658 



NATURE 



[October 31, 189 = 



inches. Fish x.m m -i/c iuhki uln'erent conditions and in 

 iliftercnt areas, and on the south-west coast the limit of size for 

 maturity in plaice is 13 inches according to Mr. Cunningham. 

 An immense number of the small plaice brought to market are 

 caught on the eastern grounds ; and this area fonns also a 

 nursery- and spawning haven for turbot, brill and soles. The 

 number of plaice above 10 inches on these groumls is inconsider- 

 able : and if a size limit of 13 inches for plaice brought to market 

 were enforced, even during the spring and summer only, such a 

 limit would sutlicc to keep trawlers off these grounds, which 

 would thus be left unmolested. In conclusion, .Mr. Holt con- 

 siders various remedial measures for checking the depletion of 

 the North Sea grounds, and of enabling the fish supply to 

 recover : but the only practicable method of attaining this end 

 at present is by legislation based on the principle of the size 

 limit. 



THE FORMATION OF BACTERIAL 

 COLONIES} 



'rilE author h-as examined the details of development of the 

 colony from a single s|K>re, in numerous species, by 

 employing microscopic plate-cultures, which can be kept under 

 observation under a one-twelfth and even a one-twentieth oil 

 inmiersion, or by making pure Klatschpriiparatc of the growing 

 ci ilony on cover-slips covered with a thin fdm of gelatine. 



He finds many factors of importance in afl'ecting the form, 

 extent, rapidity of growth, and other characters of colonies. The 

 elasticity of the gelatine, the presence of moist films on the sur- 

 face of the gelatine, the rate of (slight) liquefaction, &c., all 

 lieing of importance, in explaining the shapes, &c. , of submerged 

 colonies — " whetstone shaped," moruloid, spherical, or lobed 

 colonies — the mode of emergence and spreading over the surface 

 • ' '''••■ ■•■• latine, the formation of radiating fringes, iridescent 



re to light during the development of liquefying 

 colonies may profoundly affect their shape and other properties, 

 a phenomenon closely connected with the retardation of 

 liquefaction and growth. Pigment bacteria may give rise to 

 |>crfc*ctly colourless races when cultiv.atcd under certain con- 

 ditions, and the colour restored by .again changing the conditions, 

 a fact which the author has not only confirmed with red forms, 

 but which he shows to be true of a violet b.icillus. Species 

 commonly described as non-motile show active movements 

 under certain conditions, and the sizes of bacteria are not con- 

 stant in different regions of one and the same colony. Details 

 have been worked out for series of types, the extremes of which 

 '■ -lurably in liquefying power, and essential difference 



irance of a colony may depend on the amount of 

 I , . „ jjower evinced. 



.■>ome curious cases of travelling films, the lobes and contorted 

 tresses of which move like amtclxc over the surface of the 

 gelatine, were also examined. 



The facts point to (i) differences in colonies even of one 



11 much more subtle differences in cultures 



lised ; (2) varietal differences may occur 



.. .: :... ..line species (isolated from the river), ilue to 



t vicissitudes the two individuals have been subjected 



•iL-ir sojourn in the water ; (3', the difficulties met with 



III ■li.igiiur.ing "s|K;cie5" of Iracteria with the aid of works of 



known authority, arc jartly due to varieties of the same species [ 



l»ing recorded by different observers under different names, and 



I he- author thinks some more consistent pre-arranged plan of 



working out the characters of .such forms should U- developed by 



Inctcriologists than at present exists. 



A FaI.se BACTKRIt'M. 



The author has isolated from the Thames a form which gives 

 .ill the ordinary reactions. of a liactcrium in plate-cultures and 

 iiit«..ru|iun-« in (;i''Tinc, agar, polalo, broth, milk, &c. 



I /< thick, and up to 2 or 4 ;i long, stains 

 not \k distinguished from a true Schizo- 

 ■■-■■ ■'.> in common use. 



"n cull I ricr high [Kiwers — one-twelfth and one- 



twcnlicth ' I'.ns — from the single cell, however, it is 



(ound 10 form small, .shortly-branched mycclia, the growth and 



' AtMlr.icu nf two pattern, rca»l t)cfi.ro Section K of the Itrilish Association 

 I Ipiwkh liy Prof H. Marsliiill Waril, K.R.S. 



NO. 1357, VOL. 52J 



segmentation of which are acropetal. This turns out to be a 

 minute oidial form of a true fungus. 



Its true nature can only be .ascertained by the isolation and 

 culture through all stages from the single cell, according to the 

 original methods of gelatine cultures ofKlebs, BrefeKl, and De 

 Bar)-, which preceded and suggested the methods employed by 

 bacteriologists ; and the facts discovered raise interesting ques- 

 tions as to the character of alleged " branching " bacteria on the 

 one hand, and the multiple derivation of the heterogeneous 

 group of micro-organisms, termed bacteria in general, on the 

 other. 



UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 



INTELLIGENCE. 



Camhridi.i:. — The following have l)een appointed Examiners 

 in Natural Science for the current acailemical year : — Physics : 

 Dr. O.J. Lo<lge, F.R.S.. and .Mr. L. R. Wilberforce. Elemen- 

 tary Physics : Mr. II. I-'. New-all and Mr. S. Skinner. Chemistry : 

 R. .Meldola, F.R.S., and Mr. W. J. Sell. Elementary 

 Chemistry- : Mr. F. H. Neville and Dr. S. Ruhcmann. 

 Mincr.ilo5j)- : Prof. N. Stoiy-Maskelyne, F.R.S., and .Mr. H. A. 

 Miers. Geology : Prof. G. A. J. Cole and Mr. II. Woods. 

 Botany: Dr. H. M. Ward, F.R.S., and Mr. H. Wager. 

 Zoolog)' : Prof. S, J. Hickson, F.R.S., and Mr. S. F. Harmer. 

 Elementar)' Biology : Mr. A. C. Seward arid Mr. I. J. Lister. 

 .\natomy : Prof. A. Macalister, F.R..S., and Prof. A. M. 

 Paterson. Physiology : .Mr. W. B. Hardy and Prof. W. D. 

 Halliburton, F. R.S. Pharmaceutical Chemistry: Mr. A. Ivall 

 and Mr. R. H. Adie. 



Dr. Glaisher, F.R.S., and Mr. R. T. Glazebrook, F.R.S., of 

 Trinity College, and Prof. G. B. Mathews and Mr. A. E. II. 

 Love, P. R.S., of St. John's College, have been appointed 

 Examiners for Part II. of the Mathematical Tripos; and Prof. 

 Ewing, F.R.S., Prof. Reynolds, F. R.S. , and Mr. J. B. Peace, 

 of Emmanuel College, have been appointed Examiners for the 

 Mechanical Sciences Tripos. 



The twenty-second annual report on the local lectures 

 has just been issued. It touches ujion a number of inter- 

 esting questions. Of the work temporarily undertaken fin- 

 County Councils three years ago, the only portion that remains 

 vigorous is that carried on in connection with the Norfolk County 

 Council in the preparation of teachers in elementary schools to 

 teach science subjects in evening classes. These courses, given 

 in the county of Norfolk, have been supplemented by practical 

 laboratory work in Cambridge during the Long Vacation, which 

 has been attended by teachers holding scholarships from the 

 Norfolk Council. The Syndicate state in the report that they 

 are persuaded that this is a work of great value, and that they 

 believe that it is in this direction, rather than by the provision of 

 ordinary technical courses for rural audiences, that they can now 

 best aid the technical education work of County Council.s. 

 During the |xist session the scheme of certificates has been 

 remodelled so as to encourage more continuous and systematic 

 work, and has already begun to show good results. The most 

 important part of the report is that in which the Syndicate 

 announce their intention to appeal for funds to enable the 

 University to develop and extend the work in a more systematic 

 way by placing particular districts in charge of superintendent 

 lecturers, who will form a direct link between the district and 

 the University. Appended to the report is a speci;d report by 

 Or R. 1). Roberts, the .secretary for lectures, in which a large 

 scheme for the fiiture develo|)inent of the work is sketched and 

 practical proposals suggested. 



.\ Directory of Science, Art, and Technical Colleges, 

 Schools, and Teachers in the United Kingdom, by Mrs. R. ,S. 

 Lineham, has been published by Messrs Chapman and I lall. 

 The directory will undoubtedly prove of great value In all who 

 are concerned with scientific and technical eilucalion. It con- 

 tains a list of schools arranged alphabetically .according to towns, 

 with the names of secretaries, principals, and teachers, and the 

 number of students taught in e.ach .subject. There is also an 

 alphabetical list of names and addresses of teachers of .science, 

 art, and technology, arranged under the headings of .subjects 

 taught. Other information of particular use to teachers 

 under the Science and Art Depitrlment, and needed now 

 and then by all promoters of elementary scientific educa- 

 tion, will be found in the volume, Complcle the directory is 



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