424 NATURAL SCIENCE. June. 



It is proposed to start a laboratory of experimental psychology at University 

 College, London. For the present, instruction would be given for one term in each 

 year. Subscriptions, to be devoted to the purchase of apparatus and the payment 

 of a teacher, may be sent to the Hampstead Branch of the London and South 

 Western Bank (a/c Psychological Laboratory, University College). 



We learn from the Scottish Medical Journal that the Universities Commission has 

 instituted a Chair of Public Health and Sanitary Science in the University of Edin- 

 burgh, to be known as the "Bruce and John Usher Chair of Public Health," in 

 recognition of bequests from Messrs. Usher and A. L. Bruce. The salary of the 

 Professor will be not less than ;^6oo. 



Sir Donald Smith, who is Chancellor of McGill University, has provided 

 funds for the establishment of a chair of Zoology. 



Political changes in America have hitherto left the state universities 

 untouched ; but now Science announces with regret that the Populists, on securing 

 a majority in the Board of Regents of the Kansas State Agricultural College, have 

 dismissed a President who had served for eighteen years, to make room for a young 

 man ' in harmony with the fundamental principles of the administration,' and have 

 removed other members of the faculty and employees. In this connection the last 

 two items in our list of appointments are full of interest. 



Mrs. Stanford, widow of the railway millionaire, has taken out an insurance 

 policy with the Mutual Life of New "Vork, by which, if she dies within the next ten 

 years, the Leland Stanford University will receive one million dollars, but if she 

 survives that period, the sum will be two millions. The annual premium is 170,000 

 dollars, and the age of Mrs. Stanford is 71 years. 



Prof. W. B. Scott of Princeton University, is taking a party of students to 

 study the geology of S Dakota, and to make collections for the University. 



We learn from Science that the building of the College of Agriculture at Berkeley 

 Cal., has been burned. 



The United States Geological Survey has for some time been preparing a 

 number of duplicate sets of 156 typical rock-specimens, for educational purposes. 

 These are now ready for distribution to the chief universities and colleges of the 

 country. 



A Departmental Committee, consisting of Sir E. Hamilton, Sir A. Godley, and 

 Mr. G. H. Murray, has been appointed to inquire into the organisation, pay, and 

 duties of the staff of the British Museum, including the system under which the 

 staff is recruited and the reasons for or against competitive examination, either 

 limited or otherwise ; the classification, scale of salary, and hours of attendance 

 required to insure the efficient and proper discharge of the duties of the establishment, 

 and whether it is practicable to assign clerical and routine work wholly or in part to 

 clerks of the second division ; and, generally, any matters connected with the 

 Museum establishment in regard to which they may be of opinion that alteration of 

 existing regulations is desirable. 



The town-council of Chelmsford has decided to commemorate Her Majesty's 

 long reign by raising funds for a free library, museum, and technical institute. 



