Jan. 26, 1888] 



NATURE 



299 



capable of judging are unanimous in praising its extreme 

 accuracy, justice, and completeness. 1878 and 1879 saw 

 the publication of the essays on Apogamy, and on 

 Symbiosis, two bright and suggestive papers, which have 

 had a wide influence on succeeding work, and which con- 

 nect De Bary's name paternally with new doctrines in 

 biology. 



In 1881 he was busy with the promulgation of his new 

 facts and deductions in connection with the Perono- 

 sporecB, and the phenomenon of apogamy in the Fungi. 

 In addition to articles in the Botanische Zeitung on the 

 classification of the Thallophytes generally, and of the 

 Fungi in particular, he published extended and important 

 observations on the Saprolegniea: and Peronosporece (the 

 4th number of the " Beitrage zur Morph. u. Phys. d. Pilze."), 

 and the philosophical scheme of classification of the 

 Fungi which forms the basis of our present system. 

 Space will not admit of our referring further to his 

 other memoirs, and it is impossible to even mention the 

 numerous illuminating ideas and suggestions which are 

 scattered through his papers, for we must proceed to the 

 passing enumeration of his -last two books, either of 

 which would have sufficed for the reputation of an 

 ordinary great man. 



In 1884 was published his " Comparative Morphology 

 and Biology of the Fungi, Mycetozoa, and Bacteria," and 

 the best idea of De Bary's influence can be obtained by 

 comparing this work with his "Morph. u. Phys. d. Pilze, 

 Flechten, u. Myxomyceten," published eighteen years 

 previously. 



In 1885, De Bary brought together a series of lectures 

 on Bacteria, since published in the form cf a book : it is 

 in his best style, and brings before the reader by far the 

 clearest trustworthy general account of this astonishing and 

 fruitful subject. Here, as everywhere, to take a subject 

 in hand was to aid it : had De Bary done no more for 

 "bacteriology" than observe and clearly describe the 

 development of the spores of Bacillus Megateriiwi, his 

 influence would have been felt ; and the student is 

 especially indebted for his careful sifting of the literature, 

 and his suggestive indications. 



One of his latest efforts was on the subject of infec- 

 tion, particularly with reference to certain PezizcB and 

 Sclerotia : he placed firmly on record the discovery that 

 some of these Fungi may be harmless saprophytes until 

 they have been cultivated — educated up to a higher 

 degree of power — and then they can enter into and 

 destroy a living host, which resisted them previously. 



It should also be remembered that he was for many 

 years editor of the Botanische Zeilimg, and lent his aid 

 to the forwarding of numerous botanical projects. 



The above sketch may serve to convey some idea of the 

 labours of the great Strassburg botanist. But, although 

 they give a glimpse of the specialist's results, they afford 

 no insight into his keen appreciation of all good work ; of 

 his humorous and never malicious disposition, in the 

 laboratory, and in his writings ; and of his sharp, but always 

 just, criticism of anything pretentious. Nor is it possible to 

 enter here into his abundant knowledge of species : he 

 was one of the first to grasp Darwin's teachings, and per- 

 haps never misapplied them. His close acquaintance 

 with species and even local varieties of the plants around 

 Strassburg, at any rate, could only be known to those who 

 have walked with him ; and the delight of those walks in 

 Alsace ! 



As a lecturer he was not brilliant : he appeared shy and 

 nervous when on the dais, but in spite of his low voice 

 and restless fingers he kept his hearers interested, and 

 always taught clearly. Quaint he often was, in speech 

 and manner, but the impressive truthfulness of his nature, 

 the earnestness of his teaching, and the absence of any 

 striving after effect, gave to his very quaintness a charm 

 and dignity the influence of which will never be forgotten 

 so long as his pupils live. H. MARSHALL Ward. 



NOTES. 



We print to-day a leading article on " Odium Medicum." 

 As the questions to which it relates have already been fully dis- 

 cussed in the Times, it may be well to state that we do not 

 intend to publish any correspondence on the subject. 



Some time ago the Australian Governments, through Sir 

 Graham Berry, represented to the Home Government the fact 

 that in their opinion much good might be done by an "Ant- 

 arctic reconnaissance," preliminary to an expedition for the 

 thorough exploration of the Antarctic regions. In order that 

 this suggestion might be carried out, the Australian colonies 

 offered to contribute ;^SOoo, on condition that a like sum should 

 be given by the mother country. The proposal was supported 

 by the Colonial Office, by the Royal Society, and by the Royal 

 Geographical Society ; nevertheless, the Treasury has an- 

 nounced that it does not see its way to the granting of an 

 Imperial contribution. The objects to be attained do not seem 

 to it to justify the payment of even so small a sum as ;if 5000. 

 There will, of course, be much disappointment in the Australian 

 colonies, but it may be hoped that the idea of a joint Antarctic 

 Expedition will not be abandoned. Perhaps a larger scheme 

 than the one which has just been rejected would have had a 

 better chance of success. 



The scientific education of the mining population of Cornwall 

 was for many years in the hands of the Miners' Association of 

 Cornwall and Devon — an institution founded in 1859, at the 

 suggestion of the late Mr. Robert Hunt, F. R,S. Some time ago 

 this body was amalgamated with another Cornish institution, and 

 the united organization took the name of the Mining Association 

 and Institute of Cornwall. A movement has just been set on foot 

 for increasing the efficiency of this Association by the formation 

 of a Museum of Mineralogy, to be established at Redruth, or 

 elsewhere, in the heart of the great tin and copper mining 

 district. It is held that such an institution will in no way inter- 

 fere with the existing museums in the county — such as those of 

 the Royal Institution at Truro, and of the Royal Geological 

 Society at Penzance. The new museum, instead of seeking to 

 exhibit attractive specimens, will be essentially practical and 

 educational — a place for the earnest student rather than for the 

 casual visitor. It will endeavour to collect characteristic 

 samples of ores, and typical specimens of such other minerals 

 as are of interest to the miner or to the geologist. In recogni- 

 tion of the services which .Mr. Robert Hunt rendered to Corn- 

 wall by his persistent advocacy of the necessity of giving the 

 young miners a scientific training, it is proposed that the new 

 museum shall bear his name. The Committee appeals for 

 contributions, either in money or in minerals, and for sugges- 

 tions as to the development of the scheme. Communications 

 should be addressed to Mr. T, C. Peter, Town Hall, Redruth. 



Mr. J. E. Hap.ting has been appointed Librarian and Assist- 

 ant Secretary to the Linnean Society at Burlington House, in the 

 place of Dr. Murie, resigned. Mr. Ilarting has for some years 

 past been engaged in fulfilling the duties of Zoological Librarian 

 at the Natural History Museum, South Kensington, where he 

 has organized what is now the best zoological library in this 

 country, although possibly not the largest in regard to the 

 number of volumes. The new appointment has been made 

 opportunely at the expiration of the Government grant for the 

 purchase of books at South Kensington, and has given general 

 satisfaction. 



The forty-first annual general meeting of the Institution of 

 Mechanical Engineers will be held on Thursday, February 2, 

 and Friday, February 3, at 25 Great George Street, West- 

 minster. The chair will be taken by the President, Mr. Edward 

 H. Carbutt, at half-past 7 p.m. on each evening. The dis- 

 cussion on Mr. John Richards's paper, on " Irrigating Machinery 



