448 



NATURE 



\March 13, 1879 



motion of the comet of Encke were already well prized by all 

 men of science. The Memoirs of the Academy contain this year 

 a new work by Prof. Asten, on all the appearances of that 

 comet from 1819 to 1875. M. Asten has published also new 

 ephemerides of the comet for this year, and their precision was 

 already proved by the numerous observations made in the southern 

 hemisphere. Unhappily he could not see this brilliant confirma- 

 tion of his researches, death having taken him from the ranks of 

 men of science. 



Prof. Bredikhine was engaged in very interesting researches 

 into the tails of comets, and he established that there are three 

 quite different kinds of tails, according \0 the different relations 

 between the attractive and the dispersive force of the s un, which 

 last is modified by the different properties of the particles of 

 which the tail is formed. Spectral analysis will probably 

 confirm this hypothesis. 



As to spectral analysis in its application to heavenly bodies, 

 the report states that it is not based, as yet, on sufficiently 

 positive data, and that to elaborate these data with the accuracy 

 usual to other astronomical observations, is the special aim of the 

 astro -physical department of the Pulkova Observatory. Thus 

 M. Hasselberg has published two works, one of which reduces 

 the observations of Kirchhoff to wave-lengths, and the other 

 deals with a precise description of the spectra of absorption of 

 NOj, and bromine. The same author has recently proved that 

 the displacement of spectral lines does not depend upon the 

 density of the gas. 



Observations on the variations of luminosity of stars were 

 pursued by M. Lindemann, who has added 42 other stars to 

 the 280 variable stars, included in the catalogue of M. Sjolerup. 

 Prof. Savitch has made observations on oppositions of planets 

 and on the transit of Mercury. He has also read at the Academy 

 a paper on corrections on the pendulum of Repsold. Finally, 

 we notice the observations of M. Njuren on earthquakes, as 

 noticed by vibration of the sensitive levels of astronomical 

 instruments. 



In physical science the report begins with the work of the 

 Central Physical Observatory at St. Petersburg. The Director 

 of the Observatory, Prof. Wild, has a memoir on the determina- 

 tion of the real temperature of the air by a thermometer, and on 

 the precautions to be taken for avoiding various secondary influ- 

 ences on the instrument, especially those of radiation. Thermo- 

 meters which allow the determination of the temperature of the 

 air with a precision of one-tenth of degree, have already been 

 introduced into Russian meteorological stations. Besides, Prof. 

 Wild has proposed very satisfactory improvements in the siphon 

 barometer which allow easily the transportation of the barometer 

 dismounted, without changing its error, and thus afford a means 

 for comparing with great accuracy the normal barometers of 

 different stations. After having given, during the preceding 

 years, special attention to terrestrial magnetism, the Central 

 Physical Observatory has occupied itself with atmospheric 

 pressiu-e, and Capt. Rykatcheff has published a paper on the 

 diurnal changes of barometrical pressure, based on the observa- 

 tions of eleven Russian and twenty- four foreign stations. The 

 theory for explaining the diurnal changes of pressure, proposed 

 by M. Rykatcheff, seems to be more probable than that of Dove, 

 usually accepted until now. Among other meteorological 

 papers, published by the Academy, there are worthy of notice 

 those by Prof. Lenz, on the Galvanic Resistance of Solutions of 

 Salts of Kalium, Natrium, and Ammonium ; by Capt. Rykat- 

 cheff, on Winds on the Baltic ; by M. Dorandt, on Anemo- 

 meters ; by M. Hellmann, on the Comparison of the Normal 

 Barometers at St. Petersburg, Helsingfors, Dorpat, Stockholm, 

 and Upsala; and by M. Stelling, on the Intensity of Day-Light 

 at St Petersburg. 



In chemistry Prof. Menshutkin has continued his researches 

 on the Influence of the Isomerism of Alcohols and Acids on the 

 Formation of Compound Ethers ; and the Report notices among 

 the chemical papers which have appeared in the publications of 

 the Academy, those by Mrs. Lermantoff, on the Influence of 

 the Tertiary Sodic Butyl on Isobutylene, and by M. Paoloff and 

 Jawein, on Organic Chemistry. 



In geology the year 1878 is marked by the appearance of the 

 most important work, by Prof. Frederick Schmidt, on Silurian 

 Trilobites of the Eastern Coasts of the Baltic, being the result 

 of twenty years' researches, and of a thorough comparison of 

 Russian trilobites with those of other countries. The work will 

 contain the description of about 140 species ; the first fascicule, 

 actually in the press, contains a general description of the 



Silurian rocks in the governments of St. Petersburg and Esthonia. 

 Prof. Meller has described the collections brought from the 

 Manyeh by M. Danilcosky, and has proved the former extension 

 of the Caspian very near to the Sea of Azov. 



In botany the first place is occupied by the work on the Algae 

 of the White Sea, by M. Gobi, Prof, Famintzin has continued 

 his researches into the embryology of plants, and by means of 

 preparations made on the method of Nestermeyer, he has arrived 

 at important results as to the formation of tissues in the embryons 

 of plants. M. Klinge has made very interesting histological re- 

 searches on roots of several Monocotyledons. 



In zoology Prof. Brandt has published important additions to 

 his former work (appeared in 1877) on the Rhinoceroses, living 

 and extinct. But the most interesting of his works is certainly 

 that on the Elasmotherium. Judging by the few teeth, found 

 until now, of this extinct mammal, which formerly inhabited 

 Europe from the Rhine to the Kirghiz Steppes, I rof. Brandt 

 had described the elasmotherium as a form of the family of 

 rhinoceros, but very near akin to the horse. A complete skull 

 of this animal, which was recently found at Sarepta, on 

 the Volga has quite confirmed the opinions of this zoologist. 

 The elasmotherium is most nearly related to several kinds 

 of rhinoceros, having at the same time several features 

 common with the horse, and forms a separate sub-family of 

 rhinoceros ; he lived at the same time as the bison, the rhino- 

 ceros, tichorhinus and man. Prof, Kessler gives interesting de- 

 scriptions of new fishes from Central Asia, M. Mereshkofsky 

 has explored the sponges of the White Sea, and M. Boetger is 

 publishing an important monograph on the Claiisilia. Finally, 

 the Report mentions the works of Prof, Ovsiannikoff on the 

 anatomical structure of the cerebrum of the dolphin and other 

 vertebrata, and the papers by Prof, Gruber, on variations of the 

 muscles and the bones of man. 



In the report of the historico-philological section of the 

 Academy we mention the works of Prof, Dom on inscriptions in 

 the Pelegvian language and on the Semnan language, a now nearly 

 extinct branch of the Iran branch ; and memoirs, by Prof. 

 Schiffner, on Buddhism; and by Prof. Wideman, on Finnish 

 languages, namely, of that of Zyryans. 



As to the premiums awarded by the Academy, those bearing 

 Lomonosoff's name, for works in chemistry, physics, and mine- 

 ralogy, and Buniak of sky's, for works in mathematics, were not 

 awarded this year. A new premium, bearing the name of Hel- 

 mersen, was founded this year for works in geology. 



UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 

 INTELLIGENCE 



Prof. James Stuart's efforts to develop a school of Applied 

 Science at Cambridge, have produced further fruit in the shape 

 of a report of the Board of Mathematical Studies, recomiijending 

 an alteration in the scheme of examination in mechanism and 

 applied science for the ordinai7 B. A. degree. It is proposed 

 now that papers on mechanics and on heat shall be obligatory on 

 all candidates, while they shall choose one only of three other 

 subjects, viz., (i) Mechanism. (2) Theory of Structure, Strength 

 of Materials, and Principles of Survtying and Levelling. (3) 

 Electricity and Magnetism, The examination is to be made as 

 far as possible a satisfactory basis for a professional career by its 

 practical character. Thus every candidate will be required to 

 show his ability to write an accurate description or specification 

 of an instrument, machine, or model exhibited, and to make a 

 working sketch to scale. Evidence of actual capacity to use the 

 tools or instruments belonging to the subject selected by the candi- 

 date will be demanded , The first class in the class list is to consist 

 only of those who have distinguished themselves in one of the 

 three alternative subjects. We do not doubt that it will soon be 

 realized that a student who has to pass an examination in Greek 

 and Latin in his second year will not have time to master his 

 Science subjects by the end of the third. There will be much 

 more chance of attracting students of Applied Science to Cam- 

 bridge if they are excused from the classical portions of the 

 " General" Examination for the ordinary degree. 



In the new scheme for the Classical Tripos at Cambridge, the 

 advanced portion will include several groups of subjects^ of 

 which one only is to be selected by a candidate. Three of these 

 groups are History, Archseology, and Language, and the know- 

 ledo-e and treatment required will be thoroughly scientific m 

 character. Archeology will include papers on Greek and Roman 



