112 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [March 



with a green colour, which, to a lively imagination, may be 

 suggpstive of tlie growth of ferns or lichens. We had no difficulty 

 in imitating this effect by saturating thin cartridge paper, in the 

 first instance, with an alcoholic solution of gum benzoin, and, 

 when dry, applying an aqueous solution of the bichromate of 

 ammonia. The decomposition of the latter substance by heat in 

 contact with burning paper affords an explanation of the pheno- 

 mena observed. — Chemical News. 



Meteorology. — We had fondly anticipated that one of the 

 results of Confederation would be the establishment of a system 

 by which the corps of observers now scattered (or to be scattered) 

 throughout British North America would receive their instruc- 

 tions from, and transmit their experiences to, some part of the 

 Dominion. By this means a critical examination of them could 

 readily be made, which would at once advance our material inter- 

 ests and conduce to the advance of climatological science. Up to 

 the present moment nothing has been done in this direction. This 

 may be owing, in s.>me measure, to the incipient character of the 

 new regime, and to the uncertainty prevailing with regard to 

 Government aid. Still the Dominion Govermennt has allowed to 

 the various observatories a small annual grant. Every lover of 

 science must feel grateful that amid the din of politics, of com- 

 merce, and of railway legislation, our public men have not for- 

 gotten the encouragement due to science ; and we hope that ere 

 another year has rolled by, our expressed wishes may be fully 

 reaHzed. 



In the science of Meteorology unity in action is much needed 

 in its modes, measures and purpose ; also in the co-operation 

 of observers, whether individually or collectively, among the 

 various nations. Up to the present time (if we except Admiral 

 Fitzroy's efforts in this department of science) there has been 

 little or no system in Meterology. It is essentially a science of 

 observation, yet observers proceed upon no fixed plan. It is a 

 science coeval with man himself, one which must have furnished 

 the means of observation to the earliest races of mankind, and 

 which has furnished matter for investigation and comparison 

 through all time. Records of a very early date are preserved in 

 our own language. The Bodleian library at Oxford (England) 

 contains registrations of the weather for seven years, from Jan- 

 uary, 1337, to January, 1344, recorded by Walter Merle. It is 



