Septemuek 



1903] 



NATUKE 



429 



MicrasXcr cor-tcstudinarium the group-form of Micraster 

 is almost vvhollv absent. Nor are the lithological devi- 

 ations less noteworthy, for the particular characters of the 

 Chalk vary at different stages, and the same division may 

 be nodular or smooth, and have many or no belts of flmts. 

 The value of a detailed paLneontological study of our strata 

 is abundantly manifested in this essay, and not the least 

 interesting part of it is in the light it throws on the geo- 

 graphical as well as geological distribution of the fossils. 



A most excellent series of plates of cliff-sections, from 

 photographs taken by Prof. H. E. Armstrong, accompany 

 this work. H. B. W. 



THE PHYSIOLOGY OF BREEDING.' 



T T is a remarkable fact that the system of organs in the 

 -*■ animal body to which they are themselves indebted for 

 their existence 'is very largely neglected by physiologists; 

 that a number of secretory, vascular and nervous phenomena 

 intimately concerned with fertility, with the power of con- 

 ception a'nd the ability to bear young are neither under- 

 stood nor investigated'; and that a wide field of research 

 as to the influences of various kinds of food supplied to 

 the rnother both on her capacity for breeding and on the 

 growth, constitution, and variation of the embryo is as 

 yet untouched. As a contribution to the subject of " breed- 

 ing," therefore, this paper is specially welcome, and the 

 author is to be congratulated both upon the careful work 

 he has done and the treatment he has accorded the subject. 



The wide variations in the power of breeding which 

 different breeds of sheep and different individuals of the 

 same breed are subject to is shown, and the effect of 

 altitude, climate and food referred to. 



The histological changes which take place in the uterus 

 of the sheep during the oestrous cycle are carefully described 

 and figured, and the homology of these changes with those 

 elsewhere described for the bitch and monkey clearly 

 established. A brief resume of the author's work on the 

 same phenomena in the ferret is given, and their essential 

 similarity with that of the bitch shown. 



Suggestive information follows on the question of ovula- 

 tion in sheep and other mammals, on the stimulus neces- 

 sary to bring about that process under various conditions, 

 on the artificial methods adopted by some flock masters 

 to stimulate breeding in their ewes, and on the effect of 

 these methods on fertility. Here a subject is touched upon 

 which is of vital importance to breeders, and one which 

 requires and deserves careful study. Atresia among the 

 follicles of the sheep's ovary is then studied, and its relation 

 to the proportion of twins and to barrenness examined. 



The remainder of the paper is occupied with a descrip- 

 tion of the formation of the corpus luteum of the sheep 

 and an examination of the views of the most recent 

 writers on that subject. The lutein cells are stated to be 

 the much hypertrophied epithelial cells of the undischarged 

 follicle, while the connective tissue element is supplied by 

 ingrowth from both theca interna and externa. 



Finally, the relation between the development of the 

 corpus luteum and the changes which take place in the 

 uterus during pregnancy is touched upon, and the view ex- 

 pressed that, while the functions of ovulation and oestrus 

 do not represent cause and effect, they are primarily con- 

 nected, inasmuch as each is dependent largely upon the 

 same cause. 



UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 

 INTELLIGENCE. 



The new prospectus of the department of dyeing and 

 tinctorial chemistry of the Yorkshire College, Leeds, shows 

 that special facilities are provided for the study of the 

 chemistry of the colouring matters and for research work 

 upon coal tar products. .\n effort is being made to com- 

 bine the standard of scientific teaching of a university with 

 the practical training of a technical school, and to encourage 

 the prosecution of original investigation in what is certainly 

 the most scientific, yet unfortunately, in this country, the 



1 "The CEstrous Cycle anrt the Formation of the Corpus luteum in the 

 Sheep." By Francis H. A. Marshall. iPhil. Trans. ^ vol. cxcvj., 1903.) 



NO. 1766, VOL. 68] 



least studied branch of applied chemistry. The dyeing de- 

 partment was built, equipped, and endowed by the Cloth- 

 workers' Company, and is provided with lecture-rooms, 

 pattern and diagram rooms, museums, experimental and 

 practical dye-houses, as well as with adequate provision 

 for research work. 



The (Ireat Western Railway Company now offer facili- 

 ties, in conjunction with the Swindon Education Com- 

 mittee, to their apprentices to enable them to gain technical 

 scientific knowledge. A limited number of selected students 

 may attend day classes at the Technical School. They 

 must have spent at least one year in the factory, and must 

 have regularly attended for at least one session in the pre- 

 paratory group of evening classes at the Technical School. 

 The number of studentships will be limited to thirty at any 

 one time. For each year's course there will be a com- 

 petitive examination, successful students passing on from 

 one year's course to the next. The course of study for each 

 year will consist of practical mathematics, practical 

 mechanics, geometrical and machine drawing, heat, elec- 

 tricity, and chemistry. Those attending the classes will 

 have their wages paid as if at work in the factory, and 

 the Great Western Railway Company will pay their school 

 fees. The students attending the day classes will be ex- 

 pected to give some time each evening to private study. 

 Students who distinguish themselves .will be allowed to 

 spend part of their last year in the drawing office and 

 chemical laboratory. The' whole of the arrangements will 

 at all times be under the direction of the chief mechanical 

 engineer. 



The report on the secondary and higher education of 

 the City of Sheffield, prepared by Prof. Michael E. Sadler, 

 has been published in pamphlet form by the Education Com- 

 mittee of Sheffield. The schools and colleges now in exist- 

 ence in Sheffield are described and their work passed in 

 review. A series of recommendations is then made with a 

 view to equip the city with a complete educational system. 

 Prof. Sadler says that the weakest spot in the educational 

 arrangements of Sheffield is in the secondary education 

 provided for boys. .'\ promising boy ought to have the 

 best educational opportunities within his reach, but at pre- 

 sent the equipment of such higher education in Sheffield 

 is very much behind the standard in the progressive cities 

 of Germany and the United States. Dr. Sadler also re- 

 commends a development of the work of the Technical 

 College. He reniarks, " the work of the Technical 

 College, admirable as it is, would greatly gain in force 

 and depth if it were supported by a strong department of 

 pure science." .As the report rightly insists, what is wanted 

 is that a workman should be able to deal with new problems, 

 and in order to do this he must have, as a foundation for 

 his technological skill, a thorough knowledge of the pure 

 s.ience which it is his task to apply to practical problems. 

 The probable additional net annual cost to Sheffield of carry- 

 ing out Prof. Sadler's chief recommendations is estimated 

 at about 8500/., which would mean a rate of less than 

 three halfpence. It now remains for the Education Com- 

 mittee of Sheffield to put into practice some of the excellent 

 suggestions in the report. 



The volume of " General Reports on Higher Education 

 for ic)02," just published by the Board of Education, contains 

 with other information of importance an account of the 

 secondary schools, science classes, art classes, and evening 

 schools of the southern and eastern divisions of England, the 

 former by Mr. Buckmaster and the latter by Dr. Hoffert. 

 Speaking of the evening schools in London, Mr. Buckmaster 

 says " the impression formed in early visits has not been 

 removed on more complete acquaintance, and the School 

 Board, in its laudable anxiety to throw the educational net 

 as wide as possible, has secured quantity at the expense of 

 quality. As missionary agencies the schools abundantly 

 justify their existence, they bring the opportunities for im- 

 provement near to all in all parts of the metropolis, but 

 as centres for real solid work they are not so successful, in 

 spite of the best efforts of the teachers, the majority of 

 whom are most enthusiastic and devoted to their work." 

 Several methods for the improvement of these schools are 

 suggested, such as the alteration of the rule that, where 

 the average attendance falls below 25 per teacher, a xf- 

 duction in the number of teachers should be made ; tt'at 



