;46 



NATURE 



[August 12, 1897 



financially by those who take an interest in this big 

 problem. The subject,, we know, is still in its infancy ; 

 but it is hoped that those who wish that this country 

 should take some part in this problem of aerial navigation 

 should bear a hand and support those who are w ling to 

 carry out the necessary experiments. 



William J. S. Lockyer. 



THE CALCUTTA EARTHQUAKE. 



IN a previous number of Nature (June 24, vol. Ivi. 

 p. 174), Mr. T. Heath gave an account, re the Indian 

 •earthquake, of the oscillations set up in the bifilar 

 pendulum of the Edinburgh Observatory between the 

 times June 11, 23h. i8m., and June 12, oh. 33m. The 

 reproduction of the photographic record accompanying 

 the letter did not, however, show any of the minor 

 details of the effect produced. We have received a 

 communication from Prof. P. Blaserna, in which these 

 details are clearly depicted on the records obtained with 

 the instruments erected at the Royal Geodetic Observatory 

 of Rocca di Papa (Rome). The curves here shown illus- 

 trate the movements of the N.-S. (Fig. i), and the E.-W. 



of its foundation. The Congress will be under the patronage of 

 the President of the Argentine Republic and the Ministers of 

 Justice, Foreign Affairs, and Public Instruction. There will be 

 seven sections, dealing respectively with exact sciences (pure 

 and applied mathematics, astronomy, geodesy and topography), 

 engineering, physics and chemistry, natural science, medical 

 sciences (including hygiene and climatology), anthropology and 

 sociology. 



M. Hautefeuille, member of the Section of Mineralogy 

 of the Paris Academy of Sciences, has been promoted to the 

 rank of Officer of the Legion of Honour. M. J. Vinot has been 

 made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour. 



Prof. Wm. Libbey, jun.. of Princeton, has succeeded in 

 making the ascent of the Mesa Encantada, near Albuquerque, 

 New Mexico, by the use of a cannon and life-line. The line 

 was thrown over the mesa, and successively larger cords were 

 attached, till after two days' labour a rope of sufficient strength 

 to raise a man in a chair was in position. No archaeological 

 remains were discovered, except rocks piled up as if man had per- 

 haps piled them. Tradition ran that the mesa had been inhabited 

 until the means of access were swept away four centuries ago. 



-vi 



W 



U Utj 



Fig. I. — June 12, N.-S. component. 



>'U' 





Fig. 2. — June 12, E.-W. component. 



(Fig. 2) components of a horizontal pendulum, and show 

 better than any description the increase and decrease 

 in the length of swing of the pendulum at the times 

 '(intervals of ten minutes) indicated by the short arrows. 

 We may mention that a second set of curves, made with 

 another quite independent instrument (seismometograph 

 with a vertical pendulum carrying a mass of 200 

 kilograms), recorded nearly similar disturbances at the 

 same times. This latter instrument is also situated at 

 Rocca di Papa, and directed by Dr. A. Cancani. The 

 above curves, besides indicating the effect produced by 

 the shocks caused by the Calcutta earthquake, show how 

 very efficient the Roman instruments are for recording 

 the minute details of the earth's movements. 



JVOTES. 



There seems some probability that Jamaica may be selected 

 by the American Commission for the site of the proposed 

 Tropical Botanical Station. Profs. MacDougal and Campbell 

 have restricted themselves in their tour of investigation to that 

 island, and have expressed themselves as well satisfied with the 

 ■conditions of the rich and varied vegetation there found. The 

 Director of the Botanical Department, Mr. W. Fawcett, is pre- 

 pared to render every assistance in the furtherance of the object. 



The Scientific Society of Argentina is organising a Congreso 

 Cientifico Latino Americano, to be held at Buenos Ayres in 

 April next, in commemoration of the twenty-fifth anniversary 

 NO. 1450, VOL. 56] 



The Paris correspondent of the Times states that Dr. Robert 

 Wurtz, professor at the Paris School of Medicine, has been 

 chosen, as one of the leading French bacteriologists, for a mission 

 in Abyssinia. He is to start for Jibutil and to go on direct to 

 Adis Abeba, where, after having organised a department of vac- 

 cination, he will study the rinderpest and similar infectious 

 maladies which chronically ravage Menelik's empire. 



The death is announced of Dr. W. Petzold, known by his 

 contributions to geographical and astronomical literature. 



We regret to announce the death of Prof. Victor Meyer, the 

 distinguished professor of chemistry in the University of 

 Heidelberg. 



The Government of Victoria is offering a bonus of 1000/. for 

 the invention of an efficient and not too costly method of venti- 

 lating mines. 



The Belf;ian Chamber of Representatives has voted an ad- 

 ditional grant of sixty thousand francs in aid of M. de Gerlache's 

 expedition to the South Pole. 



The statue of Charles Darwin, erected in his native town of 

 Shrewsbury and in front of the school which for nine years he 

 attended, was unveiled on Tuesday. The statue, which is of 

 bronze, is the gift of the Shropshire Horticultural Society, and 

 cost 1000 guineas. 



The thirty-fourth annual conference of the British Pharma- 

 ceutical Association was opened at Glasgow on Tuesday, under 

 the presidency of Dr. Symes, of Liverpool. 



