January 3, 1895] 



NATURE 



12C) 



it is quite obliterated. Only a few observers appear to 

 have noticed this northerly belt and its beaded aspect, 

 but it has been an interesting feature of the planet during 

 the last two years. 



In the southern hemisphere and further south than the 

 red spot, there are some dark condensations and white 

 spots, with a rotation period of about gh. 55m. 20s. 



The S. region of the great N. belt exhibits interruptions 

 in the form of very bright streams of material dividing 

 the belt in an oblique direction relatively to the equator. 

 These appearances show rapid changes from day to day, 

 and I have not yet computed the rotation period satis- 

 factorily, but it is obviously very different to that of the 

 red spot. Five observations of the^e luminous encroach- 

 inents on the belt have been secured here, as follow ; — 



It is intended to make a closer study of the variable 

 aspect and rate of velocity of these singular formations. 



We may depend upon it, from the number of interest- 

 ing markings displayed on the planet, that there will be 

 no abatement of useful observations during the present 

 apparition. There is always something new to record, 

 and objects previously known require attentive watching 

 with reference to the difterences in their rotation periods. 

 Whether the theorem that the longer an object remains 

 visible the slower becomes its velocity is true or not, can- 

 not be definitely said, but the behaviour of the red spot 

 has not altogether supported the idea. A vast amount 

 of new evidence is required as to the phenomena affecting 

 the surface markings of Jupiter ; he presents an ample 

 field both for the observer and the theorist. 



W. F. Denning. 



NOTES. 



Science is represented in the list of New Year honours 

 ■by Mr. W. H. While, C.B , F.R.S.,the Director of Naval Con- 

 struction, who has been promoted to a Knight Commandership 

 of the Bath. Two other Fellows of the Koyal Society, Dr. J. 

 Russell Reynolds, President of the Koyal College of Physicians, 

 and Dr. Eric Erichsen, formerly President of the Royal College 

 of Surgeons, have each had the honour of a Baronetcy conferred 

 upon them. 



The cross of Commander of the Order of the Ernestine House 

 of Saxony, second class, has been conferred upon Dr. Edward 

 S. Ilolden, Director of the Lick Observatory, for his services to 

 science. This Order was founded in 1690, reorganised in 1833, 

 and is conferred upon persons holding high official positions, 

 ■either military or civil. At present there are eighteen Com- 

 manders of this class in Germany. 



The fund for the proposed statue to the late Dr. Charcot 

 •will probably soon be closed ; as it is announced that thirty-five 

 thousand francs have been collected, and this is sufTicient to 

 warrant the ordering of the statue. In all probability, a statue 

 will be erected to llelmhollz, for it is reported that, at the 

 recent celebration in Berlin, the German Emperor ofTered to 

 head a subscription list for that purpose with a donation of ten 

 thousand marks. 



The Paris Chemical Society has (says the Chemist and 

 ■Druggist) recently come into possession of a legacy from M. 

 Rigout, formerly of the Ecole des Mines, who bequeathed to 



NO. I 3 14. VOL. 51] 



the Society an income of twelve hundred francs per annum, of 

 which a portion is to be set aside for an annual prize to lie 

 awarded in connection with inorganic chemistry. M. Rigout 

 declines to allow his name to be attached to this legacy, but 

 asks to have it named the Edouard Kivot prize, in memory of 

 his former Professor. It is worthy of mention that a shor? time 

 ago M. Silva, late Professor at the School of Arts and Manu- 

 factures, left his library and modest for;une to the same Society 

 "out of gratitude for the kindness met with in the French 

 scientific world." 



The death is announced of M. Frederik Johnstrup, Professor 

 of Mineralogy in Copenhagen University, at seventy years 

 of age. 



Dr. F. Kohlrausch, Professor of Physics in Stra^sburg 

 University, has been appointed Director of the Imperial Physico- 

 Technical Institute at Berlin, in succession to Ilelmholtz. 



Increased facilities for instructing in the science and art 

 of agriculture are gradually being given to the Technical 

 Education Committees in various parts of the country. We 

 are glad to see it announced that Earl Cowper, chairman of the 

 Hertfordshire County Council, has offered to place a farm of 

 nearly 300 acres, with residence and buildings, a; the disposal 

 of the Council, rent free, for the purpose of providing practical 

 instruction in agriculture, on condition that the County Council 

 stock the farm and work it. Lord Cowper has also undertaken 

 to erect a laboratory and the necessary dormitories. A sub- 

 committee of practical agriculturists has been appointe.l to 

 consider his lordship's offer and report to the Council upon it. 



A new society has just been formed in Paris for the purpose 

 of subterranean exploration, to be called " La Socic-ie de 

 Spelaaologie." Its projector is M. E. A. Martel, whose works, 

 " Les Abimes" and " Les Cevennes," may be familiar to some 

 readers of Nature. In his papers read before the French 

 Association for the Advancement of Science at Besancon in 

 1S93, M. Martel warmly set forth the claims of underground 

 investigation, and the light that might thereby be thrown upon 

 geology, palaeontology, and kindred subjects. Indeed, as 

 readers of the works just mentioned are aware, very interesting 

 discoveries have already been made, notably that of the under- 

 ground rivers of Bramabiau (Gard) and of Padirac (Lot). 

 Among those who have joined the Socieit; de SptJIaeologie are 

 several well-known men of science. All information is to be 

 obtained of M. Martel, 8 rue Menars, Paris. 



The idea of holding International Mathematical Congresses 

 is crystallising into shape. Prof. Vassilief, of Kazan, has 

 suggested an assembly of mathematicians in 1896, in order to 

 definitely decide the organisation of such congresses. The 

 matter was pushed a little further at the Vienna meeting of the 

 Deutsche Mathematiker Vereinigung, in September last, when 

 it was unanimously resolved that the committee of the Mathe- 

 matical Union should take part in framing the necessary arrange- 

 ments ; and the .Mathematical section of the French Association 

 for the Advancement of Science have also expressed their sup- 

 port of the scheme. A circular now informs us that the Editors 

 of the Inleniu'Jiarc will be glad to receive the names of mathe- 

 maticians who are in favour of international meetings of the 

 kind suggested. M. C. A. Laisant's addreis is 162 Avenue 

 Victor-Hugo, Paris ; and that of M. E. Lemoine, 5 rue 

 Liltrc. 



The Johns Hopkins University Circular states that it is 

 proposed to collect the physiological papers and addresses of 

 Prof. Martin, and publish them- as one of the memoirs of the 

 Biologic.il Laboratory of the Johns Hopkins University. This 

 plan h.is been adopted in response to suggestions from a number 



