Dec. 12, 1889] 



NA rURE 



135 



geodic masses, in which they have formed by gradual 

 crystallization from the mother-liquor. They differed, 

 however, of course, in being on the outer surface of the 

 spherules." 



It is evident from Prof. Houston's paper that this 

 peculiar form of hail was unknown to him, and, as it must 

 also have been unknown to many who have propounded 

 theories as to the formation of hail which will not account 

 for it, I think that a service may be rendered to meteoro- 

 logy by the reproduction of three of the exquisite litho- 

 graphs of this form of hail given in Prof. Abich's paper, 

 '" Ueber krystallinischen Hagel im Thrialethischen ge- 

 birge," published at Tiflis in 1871. The hailstones repre- 

 sented in Figs. 1-3 all fell on June 9 (21), 1867, at Bjeloi 

 Kliutsch, a village about twenty miles south-west of Tiflis, 



Fii 



and 12,425 feet above sfa-level (lat. 41° 33' N., long. 44° 

 30' E.). 



Theories of the formation of hail are almost innumer- 

 able. I was reading a pamphlet not long since which 

 contained summaries of, I think, twenty-three theories. 

 Some — like Prof. Schwedoff's, that hailstones come from 

 interplanetary space (Brit. Ass. Report, Southampton, 

 1882, p. 458) — are very droll ; but the subject is a very diffi- 

 cult one, and one upon which I do not know of a single 

 good treatise in our language. Possibly, the reproduction 

 of these figures may induce someone to prepare an ex- 

 haustive memoir. I could place a large amount of 

 historical and theoretical material at the disposal of any 

 competent person who would undertake the preparation 

 of such a work, it being quite impossible for me to do it 

 myself. G. J. Symons. 



NOTES. 



At a largely attended meeting in Edinburgh on Tuesday, 

 Dec. 3, Sir Douglas Maclagan in the chair, it was resolved that 

 Mr. Geo. Reid, R.S. A., should be commissioned to paint a por- 

 trait of Prof. P. G. Tait, to be placed permanently in the rooms of 



the Royal Society of Edinburgh. A committee was appointed 

 to carry out the resolution, including, among others, Mr. John 

 Murray (C'/W/cw^tT Expedition), Convener; Mr. Gillies Smith, 

 lion. Treasurer ; Lord President Inglis, Lord Kingsburgh, Lord 

 Maclaren, Sir William Thomson, Sir Arthur Mitchell, Prof. 

 Robertson Smith, Prof. Chiene, Dr. Alexander Buchan, Mr. 

 Robert Cox, and Mr. William Peddie. It was proposed that an 

 etched engraving of the portrait be prepared for distribution 

 among the subscribers, the plate to be destroyed after the re- 

 quired number of copies have been thrown off. It was further 

 resolved that all the Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 

 the Professor's old pupils, and others, be afforded an opportunity 

 of taking part in this public recognitition of Prof Tait's eminent 

 services to science. 



Italy, France, and the'United States of America were repre- 

 sented in the elections to foreign membership of the Royal 

 Society on Thursday last. Prof. Stanislao Cannizzaro, of Rome, 

 was elected on the ground of his researches on molecular and 

 atomic weights ; Prof. Chauveau, of Parii, for his researches on 

 the mechanism of the circulation, animal heat, nutrition, and the 

 pathology of infectious diseases ; and Prof. Rowland, of Balti- 

 more, for his determination in absolute measure of the magnetic 

 susceptibilities of iron, nickel, and cobalt ; for his accurate 

 measurements of fundamental physical constants ; for the experi- 

 mental proof of the electro-magnetic effect of electric convection ; 

 for the theory and construction of carved diffraction-gratings of 

 very great dispersive power ; and for the effectual aid which he 

 has given to the progress of physics in America and other 

 countries. 



Admiral Mouchez and MM. Janssen and Perrotin, head 

 astronomers of the Observatories of Paris, Meudon, and 

 Nice, were raised, in November, to the grade of Officer 

 of the Order of the Rose of Brazil, and MM. Frassenet, 

 Paul, and Prosper Henry, admitted to knighthood in the same 

 order. The Paris Correspondent of the Daily News says that 

 the diplomas securing to them these distinctions were the last 

 official documents signed by Dom Pedro. He asked his secre- 

 tary to add a personal compliment to each of the astronomers 

 with whom he was personally acquainted. 



Some time ago we announced that a Physical Society was 

 about to be formed in Liverpool. This has now been done, 

 and we are glad to learn that the new Society begins its career 

 under most favourable conditions. The meeting at which it 

 was constituted was well attended, and displayed much interest 

 in the scheme. Nearly ninety names were at once handed in to 

 the secretary, Mr. T. Tarleton, for membership. Prof. Oliver 

 Lodge, F.R.S., was appointed President. The next meeting 

 will be held in the Physics Theatre, University College, Liver- 

 pool, on Monday, the i6th inst., at 8 o'clock, when the President 

 will deliver his inaugural address. 



Dr. John G. McKendrick, F.R.S., Professor of Physiology 

 in the University of Glasgow, has been elected President of the 

 Philosophical Society of Glasgow. 



Prof. Lesquereux, the eminent American bryologist and 

 palteontologist, died in his house at Columbus, Ohio, on October 

 25, at the age of nearly eighty-nine years. 



We regret to learn from a memoir that has been sent to us 

 by Prof Barboza du Bocage, that Senor Jose Augusto de Souza 

 died recently at Lisbon, where he was Curator of the Zoological 

 Department in the Museum. He was the author of some useful 

 memoirs on African birds, and is best known for his Catalogue 

 of the Accipitres, Columhcc, and Ga/lifuc in the Lisbon Museum. 



The fifth of the series of "One Man " Photographic Exhibi- 

 tions at the Camera Club will be open for private and press 



