December 23, 1920] 



NATURE 



541 



he calculated the "form factors " for the species, 

 this being the first attempt of the kind made in 

 India. 



Sir David remained in South Africa about 

 twenty years as Conservator of Forests, Cape 

 Colony. During that time he introduced a variety 

 of exotic species, principally conifers and Euca- 

 lypts, to supply the colony with the timber which 

 the indigenous forests could not yield. He also 

 caused similar plantations to be established in the 

 Transvaal and the Orange Free State. These 

 planting operations were on a large scale, so that 

 their area amounts now to 75,000 acres; they 

 have been very successful, especially from a 

 financial point of view. Later, Sir David 

 was transferred to British East Africa as director 

 of forest operations, and in that capacity he 

 published a voluminous report on the forests of 

 that Protectorate. He also visited Cyprus and 

 reported on its forests. He paid visits to the i 

 Canaries and other tropical and semi-tropical 

 countries, making a special study of the forest 

 vegetation of the last-mentioned. The knowledge 

 thus acquired enabled him to recommend suitable 

 species for introduction to other countries pos- 

 sessed of a similar climate. 



In the year 191 4 Sir David proceeded with the 

 British Association to Australia, where he re- 

 mained for two years studying the forest con- 

 ditions of that country. At the end of that time 

 the Government of Western Australia published 

 for him, in 1916, a full report on Australian forestry I 

 and his suggestions as regards future action to 

 be taken by the Governments of these colonies. 

 The report attracted great attention, and Sir ' 

 Ronald Munro-Ferguson, at that time Governor- 

 (ieneral of Australia, expressed the opinion that 

 " nobody has ever written on Australian forestry 

 as Sir David Hutchins has done." 



From Australia Sir David proceeded to New 

 Zealand, where he examined the forests, paying 

 special attention to the "Kauri" pine (Agathis 

 australis). He urged that the small remnants of 

 that queen of pines should be protected and en- 

 larged. It appears that he died while passing a 

 report on the New Zealand forests through the 

 press. Sir David Hutchins was an enthusiastic 



forester, who had amassed a vast amount of 

 knowledge on forestry subjects, and especially on 

 semi-tropical forest vegetation. In spite of his 

 enthusiasm carrying him sometimes too far, he 

 did most substantial service to the Empire, and 

 his friends were pleased to see his merits appre- 

 ciated by the bestowal of a knighthood some 

 months before his unexpected death. 



Sir Charles Bruce, G.C.M.G. 



Bv the death, at the age of eighty-four, 

 of Sir Charles Bruce the country has lost 

 a great scholar and an efficient administrator. 

 The son of an Indian Civil Servant, in his early 

 years Sir Charles devoted himself, mainly in Ger- 

 many, to philological study, chiefly in Sanskrit 

 and Zend-Pahlavi, and he did valuable work in 

 connection with the great Sanskrit dictionary pub- 

 lished by the Academy of St. Petersburg. He 

 was next appointed rector of the Royal College at 

 St. Louis, Mauritius, whence he was transferred 

 as Director of Public Instruction to Ceylon. He 

 returned to Mauritius as Colonial Secretary, and 

 was later appointed Lieutenant-Governor of 

 British Guiana. In recognition of his services 

 he received the knighthood of the Order of St. 

 Michael and St. George. In 1897 Sir Charles re- 

 turned to Mauritius as Governor, where, with the 

 hearty support of Mr. Joseph Chamberlain, then 

 Colonial Secretary, he carried out important re- 

 forms in the public services, and as an adminis- 

 trator gained much popularity among the people 

 of the island, until his retirement from the public 

 service in 1903. During his colonial service of 

 more than thirty-five years he gave much atten- 

 tion to ameliorating the condition of the Indian 

 immigrants to our Crown Colonies, a task to which 

 he devoted himself after his retirement. In 1910 

 he published an important work, "The Broad 

 Stone of Empire," dealing with the problems of 

 Crown Colony administration in the light of his 

 wide and varied experience. Sir Charles Bruce 

 will be regretted by many friends as a man of 

 devout spirit and of singular independence and 

 honesty of purpose, with much charm of manner 

 and kindliness of heart. 



Notes. 



His Hiciinfss the Prince of Monaco has issued 

 invitations to representative scientific workers of all 

 countries to be present at the formal opening of 

 the Institut dc Palfentologic Humaine at 1 rue Ren6 

 I'anhard, Paris, to-day, December 23. The President of 

 the French Republic (M. .Millcrand) has promised to 

 ,-ittend. The institute owes its origin to the munificent 

 Ix-ncfactions of the Prince, whose interest in nrchaio- 

 logiral problems made possible the systemntic explora- 

 tion of the Mentonc caves. Its work is most widely 

 known to archjcologists through the magnificent series 

 nf publications covering the exploration of Palseolithic 

 ' .ives, notably those of Grimaldi, Alt.imira, and l-a 



vo ?r,69, VOL. 106] 



Pilct.T. Of the excavations described in these pub- 

 lications some have been undertaken under the 

 auspices and at the expense of the institute. This 

 is especially the case with those of more recent years, 

 such as the exploration of the cave of La Pilcta 

 (Malaga), undertaken by MM. Brcuil, Obermaier, and 

 Verner. Although it did not undertake the actual 

 exploration of the Alfamira cave at Santander, carried 

 out by Dr. Cartailhac and the .Abb^ Brcuil, it was 

 responsible for the publication of the results. It was 

 through the institute and the generous assistance given 

 by the Prince that it was possible for the authors to 

 describe the site and its culture on a scale and with a 



