June 9, 1892J 



NATURE 



135 



both charts, 24 on Neison's and not on Prof. Pickering's, while 

 II were found on Prof. Pickering's and not recorded by Neison. 

 With higher powers, aH Neison's, except two, were discovered, 

 and, in addition, several other small ones. Just about the region 

 of Bessel a change seem, to have taken place since Neison made 

 his map, for there are one or two cases in which the crater-pits 

 picked out by him for reference are now not the most conspicuous 

 objects, there being several others far more prominent in the 

 immediate vicinity. The floor of Plato also has been carefully 

 scrutinized, and several of what were then more or less distinct 

 luminous points are now either invisible or barely so, while one 

 large crater was seen where previously none was recorded. 

 Whether a real change has taken place in these parts of the 

 moon's surface, or whether the antecedent observations were 

 sufficiently accurate, is a matter of doubt, and it is for future 

 obsei-vers to determine this. But now, as Prof. Pickering says, 

 " that we are able to study the smaller lunar craters to advantage, 

 and so many changes are noted, it does not seem as if the same 

 cause (the mere action of sunlight) can have affected so many of 

 them in the same way, nor does it seem as if all the changes 

 noted can be due to erroneous delineation. " 



Catalogue of Nebula.— In Astronomische Nachrichten, 

 No. 3094, the Catalogue No. 10 of nebulae discovered at the 

 Warner Observatory by Swift is inserted. The number in- 

 cluded, which generally consists of one hundred, amounts here 

 to sixty, the reason being that owing to the increasing number of 

 electric street lights these faint objects are rendered invisible 

 by the illumination of the atmosphere. 



GEOGRAPHICAL NOTES. 



Dr. Henry Schlichter contributes a valuable epitome of 

 our knowledge of the pygmies of Africa to the June number 

 oixhe. Scottish Geographical Magazine. He divides the dwarf 

 tribes hitherto reported into four great groups, according to the 

 regions they inhabit, recognizing, however, the probability of 

 further exploration reveaUng connecting links between them. 

 The first group, or dwarfs of West Africa, includes the Obongo, 

 Akoa, and Babongo, which vary between 4 and 5 feet in height. 

 The second, or Central African group, contams the Akka, 

 Wambutti, and Batua, of even smaller stature, inhabiting the 

 Congo Basin, scattered amongst Bantu tribes. The third group 

 is that of the East African pygmie=, whose existence east of the 

 Nile and south of Kaffa was reported as early as 1826 ; but 

 they are still litlle known. The fourth group, those dwelling 

 south of the Congo basin, is relegated to another paper. 



Ordnance maps of Great Britain are at last cominij 

 prominently before the public. Although not likely to gratify 

 those engaged in producing the sheets, popular attenti>jn will 

 doubtless result in direct and early benefit to cartography and 

 even to geography at large. A Parliamentary Committee, on 

 which scientific geographers are well represented, has the whole 

 matter under investigation, and the energetic criticisms of Mr. 

 Crook, which have so long passed unheeded, are now receiving 

 further expression in a series of articles in the Times. The par- 

 ticular object of attack is the new quarter inch outline map of 

 England and Wales, a map put forward by the Survey with 

 some natural diffidence, for it is founded on measurements the 

 most recent of which were made twenty years ago, and the 

 earliest at the very beginning of the century. The delineation 

 of the country, in consequence of the want of subsequent revision, 

 resembles a star-chart, m so far a^ it represents each point as it 

 existed at some different time in the past. Unlike a star-chart, 

 however, the quarter-inch map of England is of no scientific and 

 litlle practical value. The more thoroughly this matter is in- 

 vestigated, and the more speedily it is rectified, the better will 

 it be for the Survey officers, whose m ignificent triangulations and 

 unparalleled accuracy of observation have made the mapping of 

 the British Islands a model for the world to admire. It is high 

 time that steps be taken for regular periodical revision of all 

 Ordnance maps, and for publication in a form comparable with 

 that of the Staff maps of France and other Continental nations. 



An appreciative article on the late Prof, Freeman and his 

 services to geography appears in the June number of the Pro- 

 ceedings of the Royal Geographical Society. Freeman's most 

 important service was to demonstrate that the physical geo- 

 graphy of a region largely determines the political geography 

 of the countries upon it, and that a knowledge of past geo- 

 graphical conditions is essential in order to understand history, 



NO. I I So, VOL. 46] 



The report of an expedition to Argentine Tierra del Fu^o 

 by Senor Julio Popper has been recently published by the 

 Argentine Geographical Society, The region in question is the 

 eastern half of Tierra del Fuego, the geological structure of 

 which is mainly Tertiary rocks much disintegrated ; the coast 

 line is little indented, with few harbours, the sea shallow and 

 abounding in sand-banks, while the climate, dominated by the 

 warm Brazil current is equable and moist. The south coast 

 bordering the Beagle Channel is rugged, rocky, and under the 

 climatic influence of the cold Antarctic drift. The tribes in- 

 habiting the island of Tierra del Fuego proper are the Ona 

 (compare Nature, xlv. 577), who are described as of fine 

 physique, resembling the Indians of North America, and sus- 

 ceptible of civilization. Indeed, Sefior Popper contrasts their 

 magnanimous and forgiving character very favourably with the 

 unreasoning cruelty of the white gold-seekers who have invaded 

 their territory, yet the Onas are said to be inveterate thieves. 

 The map accompanying this report is covered with new names 

 for features already designated, and it can hardly be expected 

 that these will be accepted by European geographers. 



Mrs. Bishop (Miss Bird) read an interesting paper on her 

 recent journey to Little Tibet, before the London branch of the 

 Royal Scottish Geographical Society, on May 31, the Duke of 

 Argyll presiding. Lady travellers are not encouraged to 

 describe their expeditions to the Royal Geographical Society, 

 and as the British Association, which receives communications 

 from men and women on an equal footing, cannot meet in 

 London, this opportunity for a metropolitan audience to hear 

 at first hand the account of an adventurous journey, and the 

 sympathetic estimate of the inhabitants of a little-known region, 

 by a woman of Mrs. Bishop's tried courage and trained observing 

 powers was naturally taken advantage of to the utmost. 



MICRO-ORGANISMS IN THEIR RELA TION 

 TO CHEMICAL CHANGE} 



A LMOST exactly on this day twenty-two years ago the sub- 

 "^ ject of micro-organisms was introduced to the audience of 

 the Royal Institution in one of those charming discourses, which 

 so many of us well know were always to be heard from Dr. 

 Tyndall. The title of his discourse on that occasion wis " Dust 

 and Disease," and its contents should be studied by all interested 

 in this departure of science, forming, as it does, a part of the 

 classical literature of the subject in which it marks the com- 

 mencement of a new epoch. 



It has probably rarely, if ever, happened before, that in so 

 short a period as twenty-two years any science has undergone 

 such a marvellous advance, such a many-sided development, as 

 that which has taken place in the case of bacteriology, the science 

 which is devoted to the study of those low forms of life which 

 we group together under the name of viicro organisms. This 

 advance has been made through the ungrudging expenditure of 

 self-denying labour by a great body of earnest workers of nearly 

 every nationality. The subject is, indeed, one calculated to draw 

 forth interest and enthusiasm, for the problems involved are not 

 only of high scientific importance, but are also of incalculable 

 moment to mankind, and, indeed, to the entire living creation. 



The great impetus which this new science received at its out- 

 set was imparted by Pa-teur, who has not only laid the founda- 

 tions, but has also added, and is still adding, so much to the 

 superstructure of its many mansions. 



The side of bacteriology with which the general public is most 

 commonly brought in contact is that which relates to disease, 

 but of this I propose saying absolutely nothing to night. It has 

 been dealt with by others in this place, and notably by my 

 friend Dr. Klein. 



There is a second side of bacteriology which has also a special 

 interest for at least a portion of the public, in consequence of 

 the invaluable assistance which it has afforded to some sections 

 of the industrial world. Indeed, chronologically, this industrial 

 department of bacteriology was the first which claimed attention, 

 for the growers of wine, the brewers of beer, and the manu- 

 facturers of fermented liquors of all kinds from the highest 

 antiquity have been practical bacteriologists, of the same spon- 

 taneous order, it is true, as M. Jourdain was an unconscious 



> Friday Evening Discourse, delivered by Prof. Percy F. Frankland 

 F.R.S., at the Royal Institution of Great Britain, on February 19, 1892. 



