-bearing vents were connected with the great uplift that followed the close of the Karroo period in South Africa. Some of Mr. Mellor's results, now detailed in the official memoir, were communicated earlier in 1904 to the Geological Society of South Africa, and have been incorporated in Dr. Molengraaff's "Geology of the Transvaal." This handy work, the publisher of which is not named, now replaces the well known paper in the Bulletin de la Société géologique de France for 1901. It is accompanied by a coloured sketch map on the scale of 1 : 500,000. GRENVILLE A. J. COLE. OUR MUSEUMS.' THE object of the asso ciation, of which the manifold spheres of activity are chronicled in the Museums' Journal, is the promotion of the better and more systematic working of museums. That museums are destined to play a very important function in the future education of our race every curator is fully convinced. Yet anyone perusing the pages of the Museums' Journal will be struck by the apparent want of unanimity among those into whose charge such institutions have been placed as to the best methods to be adopted in conveying to the public the educational advantages offered. A learned German museum official thought that if artistic skill were more cultivated the public would show increased appreciation for museums. He insists that the greater the knowledge of drawing in a community, the greater the value of a are mounted. He gives as an instance how the train of the peacock, commonly called its "tail," is often placed as if it arose from the hinder end of the body, while in reality when erect it stands in front of the wings, as shown in the accompanying illustration reproduced from Mr. Pycraft's paper. "Would it not be well," remarks Dr. Bather very aptly in his excellent presidential address at the Aberdeen conference of the Museums' Association, "for each of us Museum curators occasionally to ask himself the question: What exactly is the object of my Museum?" While laying stress on inspiration as one of the principal functions of a museum, by which Dr. Bather understands the selection and display of material so as to attract members of the general public, FIG. 1.-Side view of the Peacock in display showing that, when erect, the train stands in front of the wings, and not behind them. From the Museums' Journal. a museum as an educational institution for nation. Dr. Hecht, a French museum authority, advocates placing among natural history specimens a number of attractive and pleasing exhibits so as to lead the mind of the visitor to larger ideas, and to show him by well chosen illustrations in how many ways animal life is connected with human civilisation. Another gentleman argues that the doctrine of evolution should be the key-note of museum work, while Mr. Pycraft directs attention to a real defect in many of our museums in the manner in which our animals "Geology of the Transvaal." By Dr. G. A. F. Molengraaff. Translated ty J. H Ronaldson, M.F. With Additions and Alterations by the Author. Pp. vini 90. (Edinburgh and Johannesburg. 1904.) The Museums' Journal. Edited by E. Howarth. Vol. iii. (July, 19 to June, 1904). Pp. x+436 and 73-142. (London: Dulau and Co., 14) Price 135. net. he does not, however, touch upon the really vital point to the museum curator-how can we best induce the community to enter the doors of our institutions? The scope of museums is extended from year to year, and everything is done to widen the sphere of their usefulness. A museum is no longer a place for exhibition only, but a place for research and investigation, and for the encouragement of those who desire to devote their time to such. Yet no one like the museum curator is more impressed with the fact that, in spite of all his efforts to make his collections appeal to the public, in spite of his heartfelt desire to teach both old and young, he only succeeds in attracting within the walls of the institution a comparatively small percentage of the community. What is really wanted, it seems to us, is that schools and museums should work hand in hand to aid one another in the supreme object of education. A beginning in that direction has been made in the United States and in some towns in England, where the young are taught in the lecture theatre and are then conducted by the teacher to the section of the museum dealing with the subject of the discourse. In this way the young are familiarised with the objects and uses of museums, to which they will surely more readily return in after life, and in the development of which they will take a keener interest than they do at present. R. F. S. IN DR. FRANK McCLEAN, F.R.S. N Dr. Frank McClean astronomy has not only lost one of her most devoted and painstaking followers, but a generous benefactor that can ill be spared, especially in this country. His death came as a surprise to most of his friends, for, although it was known that his increasing years were beginning to tell on his general activity, it was thought that there was still much work left in him. Unfortunately, however, this was not to be, for, at the latter end of his usual trip on the Continent, he was taken ill at Brussels, and very shortly afterwards passed away on November 8 at the age of sixty-seven, surrounded by members of his family. Dr. McClean was the son of the late distinguished engineer, Mr. J. R. McClean, F.R.S., and was born in 1837. After the_completion of his education at Westminster, the College, Glasgow, and Trinity College, Cambridge, of which he was a scholar, graduating in 1859 as a wrangler, he took up the profession of his father, and became apprenticed in the same year to Sir John Hawkshaw; three years later he was taken into partnership in the firm of Messrs. McClean and Stileman. Up to the year 1870 his energy was directed to engineering matters, but retiring from his profession, he devoted the remaining years of his life to spectroscopic researches in connection with the sun and stars. The success which rewarded his endeavours is best shown by the numerous important papers which he communicated to the Royal Society and Royal Astronomical Society, and by the fact that the council of the latter society awarded him, in 1899, the gold medal, their highest honour for astronomical research. The crowning work, which he fortunately completed, and with which his name will always be associated, was the conception and carrying out of the great spectroscopic survey of the brighter stars over the whole celestial sphere. He commenced his spectroscopic work with several important researches, all of which were carried out with zeal, patience, and thoroughness; these were naturally closely allied, in fact preliminary steps, to the great work to which he later devoted his energies. The first of these dealt with the photography of metallic spectra by means of an induction spark, after which he turned his attention to the nearest star, the sun, and made an elaborate series of comparative photographs of the spectra at high and low altitudes. An account of this, accompanied by a beautiful atlas of plates, was submitted in 1890 to the Royal Astronomical Society. The high sun spectrum was taken as far as possible when the sun's altitude was more than 45°, and the low sun when it was under 70, so that the depth of atmosphere traversed was in the proportion of one to five respectively. For securing these photographs he employed a fixed heliostat to reflect the solar light into a telescope fixed parallel to the polar axis, in conjunction with a spectroscope in which was used a large Rowland plane grating. The investigation brought out in a striking manner the different effects of atmospheric absorption in the solar spectrum, and put one on a firmer footing as regards the variations due to atmospheric influences. After the publication of these results, McClean turned his attention again to terrestrial spectra, and made a minute study of the comparative photographic spectra of the sun and metals. The first results were connected with the spectra of the gold and iron groups of metals. These spectra were collated by means of their common air lines with the iron spectrum, and so by means of the iron lines with the solar spectrum. In the gold group he found many lines due to these metals which up to that time had not been observed, and he also remarked some curious coincidences that existed between the air lines in the metallic spectra and lines in the solar spectrum. That he had in his mind the eventual spectroscopic study of the heavenly bodies is shown even in his brief accounts of these experiments, for in one case he writes, "the spectra of the metals appear to me to be fairly within the scope of astronomy, as our knowledge of them forms the basis of any knowledge we possess of the composition of the heavenly bodies." At the end of 1891 he published another set of comparative spectra of the sun and metals. The two series consisted of six sections, corresponding to six sections of Angstrom's chart; they were as follows: Section i. contained the spectra of the sun, iron, platinum, iridium, osmium, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, gold, and silver. The last eight constitute the platinum group of metals. Section ii. contained the spectra of the sun, iron, manganese, cobalt, nickel, chromium, aluminium, and copper. These seven metals constitute the iron copper group. Throughout McClean's scientific career his greatest work was undoubtedly the spectroscopic survey of every star brighter than 3 magnitudes scattered throughout the whole celestial sphere. Such a programme seemed large for one man to tackle single-handed, but McClean was equal to the occasion, and succeeded not only in accomplishing it, but in discussing and publishing the results. For the northern stars the photographs were secured at his home, Rusthall House, Tunbridge Wells. The instrument employed was a photographic telescope having an object glass of twelve inches diameter, and carrying an objective prism of the same aperture, with a refracting angle of 20°. To secure the southern stars McClean worked at the Cape of Good Hope from May to November, 1897. He took with him the prism he had already used for the northern work, and fixed it in front of the object glass of the well-known Cape astrographic instrument, which had been placed at his disposal by Sir David Gill. Both series of photographs were thus secured with practically identical instruments, the advantage of which it is difficult to overestimate. Space does not permit, nor is it here necessary, to enumerate at any length the results of such a farreaching research, which were so ably discussed, and received such high praise. Mention, however, may be made of the originality he displayed in referring the stars to galactic latitude and longitude, instead of employing the usual system of right ascension and declination. The celestial sphere he divided into four equal areas by drawing a circle at a radius of 60° from each galactic pole. By means of a great circle passing through the galactic poles, he cut the sphere into two halves, so that each of the four areas was again equally divided. This apparently simple portioning of the heavens was amply rewarded. In discussing the relation of special type stars to the Galaxy, one of the chief facts that made itself at once apparent was that "Helium" stars were not indiscriminately scattered over the heavens like the solar or other type stars, but were more thickly concentrated in the two zones north and south of the galactic equator. In addition, among many other outcomes of this survey was the discovery of oxygen in the spectrum of 8 Crucis, and in the helium stars generally. The energy and stamina displayed by McClean in all his work will be best understood when it is mentioned that he employed no assistants. In his laboratory he was the sole operator, and in the observatory at night every manipulation was accomplished by his own hands. To quote the words of the president of the Royal Astronomical Society when presenting him with the gold medal, " ... it was his eye that measured the lines, and his was the pen that worked out the calculations. Need I add more to prove that what Mr. McClean's hand had found to do he did with all his might?" Turning now from this very brief and incomplete summary of McClean's scientific work, reference must be made to his generosity in presenting munificent gifts for the advancement of astronomy. Being a worker himself, he was in a position to know in what direction monetary aid could be best employed. As the founder of the Isaac Newton studentships at Cambridge University, requiring an endowment of 15,000l., he rendered a service to astronomical science which it would be hard to overestimate, and the results that will accrue from it will, we hope, be a fitting memorial to his name. Not content with providing in this way the means by which the study of astronomy will be encouraged, he presented the Cape Observatory, ten years ago, with a large telescope, fittings, and dome, with all the latest improvements, to accomplish work which otherwise would have been delayed possibly for many years. He saw at once the field that was open and the advance that was possible if the southern heavens were surveyed by a prismatic camera of large dimensions, and he took this opportunity to supply the necessary means. The fact that Sir David Gill in his recent report for the year 1903 writes, "The Zeiss prism is a very perfect and transparent piece of glass, and I have no doubt that its performance will do credit to the fame of its makers. The observatory is indebted to Mr. McClean for this splendid gift, as also for the costly alterations to the spectroscope," shows that McClean's original gift has been greatly increased. As the inauguration of the "Victoria" telescope forms an epoch in the history of the Cape Observatory, may the results obtained with it play a like rôle in the advancement of stellar spectroscopy for the southern hemisphere. McClean was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1895; the university of Glasgow conferred on him the honorary degree of LL.D., while, as previously mentioned, he obtained the gold medal of the Royal Astronomical Society. In 1865 he married Ellen, the daughter of Mr. John Greg, of Escowbeck, Lancaster, who now mourns with her three sons and two daughters his loss. They are not, however, alone in their grief, for his death is deeply felt by a large circle of friends, among whom are many astronomical colleagues who will miss his familiar face. The funeral, which took place on Friday last, was attended by representatives from many societies and institutions, among which may be mentioned the Cambridge University, the Royal Society, the Royal Astronomical Society, the British Association, the NOTES. THE seventieth birthday of Prof. G. H. Quincke, the doyen of German physicists, will be celebrated at Heidelberg on Saturday next, November 19. Prof. Quincke's laboratory formed the subject of a contribution to our series of scientific centres in NATURE of April 24, 1902, and his portrait was reproduced in the article. Reference was then made to the admirable manner in which the laboratories THE American Consul at Bermuda describes in a United States Consular Report the steps which have been taken to establish there a biological station which will be to North America what the Naples station is to Europe. For several years American naturalists have carried on investigations of the natural history of the Bermudas and the surrounding sea, and have made efforts to establish a biological station in these islands. Upon the advice of the Royal Society, our Government has given its assent to the project. The Colonial Government has expressed its willingness to purchase the land and erect the building, and grants toward equipment and support of tables have been made by the Royal Society and the Carnegie Institution. Harvard University and New York University, in connection with the Bermuda Natural History Society, have already commenced work in a temporary laboratory close to what will be the permanent quarters of the station, and the United States Government has been asked to give generous support to the station. America has already founded a tropical botanical laboratory in buildings of the Government of Jamaica at Cinchona, and has now secured a biological station, so that it appears as if the Americans are rapidly getting the control of the scientific interests of our western tropical possessions. While we cannot but admire the interest shown in the establishment of these stations by universities and colleges in the United States, it is impossible not to regret the apathy with which our home and colonial Governments regard such matters. Surely it is the duty of the State to encourage the pursuit and cultivation of natural knowledge throughout the Empire, and to realise the richness of its possessions in material for scientific study as well as in precious minerals. It is a reproach to our nation that a biological station has not been established by us in the Bermudas; for now, instead of American investigators carrying on their work in a British station, we have to face the fact that, though the station will be on British soil, it will belong to the United States, and our own countrymen will be guests in it. So far as the interests of science are concerned, probably this does not matter; for, as Mr. Balfour wrote a few days ago to the translator of his British Association address, community of aim "binds together the scientific men throughout the world into one international brotherhood." But it should be evident to some of our ministers, at least to Mr. Balfour, who has often expressed sympathy with scientific progress, that it cannot be to the advantage of the State for another nation to accept responsibilities which belong to us. Mr. Balfour is gratified at the success of the translation of his address into German, but apparently he does not consider that the interest shown in scientific matters in Germany is due to the active and practical part played by the State in helping scientific education and research. What we want here and in all parts of the Empire is more practical help of the kind given by the United States and Germany to save us from the future regret of lost opportunities. REUTER'S Agency states that a long report has been received from the members of the expedition of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine now investigating sleeping sickness in the Congo. Complete observations have been made on the spread and distribution of sleeping sickness along the Congo River for a distance of nearly 1000 miles between Stanley Pool and Stanley Falls. From Leopoldville to Bumba cases of sleeping sickness were present in every town visited, and a large percentage of the population harboured trypanosomes. From Basoko to the falls only imported cases were met with, with two exceptions, and trypanosomes were not found among the general population. Observation seems to show that enlarged cervical glands are an early sign of the disease, recognisable before trypanosomes make their appearance in the general circulation, and in a little fluid withdrawn from a gland with a hypodermic needle trypanosomes may be detected. Tsetse flies were incessantly present up to Basoko, the species being Glossina palpalis, after which they became infrequent, their distribution thus corresponding with that of sleeping sickness. MR. W. H. PICKERING, late chief of the inspecting staff for the Yorkshire and Lincolnshire mining districts, has been appointed Chief Inspector of Mines in India. DR. CATTO has been awarded the Craggs prize of the London School of Tropical Medicine for his discovery of a new schistosomum parasite of man. The Craggs prize, of the value of 5ol., was founded some years ago by Sir John Craggs, and is awarded annually in October to that student of the London School who is considered to have carried out the best piece of research work, or made an important discovery, in tropical medicine during the preceding year. In a letter to the Speaker of November 5, Mr. J. A. Reid urges that educationists should consider the desirability of teaching children the principles of evolution in schools. In considering how the subject might be taught, Prof. W. K. Clifford remarked in 1878: "The teacher, knowing what is to come in the end, may so select the portions of various subjects which he teaches at an earlier stage that they shall supply in a later stage a means of understanding and estimating the evidence on some question of evolution." THE inaugural meeting of the Association of Economic Biologists was held at Burlington House on Tuesday, November 8. Mr. F. V. Theobald occupied the chair, and in the course of his introductory remarks he detailed the steps taken by Mr. Walter E. Collinge to found the association. He hoped that the association would welcome all investigators in economic biology, whether agricultural, medical, or commercial. The relationship between biology and agriculture was apparent to all, but only recently had the importance of its relationships with medicine and commerce been realised. Membership of the association will be confined to workers in economic biology. The following officers have been elected for 1904-5 :-president, Mr. Fred V. Theobald; vice-president, Mr. A. E. Shipley, F.R.S., council, Prof. G. S. Boulger, Prof. A. H. R. Buller, Prof. Geo. H. Carpenter, Dr. Francis Marshall, Mr. Robert Newstead, Major Ronald Ross, F.R.S., Mr. Fraser Storey, Mr. Cecil Warburton; hon. treasurer, Mr. Herbert Stone; hon. secretary, Mr. Walter E. Collinge. The next meeting will be held at Birmingham in April, 1905. ON December 4, 1804, Joseph Lebon, who is considered in France as the inventor of lighting-gas, was found murdered by an unknown hand in the Champs-Elysees, near the site where is now the Grand Palais. In memory of this sad tragedy, and to pay due honour to the celebrated inventor, the Compagnie Parisienne du Gaz has given a certain quantity of gas, free of charge, to the Aero Club and Société française aërienne. Ascents will accordingly be made on December 4 by members of these two societies. On December 5 an exhibition will be held in the Grand Palais by the Automobile Club. Ar a meeting of the Société astronomique de France held in Paris on November 2, M. Lippmann being in the chair. the Comte de la Baume-Pluvinel gave an address on the forthcoming total eclipse of the sun on August 30, 1905. He mentioned the intentions of American astronomers to send expeditions to Labrador, Spain, and Upper Egypt. After the address the society decided to appoint a committee for determining the part which France should take in observing the eclipse. It is fairly certain that the principal work of this committee will be concerned with observations in Algeria and Tunis, through which the line of totality passes. This eclipse was also commented upon at the last meeting of the St. Petersburg Scientific Aeronautic Congress, officially held in the rooms of the Imperial Academy of Sciences under the chairmanship of the Grand Duke Constantin Constantinovitch, president of the academy. Colonel Vives y Vich has announced that he will make an aëronautical ascent from Burgos on this occasion, for the purpose of ascertaining the part the clouds may possibly play in the apparent brightness and shade of the corona. In addition, the international committee of ballons-sondes has decided that atmospheric observations shall be made at the great altitudes of the various observatories connected with the institution during August 29, 30, and 31 for ascertaining the changes the eclipse may introduce in the prevailing winds and temperatures at different altitudes. |