March 6, 1879] 



NATURE 



425 



were aragonite tuey have sometimes been completely removed 

 by solution, and in other cases are usually changed into a mass 

 of cr)stals of calcite, and have lost their original microscopical 

 and optical characters. The general structure of various recent 

 and fossil organisms v, as then considered, and it was shown how 

 and to what extent they could be distinguished, when occturing 

 as minute fragments in thin sections of limestones. 



The various facts connected with the disintegration of shells, 

 corals, and other organisms, are of great importance in studying 

 limestones, since without an adequate knowledge of the manner 

 in which they decay and faJl to pieces, very inaccurate conclu- 

 sions might be formed respecting the origin of calcareous de- 

 posits. The results mainly depend on original structiu-e, and 

 on whether they are composed of calcite or aragonite. The 

 next questions considered were the manner in which the external 

 form of minute fragments is preserved in limestone, and the 

 various chemical changes occurring after deposition or consolid- 

 ation; and, having thus established the general principles 

 necessary for their accurate study, the President entered on a 

 description of our various English limestones, in descending 

 order. 



The main object was to ascertain, as far as possible, the exact 

 nature of the material from which each particular rock was 

 derived. Some beds are mainly composed of definite fragments, 

 so as to be analogous to sands, and dien the true nature of the 

 various organisms from which the fragments are derived can be 

 ascertained, pro\ided they were originally calcite, whereas, if 

 they were originally aragonite, and their structure lost, very 

 often all that can be said is that they were portions of aragonite 

 shells or corals. Many associated beds are or were composed of 

 fine granules, and analogous to clays. In many cases these have 

 in all probability been derived to a great extent from aragonite 

 organisms decayed down into small granules of calcite, and it is 

 quite impossible to further identify the material. 



The structure and origin of oolitic grains was dwelt upon at 

 some length. Usually they are evidence of true chemical depo- 

 sition. They occur in three distinct types, viz., those composed 

 of aragonite, having a concentric structure ^\-ithout any radii, 

 giving rise ^^ith polarised light to a black cross optically positive; 

 those which are composed of calcite, ha^-ing a radiate structure 

 and giving rise to a negative black cross ; and those which have 

 recrystallised since their original formation. After describing 

 the chief points of interest connected with the leading limestone 

 rocks of oiu- country, the president collected together the results 

 into two tables, the more condensed of which may here be 

 given. 



Chief constituent firagments, &c. , In" descending order. 



Shell prisms, Foraminifera, Coccoliths. 



Freshwater aragonite mollusca, Entomo- 

 straca. 

 ( Chemical deposits, Aragonite mollusca and 

 < corals, Brachiopoda, Echinoderms, Shell 

 ( prisms. 



Original structure lost by dolomitisation. 

 \ Encrinites, Brachiopoda, Foraminifera, 

 I Corals, and Polyozoa. 



Encrinites, Corals, and allied organisms. 



! Encrinites, Corals and Polyzoa, Brachio- 

 poda, Trilobites. 

 I Original structure lost. Quartz and Silicates 

 ( formed in situ. 



Name of rocks. 

 Cretaceous ... 



Wealden 



Jurassic 



Permian 

 Carboniferous 

 Devonian . . . 

 Silurian 



Metamorphic 



He concluded as follows : — 



"On examining these tables, especially the more detailed ones, 

 it will be seen how remarkably and characteristically our lime- 

 stones differ from one another. There would usually be little 

 difficulty in deciding the general age of any characteristic, some- 

 what coarse-grained, specimen. Though this difference must to 

 a great extent have depended on the nature of the organisms 

 living at each period, yet it must also have depended on the 

 accompanying mechanical and chemical conditions of the water 

 in which the deposits were formed. The structure of each rock 

 was therefore dependent on two most important circmnstances, 

 and we need not be surprised to find the resxilts so varied and 

 characteristic. Passing upwards from the earlier rocks, we may 

 often trace a gradual change, broken here and there by a com- 

 plete contrast, which is in perfect agreement with results arrived 

 at from a totally different class of facts. On the whole, this is 

 perhaps the most important conclusion that we can at present 

 draw from the subject before us. Possibly further research may 

 teach us much more, since I am quite sm-e that much remains to 



be learned. In fact, long as I have studied these questions, and 

 long as this address has been, I know quite enough of the facts 

 to be convinced that it is only a sort of first attempt and rough 

 sketch of a very wide and complex subject." 



UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 

 INTELLIGENCE 



Mr. Milmax, who for some years has acted as Assistant- 

 Registrar, has been appointed to succeed Dr. Carpenter as 

 Registrar of London University. It is stated that Mr. H. If. 

 iloseley is a candidate for the Assistant-Registrarship. 



Mr. A. Craig- Christie, F.L.S,, lecturer on botany, Edin- 

 burgh, is a candidate for the Chair of Botany in the University 

 of Edinburgh. 



Ix a recent report by the British Consul at Hakodate, some 

 accoimt is given of the public buildings and other institutions of 

 Sappora and Ishcari. Referring to the Agricultural CoU^e build- 

 ings, we are told that they consist of fotir distinct houses, as 

 follows : — A two-storeyed house, comprising lecture and recita- 

 tion-rooms, cabinets, and offices. A one-storeyed house, used 

 for dormitories to accommodate from fifty to sixty students, 

 attached to which is a similar building providing a large dining - 

 hall, kitchen, bath-rooms, offices, and servants' quarters. In 

 connection with this, again, is a two-storeyed building, which 

 serves as a lecture-room and a general sitting-room a^ study. 

 A two-storeyed house, which is the chemical laboratory ; the 

 groimd-floor of this house is used as a general laboratory for the 

 students, and on the second floor are the lecture and apparatus- 

 rooms, and the rooms for collections in mineralogy, geology, 

 and chemistry. Besides these there are several other buildings 

 in European style, used for various scientific and industrial pur- 

 poses. It is fiirther intended to erect, at an early date, an 

 Agricultural College, likewise two-storeyed, which will be 

 another imposing building. Here will be zoological, mineral- 

 ogical, geological, botanical, and agricultural museums, with 

 separate halls for lectures and experiments in the above- 

 mentioned branches. The Sapporo Agricultural College 

 was founded by the Kaitakushi for the education and prac 

 tical training of young men from all parts of the Em 

 pire, who are expected to remain in the Government 

 service in Yesso, after graduation for a term of five years. 

 The number of students is limited to sixty, and all their 

 expenses while in college are defrayed by the government. 

 Candidates for admission must be at least sixteen years of age, 

 of soimd constitution and good character. They will be 

 examined orally and in writing in the Japanese and English 

 languages (which they are expected to read, write, and speak 

 correctiy and fluently), arithmetic, geography, and imiversal 

 history. If they succeed in this preliminary examination they 

 will have to sign a prescribed contract with the government and 

 fiumish a satisfactory surety or guarantee. The course of instruc- 

 tion will occupy four years and embrace all the branches of a 

 general education, Avith the study of the Japanese and English 

 languages. Moreover, th^y will be thoroughly instruct^ in 

 agriculture and horticulture, civil engineering, and chemistry, 

 astronomy, botany, geology, zoology, military science and 

 tactics, and before they leave collie, in. the fourth year, they 

 will have to devote some time to political economy. As the 

 students are destined to become practical agricultmists, including 

 the use of hand implements and machinery, and the care and 

 management of domestic animals, they have to work in the fields 

 with their foreign instructor two afternoons of each week. 

 There are at present three foreign professors or instructors, \-iz., 

 one for mathematics and engineering, one for botany and 

 chemistry, and one for agriculture, besides the native teachers, 

 and it is expected that later will be added an instructor for 

 military drill, and one specially for the English language, and a 

 foreign doctor. The number of students at the time the report 

 was written amotmtcd to thirty, fifteen being added annually up 

 to sixty in the fourth year of the f otmdation of the college, when 

 the first batch of fifteen (the original ntrmber started with) wiU 

 retire and graduate if they have completed their course of studies 

 in a satisfactory manner, whereupon they wiU enter government 

 employ. In another part of the report, speaking of the progress 

 made by the students, the reporter says, " they are most assiduous 

 at their studies, and it is indeed astonishing the progress they 

 have already made. All their studies are conducted in English, 

 and they speak and discuss in English without the slightest hesi- 

 tation, making use of very good language. They also appear to ' 

 enter fully into the different branches of study. " 



