March 21, 19 18] 



NATURE 



45 



period, the orbit would suffer cumulative perturbations 

 of the ordinary de and edci type. 



Now, considering the fccentricity of Mercury's orbit, 



; it seems quite possible that at perihelion it may sweep 

 up more matter than at aphelion ; and, if so, the per- 



■; turbation caused would be roughly parallel to the minor 

 axis, so that it would give a large edrs and a small de. 



'■, Which is what is wanted. 



Perhaps also the fact that the Zodiacal light is best 

 seen from the earth's position early in March indicates 

 that the hypothetical matter extends mainly in the 

 direction of Mercury's perihelion, which corresponds 

 with the position of the earth early in December, for 

 that would be at right angles to the March line of 

 vision. 



Probably this idea, in some form or other, has 

 been already mooted by astronomers in connection with 

 Mercury's outstanding discrepancy, and rejected by 

 them on the ground that no sweeping up of matter was 

 permissible which would exert any perceptible influence 

 on the periodic time. It may be questioned, however, 

 whether such minute influence could be recognised, other- 

 wise than by its cumulative syntonic fluctuations, if it 

 had been on the average uniform throughout recent 

 centuries. 



March ii. Oliver Lodge. 



The British Association and the Nation. 



May I, as an outsider deeply interested in the drgan- 

 . nation and use of competent knowledge in the nation's 

 business, thank Nature for the note in its issue of 

 March 7 on the decision of the council of the British 

 \>sociation to suspend for yet another year the asso- 

 I lion's corporate life? I do not challenge the opinion 

 I the Cardift' Committee, nor would I criticise the 

 •disinclination of the council, when so many of its 

 prominent members are "working hard at urgent 

 problems, to hold a meeting of the customary peace 

 type. But why should there not be a meeting suitable 

 " to a time of war and of real peril? Would it not be 

 wise to show that the association stands for some- 

 thing in the stress of a great storm? I would respect- 

 fully suggest that a two days' meeting be arranged 

 ihis year in London, and that two things be attempted 

 thereat : — 



fi) To elicit authoritative statements, so far as they 

 II be made, of the services scientific men have 

 iidered the country they have done so much to save 

 )m extinction, the extent to w^hich these services 

 ive been improvised, and the circumstances in which 

 ley have been contributed. 



(2) To make possible equally cogent statements illus- 

 rative of the future dependence of this country upon 

 inpetent and organised knowledge, and hard and 

 isistent effort on scientific lines, if its people are to 

 .. ju fit for their place and equal to their duty. 

 iIk Facts are abundant ; demonstrators are available ; the 

 I^B^e is opportune ; the audiences are assured. 

 I^Btlmagine the verdict if nothing of this sort is 

 I^^Blempted; a verdict passed on its own purpose by the 

 ll^^^tish Association. The material interests can have 

 ^' their conferences — political, financial, industrial. Even 

 the occupational categories can assemble, be volumin- 

 ously reported and advertised, and pass resolutions of 

 interminable length on matters far removed either 

 from their knowledge or their experience. One in- 

 terest only — that of competent and ascertained know- 

 ledge — the supreme need of an honest white race, fails 

 the nation. Those who know are to be silent ! 

 Will not that be the truth? 



I feel certain that a group of students could easily 

 put a different complexion on the matter, and I sug- 



NO. 2525, VOL. lOl] 



gest that they should be permitted to try. As practi- 

 cally interested in administration, it would be a great 

 privilege to assist in many ways open to me. 



If the British Association, by reason of its consti- 

 tution, finds it difficult to organise such a meeting, are 

 there no other associations or groups of workers who 

 will play their part? J. J, Robinson. 



The West Sussex Gazette, Arundel, March 11. 



Whales and Seals as Food. 



Much correspondence has recently taken place regard- 

 ing the use of whale flesh as food, but the writers, 

 regarding it as an experiment or as a last resort, have 

 overlooked the fact that for centuries it formed a 

 regular diet of the islanders of Scotland. In both the 

 western and northern isles the capture of the round- 

 headed porpoise, or "ca'aing whale," has for long been 

 a systematised industry, whenever opportunity offered, 

 and indeed the earliest ev'dence of man 's presence in Scot- 

 land, in Neolithic times, is associated with the demoli- 

 tion of a whale stranded on the shores of the Firth of 

 Forth. 



Seals also formed a staple food of the islanders, a 

 slaughter of 200 or 300 being no unusual reward for a 

 visit to Suleskerry, in the Orkneys, or to Haskeir, in 

 the Outer Hebrides, during the eighteenth century. To 

 this destruction is mainly to be attributed the decline 

 of the grey seal in Scottish waters, which made neces- 

 sary the legislative protection granted in 19 14. In 

 Martin's day (1703) the seal flesh was preservfed for 

 winter use, but difficulties accompanied the eating of 

 it: — "The Natives salt the Seals with the ashes of burnt 

 Sea Ware, and say they are good Food, the Vulgar eat 

 them commonly in Spring time with a long pointed 

 Stick instead of a Fork to prevent the strong smell 

 which their Hands would otherwise have for several 

 Hours after." It was not only the vulgar who feasted, 

 however, for an innocent make-believe adapted the un- 

 usual fare to the palates of the great: — "The Seal, tho' 

 esteemed fit only for the Vulgar, is also eaten by Per- 

 sons of Distinction, though under a different name, to 

 wit, Hamm." James Ritchie. 



Edinburgh, March 15. 



THE EDUCATION {NO. 2) BILL. 



THE course of the debates in the House of 

 Commons on Wednesday, March 13, and on 

 Monday last, when the second reading- was taken, 

 aug-urs well for the passage of the new Educa- 

 tion Bill into law. With one or two excep- 

 tions, which might in any circumstances have 

 been expected, every speaker accepted cordially 

 the proposals embodied in the measure, and some 

 even went so far as to regret that more drastic 

 changes had not been submitted, having regard 

 to the grave position in which the nation finds 

 itself, not merely from an industrial and com- 

 mercial point of view, but also in respect of the re- 

 sponsibilities, personal and public, which the com- 

 ing generation must perforce accept if we are to 

 maintain and enhance our pride of place among 

 the nations of the earth. Nothing is more gratify- 

 ing to read in the course of an animated and 

 informing debate than the all but unanimous 

 demand from all parties for a better-paid teaching 

 body with a much improved status. Without doubt 

 the Bill is but a tentative measure, far exceeding, 

 however, the most sanguine hopes of ardent 



