440 
The following extract is from a letter received by 
the editor from the London. correspondent of the 
North Queensland Gazette, relating to an alleged re- 
markable habit on the part of those birds of paradise 
commonly known as rifle-birds (Ptilorhis) :— 
“The birds collect sloughed snake-skins for use in 
connection with their nests. When the construction 
of the nest is finished, they place these skins around 
the outside of the structure in such a natural manner 
as to convey the impression to a casual observer that 
a living snake is coiled there....A hawk, eagle, 
or crow, observing what it takes to be a nest with 
a snake coiled about it, is not likely to desire closer 
acquaintance.” 
THE ROYAL CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 
STABLISHED in 1849 at Toronto, then Upper 
Canada, through the energy and activity of a 
rising young engineer, Mr. (now Sir) Sandford 
Fleming, as secretary, the ‘‘Canadian Institute” was 
incorporated by Royal Charter on November 4, 1851, 
and the title ‘‘Royal’’ has recently been conferred 
upon it. From the first this institute discussed 
questions and published memoirs of world-wide in- 
terest, under the able guidance of men of the type 
of Sir Sandford Fleming, Kivus Tully, Sir William E. 
Logan, E. Billings, Henry Youle Hind, Thomas 
Ridout, J. C. Browne, and others. 
The objects of incorporation included the encourage- 
ment and general advancement of all the sciences, 
arts, and manufactures; in fact, for promoting all 
branches of knowledge dealing with the resources and 
development of a new country, not forgetting indus- 
trial productions and commerce, besides the establish- 
ment of a museum to promote the purposes of science 
and the general interests of the society. For sixty-five 
years these objects have been pursued by the institute, 
and with a membership of sixty-four in 1850, the 
number has increased to nearly 400. The institute 
has published volumes of Transactions that are a 
credit to its good name, both in its earliest days and 
of recent date. The institute has also materially 
assisted Sir Sandford Fleming in his publications on 
the zone system of time reckoning, which has been 
adopted the civilised world over. In its library there 
is found excellent reference material in many depart- 
ments of special research work. In 1913 the number 
of exchanges received by the Royal Canadian Insti- 
tute was 2180, whilst the publications received annually 
now reached 4oo00. Weekly meetings take place 
during the season, when leaders of thought in science, 
history, and literature are invited to take part in the 
reading of papers, and delivery of lectures. These 
meetings are open to the public. 
It was on April 2 of this year that the title ‘‘ Royal” 
was conferred on the Canadian Institute of Toronto 
by his Majesty King George V., recognition of the 
same having been intimated to the institute through 
his Royal Highness Field-Marshal the Duke of Con- 
naught, Governor-General of Canada. Besides send- 
ing a personal message to his Honour, Sir John 
Gibson, Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, conveying 
his warmest congratulations to the Royal Canadian 
Institute on the recognition and honour conferred 
upon them by H.M. the King, his Royal Highness 
showed his interest in the institute and its progress 
by accepting the post of patron. A communication 
was read from Sir Sandford Fleming (Ottawa), and 
congratulatory speeches and addresses were given, in 
which Sir Edmund Walker, President Falconer, Prin- 
cipal Peterson, Dr. Coleman, F.R.S., and the presid- 
ing officer, Mr. Frank Arnoldi, K.C., took part. Voit 
Sandford Fleming was unanimously elected honorary 
NO. 2330, VOLN 93) 
NATURE 
| president of the new ‘‘ Royal Canadian Institute,’ 
5 5858505850850565050505060595 6 
: 
and 
his three sons, Sandford, Walter, and Hugh, were 
formally elected members under the new title. 
Ho MM. Ami 
THE CAMBRIDGE “ PREVIOUS” 
EXAMINATION. 
“THE syndica-e appointed by the Senate on May a, 
1913, to ‘“‘consider what changes, if any, are 
desirable in the regulations relating to the Previous 
Examination, in the mutual relations of the Previous 
Examination and the examinations held by the 
Highest Grade Schools Syndicate and the Local Ex- 
aminations and Lectures Syndicate,’ has reported on 
somewhat drastic lines. 
_ The syndicate has considered carefully the regula- 
tions and arrangements for the existing Previous 
Examination, and other examinations which are 
accepted as exempting from the Previous Examina- 
tion, and has consulted the representatives of the 
Board of Education, the Headmasters’ Conference, 
the Incorporated Association of Headmasters, and the 
Assistant-masters’ Association, as well as certain 
members of the University of Oxford, who are con- 
cerned with analogous inquiries. 
Two hundred headmasters of public and secondary 
schools sent replies to questions which were addressed 
to them by the syndicate. The syndicate is of opinion 
that the existing Previous Examination is an unsatis- 
factory test, and is not adapted to the present situa- 
tion in secondary education, and it therefore recom- 
mends the introduction of changes, both administra- 
tive and educational. 
The administrative change advocated is the estab- 
lishment of a new syndicate which shall be called the 
Examinations Syndicate, which would take over the 
work of the present Local Lectures and Examinations 
Syndicate, so far as examinations are concerned, and 
of the Highest Grade School Examinations Syndicate. 
The new syndicate would control the whole of the 
‘““pass’’ examinations of the University. 
The educational changes, proposed in the report, 
endeavour .to coordinate the examinations which 
qualify for study at the University with the entrance 
examinations to the various professions; and through- 
out the deliberations the scheme of the Board of 
Education which is designed to assist such coordina- 
tions has been kept in view. 
The syndicate proposes to abolish the distinction 
which now exists between the examination for candi- 
dates for honours and that for the ‘‘pass” degree. 
The additional subjects will be done away with. 
The compulsory subjects which remain are divided 
into three groups, each of which may be _ taken 
separately. The first group consists of languages; 
two papers will be set in each of the following :— 
Latin, Greek, French, and German. Greek is no 
longer to be compulsory, but Latin must be one of 
the languages offered. 
The second group consists of mathematics and 
science: algebra and arithmetic, geometry, physics, 
and chemistry, or experimental mechanics. : 
The third group consists of English: essay and 
fiécis writine, selected books, and outlines of English 
history. 
The examination will be held four times a year at 
Cambridge only. ; 
The report will be discussed by the Senate at the 
beginning of the October term. So far as can be 
gathered, the resident opinion is in general favour- 
able to its findings, though there is sure to be some 
criticism as to detail by the much-enduring college 
tutors who will find the task of entering their pupils 
complicated. \ 
[JuNE 25, 1994 
EE 
