Feb. I, 1872] 



NATURE 



269 



MAGNETIC DISTURBANCES DURING THE 

 LATE TOTAL ECLIPSE 



IN the list of papers read before the Paris Academy of 

 Sciences, which was given in last week's Nature, I 

 noticed one on the magnetic perturbations observed at 

 Alenqon during the late total eclipse. Now it would at 

 first sight appear reasonable to expect that any effect pro- 

 duced on the magnetic needle at Aleni^on by a pheno- 

 menon whose maximum phase was as far removed as 

 India or Australia, should have nearly equal effect on the 

 needle in England, and in all countries adjoining France. 

 It has moreover been established by frequent compari- 

 sons of carefully measured photographic records, taken at 

 different magnetic observatories, that any disturbance of 

 the earth's magnetic force is fc-lt almost simultaneously at 

 stations differing several hundred miles in both latitude 

 and longitude. 1 was, therefore, ju tified in supposing 

 that I should find some indications on our photo-magnetic 

 records of a disturbance corresponding to the perturba- 

 tions of the needle at Alcni^on, alluded to by M. Lion in 

 his note to the Academy. The result of my examination 

 of the records is, that there is not the slightest trace of a 

 disturbance on either the vertical or horizontal curves, and 

 that the declination magnet has been more than usually 

 quiet, although on the two previous days it happened to 

 have been somewhat disturbed about the hour at which 

 the totality of December 1 1 occurred. 



Accidental causes influence too largely the readings of 

 a declination magnet for much reliance to be placed on 

 them, however careful the observer, when they are in open 

 contradiction to the photo-records of instruments whose 

 diurnal corrections are sensibly constant. 



Stonyhurst Observatory, Jan. 28 S. J. PERRY 



SCHOLARSHIPS AND EXHIBITIONS FOR 

 NATURAL SCIENCE IN CAMBRIDGE, 1872 



THE following is a list of the Scholarships and Exhibi- 

 tions for proficiency in Natural Science to beoftered 

 in Cambridge during the present year : — 



Trinitv College. — One or two of the value of about 

 So/, per annum. The examination will be on April 5, 

 and will be open to all undergraduates of Cambridge and 

 Oxford, and to persons under twenty who are not members 

 of the Universities. Further information may be obtained 

 from the Rev. E. Blore, Tutor of Trinity College. 



St. John's College. — One of the value of 50/. per 

 annum. The examination (in Chemistry, Physics, and 

 Physiology, with Geology, Anatomy, and Botany) will be 

 on the 1 2th of April, and will be open to all persons who 

 are not entered at the University, as well to all who have 

 entered and have not completed one term of residence. 

 Natural Science is made one of the subjects of the annual 

 College Examination of its students at the end of its 

 academical year, in May ; and Exhibitions and Founda- 

 tion Scholarships will be awarded to students who show 

 an amount of knowledge equivalent to that which in 

 Classics or Mathematics usually gains an Exhibition or 

 Scholarship in the College. In short, Natural Science is 

 on the same footing with Classics and Mathematics, both 

 as regards teaching and rewards. 



Christ's College. — One or more, in value from 30/. 

 to 70/., according to the number and merits of the candi- 

 dates, tenable for three-and-a-half years, and for three 

 years longer by those who reside during that period at 

 the College. The examination will be on March 19, and 

 will be open to the undergraduates of this College ; to 

 non-collegiate undergraduates of Cambridge ; to all 

 undergraduates of Oxford ; and to any students who ai-e 

 not members of either University. The candidates may 

 select their own subjects for examination. There are 



other Exhibitions which are distributed annually among 

 the most deserving students of the College. 



Caius College.— One of the value of 60/. per annum. 

 The examination will be on March 19 in Chemistry and 

 Experimental Physics, Zoology with Comparative Ana- 

 tomy and Physiology, and Botany with Vegetable Anatomy 

 and Physiology ; it will be open to students who have not 

 commenced residence in the University. There is no 

 limitation as to age. — Scholarships of the value of 20/. each, 

 or more if the candidates are unusually good, are offered 

 for Anatomy and Physiology to members of the College. 

 — Gentlemen elected to the Tancred Medical Studentships 

 are required to enter at this College ; these Studentships 

 are four in number, and the annual value of each is 1 13/. 

 Information respecting these may be obtained from Mr. 

 B. J. L. Frere, 28, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London. 



Clark College. — One or more of the value of 50/. 

 per annum. The examination (in Chemistry, Chemical 

 Physics, Comparative Anatomy and Physiology, and 

 Geology) will be on March 19, and will be open to 

 students intending to begin residence in October. 



Downing College. — One or more of the value of 

 40/. per annum. The examination (m Chemistry, Corn- 

 parative Anatomy, and Physiology) will be early in April, 

 and will be open to all students not members of the 

 University, as well as to all undergraduates in their 

 first term. 



Sidney College.— Two of the value of 40/. per 

 annum. The examination (in Heat, Electricity, Che- 

 mistry, Geology, Physiology, Botany) will be in October, 

 and will be open to all students who may enter on the 

 College boards before October i. 



Em.manuel College. — One or more of the value of 

 40/. to 60/. per annum. The examination on March 

 19 will be open to students who have not commenced 

 residence. 



Pembroke College. — One or more of the value of 

 20/. to 60/., according to merit. The examination in June 

 (in Chemistry, Physics, and other subjects), will be open 

 to students under twenty years of age. 



St. Peter's College.— One from 50/. to So/, per an- 

 num, accordmg to merit. The examination, on April 4 

 (in Chemistry, Comparative Anatomy and Physiology, and 

 Botany), will be open to students who will be under 

 twenty-one years of age on October i, 1872, and who 

 have not commenced residence. 



Although sevei-al subjects for examination are in each 

 instance given, this is rather to afford the option of one or 

 more to the candidates than to induce them to present a 

 superficial knowledge of several. Indeed, it is expressly 

 stated by some of the Colleges Jjiat good clear knowledge 

 of one or two subjects will be more esteemed than a 

 general knowledge of several. 



Candidates, especially those who are not members of 

 the University, will, in most instances, be required to 

 show a fair knowledge of Classics and Mathematics, such, 

 for example, as would enable them to pass the Previous 

 Examination. 



There is no restriction on the ground of religious 

 denomination in the case of these or of any of the 

 Scholarships or Exhibitions in the Colleges or in the 

 University. Further information may be obtained from 

 the tutors of the respective Colleges. 



It may be added that Trinity College will give a Fel- 

 lowship for Natural Science once, at least, in three 

 years ; and that most of the Colleges are understood 

 to be willing to award Fellowships for merit in 

 Natural Science equivalent to that for which they 

 are in the habit of giving them for Classics and 

 Mathematics. 



The following lectures in Natural Sciences will be 

 delivered at Trinity, St. John's, and Sidney Sussex 

 Colleges during Lent Term, 1872 :— 



