378 On the Teaching/ of [July, 



sun at the true moment of internal contact is an instantaneous 

 phenomenon in favourable weather. In unfavourable weather the 

 error in the observation of this phenomenon should deiiend rather 

 on atmospheric causes — the length of the periods of atmospheric 

 disturbance, and so on — than on the rate of the planet's separation 

 from the sun's limb. If this is so, the transit of 1874 is superior 

 to that of 1882 in the proportion of 36^ to 28, or more than 9 to 7. 

 If the truth lies between these extremes, the transit of 1874 may- 

 be fairly taken to have a value bearing to that of 1882 a pro- 

 portion midway between 6 : 7 and 9:7; that is, the proportion 

 of 15 : 14. 



In any case no doubt can remain that the transit of 1874 is 

 highly valuable, when dealt with in reference to the mode of ob- 

 servation we have been considering ; and it seems clear that when 

 all the difficulties and all the som-ces of error involved in the 

 second method are duly considered, the simple method, founded 

 on observed differences of duration, is to be held altogether more 

 likely to give satisfactory results. I believe, therefore, that such 

 preparations as geographers are already thinking of with reference 

 to the choice of suitable southern stations for observing the transit 

 of 1882 ought at once to be undertaken in connection with the 

 transit of 1874.* 



V. ON THE TEACHING OF NATUKAL SCIENCE IN 



SCHOOLS. 



By Edwin Lankestek, M.D., F.K.S. 



Although amongst educated men there is a generally accepted 

 opinion that the teachmg of one or more branches of natural science 

 ought to be introduced into schools, there is still much indifference 

 on the subject in the public mind, and no dehnite view of the 



* Since the above was written the subject of the coming transits has been 

 considered by Mr. Stone, than whom no one is better qnalilied to pronounce 

 authoritatively on the principles which should guide us in utilizing those pheno- 

 mena. He is of opinion that observations nuule wlii'U tlie sun has a less elevation 

 than 10'^ would be altogether usehss. Tliis principle enables me to considerably 

 augment my estimate of the relative superiority of the transit of 187-1, with 

 reference to the simpler mode of observation. In fact, the only southern stations 

 •which had seemed suitable in 1882 must at onco be njicted ; and thus we may 

 say of that transit what had been said of the other, that the simph r mode '• fails 

 totally " with respect to it. On the other hand, the value of the transit of 1874 is 

 scarcely at all atlected by the application of the principle. 



Mr. Stone considers the siii)eriority whicii I have ascribed to the simpler 

 method to have a real existence, but to be so sliglit (the values of the two modes 

 being as 6 to 5) as to bo unimportant. This is just; but tiie distinction between 

 this view and the imagined toUd failure of the nu,thod boems not the less to 

 require attention. 



