November 30, 191 1] 



NATURE 



63 



Ethnology and Anthropology. 



A comprehensive paper on the contemporary Slav peoples 

 from a geographical and statistical point of view, by Mr. 

 Ludor Niederle, of the Bohemian University of Prague, 

 which has been translated from the Slavic language into 

 English, funished new information on the history and dis- 

 tribution of these peoples. 



Dr. J. Walter Fewkes, of the Bureau of American 

 Ethnology, contributes a brief review of his recent work 

 and investigations in cave dwellings, both at home and 

 abroad. This paper is entitled " The Cave Dwellings of 

 the Old and New Worlds." 



The report also contains biographies of Melville W. 

 Fuller, Sir W. Huggins, and Alexander Agassiz, together 

 with papers on other subjects. 



UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 

 INTELLIGENCE. 



It is announced that the sum of 300,000/. has been 

 raised for the endowment fund for McGill University. 

 The Duke of Connaught, in a telegram of congratulation 

 to Mr. Angus, chairman of the McGill Campaign Com- 

 mittee, directs attention to the fact that this large sum 

 was collected in five days. 



In connection with the vacancy in the chair of mathe- 

 matics at the University of Edinburgh, occasioned by the 

 death of Prof. Chrystal, the curators of patronage of the 

 University, in whom the patronage of this chair is vested, 

 have decided to receive applications from intending candi- 

 dates, along with testimonials, which should be lodged 

 with their secretary, Mr. A. B. Fleming, 4 Albyn Place, 

 Edinburgh, not later than Thursday, February 8, 1912. 



We learn from Science that as a result of the action 

 of the Michigan Board of Tax Equalisation, it is estimated 

 that the University of Michigan will in the future receive 

 41,600/. more from the State for its maintenance than 

 hitherto. From the same source we find that at the last 

 session of the Legislature of the State of Minnesota, among 

 other appropriations for the University was one which 

 will produce lOooZ. for each of the two years before the 

 next Legislature assembles to be voted exclusively to re- 

 search, not agricultural, fince that is cared for otherwise. 

 Our contemporary also states that by the will of Miss 

 Phoebe Caroline Swords, of New York City, 4000Z. is 

 bequeathed to Columbia University. 



A DINNER was given at the Savoy Hotel on November 23 

 in aid of the fund for the erection and endowment of new 

 buildings for Bedford College for Women. The sum of 

 100,000/. is required to complete the new buildings and 

 provide the required endowment ; and of this amount 

 50,000/., including a grant of 20,000/. from the London 

 County Council, had been secured before the dinner. The 

 London County Council has promised a further 10,000/. if 

 a like sum should be obtained without delay. The primary 

 object of the dinner was to raise the amount necessary to 

 secure the second donation from the London County 

 Council ; and it is satisfactory to record that at the con- 

 clusion of the dinner more than 7000/. had been subscribed. 

 But 30,000/. will still be required, even after the second 

 contribution from the London County Council has been 

 received. ' 



The most recent addition to its educational series pub- 

 lished by the Manchester University Press is entitled 

 " Outlines of Education Courses in Manchester University." 

 The syllabuses of which the volume, running to 189 pages, 

 is composed have been prepared to assist the lecture and 

 demonstration courses given in the department of educa- 

 tion of the university ; and they are intended for the use 

 of students. The first syllabus covers Prof. M. E. Sadler's 

 course on the history of education in England from 1800 to 

 lOii, and consists of exhaustive notes on each lecture, 

 togfether with an invaluable bibliography directing the 

 student to works of reference where the subjects touched 

 upon can be studied in greater detail. Students of educa- 

 tion everywhere will welcome this complete guide to the 

 study of the history of education. Prof. Findlay's notes on 

 his lectures on the principles of education are somewhat 

 briefer, and will give the students much more to do for 



themselves. Here, too, frequent references to standard 

 works on pedagogy will prove of the greatest service. The 

 remaining discourses are more miscellaneous in character, 

 and are dealt with in a less extended manner. The publica- 

 tion of the syllabuses, and the invitation extended in an 

 introductory note to educational workers generally to 

 criticise and advise, may be taken as a welcome indication 

 that earnest efforts are being made in our universities 

 gradually to build up a science of education founded upon 

 experience and experiment. 



The annual report on the 115th session of the Glasgow 

 and West of Scotland Technical College has now been 

 circulated. We notice that for the academic year 1910-11 

 there was an increase in the numbers of both day and 

 evening students. The success with which the governors 

 have established cordial relations with local employers of 

 labour is very marked. For a number of years past the 

 requests from employers for the nomination of qualified 

 students in chemistry to fill industrial posts have been 

 greater than the college could satisfy, and a similar posi- 

 tion is arising in the engineering sections of the college. 

 Most of the appointments thus gained are in works in the 

 district, but a considerable number are abroad. Manu- 

 facturing firms in the district are recognising in increasing 

 measure, also, the ability of the college to assist them in 

 many of the problems arising in their industrial operations. 

 Requests have been made to the college for reports and 

 advice on a variety of subjects, in addition to simple 

 questions on the strength of metals and of building 

 materials, the accuracy of measuring instruments, and so 

 on. Another satisfactory feature of the strengthening 

 relations between the college and employers is the increasing 

 number of firms which now request reports upon the attend- 

 ance and progress of their apprentices at college classes. 

 The report shows that new courses of a technical kind are 

 arranged as soon as a new demand arises, continual 

 additions are made to the already extensive equipment, 

 and the building scheme is now completed. The financial 

 position of the college appears to be in an equally 

 satisfactory state. 



We have received a copy of the report for the session 

 1910-11 of the work of the department of technology of 

 the City and Guilds of London Institute. During the 

 session 4495 classes in technological subjects were regis- 

 tered in 316 towns. These classes were attended by 52,680 

 students. So far as the examinations conducted by the 

 institute during the year were concerned, the report shows 

 24,342 candidates were presented in technology from 465 

 centres in the United Kingdom, and of these 14,206 passed. 

 By including the candidates from India and the Dominions 

 overseas, and those for the teachers' certificates in manual 

 training and domestic subjects, the total number of 

 examinees was 27,205. This figure shows an increase on 

 those of any previous year. During the session, too, 

 ninety-one centres were visited by members of the institute's 

 staff for the examination, inspection, or organisation of 

 classes, several centres receiving two or three visits in 

 order to complete the inspection. The report again directs 

 attention to the criticisms and suggestions received from 

 the examiners of the institute. We can here quote only 

 two examples : — " Teachers would, for instance, be well 

 advised to keep their knowledge thoroughly up to date by 

 studying the transactions of the leading technical societies 

 and institutions, and the articles in technical journals, and 

 not confining themselves to text-books. In many subjects 

 teachers should also, if possible, give more practice to 

 students in expressing their ideas, in arithmetical work, 

 and in careful sketching, e.g. by requiring the presentation 

 of well-illustrated notes of lessogs." The want of suitable 

 and adequate preliminary education exhibited by students 

 presenting themselves for entry into technical classes is 

 again commented upon. 



The International Council of Women has done a piece 

 of very useful work in issuing a pamphlet on " National 

 Systems of Education " (Aberdeen : Rosemount Press, 

 price 3d.). In response to a form of inquiry drawn up by 

 Mrs. Ogilvie Gordon, representatives of tho women's 

 organisation in most European countries, in ihr i.;r('at self- 

 governing communities of the British Kmpin, .nul in the 

 United States have given us brief rhuDi,^ ><\ iIk- actual 



NO. 2196, VOL. 88] 



