448 



NA TURE 



[Seitember 7, 1893 



Satellites," by Ellen M. Clarke. We have now before us a 

 second one, entitled "The Planet Venus," in which the 

 authoress lays before us in a pleasant manner a similar summary 

 of the more important points connected with this planet's ap- 

 pearance. Commencing with a few words with regard to the 

 position of Venus with relation to the other planets in the solar 

 system, one is introduced successively to her changes of aspect 

 due to her varying positions in her orbit, to the "silver crown " 

 or halo produced by the refraction of the sun's rays round her 

 globe, and to her rotalion, general appearance, and polar caps. 

 Her appearance at times of transit, and the phantom satellite, 

 are then dealt with, the concluding chapter speaking of her in 

 connection with the Star of Bethlehem. In this last reference 

 is made to the "enhanced splendour with which she occasion- 

 ally — once or twice in a century or so — shines at such times." 

 That the planet does assume this increase of brightness, in 

 additi m to that due to her position, seems very doubtful, and 

 the explanation here given to account for it depends on the 

 luminous clouds theory suggested by the lectures on the lique- 

 faction of gases by Prof. 'Dewar. The monograph is well worth 

 a perusil, and should be widely read. 



" Memoire della SociETA," &c. — Among the contributions 

 to these memoirs for the month of July will be found a detailed 

 account of the late eclipse of the sun as observed from the 

 Royal Observatory of Catania ; a note by MiUosevich giving 

 some data with a map for the eclipses of May 28, 1900, and 

 August 30, 1905 ; and the spectroscopic observations given in 

 graphical form of the sun's limb, made at Palermo and Rome 

 during the months of October, November, and December of 

 1891. 



GEOGRAPHICAL NOTES. 



In the September number of the Geographical yournal, Mr. 

 Fred. Jeppe has a paper dealing in great detail with the 

 Z mtpansberg gold-fields in the north of the Transvaal, illustrated 

 by a new map of the district on a large scale, and by several 

 photographs of characteristic scenery. The paper is historical 

 as well as topographical, and contains aninterestingaccountof the 

 ancient workings in the Palabora region. The difft^ulty of ortho- 

 graphy of .place-names is referred to, several examples of alter- 

 native spelling being given, of which the series Li-Thaba,Lehlaba, 

 Lechlaba, Lethaba, Letaba, Taba is characteristic. The dis- 

 trict appears capable of great development when difficulties of 

 transport are overcome by a branch from the Delagoa Bay rail- 

 way. 



Dr. R. Hansen contributes a paper to the last number of 

 Pelermanii's MUteilutigen on the changes in the coastline of 

 south-western Schleswig, with maps showing the coast as it 

 existed in 1240, 1634, and 1892. These maps present a striking 

 picture of the progressive diminution in area of the islands 

 north of the mouth of the river Eider, especially Nordstrand, 

 while those immediately adjoining the river mouth have been 

 united with the mainland, and extended in area by the erection 

 of dykes. As the islands have been inhabited from very early 

 times, and protected to a certain extent by dykes, the process of 

 coast-erosion has not been as continuous and gentle as would 

 naturally be the case, but it has been a succession of artificial 

 catyclasms — if the phrase may be used — brought about by 

 exceptional storms destroying the sea-walls. In the old time 

 each of these catastrophes was recorded amongst the islanders by 

 the name of the patron saint of the day when it occurred. 



Peteiniann' s Mitteilungen also publishes a new map of 

 Chitral and the surrounding districts of the Hindukush, by Mr. 

 F. Immanuel, who describes the region in a short article. 



Mr. H. M. Dickson spent the month of August on board 

 H.M.S. Jackxl, on behalf of the Fishery Board for Scotland, in 

 carrying out a series of physical observations on the water 

 between the Orkney, Shetland, and Faeroe Islands. This work 

 was, to a certain extent, in concert with that being done by the 

 Danish and Swedish Governments on the entrance to the Baltic 

 and the neighbouring ports of the North Sea. 



MEETING OF THE FRENCH ASSOC I A TION. 



'T'HE twenty-second meeting of the Associa'ion Fran9-iise 



pour I'Avancement des Sciences was held this year at 



Besan9on (Department du Doubs. ), capital of the old province 



of Franche Comle. Few towns in France, even although smallt 

 are wanting in historic or antiquarian attractions, and in these 

 respects Besan^on has much to interest the antiquarian as well 

 as the man o( science, and therefore on its own merit is well 

 worthy of a visit. The meeting of the French Association in this 

 town not only enabled many 10 see it who otherwise would per- 

 haps never have had occasion to do so, but owing to the (acili- 

 ties afforded, both by the municipality and by the civil and 

 military authorities, practically everything interesting in the 

 town and in the environs was liberally put within the reach 

 of the members of the Association. 



The meetings of the Association were held in the Lycie, 

 which was built by the Jesuits about the commencement of the 

 seventeenth century, and by reason of the great number of class- 

 rooms affjrded the necessary facilities for the meetings of the 

 different sections for correspondence, &c. 



The Association, although modelled on the lines of the 

 British Association, has a slightly different scope, owing to the 

 conditions which brought it into existence. It really com- 

 menced as the " As.sociation Scientifique de France" in 1864, 

 when it was founded by Le Verrier, but this subsequently to 

 187 1 became combined with the Association Franjaise pour 

 I'Avancement des Sciences, the object of which was not only 

 scientific after the mode of the British Association, but als:) aimed 

 at reviving the study of science and of stimulating scientific 

 research in the departments by bringing French scientific men 

 together in the different principal towns throughout the country, 

 enabling them thus to become better and more practically ac- 

 quainted with France as a whole, and with the wishes, wants, 

 and requirements of the populations. Tiiis patriotic object 

 has been well kept in view, and the cordiality of the reception 

 afforded to the Association wherever it goes shows how well its 

 work is appreciated by the country. It would therefore follow 

 that the study of the district visited forms an important part of 

 the work of the Association, and that the " Excursions " are 

 just as much sought after as in the meetings of the British 

 Association. 



The business usually commences with a general meeting, held 

 either in the theatre of the town visited or other public build- 

 ing capable of affording the necessary facilities ; in this case it 

 was held in the theatre, a remarkable structure dating back 

 to 1778, and inaugurated in 1784 by the Prince de Condi 

 and his son, the Due de Bourbon. On the stage facing 

 the house was the table, at which sat the principal author- 

 ities of the town, civil and military, the president and 

 principal officers of the Association, and ranged behind them 

 the invited guests, notabilities, and chairmen of sections or 

 committees, &c., evening dress being practically de rigueur. 

 The business commenced by the Maire of Besan9on reading an 

 address of welcome to the Association, and of hearty sympathy 

 with its objects. Then the president for the year, Or. 

 Bouchard, Membre de I'lnstitut and de I'Academie de 

 Medicine, Professeur a la Faculie de Medicine de Paris, read 

 his address, of which the following may be taken as the lead- 

 ing points. Having thanked the town of Pau for the receptioa 

 given to the Association in 1892, and thanked the Maire of 

 Besancon for the cordiality of his welcome, he defined the 

 double object sought by the French Association's scientific pro- 

 gress, having for ulterior aim the greatness of their countrjr. 

 He paid a well-merited compliment to Besancon for its tradi- 

 tional love of learning and spirit of culture manifested in its 

 celebrated men and scientific institutions. Turning then to the 

 subject proper of his address, he expressed the desire to speak 

 of the scientific movement and the position of scientific men at 

 the present period, and in order to speak with competence he 

 proposed to take his examples from the profession " which be 

 cultivates, teaches, and practises," being justified in doing so 

 by the fact of his having been called on to preside in his quality 

 of a doctor. He then pointed to the wonderful development of 

 sdentific study at present, and stated that in the Faculty of 

 Medicine of Paris 1200 students present themselves each year 

 for the degree of M.D. (Doctorat en Medicine) ; of these 700 

 soon give up, while 500 persevere and attain their degree. 



He°pointed cut that, whatever the causes, it is manifest th»t 

 during the past fifteen years the number of students has been 

 on the increase. He then entered on an analysis of the causes 

 of this movement which extend to other branches of science. 



" It has been said that the German schoolmaster was the 

 conqueror at Sadowa ; it was repeated after more recent disas- 

 ters. It is false," but the " mol /it fortune cliez twus,'- ^ni the 



NO. 1245. VOL. 48] 



