498 
suffers materially. The effect is greater the higher 
the order of the spectrum. When the crystal under 
examination is contained within a suitable electric 
furnace and the atoms vibrate more violently through 
the rise of temperature, the intensities of all orders 
diminish, but those of higher order much more than 
those of lower. The effect was foreseen by the Dutch 
physicist Debije, and the amount of it was actually 
calculated by ‘him on certain assumptions. I have 
found experimental results in general accord with his 
formula. In passing, it may be mentioned that as the 
crystal expands with rise of temperature the spacing 
between the planes increases and the angles of reflec- 
tion diminish, an effect readily observed in practice. 
This part of the work gives information respecting 
the movements of the atoms from their places, the 
preceding respecting their average positions. It is 
sure, like the other, to be of much assistance in the 
inquiry as to atomic and molecular forces, and as to 
the degree to which thermal energy is locked up in 
the atomic motions. 
This brief sketch of the progress of the new science 
in certain directions is all that is possible in the short 
time of a single lecture; but it may serve to give some 
idea of its fascination and its possibilities. 
UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 
INTELLIGENCE. 
BIRMINGHAM.—The death of the Chancellor of the 
University, the Righ Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, cast 
a gloom over the annual Degree Congregation, and 
the festivities which had been arranged in connection 
therewith were all abandoned. 
Mrs. Poynting has presented the scientific library of 
the late Prof. J. H. Poynting to the physics depart- 
ment of the University. The gift is a valuable one in 
itself and in its associations, and the spirit in which it 
is given is highly appreciated. 
The opposition of the University to the proposal of 
the City Council to run a tram line past the front of 
Mason College has resulted in a compromise whereby 
the line is not to be used for the conveyance of pas- 
sengers, and cars are only to be run along it during 
vacations or before 9.30 a.m. or after 6 p.m. on 
ordinary days, or on occasions of special pressure or 
emergency to be mutually agreed upon. 
Dr. J. S. Anderson has been appointed assistant 
lecturer and demonstrator in physics for one year in 
succession to Dr. Fournier d’Albe. Mr. W. Hulse 
has been appointed demonstrator in mining in succes- 
sion to Mr. Clubb. 
appointed a member of the staff of the agricultural 
research section of the zoological department. 
The degree of D.Sc. has been conferred on H. B. 
Keene and F. W. Aston, and the degree of M.D. on 
E. W. Assinder and O. M. Holden. The official 
degree of M.Sc. has been conferred on Prof. F. C. 
Lea and that of M.Com. on G. H. Morley, who has 
been secretary of Mason College and of the University 
since its foundation. 
Tue University of Liverpool has conferred on Mr. 
T. F. Wall, D.Sc., the degree of Doctor of Engineer- 
ing. 
Pror. D. T. GwyNNE-VAUGHAN, professor of botany 
in the Queen’s University, Belfast, has been appointed 
to the chair of botany at University College, Reading, 
vacant by the resignation of Prof. F. W. Keeble, who 
has been appointed director of the experiment station 
and gardens of the Royal Horticultural Society at 
Wisley. 
NO.) 2632,, VOL.u@32) 
NATURE 
Mr. Gilbert Johnson has been, 
[JuLy 9, 1914 
WE learn from Science that with the close of the 
present term at the Massachusetts Institute of Tech- 
nonology, Prof. R. H. Richards will retire from the 
active work of teaching which he has followed for 
forty-six years. He has been made professor emeritus 
and receives the benefits of the Carnegie Foundation. 
Prof. Richards has been identified with the institute 
since its beginning. In 1871 he was appointed to the 
chair of mineralogy in the department that afterwards 
developed into that of mining, engineering, and 
metallurgy. 
THE first Aitchison Memorial Scholarship is to be 
awarded next September. The scholarship was estab- 
lished by his friends and colleagues as a memorial of 
the late Mr. James Aitchison. Its value is 3o0l., and 
it is tenable in the full-time day courses in technical 
optics at the Northampton Polytechnic Institute. Ap- 
plications must be received by September 1 by Mr. 
Henry F. Purser, 35 Charles Street, Hatton Garden, 
London, E.C., from whom full particulars can be 
obtained. 
Ir is announced in the issue of Science for June 26 
that at the celebration of the centenary of the founda- 
tion of the Yale University Medical School, large gifts 
were announced in addition to the 100,o00l. from the 
General Education Board of the United States. These 
donations included a provisional gift of 100,o0o0l. for 
the Anthony N. Brady foundation, and 120,000l. from 
donors not officially named. Our contemporary also 
states that by the will of the late Mr. James Campbell, 
the St. Louis University Medical School will receive 
his entire estate after the death of his heirs, who have 
a life interest in it. The present value of the estate 
is estimated to be from three to eight millions sterling. 
Also that by the will of the late Mr. Thomas W. 
Holmes, of Troy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 
bequeathed the sum of 10,oo0ol. From, the same 
source we learn that Miss Susan Minns has given 
10,0001, to the department of botany of Wellesley 
College, in memory of Susan M. Hallowell, the former 
head of the department. 
SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES. 
LONDON. 
Linnean Society, June 18.—Prof. E. B. Poulton, 
president, in the chair.—R. D. Laurie: Reports on 
the . marine biology of the Sudanese’ Red 
Sea.—On the Brachyura.—G. Matthai: A_ revision 
of the recent Colonial Astrzide possessing  dis- 
tinct corallites—C. F.  M. Swynnerton: Short 
cuts to nectaries by blue tits. The author referred to 
his previous account of African ornithophilous flowers, 
read on March 5 last, and showing photographs of 
injured shoots of Ribes on the screen.—W. West: 
Ecological notes, chiefly cryptogamic. This paper 
was the outcome of a suggestion by Prof, Engler, 
that whilst abundance of observations existed of 
ecological facts regarding phanerogams, the crypto- 
gams had been neglected. It was intended as the 
first of a series, which has been cut short by the death 
of the author. 
of Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and the Lake District.— 
R. J. Tillyard : Life-histories and descriptions of Aus- 
tralian Aischninaz, with a description of a new form 
of Telephebia by Herbert Campion.—Miss Olga G. M. 
Payne: The life-history and structure of Telephorus 
lituratus.—A. Grouvelle: Cucujida, Cryptophagide, 
avec une description de la larve et de la nymphe de 
Protominia  convexiuscula, Grouvelle.—H. Scott: 
Mallophaga, Aphaniptera, and Diptera Puparia. 
The observations extend over parts 
