NA TURE 



[December 23, 1897 



appearance of the imago, but the general effect of the low 

 temperature was to reduce or abolish the orange discoidal spot 

 on the fore-wing of both sexes, while under the high temperature 

 the pale hue of the female appeared to assume a yellower tinge. 

 In one instance this effect was well marked. 



In Vanessa atalanta some further changes were observed as 

 the result of high temperatures ; the most remarkable of which 

 were the appearance of a scarlet patch on the fore- wing between 

 the red cross-band and the costa, and a long streak of grey-blue 

 scales near the inner margin of the same wing. The most effi- 

 cacious way of producing these modifications in this and other 

 species of Vanessa appeared to be the use of a temperature of 

 95° F. to 102° F. for 12-14 hours at an early stage, afterwards 

 gradually lowered, but still kept up to 85° F. or more till near 

 emergence. 



Some cooled specimens of V. urtica bore great resemblance 

 to the northern variety polaris. Heated specimens were like 

 the southern form ichmisa in the shade and extent of the red 

 ground colour, and also in the tendency towards disappearance 

 of the isolated dark spots on the fore-wing. All three spots, 

 however, were affected in these specimens, whereas in ichmisa 

 the spot nearest the hind margin retains the normal appearance. 

 Other changes were observed in the outer border, and in the 

 shape of the fore-wing, the angulation being diminished. 



Pupre of V. antiopa at a low temperature gave similar results 

 to those obtained with this species by Dr. Standfuss, but they 

 were much less marked. 



Experiments in 1896. — Pupre of P. daplidice, L. , from eggs 

 laid in March, kept at a temperature of 70° F. to 80° F., gave the 

 ordinary summer form. Some of the same batch, kept in the 

 open air after five or six weeks' cooling at 52° F., emerged as 

 the spring form bellidice. In ATelitcta didyina, Esp. , cooling at 

 51° F. was found to produce an extension of the black markings 

 on the under side of the hind-wings. Of two specimens forced 

 at 94^ F., one was of an abnormally fiery tint. 



Some specimens of Saturnia pavonia, L. , from North Italy, 

 forced in late winter and early spring, were much paler, 

 ruddier and more uniformly coloured than those kept out of 

 doors. This species is therefore not so resistent to temperature- 

 conditions as many other winter pupae. 



Vanessa urtictc, var. polaris, from Lapland, was found to be 

 sensitive to temperature, though less so than specimens from 

 Central Europe. 



Further experiments during the present year (1897) have shown 

 that the tawny ground colour in Argynnis paphia, L. , is 

 brightened, and the size of the dark markings reduced by 

 warmth, while the contrary effect follows exposure to cold. 

 Also in Aporia crata:gi, L. , a low temperature causes much 

 thickening and spreading of the black lines which mark the 

 course of the nervures. 



This ends the series of experiments so far undertaken and 

 carried out by Mr. Merrifield. It is to be hoped that he will be 

 able to continue and extend researches so interesting in them- 

 selves and so valuable to science. The present paper is 

 concerned with facts only, not with their interpretation ; but it 

 must be obvious to any one who considers the remarkable 

 results here briefly recorded, that they constitute an important 

 contribution towards the better understanding of many disputed 

 questions. 



It may be well in conclusion to give Mr. Merrifield's own 

 enumeration of the kinds of change observed. " The changes 

 produced by temperature," he says, "are mainly of three kinds, 

 viz. (i) general change, often striking, in the colouring, without 

 material alteration in the pattern or form of the markings, but 

 often with much enhancement or diminution in their intensity ; 



(2) change caused by the substitution of scales of a different 

 colour, either singly and generally distributed so as to be 

 scattered, or so grouped as to cause a material change in pattern ; 



(3) change in general appearance caused by imperfection in the 

 development of scales or of their pigment. No. i seems a direct 

 effect of temperature, not affecting vigorous development. Under 

 No. 2 are to be ranged the most radical changes in pattern, as 

 in the extreme case of Araschnia levana-prorsa, which have been 

 explained on the theory of reversion to an earlier form. In 

 No. 3 the wings are often somewhat reduced in size ; the scales 

 are scanty, irregularly placed, and often misshapen and deficient 

 in pigment, the membrane of the wing showing between them. 

 The three are more or less combined in many cases " 



The figures which illustrate this paper were drawn from the 

 plates which accompany Mr. Merrifield's papers in the Entomo- 

 logical Society of London's Transactions. F. A. Dixey. 



NO 1469. VOL. 57] 



UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 

 INTELLIGENCE. 



Cambridge. — The Vice-Chancellor announces that he has 

 opened a University Benefaction Fund, to which he has placed 

 during the present term donations for various academic purposes 

 amounting to nearly 3500/. This sum includes a gift of 1000/. 

 from Dr. Peckover, Lord-Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire, and a 

 grant of 1050/. from the Mercers' Company for the rebuilding ot 

 the medical ' schools. The family of the late Sir George M. 

 Humphry, Professor of Surgery, have contributed 600/. towards 

 the latter object, by way of a memorial gift ; and Mr. H. 

 Westwood Hoffman, 100/. 



The Rede Lecturer for the ensuing year is Sir Henry Irving. 

 Prof. Ewing, F.R.S. , has been appointed Chairman of Ex- 

 aminers for the Mechanical Sciences Tripos. Mr. A. F. Stabb 

 has been appointed University Lecturer in Midwifery. 



The examinations in Sanitary Science will begin respectively 

 on April 19 and April 26, 1898, the incidence of Easter having 

 rendered the advertised dates inconvenient. 



A scheme of theoretical and practical training has been 

 organised for members of the University who are intending to 

 become masters in public schools. The scheme is under the 

 direction of the Teachers' Training Syndicate, and will be carried 

 out in connection with the existing Day Training College. 

 Certificates of efficiency will be granted to candidates who have 

 pursued the prescribed course and passed the examinations of 

 the Syndicate. 



The Council of the Institution of Civil Engineers have 

 awarded a Salomons scholarship of 50/. to Mr. Edward Ernest 

 Tasker, a student of the Technical College, Finsbury. 



The University of Upsala has received from Mr. Franz 

 Kempe the .sum of 150,000 knonor (about 8333/.) for an 

 associate professorship of plant biology. Dr. Lundstrom has 

 been nominated to occupy the chair. 



Since the beginning of the academical half-year (states the 

 Lancet) all students attending the chemical and physical 

 laboratories of the University of Heidelberg have been insured 

 against accidents happening in the course of the lectures, of the 

 laboratory work, and of scientific excursions. The insurance 

 premium is paid by the treasury of the University, which has 

 also made a new regulation in connection with the subject 

 requiring the students to pay a small sum in addition to the 

 class fees. 



A Fellowship to be called the Geoffrey Fellowship, of the 

 value of 100/. a year for three years, has been presented to 

 Newnham College, Cambridge, and will be awarded in June 

 1898. The Geoffrey Fellow will be required to reside at 

 Newnham College, and to pursue independent study in some 

 department of learning, letters or science. Candidates must be 

 women who have obtained honours in a Cambridge Tripos 

 Examination or in the Oxford Final Schools. They should send 

 in their names to Mrs. Verrall, President of the Associates of 

 Newnham College, before May i, 1898. Each application 

 should be accompanied by a statement of qualifications, a scheme 

 of the work which the candidate proposes to carry out, and, if 

 possible, a dissertation or other evidence of work done. Further 

 information respecting conditions of tenure, &c. , may be obtained 

 from Mrs. Verrall, Newnham College, Cambridge. 



Speaking at Northampton a few days ago, Lord Spencer 

 urged that great efforts should be made to improve secondary 

 education in England. Much had been done for education in 

 the Victorian age, but it was absolutely necessary to fill the gaps 

 existing between primary education and University education. 

 He trusted that the measure which the Government would in- 

 troduce would be satisfactory to all educationists, and he knew if 

 it was it would have the support of even the opponents of the 

 Government. One of the great difficulties in the way of carry- 

 ing out technical education was the want of good secondary edu- 

 cation. No more useful measure had been passed during the 

 reign of the Queen than that giving county councils and borough 

 councils grants lor technical education, for it had stimulated a 

 desire for secondary education and technical education. What 

 was now wanted was a measure which would put technical edu- 

 cation on something of the same basis, though not perhaps 

 under the same supervision, as primary education. More aid 

 was wanted from public funds and from rates. When they had 

 that they would have attained something of great benefit to the 



