February 21, 1895 J 



NATURE 



39: 



Severe frost has continued in nearly all parts of the British 

 Islands, but in England and Ireland the cold was rather less 

 intense last week. The frost has now continued for over four 

 weeks, and although the period is shorter than in some other 

 frosts during the present century, the intense cold experienced 

 has been seldom equalled. There were no instances of tem- 

 peratures below the zero, as in the preceding week, but read- 

 ings of 20 , and even 30', below the freezing point have been 

 recorded. At Greenwich the mean temperature since the com- 

 mencement of the frost is 28', and the mean of the night read- 

 ings is only 22°. Very little snow has fallen in any part of the 

 British Islands, but the ground is still covered with snow from 

 the fall during the earlier part of the frost. The type of 

 weather has undergone a very considerable change, and the 

 last few days have been much less cold, although frost occurs 

 each night. The European anticyclone appears to have 

 thoroughly given way, and in the course of two or three days 

 the barometer has fallen to the extent of nearly an inch over 

 Scandinavia. An anticyclone is, however, situated over the 

 British Islands, and while this continues frost is still likely to 

 be experienced. 



At the meeting of the Anthropological Institute on February 

 12, Mr. Brabrook drew attention to the work of the Ethno- 

 graphic Survey Conmitlee of the British Association, on which 

 the Institute was represented by Mr. Francis Galton, Dr. Gar- 

 son, and himself. He said the committee had been successful 

 in obtaining a long list of places suitable for survey, and had 

 prepared an octavo pamphlet, of twelve pages only, which gave 

 comprehensive instructions to those who.were willing to engage 

 in it. What the committee now desired was to increase the 

 number of observers, and he appealed to the members of the 

 Institute for assistance in this respect. The committee were 

 especially anxious to induce medical men to interest themselves 

 in obtaining the necessary physical measurements in suitable 

 places. Fo r this purpose, they would be glad to furnish instru- 

 ments, and render any other assistance that might be necessary 

 and practicable. All their experience had shown them how 

 valuable the results of their work would be likely to be, and 

 how desirable it was that it should be proceeded with without 

 delay. 



The magnanimous spirit which the Academy of Natural 

 Sciences of Philadelphia has shown towards the circular sent 

 out by the Royal Society, asking for co-operation and suggestions 

 ^an making a subject-catalogue of scientific papers, is an indica- 

 tion of the unity of the interests of scientific societies. A report 

 has been adopted by the Academy to the following effect : — 

 (l) That a catalogue ol scientific papers as proposed by the 

 Royal Society is desirable, and that international co-operation 

 should be engaged in its preparation. (2) That in order to 

 secure uniformity in all parts of such a catalogue, a central 

 bureau, as suggested by the Committee of the Royal Society, 

 appears to be necessary, rather than that separate portions of 

 the catalogue should be prepared by various institutions, such 

 central bureau to be under the direction of the Royal Society, 

 from which the proposition emanates ; all publications of 

 societies and monographs to be sent to such central bureau ; 

 the expenses to be met by returns from the sale of copies of the 

 catalogue. (3) That such a catalogue should be classified, and 

 should be issued at least once a year, each volume to be pro- 

 vided with an alphabetical index. (4) That the scope of such 

 a classified catalogue should embrace the various yearly biblio- 

 graphies of special sciences now issued. (5) That whenever 

 translations or summaries are believed to be desirable, English 

 should be made the basis of the catalogue. 



The fragility of human promises is proverbial. The follow- 

 ing dialogue, which took place in the House of Commons on 



NO. 132 I, VOL. 51] 



Monday, furnishes another illustration of this quality : — Mr, 

 Bartley asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether work 

 was resumed last autumn at South Kensington Museum, as 

 promised by him, so as to leave everything ready for the com- 

 mencement of those buildings as soon as the money was voted 

 by the House of Commons ; and what sum was to be taken in 

 the coming year's Estimates for the completion of those build- 

 ings in accordance with the pledge of the present President of 

 the Local Government Board in March, 1894, on behalf of the 

 Government. The Chancellor of the Exchequer said the de- 

 mands upon the Estimates under other heads had proved so- 

 heavy that it had been found necessary to restrict the expendi- 

 ture on bricks and mortar to the lowest possible point, and he 

 feared that it would not be possible to undertake any large 

 expenditure in connection with South Kensington Museum at 

 present. Mr. Bartley : May I ask the right hon. gentleman 

 whether it is not the fact that last year a certain estimate was 

 allowed to pass on the distinct pledge from the Government 

 that this year there would be a vote for this building? The 

 Chancellor of the Exchequer : It was intended to do so, but, 

 as we were reminded the other night, we ought to cut our coat 

 according to our cloth, and the hon. member must allow me to- 

 know what our cloth is. 



The anniversary meeting of the Geological Society was held 

 at Burlington House, on Friday, February 15, when the medals 

 and funds were awarded as follows : — The Wollaston Medal, to 

 Sir Archibald Geikie, F.R.S. ; the Murchison Medal, to Prof. 

 G. Lindstrnm, ; the Lyell Medal, to Prof. J. F. Blake ; the 

 Bigsby Medal, to Mr. C. D. Walcott ; the balance of the pro- 

 ceeds of the Wollaston Fund, to Mr. W. W. Watts ; that of 

 the Murchison Fund, to Mr. A. C. Sewaid ; a moiety of the 

 balance of the proceeds of the Lyell Fund, to Mr. P. F. Ken- 

 dall ; and the remaining moiety to Mr. B. Harrison. The 

 President delivered his annual address, the subject bearing on 

 the Pala:ozoic Crustacea. The following is a list of the officers 

 and Council elected at the meeting for the ensuing year. (The 

 names in italics represent new officers and members of Council.) 

 President: Dr. H. Woodward, F.R.S. Vice-Presidents: Prof. 

 A. H. Green, F.R.S., VV. H.HuiUston, F.R.S., R. Lydekker, 

 F.R.S., Lietit-Gemral C. A. McMahon. Secretaries: J. E. 

 Marr, F.R.S., J. J. H. Teall, F.R.S. Foreign Secretary ; 

 J. W. Hulke, F.R.S. Treasurer; Dr. W. T. Blanford, 

 F.R.S. Members of Council: H. Bauerman, Dr. W. T. 

 Blanford, F.R.S., Prof. W. Boyd Dawkins, F.R.S., Sir John 

 Evans, K.C.B., F.R.S., Prof. A. H. Green, F.R.S., Dr. J, 

 W. Gregory, R. S. Herries, Dr. G. J. Hinde, T. V. Holmes, 

 W. PL Hudleston, F.R.S., J. W. Hulke, F.R.S., Prof. J. W. 

 Judd, F.R.S., R. Lydekker, F.R.S., Lieul.-General C. A. 

 McMahon, J. E. Marr, F.R.S., H. A. Miers, K. 7. N'ewton, 

 F.R.S., F. Rutley, J. J. H. Teall, F.R.S., IV. mutakcr, 

 F.R.S., Rev. II. II. Winwood, Dr. II. Woodward, F.R.S.,. 

 H. B. Woodward. 



The first scientific account of the Chilo-.\rgentine earth- 

 quake, which has reached Europe, is probably that written by 

 M. A. F. Nogues (Compics rcntim, vil. cxx. 1895, pp. 167- 

 170). The earthquake was remarkable for its intensity ani 

 long duration, the amplitude of the oscillations, and the 

 absence of subterranean sounds. The epicontral zone is- 

 elliptical in form, its longer axis being directed nearly north 

 and south, and passing by Rioja, San Juan, and Mendoza. The 

 fiist two of these towns were severely damaged, and a large 

 number of persons in them were killed and wounded. The 

 boundary of the disturbed area is as yet undetermined, but it 

 must have included a great part of the Argentine Republic and 

 of the north of Chili. Within the epicentral area, the duration 



