The invention of "Poudre B" by Vieille marked the commencement of a new era in connection with the science of artillery, and it was not long before smokeless powders made from the violent guncotton, or of guncotton combined with the still more violent nitroglycerine, entirely superseded the centuries-old gunpowder. Modern explosives are characterised by very greatly increased power, giving enormously greater range to projectiles fired from both rifles and artillery, thus altering entirely the conditions of both land and naval warfare.

It is at present not easy to forecast in what direction further improvements in propellants will take place. It is also difficult to conceive what the explosive of the future will be which will produce a change as revolutionary as that which took place when smokeless powders superseded the old-fashioned black powders. For some time to come, probably, the manufacturer of explosives will have to content himself with endeavours to improve them as far as he can, both from a ballistic and from a stability point of view, with the ingredients now at his disposal.

UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL
INTELLIGENCE.

DR. A. ROBINSON, professor of anatomy in the University of Birmingham, has been appointed to the chair of anatomy in Edinburgh University in succession to the late Prof. D. J. Cunningham, F.R.S.

IT is stated by the Frankfurt Gazette that the National Assembly of Iceland has decided to establish a university at Reikjavik, the capital of the island. The new university is to have four faculties, with sixteen professors and lecturers.

MR. EDWIN TATE has presented new library buildings to Battersea Polytechnic. The total book accommodation is 20,000 volumes. The cost of the buildings, including fittings, is estimated at about 6000l., and the whole is being defrayed by Mr. Tate.

an

A CORRESPONDENT informs us that the appointments to the chairs of chemistry in the Technical High School at Munich have just been officially announced. The names of the various professors are:-organic chemistry, Prof. Semmler; inorganic chemistry, Prof. A. Stock; physical chemistry, Prof. R. Abegg. Each professor has institute of his own, and Prof. Abegg retains, at the same time, his position as extraordinary professor in the University of Breslau. The Technical High School, which is being built at a cost of something like five million marks, is making good progress, and is to be opened officially in October, 1910.

THE Commencement address last June at the South Dakota School of Mines, Rapid City, South Dakota, was delivered by the president of the Colorado School of Mines, Mr. Victor C. Alderson, who took for his subject "Artist or Artisan-Which? " "The artisan," he said, 66 understands machinery; the artist-engineer is a master of the kinematics of machines. The artisan works with his hands and lets his mind rest; the artist-engineer uses his brains to relieve his hands. The artisan becomes a skilled workman and no more; the artist-engineer sees beyond the mere machinery to the economic management of his plant, to the percentage saving possible, to the market for his product, to the efficient service of his employees, to the general success of the entire plant. To do all this he must have an ideal." Every young engineer, he proceeded to say later, should decide early in life whether he will become merely an artisan-engineer or an artist-engineer. Mr. Alderson then gave some inspiring advice to young engineers as to the physical, personal, intellectual, and moral characteristics they should strive to develop. Incidentally, he said the chance for the untrained or uneducated man to make a success in this age is practically nil. Taking "Who's Who" as a standard of national prominence in America, it is found, said Mr. Alderson, that it takes approximately 10,000 grammar-school pupils to produce one man worthy to be enrolled in "Who's Who." Of high-school students 250 suffice, while of fifty college graduates one will, on the average, rise to sufficient prominence to be enrolled in this book.

THE proceedings in connection with the celebration of the 500th anniversary of the founding of the University of Leipzig began on July 28, when a reception was given by the University to the representatives of German and foreign universities and learned societies invited to participate in the proceedings. On the following day a festival service in the University Church was attended by the King of Saxony. A commemorative meeting in the new theatre followed the service, and the King delivered an address and presented two medallions to the University to be worn in future by the rector of the University on his chain of office. The medallions bear images of the King of Saxony and of the founder of the University. The Saxon Minister of Education in an address afterwards outlined the history of the University. On July 30 Prof. further commemoration speeches were delivered. Wundt was the principal speaker, and during the course of his speech remarked, although the German people seem to be in the current of an intellectual movement in which the demand for higher education is hardly less strong than was the revival of learning in the Middle Ages, he said, in the words of Leibnitz, "It is the past which contains the future." Prof. Mahaffy spoke on behalf of the British delegates. The following honorary degrees were conferred among others :-Doctor of Medicine, Prof. E. B. Wilson, of Columbia University; Doctors of Philosophy, Sir Archibald Geikie, K.C.B., P.R.S., Prof. J. Loeb, of California University. Prof. J. Ward, of Cambridge University, and Mr. F. L. Griffith, reader in Egyptology, Oxford University.

I. MINERALOGY.

Our new MINERALOGICAL SUMMER-TERM LIST No. 9 gives a short survey of the latest additions to our stock of new and especially remarkable minerals; finest large specimens for museum show-cases, &c. Great supply of most beautiful new specimens and large crystals of Benitoite and Carlosite; magnificent crystals of Rubellite from Brazil (new <ccurrence): Diamants from the new finds in German South-West Africa; choice Ural and Japan Minerals: Topaze, Emerald, Pyrrhite, Copper Pyrites (Groth Zeitschr. XLIII., p. 47), Danburite, Epidote, Naegite, &c.

THE CULLINAN DIAMOND. Imitation in finest crystal glass, showing the natural colour and form. Price 8s. 6d. Imitations of the nine large brilliants cut from the Cullinan Diamond, in elegant case. £1 10s.

New Collections of Polished Mineral Sections for optical purposes, neatly mounted; special Price List just out, sent free on application.

II. PALEONTOLOGY.

The new PALEONTOLOGICAL SUMMER-term LIST No. 34 has just been published, and gives all particulars as to numerous additions to our encrmous stock of fossils.

1. Palæobotany: preparations of plants from the Devonian and Carbonian; Tæniopteris from Asia Minor.

2. Invertebrata: Bosporus - Trias and Devonian; magnificent Ancyloceras gigas from the English Gault.

3. Vertebrata: Capitosaurus, Mystriosaurus, Ichthyosaurus, &c., excellent specimens. Lepidotus elvensis, Ursus spelreus, &c.

Dr. F. KRANTZ,

RHENISH MINERAL OFFICE, BONN-ON-RHINE, GERMANY. ESTABLISHED 1833.

ESTABLISHED 1833.

MINERALOGY, GEOLOGY & PETROLOGY.

Single Specimens and Collections

for Prospectors, Teachers and Students.

Rock Sections, Well-cut. Fossils from all Formations. Metallic Ores from all Parts. Minerals for Chemical Purposes. LISTS FREE from

JAMES R. GREGORY & CO., Mineralogists, 139 FULHAM ROAD, SOUTH KENSINGTON, S.W. Telephone No. 2841 Western. Tel. Add., "Meteorites," London.

LIVING SPECIMENS FOR

THE MICROSCOPE.

Volvox, Spirogyra, Desmids, Diatoms, Amoeba, Arcella, Actinosphærium, Vorticella, Stentor, Hydra, Floscularia, Stephanoceros, Melicerta, and many other specimens of Pond Life. Price 15. per Tube, Post Free. Helix pomatia, Astacus, Amphioxus, Rana, Anodon, &c., for Dissection purposes. THOMAS BOLTON,

25 BALSALL HEATH ROAD, BIRMINGHAM. MARINE BIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. THE LABORATORY, PLYMOUTH. The following animals can always be supplied, either living or preserved by the best methods :

:

Sycon; Clava, Obelia, Sertularia; Actinia, Tealia, Caryophyllia, Alcy. onium; Hormiphora (preserved); Leptoplana; Lineus, Amphiporus, Nereis, Aphrodite, Arenicola, Lanice, Terebella; Lepas, Balanus, Gammarus, Ligia Mysis, Nebalia, Carcinus; Patella, Buccinum, Eledone, Pectens Bugula, Crisia, Pedicellina, Holothuria, Asterias, Echinus, Ascidia, Salpa (preserved), Scyllium, Raia, &c., &c. For prices and more detailed lists apply to Biological Laboratory, Plymouth.

THE DIRECTOR.

WATKINS & DONCASTER,

Naturalists and Manufacturers of

CABINETS AND APPARATUS

FOR ENTOMOLOGY, BIRDS' EGGS AND SKINS, AND ALL
BRANCHES OF NATURAL HISTORY.

SPECIAL SHOW-ROOM FOR CABINETS.
N.B. For Excellence and Superiority of Cabinets and Apparatus
references are permitted to distinguished patrons, Museums, Colleges, &c.
A LARGE STOCK OF INSECTS, birds' EGGS AND SKINS.
SPECIALITY.-Objects for Nature Study,
Drawing Classes, &c.

Birds, Mammals, &c., Preserved and Mounted by First-class Workmen true to Nature.

All Books and Publications on Natural History supplied. 36 STRAND, LONDON, W.C. (Five Doors from Charing Cross.) CATALOGUE (102 pp.) POST FREE.

WANTED

to purchase Collections or Single Specimens of fine

OLD SAVAGE CURIOS from Polynesia and America (especially New Zealand and British Columbian); Carved Specimens, Weapons. Carvings, Ornaments, Idols, &c., &c. High prices given for fine and rare pieces. References; deposit.-W. O. OLDMAN, Hamilton House, Brixton Hill, London.

The following choice Norwegian

MINERALS

Crystal of Native Silver, £6; Molybdenite, £4; Ilmenite, £4; Aeschynite, 27/6; Malacone, 16/6; Broggerite, 27/6; Xenotime, 14/-; Rutile, 27/6; Apatite, 12/6; Aegirine. 7/-; Columbite, 8/6; Monazite, 8/6; and Beryl, 5/-;

now on view and sale at

THOMAS D.
D. RUSSELL'S

Ground-Floor Show Rooms,

11 JOHN STREET, BEDFORD ROW, LONDON, W.C. John Street (Theobald's Road) is reached from Holborn by Gray's Inn Road or Warwick Court.

Sales by Auction.

SALES OF MISCELLANEOUS PROPERTY.

MR. J. C. STEVENS begs to announce that SALES are held EVERY FRIDAY, at his Rooms, 38 King Street, Covent Garden, London, W.C., for the disposal of MICROSCOPES, SLIDES, and OBJECTIVES-Telescopes-TheodolitesLevels-Electrical and Scientific Instruments-Cameras, Lenses, and all kinds of Photographic Apparatus-Optical Lanterns with Slides and all Accessories in great variety by Best Makers-Household Furniture-Jewellery-and other Miscellaneous Property.

On view Thursday 1.30 to 5.30 and morning of Sale.

67556

taneous.

SPECIFICATION.-Best mahogany, leather covered. Novel folding hood with magnifier fitted. Focussing screen, hooded. T screw holes for tripod. Carrying handle. Focal plane shutter, time and instanVariable slit, adjustable from outside. Double extension. Cross and rising front. Perfect mirror movement. PRICE LIST.-The "Dainty " Reflex, with three double block-form backs, without lens, £10. Ditto, fitted with Zeiss-Tessar, f/4-5. focus 4 in., £15. Block-form double backs, 7/0. Book-form double backs, 12/6. Soho changing box, carrying twelve plates 3×2. £1 15 0. Soho film pack adapter, 12/6. Antinous release fitted, 7/6. Solid leather case for camera and three backs, 15/0. MARION & CO., Ltd., Soho Square, London, W.