July 1, 1895.] 



KNOWLEDGE 



157 



stars are component parts of our sidereal system, and that 

 this forms but one single structure, is one taught on a 

 larger and more impressive scale by the manner in which 

 the unresolved nebulse shrink from the galactic zone. 

 But the great interest of the Nubecula lies in the different 

 manner in which that lesson is taught. In the heavens 

 at large the condensations of stars and of nebulse (other 

 than planetary) tend to avoid each other, and by that 

 very avoidance prove that they are but different parts of a 

 single evolution. Here we have such condensations inter- 

 mingled in a single formation, as if that mysterious 

 repulsion between stars and uebulie which had caused 

 the nebuliB to cluster round the very pole of the Milky 

 Way, as in the " rich " region of Virgo, had not attained 

 here an equal development. Here we have still preserved 

 to us a fragment of the cosmic embryo, or at least a region 

 wherein the forces which elsewhere have effected so marked 

 a stratification have not yet worked out n like result. 



This region, which, as it were, combines together a 

 fragment of the Milky Way with a rich gathering of the 

 objects most foreign to it, contains also one fine example 

 of the irregular nebuliB, the only member of the class found 

 outside the galactic zone. This is 30 Doradus, the " great 

 looped nebula," one of the most remarkable objects in the 

 entire sky ; a piece of complicated lace-work, executed in 

 misty light. The nebula is on the central line of Plate I. 

 and near the following side. 



For further lessons from the Nubecula we must look to 

 the photographic plate. Already Mr. Eussell has shown 

 us in his photograph of October 17th, 1890, the spiral 

 nebulosities which link together its complexity of structure. 

 The present plates bring into prominence rather the 

 great differences of condensation which mark different 

 regions in it. Both testify to the importance of studying it 

 with every variety of photographic telescope available, and 

 with great range of exposure. The photographic analysis 

 of an object like this, which seems to be a sort of epitome 

 of the entire sidereal heavens, cannot fail to be of the utmost 

 service in extending our knowledge of stellar evolution. 



£(ifnct Notes. 



• 



Prof. E. Hull, LL.D., F.E.S., in a paper just read 

 before the Victoria Institute, has brought forward some 

 further remarks — in addition to those he recently brought 

 before the Geological Society, on the physical conditions 

 of the Mediterranean basin, which have given rise to a 

 community of some species of the freshwater fishes in 

 the Nile and the .Jordan basins. The author traced the 

 various changes which the Mediterranean basin had 

 undergone since the beginning of the Tertiary period, 

 resulting in the formation of a chain of freshwater lakes 

 (as previously suggested by Dr. Leith-Adams and Admiral 

 Spratt), when elephants and hippopotami inhabited the 

 lands surrounding Sicily and Malta. The author con- 

 sidered that the formation of these freshwater lakes was 

 brought about by the greater extension of the land areas 

 and decreased evaporation, which caused the waters of 

 the Mediterranean lakes to flow outwards into the Atlantic. 

 These conditions would be brought about by a general 

 uprise of 250 fathoms taking place in the later Pliocene 

 period. The freshwater conditions would admit of inter- 

 communication batween the fauna of the North African 

 rivers and those of Asia Minor, while the connection with 

 the Jordanic basin — in which the waters stood 1300 feet 

 (or more) above the present level of the Dead Sea — would 

 have been established by one or more streams draining 

 into the eastern basin by the depression of the Plain of 

 Esdraelon. 



Geologists have for many years been waiting for further 

 evidence with regard to the great question of the antiquity 

 of man. Although evolutionists believe that man probably 

 originated in the Jliocene period, yet at present there is 

 no definite evidence for so great an antiquity as that. 

 The Abbe Beourgois believes that he has found flint imple- 

 ments at Thenay, in France, in a Miocene deposit, but the 

 evidence is not satisfactory. Last year Dr. Fritz Noetling 

 reported a discovery of flint-chips, believed to be the work 

 of man, in certain strata in Burmah, which by some 

 authorities were believed to be of Miocene age ; but these 

 are now proved by their fossil contents to be of Pliocene 

 age. Dr. Prestwieh has recently described some very rude 

 flint implements from the plateaux gravels near Sevenoaks, 

 which he considers to be preglacial, and, therefore, possibly 

 of Pliocene age. (Tin- NinrUcnth Centurii, April.) 



Mr. Worthington Smith states that human bones have 

 been more than once discovered in Palneolithic gravels, but 

 were lost or broken through carelessness. Some remark- 

 able finds have recently been made in the Loess deposits 

 of Moravia. Ten nearly complete skeletons were found in 

 the natural positions as they had been buried in the brick- 

 earth, and mammoth bones were associated with them. 

 Probably they represent a family ; and a block of stone 

 had been placed on the tomb to prevent the ravages of 

 wild beasts. The skulls are dolicocephalic (or long-headed) 

 with retreating forehead, and strong ridges over the eyes. 

 A few weeks ago a very animated discussion took place at 

 the Geological Society over a human skull and limb-bones 

 found in the Pah^olithic gra%'el of Galley Hill, Greenhithe, 

 Kent, ninety feet above the Thames, which were carefully 

 described in a paper by Mr. E. T. Newton. Those who 

 found these remains were convinced that they represented 

 a Paleolithic man ; but Sir John Evans and Prof. Boyd 

 Dawkins preferred to think that this was an interment of 

 Neolithic age, although to many present the evidence 



seemed to be the other way. 



— »-*-^ — 



A very important event in the scientific world is the 



recent publication of the last of the volumes of " Reports 



of the Voyage of H.M.S. ChaUengcr," in two parts, giving 



a summary of the scientific results. It is not too much 



to say that this was one of the grandest and most successful 



of scientific expeditions that has ever been organized. 



*-^^ 



The programme of arrangements for the meeting of the 

 British Association at Ipswich has been issued. The 

 first general meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 

 11th, when Sir Douglas Gallon will assume the presidency 

 and deUver an address. On Thursday evening, September 

 12th, a soire>- will be held. On the following evening a 

 discourse will be delivered by Prof. Silvanus P. Thompson 

 on magnetism in rotation. On Monday evening, September 

 16th, there will be a discourse by Prof. Percy F. Frankland 

 on the work of Pasteur, and its various developments. 

 A second soii-ec will take place on Tuesday evening, Sep- 

 tember 17th, and the concluding general meeting will be 

 held on Wednesday, September 18th. 



The following candidates have been selected by the 

 Council of the Royal Society for election as Fellows : — 

 Mr. J. Wolfe Barry, Prof. A. G. Bourne, Mr. G. H. Bryan, 

 Mr. J. Eliot, Prof. J. R. Green, Mr. E. H. Griffiths, Mr. 

 C. T. Haycock, Prof. S. J. Hickson, Major H. C. L. Holden, 

 Mr. F. C. McLean, Prof. W. MacEwen, Dr. S. Martin, 

 Prof. G. M. Minchin, Mr. W. H. Power, Prof. T. Purdie. 

 The absence of representatives of geological science from 

 this list is noteworthy. 



