June i, 1893] 



NA TV RE 



107 



irritation by scraping at the burning spot with the sting 

 of the tail ; but they seemed particularly careful not to 

 sting themselves. 



There seems, however, to be sufficient evidence 

 to prove that some scorpions have been seen to 

 sting themselves during the course of experiments of a 

 nature similar to those described above. One observer 

 indeed mentions, in the case of an Indian scorpion, that 

 blood issued from the wound made by the sting — a piece 

 of corroborative detail which enhances the probability of 

 the accuracy of the observation. But it is ii priori im- 

 probable that the scorpion has any intention of killing 

 itself. It seems, however, not improbable that a random 

 blow meant for an unseen enemy might accidentally 

 strike and pierce the deliverer ; or that when the irritation 

 is localised, as in the cases of burning with a lens, acid, 

 whisky,' or mustard, the scorpion, failing to remove the 

 substance by the ordinary means of scraping with the 

 tail, might thrust its sting into the spot affected, with the 

 intention, not of killing itself, but of destroying the agent 

 that is causing the pain. Or, indeed, it is conceivable 

 that the mental faculties are so deranged by torture and 

 the approach of death, that the scorpion does not recog- 

 nise its own body by its sense of touch, and stings it as 

 it would sting any other object within reach of its tail. 

 If a blow inflicted in either of these ways were to pierce 

 the brain, or were to seriously lacerate the great dorsal 

 blood-vessel, it might, one can suppose, cause death of 

 itself, independently of the burning. 



So that if it be admitted that scorpions have some- 

 times killed themselves, our verdict, it would seem, must 

 be — accidental suicide, or suicide while of unsound mind. 



R. I. POCOCK. 



NOTES. 



We greatly regret to have to record the death of Dr. Charles 

 Pritchard, F.R.S., Savilian Professor of Astronomy at Oxford. 

 He died at Oxford on Sunday morning last in his eighty-fourth 

 year. We hope to give on a future occasion some account of his 

 career as a man of science. 



The gold medal of the Linnean Society has this year been 

 awarded to Prof. Daniel Oliver, of Kew, to whom it was pre- 

 sented at the anniversary meeting of the Society held at Bur- 

 lington House on the 24th inst. 



A TABLET erected in Truro Cathedral to the memory of the 

 late Prof. John Couch Adams was unveiled by the Bishop of 

 Truro on Saturday last. Canon Mason, a companion of Prof. 

 Adams at Cambridge, delivered an address, in which he spoke 

 of the illustrious astronomer as " one of the greatest of Cornish- 

 raen." The tablet — the cost of which has been defrayed by 

 public subscription — was designed by Mr. Pearson, R.A,, and 

 executed by Mr. Juiefif, sculptor, of Cornwall. The Latin 

 inscription, a translation of which will be placed near the tablet, 

 is by the Archbishop of Canterbury. 



The new engineering and electrical laboratories at University 

 College, Gower Street, were opened on Monday last by the Duke 

 of Connaught. Many invited guests were present at the cere- 

 mony. Mr. J. K. Erichsen, the president of the college, in 

 beginning the proceedings, said it was confidently anticipated 

 that when the two laboratories which were about to be opened 

 were fully equipped with mechanical appliances and electrical 

 apparatus the college would possess every requirement for 

 advanced research and thorough teaching. The cost would not 

 fall far short of ^£'20,000, and the council hoped that a liberal 

 response would be made to the appeal for funds which had been 

 issued, and especially that the great City Companies, which had 



It is stated that in some parts of N. America scorpions sting themselves 

 to death if a drop <*r two of whisky be placed upon their backs ; and that 

 from this nianifejiiation of their dislike of alcohol, these animals are known 

 lo the natives as teetotallers. 



done so much for education and were so deeply interested in the 

 success of such an enterprise, would give their assistance. 

 Engineering was all-important, not only from a scientific, but 

 from a national point of view, and it was needless to dwell on 

 the importance of increasing the opportunities of the youlh of 

 this country for the study of the wonderful science of electricity, 

 which half a century ago was little more than a toy for the 

 learned, but now, through the telegraph and the telephones, 

 entered into the daily life of us all, and before which gas was, 

 it would seem, destined to "pale its ineffectual fires" as an 

 illuminant. It was to be hoped that such laboratories as these 

 would lead to fresh scientific triumphs and further practical 

 developments. The Duke of Connaught, before formally 

 declaring the laboratories open, delivered a short address, in the 

 course of which he said it had been his good fortune to see 

 some of the greatest engineering works in different parts of the 

 Empire, and he was certain that those who, like himself, had 

 seen them would recognize the vast importance of a thorough 

 study of the sciences on which they reposed. Foreign nations 

 were competing with us on all sides, and if we were to 

 maintain the proud position which we had hitherto held we 

 should have to use every endeavour to increase the oppor- 

 tunities of study and of practical work. He trusted that the 

 ceremony of to-day would mark a new era in the history of 

 the college, and would tend to the prosperity and the in- 

 creased power of engineering in this country. 



The death of Prof Ernst Eduard Kummer is announced. 

 He died at Berlin on May 14. Dr. Kummer was a Foreign 

 Member of the Royal Society, and at the time of his death was 

 in his eighty-fourth year. 



A MEMOIR of the late F. A. Genth was read at a recent 

 meeting of the Chemical Section of the Franklin Institute, and 

 will be published in the June number of the Institute's Journal. 

 It was prepared by a committee specially appointed for the 

 purpose. Mr. Genth is described in the paper as one of the 

 ablest mineralogists, and certainly the foremost mineral analyst, 

 hitherto known in the United States. The writers also speak 

 in high terms of his personal character, and of his remariiable 

 power as a teacher. 



Miss Agnes Crane writes to us from Brighton with regard 

 to an intimation she has just received from the "chief com- 

 missioner (Geology) of the Women's Auxiliary Branch of the 

 World's Congress." It is to the effect that the last week in 

 August has been set apart, for a short session during the day, 

 for the presentation of specially-prepared geological papers by 

 women. Such papers are not to exceed half an hour in reading. 

 The co-operation of English workers in this science is invited, 

 and an address to " geological women" will shortly be issued. 

 The chief commissioner in geology is Mrs. Louisa F. Lowery, 

 of II, Gainsborough-street, Boston, Mass. 



A GEOLOGICAL excursion to Dorking will be made by mem- 

 bers of the Geologists' Association on Saturday, June 3, under 

 the direction of Prof. Boulger and Mr. T. Leighton, the object 

 being to examine the district described by the directors in a 

 paper read before the Association on December 2, 1892. 

 Arrangements for excursions on the remaining Saturdays of 

 June have also been made. 



The following prize subjects have been recently an- 

 nounced by the Belgian Academy for 1894 : — A. Mathematics 

 and Physics. (i) Exposition and discussion of the various 

 theories of diffusion of one liquid into another, with new facts 

 bearing on this ; (2) Estimate of theories explaining the con- 

 stitution of solutions ; new experiments throwing light on the 

 subject, and especially on the existence of hydrates in aqueous 

 solutions ; (3) The investigations of modern geometers on the 

 theory of the triple orthogonal system to be summarised and 



NO. 1231, VOL. 48] 



