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length of it is said to have been only about fourteen

miles.

It is very probable, though not conclusively proved, that large meteoritic showers of stones, like those of Pultusk and L'Aigle, reach the terrestrial atmosphere as swarms of isolated bodies; still, we must have regard to the fact that a mass is much fractured during its passage through the air by reason of the enormous pressure and the violent change of temperature. In the case of the Batsura fall, for example, it was conclusively established that stones picked up some miles apart must originally have formed part of a stone disrupted during the atmospheric flight.

It is a question of a certain amount of interest as to whether there is any evidence of the actual fall of a -hower of meteorites over a large extent of the earth's surface.

Such evidence has long been supposed to be furnished by the plentiful occurrence of meteorites in the Desert of Atacama, a terin applied to that part of Western South America which lies between the towns of Copiapo and Cobija, about 330 miles distant from each other, and which extends inland as far as the Indian hamlet of Antofagasta, about 180 miles from the coast.

The generally received impression as to the occurrence of meteorites in this desert is well illustrated by the following statement of M. Darlu, of Valparaiso, read to the French Academy of Sciences in 1845

"For the last two years I have made observations of shooting-stars during the nights of November 11-Novemer 15, without remarking a greater number than at other times I was led to make these observations by the fact that in the Desert of Atacama, which begins at Copiapo, meteorites are met with at every step. I have heard, also, from one who is worthy of trust, that in the Argentire Republic, near Santiago del Estero, there is-so to say-a forest of enormous meteorites, the iron of which is employed by the inhabitants."

A study of the literature indicates that "the forest of enormous meteorites" near Santiago del Estero, understood by Darlu as significative of infinity of number, is really a free translation of a native statement that there were several masses having the shape of boge trunks with deep roots," and that not more than four, or perhaps five, masses had really been seen in the Santiago locality at the time of Darlu's statement There is a similar misunderstanding relative to the Atacama masses: it is clearly proved that, at a date long subsequent to 1845, the Desert was virtually untrodden and unexplored. In Darlu's time it was only crossed along definite tracks by Indians travelling between San Pedro de Atacama and Copiapo, and between the inland Antofagasta and the coast. In fact, it is established that the only Atacama meteorites then in circulahun were all got from a single small area, three or four leagues in length, in the neighbourhood of Imilac, one of the few watering-places on the track between San Pedro and Copiapo.

Since that time the discovery of rich silver-mines in the centre of the Desert, and the working of the nitrate deposits, have led to vast changes; the Desert has been more or less closely examined, and other meteoritic masses have been found. Still, the number of meteorites yet discovered, distinct either in mineralogical characters or jocality, is shown to be, at most, thirteen.

One of them, Lutschaunig, is distinct from all the rest being a chondritic stone; a second, Vaca Muerta, likewise differs from all the others in that it consists of nickel-iron and stony matter, both in large proportion; third, Imilac, is a nickel-iron with cavities, like those of a sponge, filled with olivine; a fourth, Copiapo, is a nickel-iron with irregularly disposed angular inclosures of trolite and stony matter; the remaining nine consist of nickel-iron, virtually free from silicates, some of them

showing no Widmanstätten figures when etched, others showing excellent figures more or less differing in character.

Now, in every meteoritic shower yet observed, the individuals which have fallen simultaneously have been found to belong to a common type. Hence, it is reasonably certain that several distinct meteors are represented in the Desert, and that the above masses are the result of several falls; and this being accepted, the assertion of simultaneity of fall of two or more masses on the purely geographical ground that they have been found in the same Desert, can be allowed no great weight.

But have masses belonging to any one of the above types been found scattered over a part of the Desert so extensive as to indicate a meteoritic fall more widely spread than any of those actually observed? A critical examination of the cases in which such an enormous spread has been asserted proves that the evidence is quite unsatisfactory. The results may thus be summarized:

(1) Lutschaunig.-This was a single stone. (2) Vaca Muerta.-The masses were in great abundance distributed over a small area. But fragments undoubtedly belonging to this type have been brought from two other places far distant from the main locality. Very cogent evidence is brought forward to prove that the said fragments must have been carried to those places-the Jarquera Valley and Mejillones-from Vaca Muerta itself.

(3) Imilac.-An examination of all the known literature indicates that the whole of the fragments belonging to this type have been got from the immediate neighbourhood of Imilac. Caracoles, Potosi, and Campo de Pucará, from which specimens, belonging to this type, have been brought, are shown to be on regular lines of traffic starting from the Atacama coast. It is further shown that Imilac specimens were in great request, and were certainly carried to very distant places along such lines of traffic.

(4) Copiapo.-It is conclusively proved that the two localities, upwards of 400 miles apart, for meteoritic masses belonging to this type, result from a mere interchange of labels, and that all the masses probably came from a single place.

(5-13) There is no satisfactory evidence furnished by similarity of type for any of the meteoric irons being part of a widespread shower.

It is thus clear that the meteorites of the Desert of Atacama afford absolutely no proof that enormous meteoritic showers have ever reached the earth's surface.

The general dryness of the air of the Desert, and the rarity of rain, have been sufficient to ensure the preservation of masses which have fallen in the course of many centuries unto a time when an exploration of a large extent of the Desert has taken place.

That the meteoritic masses are far from being so plentiful as has been imagined is conclusively proved by the experience of Mr. George Hicks, one of the earliest explorers of the 23rd and 24th parallels; although much interested in their occurrence, he never found a mass himself, and he only obtained his first specimen after years of persevering inquiry from the Indians.

Detailed information relative to the Atacama meteorites, with a description and map of the Desert, will be found in the recently published number of the Mineralogical Magazine. L. F.

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plements used, and those are mostly undated. Broadly speaking, the three sites just named represent respectively the Old Kingdom before 3400 B.C., the Middle Kingdom about 26c0 B.C., and the New Kingdom from 1600 B.C.; and though debarred from scientific work in these richest districts of Egypt-owing to national jealousies-I have been fortunate enough to discover two small towns, each only occupied for a couple of centuries, which have thus revealed the works of the Middle and New Kingdoms with chronological exactness. Beside the Egyptian interest of these places, they are of prime importance for Mediterranean history, having been colonies of foreign workmen.

These towns are one on each side of the entrance to the Fayum province, fifty miles south of Cairo. The northern town, now called Kahun, was built for the workmen employed by Usertesen II., for his pyramid and temple, about 26co B.C. The southern town, now called Gurob, was founded by Tahutmes III., and destroyed by Merenptah, thus lasting from about 1450 to 1190 B.C. Obtaining thus two sites of different ages, close together, we can be certain that all differences are due entirely to time and not to locality. The change in an interval of 1200 years is most marked. Of the pottery, scarcely a single type of form or material is alike in the two periods; of the many varieties of beads of stone and glazed ware, hardly

one was continued; the metal tools are every one change. in form; and the use of flints had practically died ou For the first time we are able to trace the definite an: decided changes in all the products of two ages so remot The idea that Egypt was changeless is only due to o lack of knowledge; not only fashions changed-every fes years in minor details-but radical rearrangements we made from age to age in the manufactures.

TIG. I.

The twelfth dynasty town-Kahun-is the more impor ant, and we will briefly note some of its products. Fir working was carried to a high pitch, the thin flat knives being flaked with much skill: but alloys of copper were als in use, and show ability in their casting and hammering, a thin bowl being wrought out of one piece. We find, then, flint and metal side by side, the flint being the commme material, but yet influenced in its forms by the types metal tools. Moreover, we now see the use of the numer flint saws, formed of serrated flakes; many of them have black cement upon them, and one was found remainır in its socket in a wooden sickle (Fig. 1).

Beside hatchets, adzes, and chisels of bronze, we find needles, barbed and unbarbed fish-hooks, netting-needles and knives of the straight-backed type. Among woode tools are hoes, rakes, grain-scoops, a brick-mould, plas terers' floats, bow-drills, plummets, &c. Perhaps the most important of all is a fire-stick, on which five burnt holes

END VIEW

Wooden sickle with flint saw (twelfth dynasty).

remain where fire has been drilled by a rotating rod : the drilling was begun by hacking a groove in the side of the stick, down which the heated wood powder might run, until it caught alight. This shows, for the first time, how the Egyptians obtained fire: and familiar as they were with the bow-drill, they doubtless used it for the fire-stick. A very interesting point is the origin of the shoe from the sandal. Two sandal-shoes have been found; both with toe and heel straps, but with an upper of leather across the foot. Tops, tip-cats, clay toys, dolls with jointed limbs, and game boards, were all in use. Among a large number of papyri that I found are two wills, one of which is a recital of a will and a settlement, duly witnessed. The provisions show that the later law of Greek times was much the same in matters of descent as it was two thousand years earlier. On receiving family property the man settles it on his wife; she has a life interest in the dwellings, and may divide all the property among their children at her discretion. The man's official position he left to his son. A guardian was also appointed, excluding the eldest son from that duty. Some numerical notes concerning fractions are also found; and all these papyri are in course of study by Mr. F. L. Griffith.

On turning to the later town-Gurob-of about 1300 B.C., we find that the art of flint working was lost; only a few rude leaf-shaped flakes (totally different from the earlier forms) and some little saw-flakes remain, and these are

scarce. Thus we may date the fall of fine flint manufac ture in Egypt to about 2c00 B.C.; though rude flakes continued to be used till late Roman times, and more abundantly in poorer ages. Bronze tools were much modified; hatchets and chisels less finely formed, knives always double edged, fish-hooks not barbed, and punched metal rasps were brought in. Bronze working reached high level in the making of two large pans, 14 and 9 inches across, exquisitely wrought with difficult curves, and so thin that they can be still bent in and out by the finger Glass ornaments were commonly used, though not found in the earlier town. The plain beads of fine blue, violet, &c., belong to about 1300 B.C.; while the coarser beads of black, yellow, green, brown, and white, with eyepatterns, are about a century later.

The presence of foreigners in both of these towns is shown by the weights discovered, which are-with scarcely an exception--of foreign standards, foreign forms, foreign materials. A commercial intercourse must there fore have been kept up between these foreign colonies and the Mediterranean. Beside this evidence we find at Gurob the burials of one of the Tursha or Turseni (from As Minor), and a Hittite; foreign art is seen in a min handle with the Phoenician Venus, and a wooden figure of a Hittite; and foreign complexions are shown by the light hair found on some of the bodies. A very strany Mediterranean influence appears in the quantity of pottery

dentical with the earliest styles found at Mykenæ, at Iera, and at Mytilene; and we are now able to date

e stages of early culture in the Greek lands to 18., a fixed point of the greatest value.

The most novel discovery of all is the presence of appa ently alphabetic sigas in use in both towns (Fig. 2), and En the circumstances amply guaranteed to be of about TLC and 1300 B.C. Our existing theories of alphadevelopment require us to suppose that the Pheniin letters were established before 2000 B.C.; as the yptian writing from which De Rougé derived them, as extinct after that date; and the Cypriote syllabic ens must be older. Thus, though no known inscriptions in be placed before about 900 B.C., yet the forms must ave started about the same period as that of the first of se towns, Kahun. The conditions that we find, therere of a great variety of signs in use, many of which have survived, while others have drifted apart into many Ferent alphabets, are just what might be expected at

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Si un postery of the e ghteenth to nineteenth dynasty (Gurob), *hese early times. The apparent connection of these sons with some of the mason's marks of Egypt suggests

the lake seemed to be not more than six miles away from where we stood-by observation the second journey I fixed it at nine miles direct south-easterly from the place. This will make the terminus of the south-west corner at 117 N. lat. By prismatic compass the magnetic bearing of the south-east corner just south of Numba Falls was 137, this will make it about 1° 11' 30" N. lat. A magnetic bearing of 148° taken from N. lat. 1° 25′ 30" about exactly describes the line of shore running from the south-west corner of the lake to the south-east corner of the Albert. Baker fixed his position at N. lat. 1° 15', if I recollect rightly. The centre of Mbakovia Terrace bears 121° 30′ magnetic from my first point of observation, this will make his Vacovia about 1° 15′ 45′′, allowing 10' west variation.

"In trying to solve the problem of the infinity of Lake Albert as sketched by Baker, and finding that the lake terminus is only four miles south of where he stood to view it from a little hill,' and on a beautifully clear day,' one would almost feel justified in saying that he had never seen the lake. But his position of Vacovia proves that he actually was there, and the general correctness of his outline of the east coast from Vacovia to Magungo also proves that he navigated the lake. When we turn our faces north-east, we say that Baker has done exceedingly well, but, when we turn them southward, our senses in vain try to penetrate the mystery, because our eyes see not what Baker saw. When Gessi Pasha first sketched the lake after Baker, and reduced the immense lake to one about ninety miles long, my faith was in Baker, because Gessi could not resolve by astronomical observations the south end of the lake. When Mason Bey -an accomplished surveyor-in 1877 circumnavigated the lake, and corroborated Gessi, then I thought that perhaps Mason had met a grassy barrier or sandbank overgrown with sedge and ambatch, and had not reached the true beyond, because he admitted that he could not see very far from the deck of his steamer, my faith still rested in Baker; but now, with Lieutenant Stairs, of the Royal Engineers, Mr. Mounteney Jephson, Surgeon Parke, Emin Pasha, Captain Casati, I have looked with my own eyes upon the scene, and find that Baker has made an

error. . .

...

at they may have been adopted by the foreign workmen om their Egyptian fellow-labourers; and the very lack of literary education among such men would lead to their forming alphabets of their own from such materials. We have at least now obtained two well-defined stages, between the finished and segregated alphabets of the period of known inscriptions, of 900 B.C. downward, and the original elements of Egyptian hieroglyphs, hieratic, mson's marks, and perhaps Hittite and cuneiform chaters, from which the alphabets were evolved. To dis-or fifty miles; the Blue Mountains' are nothing else

as the historical descent of the signs, and to form a ntinuous theory of them, will need much discussion, and more materials. Meanwhile, my work will lie in the Complete gathering in of what may still remain in these

A full account and drawings of every sign and ery object of importance found this year will appear .: few months. W. M. FLINDERS PETRIE.

MR. STANLEY'S GEOGRAPHICAL DIS

COVERIES.

THE
HIS week an interesting letter from Mr. Stanley to
Colonel Grant has been published. It is dated,
Villages of Batundu, Ituri River, Central Africa, Sep-
ember 8, 1888. Speaking of Lake Albert, Mr. Stanley

"When on December 13, 1887, we sighted the lake, the
uthern part lay at our feet almost, like an immense

We glanced rapidly over the grosser details-the y plateau walls of Unyoro to the east, and that of rezza to the west, rising nearly 3000 feet above the Siver water, and between the walls stretched a plainmingly very flat-grassy, with here and there a dark mp of brushwood-which as the plain trended southwesterly became a thin forest. The south-west edge of

1

"I am somewhat surprised also at Baker's altitudes of Lake Albert, and the 'Blue Mountains,' and at the breadth attributed by him to the lake. The shore opposite Vacovia is ten and a quarter miles distant, not forty

but the west upland-the highest cone or hill being not
above 6000 feet above the level of the sea, not 7000 or
8000 feet high. The altitude of Lake Albert by aneroid
and boiling-point will not exceed 2350, not 2720, feet.
"And last of all, away to the south-west where he has
sketched his 'infinite' stretch of lake, there rises, about
forty miles from Vacovia, an immense snowy mountain-
a solid square-browed mass with an almost level summit
between two lofty ridges. If it were a beautifully clear
day' he should have seen this, being nearer to it by
thirteen geographical miles than I was.'

Of the snowy Mountain, Mr. Stanley writes as follows:

66

'My interest is greatly excited, as you may imagine, by the discovery of Ruwenzori the Snowy Mountain—a possible rival of Kilimanjaro. Remember that we are in north latitude, and that this mountain must be near on the equator itself, that it is summer now, that we saw it in the latter part of May, and that the snow-line was about (estimate only) 1000 feet below the summit. Hence I conclude that it is not Mount Gordon Bennett, seen in December 1876 (though it may be so), which, the natives said, had only snow occasionally. At the time I saw the latter, there was no snow visible. It is a little further east, according to the position I gave it, than Ruwenzori.

"All the questions which this mountain naturally gives

rise to will be settled, I hope, by this Expedition before it returns to the sea. If at all near my line of march, its length, height, and local history will be ascertained. My young officers will like to climb to the summit, and I shall be glad to furnish them with every assistance." At the time when this letter was written, Mr. Stanley was uncertain as to the destination of the streams flowing between the two Muta Nzigés":

66

Many rivers will be found to issue from this curious land between the two Muta Nzigés. What rivers are they? Do they belong to the Nile or the Congo? There is no river going east or south-east from this section, except the Katonga and Kafur, and both must receive, if any, but a very small supply from Gordon Bennett and Ruwenzori. The new mountain must therefore be drained principally south and west. If south, the streams have connection with the Lake South; if west, the Semliki tributary of Lake Albert, and some river flowing to the Congo must receive the rest of its waters. Then, if the Lake South receives any considerable supply, the interest deepens. Does the lake discharge its surplus to the Nile or to the Congo? If to the former, then it will be of great interest to you, and you will have to admit that Lake Victoria is not the main source of the Nile; if to the Congo, then the lake will be the source of the River Lowwa or Coa, since it is the largest tributary to the Congo from the east between the Aruwimi and the Luama. For your comfort I will dare venture the opinion even now that the lake is the source of the Lowwa, though I know nothing positive of the matter. But I infer it, from the bold manner in which the Aruwimi trenches upon a domain that anyone would have imagined belonged to the Nile. It was only ten minutes' march between the head of one of its streams to the crest of the plateau whence we looked down upon the Albert Nyanza.

"From the mouth of the Aruwimi to the head of this

stream is 390 geographical miles in a straight line. Well,

next to the Aruwimi in size is the Lowwa River, and from the mouth of the Lowwa to the longitude of Ugampaka post in a direct line is only 240 geographical miles."

NOTES.

THE Gilbert Club, to which we referred last week, was formally founded on Thursday, November 28. The following officers were appointed at the first general meeting :-President, Sir William Thomson. Vice-Presidents: Lord Rayleigh, Prof. D. E. Hughes, Prof. Reinold, Mr. Jonathan Hutchinson (President of the Royal College of Surgeons), Dr. B. W. Richardson, and Mr. H. Laver, of Colchester. Mr. Latimer Clark was elected Treasurer, and Mr. Conrad Cooke, Prof. R. Meldola, and Prof. S. P. Thompson, Hon. Secretaries. The resolution finally adopted by the meeting was:-"That the objects of the Gilbert Club be as follows:-(1) To produce and issue an English translation of 'De Magnete' in the manner of the folio edition of 1600. (2) To arrange hereafter for the tercentenary celebration of the publication of ' De Magnete' in the year 1900. (3) To promote inquiries into the personal history, life, works, and writings of Dr. Gilbert. (4) To have power, after the completion of the English edition of 'De Magnete,' to undertake the reproduction of other early works on electricity and magnetism, provided at such date a majority of the members of the Club so desire." At the time of the inaugural meeting eighty-seven members had joined the Club.

PROF. J. BRYCE's speech (read by Prof. Holland) at the presentation of Mr. A. R. Wallace for the degree of D.C.L., honoris causa, at Oxford, on November 26, was one of unusual interest. We may note especially the very masterly way in which the doctrine of the survival of the fittest was expressed. After describing Mr. Wallace's travels in Brazilian forests, and among

the islands, "quæ ultra Chersonesum aureum soli nimium pr pinque subjacent," the speech referred to his discovery of the theory according to which new species are evolved, which shortly stated as, "ea corpora vigere magis prolemque ex subeundis aptissima creaverit : sic stirpen a cæteris stirpibus Llætiorem surgere quæ ipsa nescio quo pacto natura vitæ pericul similem et in dies longius discrepantem propagari." The c temporaneous discovery of natural selection by Charles Darw and his cordial recognition of Mr. Wallace's merits, wer mentioned: "tanta et in hoc et in illo inerat animi nobult. veritatis quam gloriæ propriæ studiosior." Reference was that to Mr. Wallace's various writings.

WE regret to announce the sudden death of Dr. W. E McNab. He died at his residence in Dublin on Tues. morning, the 3rd inst. Dr. McNab was Professor of Botani in the Royal College of Science, Dublin, having succee Prof. Thiselton Dyer, F.R. S. He was also Scientific Supe intendent and Referee to the Royal Botanic Gardens, G nevin, under the Science and Art Department. He appear to have been in his usual health on Monday, and on Andrew's Day (Saturday) took an energetic part in the meet and banquet held by the Scotch residents in Dublin.

THE Colonies and India reports the death, in Melbourne, Mr. Robert Brough Smyth, who was for sixteen years Secret of Mines in Victoria. He was well known in Australia

his contributions, especially on geological questions, to scien.s

literature.

THE new Natural Science Museum of Berlin was opened a Monday. The Berlin Correspondent of the Standard, descnbr the proceedings, says that the ceremony was striking. A hi some tent, surmounted by an imperial crown, was erected for th Frederick Charles, Prince Alexander, the Hereditary Prince and Emperor and Empress, who were present with the Prince Princess of Meiningen, and a brilliant suite. Nearly all th= Ministers, including Count Bismarck, who has just returned from Friedrichsruh, and the Minister of War, were in attendan Count Waldersee, representatives of the Academy of Art, 201 the Professors of the University, were also present. Dr. vor Gossler, Minister of Education, delivered an eloquent addres, in which he mentioned that the collections were founded a hardred years ago, and expressed the hope that both science and the State would derive equal benefit from the new institution Fr Beyrich, the first Curator of the Museum, pledged himself to keep abreast with the progress of science. Their Majestit were conducted through the building by the keepers of the various collections.

THE Paris Museum of Natural History is about to elect successor to M. Chevreul in the Chair of Chemistry.

AT the general monthly meeting of the Royal Institution on December 2, the managers reported that they had appointed Prof. James Dewar, F.R.S., as Fullerian Professer of Chemistry.

THE Academy of Sciences of Vienna has appointed Prof G. Niemann, of Vienna, and Major Steffan, of Cassel, to be prec as impartial witnesses at the excavations at Hissarlik, beg on November 25, under the direction of Dr. H. Schliemann and Dr. W. Dörpfeld. Captain Ernst Botticher, who has ofe called in question the utility of Dr. Schliemann's archæological investigations, has been requested to take part in the excava

tions.

MR. HUGH G. BARCLAY, in his Report as to the fund for the preservation of birds in the Farne Islands, says he has every reason to believe that the birds were very well protected this season. He visited the islands twice, and each time he satisfied himself, by his own personal investigations, that the birds kay

o been unduly disturbed. Last year, at the request of the athorities, he allowed some young birds to be taken from the lans for the purpose of being placed on the lake at St. James's 2, London. The following is an extract from a letter he ately received from Mr. Rilly, the bird-keeper there :-"The nly birds alive now of those brought from the Farne Islands are Thermorants, which are thriving. The puffins all died during The arst three months. The guillemots lived somewhat longer, the death of the last one being the result of an accident. The =ne auttiwake also died by an accident. The terns died during the severe frost, being apparently unable to get about on the ice, their tail and wings collected the ice; I suppose on account of ther being pinioned and not being able to use their wings freely." THE Council of the Dundee and District Association for the Promotion of Technical and Commercial Education has issued first Annual Report, and is able to give a very good account of the results it has achieved. With regard to the future work of tur Association, the Council suggests that workshop instruction for lads engaged at unskilled work in factories and during the y should be established in connection with the evening classes the School Board. It also proposes the drafting of additional courses of instruction, especially in painting, decoration, and pattern designing, and the encouraging of higher classes in these ues. In this connection the Council appropriately refers to the fat that in 1884 the Technical Instruction Commissioners ported that "the crowded schools of drawing, modelling, arving, and painting, maintained at the expense of the munialities of Paris, Lyons, Brussels, and other cities-absolutely gratuitous and open to all comers, well lighted, furnished with e lest models, and under the care of teachers full of enthut-stimulate those manufactures and crafts in which the fine rplay an important part to a degree which is without parallel in this con ry."

A SLIE of questions on the effects of London fogs on cul vated plants has been issued by the scientific committee of the Royal Horticultural Society. The experience of the current season only is to be utilized.

Cetacean

A SPECIMEN of the Rorqual musculus has just come ashore on the coast of the Médoc district. Dr. Beauregard, aide naturaliste at the Paris Museum, went to the spot to examine this interesting Unfortunately, the brain was already in a state of deposition, but the breasts and ears were dissected off for eplete examination. The animal was 14 metres long, and 6 eties in circumference at the thickest part of the body. POF. CHAUVEAU has lately published in the Archives de Showge Expérimentale a contribution to the study of " formism" in microbiology. His researches relate to Bacillus an, and show that by experimental means various important logical alterations may be obtained.

trans

PROP MARSHALL WARD is about to deliver, at th eCity and Guilds of London Institute, a course of six lectures on timber, its nature, varieties, uses, and diseases. The lectures will be ven on Monday and Thursday evenings, at 7.30 (December 12, │ 16, and 19, and January 23, 27, and 30). The object of the arse is to explain as simply and clearly as possible, with the aid of numerous lantern illustrations, the nature, properties, varieties, and uses of the ordinary timbers used in construction, and to give an intelligible account of dry-rot, and allied diseases

of timber.

THE second series of lectures given by the Sunday Lecture Sicely will begin on Sunday afternoon, December 8, in St. George's Hall, Langham Place, at 4 p.m., when Mr. W. Lant arpenter, B.Sc., will lecture on "The Wonders of the Yellowne Park-a Personal Narrative," with oxy-hydrogen lantern lustrations from the lecturer's own camera. Lectures will also

be given by Commander V. L. Cameron, R.N., Mr. J. F. Blake, Mr. Henry Blackburn, Mr. Wilmott Dixon, Mr. Stanton Coit, and Mr. Eric S. Bruce.

THE annual general meeting of the Institution of Electrical Engineers will be held at the Institution of Civil Engineers, 25 Great George Street, Westminster, on Thursday, December 12, at 8 o'clock in the evening, for the reception of the annual report of the Council, and for the election of Council and Officers for the year 1890. The following paper will be further discussed: "Electric Engineering in America," by Mr. G. L.

Addenbrooke.

Ir is stated that a scheme is on foot for establishing a Natural History Society in the Punjaub. It is to be hoped that it will be successful, and that the Society will flourish as other Indian scientific societies are doing.

IN the introductory lecture to the agricultural class at the University of Edinburgh, delivered at the opening of the present of session, Prof. Wallace chose as his subject some aspects Australasian agriculture. In this lecture, which has now been printed, Prof. Wallace urges that sheep farmers in this country will shortly feel the effects of rivalry with the flock masters of Australia. There are 100,000,000 sheep in Australia, mostly merinos, which are not, by the way, a flesh-yielding but a woolgiving race. Prof. Wallace hazards the opinion, by a very easy process of arithmetic, that, before many years have passed, Australia will be possessed of over 200,000,000. He makes, also, the astonishing statement that merino mutton is equal in flavour and texture to our best Highland, Welsh, or South Down mutton. Upon these two assumptions, for they are nothing more, he foretells calamities to the meat producers of this country, which he, it is to be hoped, will not live to see.

A STALACTITE cave has been discovered in Ascheloh, near Halle, in Westphalia; it is reported to be more than 100 metres long.

A SHARP shock of earthquake was felt at Oran, Algeria, on November 27, at 3 p.m. It lasted ten seconds, the oscillations being from east to west.

ACCORDING to a telegram sent through Reuter's agency from Belgrade on December 2, violent shocks of earthquake, accompanied by loud subterranean rumblings, were felt on Sunday afternoon at Kregugewatz, Jagodina, and Kupsia. The disturb. ance generally travelled from east to west, but some of the shocks moved from north to south.

MR. H. C. RUSSELL, Government Astronomer of New South Wales, has published the results of meteorological observations made in that colony during 1887. The number of reportin; stations is now 862, being 94 more than in 1886, the increase being almost wholly in rain stations. The arrangement of the tables, which give the most important data for each station separately, is the same as in previous years; but there are also two new tables giving the mean maximum and minimum temperature at Sydney for each month from 1856 to 1887. The mean temperature of the whole colony for the last seventeen years is 61° 2. At Sydney the mean for thirty years is 62°7. The diagrams appended to the volume give a good idea of the weather conditions at Sydney, and clearly exhibit the peculiarities of certain periods, such as the very short winter of 1873, and the long one of 1874, also the long summer of 1877-78, with four months of hot weather, and the short summer of 1886-87, when there was only one month of hot weather. In 1878 the lowest winter temperature occurred in June, and in 1872 in August. A comparison is made of the rainfall at the principal places in the various colonies. The contrast between the amount at Brisbane and Sydney and that at Melbourne is very striking. At the former places as much rain sometimes

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