6-2 



NATURE 



[November 20 1902 



suggests the possibility of regarding the barometric dif- 

 ference between Fort William and the summit as a 

 primary element, without introducing a correction factor 

 based upon a system really applicable only in the case of 

 small heights. Differences from mean value instead of 

 differences from a common hypothetical datum would 

 probably give a more effective representation of the 

 conditions. 



The Ben Nevis work, as represented in this volume, 

 is essentially self-contained. In the course of the dis- 

 cussion, observations at other stations aie sometimes 

 employed, but the work of other meteorologists concerned 

 with similar problems is hardly referred to. Clayton 

 and Fredlander are the only names I have noticed in the 

 volume not immediately associated with Ben Nevis. 

 This may possibly be accounted for by the majestic 

 isolation of the Ben, but it is in some respects unfor- 

 tunate. For example, a system is adopted for adjusting 

 the twenty-four-hourly readings for non-periodic changes 

 which is different from that adopted by the Meteor- 

 ological Council in an annual publication dealing with 

 their first-class observatories, including Fort William. 

 If I judge rightly, one of the two systems must be 

 wrong, and if the error is in Victoria Street it would 

 have been wiser to point out the fact in adopting a 

 different system. Again, a table of equivalents of the 

 numbers of the Beaufort scale and wind velocities is 

 gixen (pp. 5 and 492), in which numbers on the Beaufort 

 scale are represented by velocities largely exceeding, 

 indeed nearly double, those quoted by Hann (" Meteor- 

 ologie,"p. 377). The practice with regard to the use of velo- 

 city equivalents of the Beaufort scale is in a sufficiently 

 chaotic condition already, and it is to be feared that the 

 addition of another scale of equivalents without reference 

 to the reasons for disregarding all other attempts to 

 reduce chaos to order must tend to make confusion a 

 little worse confounded. 



The publication of the observations down to 1892, or 

 in part to 1896, may seem to the reader a little belated. 

 The editors are, however, to be warmly congratulated 

 upon the substantial progress made with the work under- 

 taken by the directors. The publication is opportune for 

 two reasons. First, because the question of trie future of 

 the observatories is prominently before the public and the 

 volume gives an adequate representation of their work. 

 Secondly, because the International Meteorological Com- 

 mittee meets at Southport next September during the 

 session of the British Association, and the occasion 

 would be a suitable one for the discussion of the interesting 

 questions arising out of observations at high levels. It is 

 justly claimed for Ben Nevis as a high-level station that 

 it is in an unique position. The first recorded entry in 

 the log-book (January I, 1888) is that the tracks of a hare 

 were seen near the thermometer box. It is not the only 

 hare to be raised on the Ben. If opportunity can be 

 found for the discussion of some of the Ben Nevis hares 

 at Southport, our visitors will relish their highland 

 flavour. W. N. Shaw. 



NOTES. 



The following is a list of those to whom the Royal Society 

 has this year awarded medals. The awards of the Royal 

 medals have received His Majesty the King's approval : — The 

 Cnpley medal to Lord Lister, in recognition of the value of his 

 physiological and pathological researches in regard to their 

 influence on the modern practice of surgery. The Rumford 

 medal to the Hon. Charles Algernon Parsons, for his success in 

 the application of the steam turbine to industrial purposes, and 

 for its recent extension to navigation. A Royal medal to Prof. 

 Horace Lamb, for his investigations in mathematical physics. 

 NO. I725, VOL. 67I 



A Royal medal to Prof. Edward Albert Schafer, for his researches 

 into the functions and minute structure of the central nervous 

 system, especially with regard to the motor and sensory functions 

 of the cortex of the brain. The Davy medal to Prof. Svante 

 August Arrhenius, for the application of the theory of dissociation 

 to the explanation of chemical change. The Darwin medal to 

 Mr. Francis Galton, for his numerous contributions to the exact 

 study of heredity and variation contained in " Hereditary 

 Genius," "Natural Inheritance" and other writings. The 

 Buchanan medal to Dr. Sydney A. Monckton Copeman, for 

 his experimental investigations into the bacteriology and com- 

 parative pathology of vaccination. The Hughes medal to Prof. 

 Joseph John Thomson, for his numerous contributions to electric 

 science, especially in reference to the phenomena of electric 

 discharge in gases. 



Men of science do not need to be reminded that their 

 interests are cosmopolitan. Contributions to natural knowledge 

 are not weighed in political balances, but by a scale of worth 

 independent of nationality. Every effort should therefore be 

 made to give clear evidence of this unity of spirit and bond of 

 intention. An opportunity of doing this is afforded by the 

 meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of 

 Science, to be held in Washington, D.C., from December 29 of 

 this year to January 3, 1903. At the recent Belfast meeting of 

 the British Association, Prof. C. S. Minot, the president of the 

 sister association across the Atlantic, gave a sincere and hearty 

 invitation to the members of our Association to attend the forth- 

 coming meeting at Washington. There are doubtless many men 

 of science who would accept the invitation with the keenest 

 pleasure if they could leave their work for the few weeks 

 required for a visit to the United States ; and if they are unable 

 to do so the loss and regret will be theirs. To those who are 

 able to make the journey, it ought to be regarded as almost a 

 duty — though a pleasurable one — to attend the meeting. The 

 mid-winter meeting is an experiment on the part of the 

 American Association, but it has attracted a large number of 

 affiliated societies, and there is every promise that the meeting 

 will be an important one. Since Prof. Minot gave the cordial 

 invitation at Belfast, a letter has been received from the per- 

 manent secretary of the American Association, Dr. L. O. 

 Howard, expressing the hope that at least some of the officers 

 and members of the British Association will be present at the 

 Washington meeting. It will be to the advantage of both 

 science and civilisation if this friendly invitation is accepted. 



Another meeting which men of science who have a few 

 months' holiday at the end of next year should attend is that of 

 the Australasian Association, to be held in Dunedin, New Zealand, 

 in January, 1904. Mr. G. M. Thomson, honorary secretary, 

 has sent a letter to the general secretaries of our Association 

 asking them to make known to members that special opportuni- 

 ties will be given to see the most interesting sights in New 

 Zealand, so that the visit may be made a source of profit as well 

 as of pleasure. Dunedin is the most southerly city of any im- 

 portance in the British Empire, and it is scarcely necessary to 

 remark that many lands and peoples of interest can be seen by 

 men of science who are able to take a trip around the world to 

 New Zealand. A formal invitation to attend the meeting will 

 be brought before the members of the British Association next 

 year at Southport. 



Dr. P. L. Sci.ater, F. R.S., has resigned the secretaryship 

 of the Zoological Society of London, and only holds office 

 until his successor is appointed. The council has passed 

 the following resolution on this subject and ordered it to be 

 entered on their minutes : — " The president, vice-presidents 

 and council of the Zoological Society of London desire to 



