Proceedings of the British Association. 379 
versity of Edinburgh. The general Jaws of the curves were nearly 
those established by Quetelet. In the comparison of nations, the 
Irish appeared to be the first in all physical developments, the Scotch 
ranked next, the English were the lowest of the three nations, but 
they were above the Belgian. It was generally remarked, that the 
data for the Irish and English were not sufficiently accurate to jus- 
tfy any general conclusions. 
A paper from Dr. Collins on periodicity of birth was read. 
Baron Dupin exhibited two maps of Britain, colored on Guerry’s 
plan, to illustrate criminal statistics, and their relation to density of 
population and education. The latter was both the more prominent, 
and, in relation to subsequent discussion, the more important branch 
of the Baron’s observations. He drew a distinction between moral 
and physical education, describing the latter as an indifferent instru- 
ment, capable of being applied either to good orevil. He then briefly . 
glanced at the proportion between juvenile offenders in England and 
France, stating as a general result, that the young criminals of Eng- 
land more frequently reformed than those of the Continent. 
Friday, August 26. 
Section A.—Marnematicat anp Puysicat Science. 
Mr. Whewell read a paper on a new Anemometer. In this com- 
munication Mr. W. explained a method of tracing or registering the 
course of the winds through a given period by the motion of a pencil, 
on an appropriate scale, so as to obtain eventually a true type of the 
winds, which has never yet been arrived at by other instruments. 
Prof. Phillips read a notice of the probable effects of elevated 
ground in the direction of the lines of equal magnetic dip. 
Prof. Stevelly read a paper on the mathematical rules for con- 
structing compensating pendulums. 
Telescopes.—Sir D. Brewster read a paper describing a contri- 
vance by which he was enabled to render distinct the dark lines of 
the spectrum under the most unfavorable circumstances, and obtain 
other useful effects. ‘The method was to introduce a cylindrical re- 
fractor between the eye and the eye-glass of the telescope, the effect 
being, as he shewed, to give a linear form to a most irregular image. 
Mr. Russell read a paper on certain elements of the resistance of 
fluids that appear to be intimately connected with the application of 
analysis, 
