JUNE-l6, 1892] 



NATURE 



163 



Signer G. F. Mazzarelli contributes some researches on the 

 morphology and physiology of the glands of Bohadsch in the 

 Aplysiidae (the opaline gland of Vayssiere). He also gives the 

 diagnosis of a new species of Aplysia. The author gives an 

 elaborate histological description of the organ illustrated by two 

 coloured plates, and amongst other conclusions shows that three 

 liquids are secreted — a white odoriferous, a violet, and a mucous — 

 which he declares to have an important biological value, and to 

 concur with the secretions of the mantle for the defence of the 

 animal. 



Dr. N. Terracciano in a note on some plants of the flora of 

 Terra de Lavoro describes several species so far not met with in 

 that district, others not included in the Italian flora, and some 

 new species and varieties. Figures are given oi Arabis surculosa, 

 Amaranthus crtspus, and Kcdcria collina. . 



Next follows a monograph of the fossil Pristis, with a descrip- 

 tion of a new species {Pristis lyceenis) from the Miocene limestone 

 of Lecce, and of course figured. 



Dr. L. Manfredi has an interesting paper on the contamina- 

 tion of the street surface of large cities, from a hygienic and 

 sanitary engineer's point of view, with special reference to 

 Naples. Sweepings of the streets were made at 9 a.m. — that is, 

 after the regular cleansing had been performed, so that the 

 materials collected represented what remains all the day to con- 

 taminate the air and whatever objects it comes in contact with. 

 The materials, collected with all due precautions, were submitted 

 to bacteriological and chemical analysis. One gramme of fresh 

 sweepings contains from gio'ooo to 668,000,000 vital or living 

 bacteria, or double the amount found in fresh foeces, or about 

 1319 times richer than drain water. Compared with the streets 

 of Munich we find that the author there found 8000 to 12,840,000. 

 He demonstrates that, so far as Naples goes, the more cleanly 

 kept are the streets the lower is the number of bacteria in their 

 sweepings, whilst they or their spores have great resisting powers 

 to heat, sunlight, and desiccation. They are most abundant in 

 the temperate seasons of spring and autumn ; small rains increase 

 them, torrents markedly diminish them. The Schizomycetes 

 are the predominant type, but ferments and moulds are common. 

 The chemical examination is equally interesting, and, as the 

 author shows, the ninterial is a most favourable culture medium 

 for micro organism? ; which research leads up to a series of 

 experiments to show how the number of these increase up to a 

 certain date and then diminish in a given sample of sweepings ; 

 the effects of rain in facilitating this growth are demonstrated, 

 and also the gases given off as the result of such changes. 



The inoculation experiments are also not without interest. 

 An examination of the sub-soil on the same lines is of great 

 importance, and several practical and important conclusions are 

 drawn from these researches, which the limits of space forbid our 

 more fully reviewing. The memoir is one that should be con- 

 sulted by every municipal officer. 



Signor G. F. Mazzarelli has another long paper on the 

 morphology and physiology of his favourite Aplysiae of the Gulf 

 of Naples, and illustrated by four plates. 



Altogether this volume does credit to the Academy, but one 

 regrets not to see papers by some more of its members. 



UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 

 INTELLIGENCE. 



Oxford.— In a Convocation held on June 7, the thanks of 

 the University were ordered to be conveyed to Mr.C. D. E. Fort- 

 num, Hon. D.C.L., for his munificent gift to the Ashmolean 

 Museum, and an indentuie was sealed, the provisions of which 

 place the Ashmolean Museum on an entirely new footing. 



In the year 1888 Dr. Fortnum gave to the University a large 

 portion of his collection of antiquities and works of art, which 

 had been exhibited on loan in the upper room of the Ashmolean 

 Museum. Dr. Fortnum has now notified his intention of 

 bequeathing to the University the remainder of his collection 

 together with his library, and he has undertaken to transfer to 

 the University a sum of 2"io,oooon certain conditions, the main 

 object of which is to provide for the care and maintenance of 

 the Museum in the future. Under the indenture, which was 

 signed on Tuesday last, the University is bound— 



(i) To provide a sum, not exceeding;^! 1,000, for the erection 

 of a new Ashmolean Museum, on ground adjoining the Uni- 

 versity Galleries. 



(2) To provide a sum, not exceeding ;i^4OO0, for the fitting 

 up and furnishing the Museum. 



NO. 1X8 1. VOL. 46] 



(3) To augment to ;;^6oo a year, at least, the income arising 

 from Dr. Fortnum's benefaction of ;^io,ooo. 



Dr. Fortnum's kindly intentions to the new Ashmolean 

 Museum include a further bequest to the University of ;^5ooo 

 contingent upon the University voting the ;^i5,ooofor buildings, 

 fitting, and furniture. With regard to this amount the Uni- 

 versity authorities make the following remark:—" Of the/'i 1,000 

 required for the building, it appears that the Curators of the 

 University Chest will have funds in hand in the course of this 

 year and next, out of which this expenditure may be defrayed. 

 It is right, however, to state that this will leave the University 

 Chest for the present without further resources, in the form 

 either of stock or of cash, for meeting any other new expendi- 

 ture upon a large scale." 



It is proposed that the old A.shmolean Museum, when no 

 longer required for its present purpose, shall be available as an 

 extension for the Bodleian Library, for which additional accom- 

 modation must have soon been provided. 



The University Obsei-vatory. — The annual meeting of the 

 Board of Visitors took place on Wednesday, June 8, when the 

 I Savilian Professor (Rev. C. Pritchard, D.D., F.R.S.) read his 

 I annual report. After remarking on the present condition of the 

 I buildings and instruments, the Professor said : — 

 ' "As anticipated in the last report, the work connected 

 I with stellar parallax is now complete, and I have placed 

 upon the table a manuscript containing the result of that 

 ' research. I need hardly say that it has been a work of 

 I unremitting labour, and one which has occupied the strenuous 

 I efforts of myself and the Observatory staff during the 

 ' last four years. The manuscript thus completed con- 

 j sisfs of (i) the concise but complete history of all effective 

 j researches in stellar parallax up to the present date ; (2) the 

 results of the parallax work completed in this Observatory, ex- 

 tending on the whole to some thirty stars ; (3) a catalogue of all 

 parallactic determinations effected by other astronomers. 



" The provision of photometric catalogues of stars of the ninth 

 and eleventh magnitudes, within small specified areas for the use 

 i of the eighteen Observatories engaged on the international chart 

 of the heavens, has been effected, and the results distributed 

 through the agency of the Paris Observatory. The cause of this 

 proceeding originated in the unsuccessful attempts to secure the 

 j required uniformity of stellar magnitude on the photographic 

 [ plates by the employment of metallic gauze screens of one definite 

 mesh. Much time was consumed on the experimental research 

 into the action of such screens on the photographic image, and 

 in the course of the inquiry certain unexpected and interesting 

 results came to light, the substance of which I communicated to 

 the Paris Academy, and which were subsequently published in 

 the Transactions of that body. It is satisfactory to find that 

 these photometric determinations have been appreciated and 

 found to be of practical service, and have been acknowledged as 

 such by both the Directors of the Greenwich and Paris 

 Observatories. 



" Notwithstanding these very serious interruptions, consider- 

 able progress has been made in securing the photographic plates 

 for the international chart and catalogue. In number these plates 

 amount to about 150, and it is hoped in future they will ac- 

 cumulate more rapidly, since the work on the preparation of 

 these aforementioned photometric catalogues is now complete." 

 The report concludes with the usual acknowledgments to the 

 assistants, and with this very satisfactory expression, on which 

 we beg to congratulate the Savilian Professor — "The state of 

 my health and other circumstances prevented my being present 

 at the last meeting of the Board, but I am glad to say that the 

 anticipation of the speedy and complete recovery, mentioned in 

 the last report, has been fully realized." 



Raddiffe Travelling FellcMship. — The Examiners for this 

 Fellowship give notice that a Fellowship is thrown open this 

 year to all persons who have been placed in the First Class in 

 the School of Natural Science, without further restriction. The 

 examination will be as far as possible in the subjects specified 

 by the candidates who offer themselves for examination, and 

 will take place in the first week in November. 



SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES. 

 London. 

 Royal Society, May 19. — "On the Measurement of the 

 Magnetic Properties of Iron." By Thomas Gray, B.Sc, 

 F.R.S.E. Communicated by Lord Kelvin, P. R.S. 



This paper gives the method of experiment aiid results 



