4IO 



NA TURE 



\_Mar. 2 1, 1872 



or ungnifonnis lives within the apertures of larger species 

 of Gasteropods, as Buccinuin, Na/ica, Busycon, and others. 

 The shell of this Crepidiila is absolutely white. 



There are many species that undoubtedly receive pro- 

 tection in allowing foreign substances to grow upon their 

 shells, and these species, oftentimes covered by a dense 

 growth of calcareous or other alga:, are difficult of detec- 

 tion by the experienced collector. 



There are also certain species that habitually accumulate 

 foreign substances upon their shells. The little Pisidiuin 

 Jerrugineum possibly finds greater immunity from danger 

 in its habit of accumulating a ferrugineous deposit on that 

 portion of the shell most conspicuous. Nnciila delplu- 

 ttodoii/a has likewise a similar habit. The delicate 

 Lyonsia arenosa, with its habit of entangling particles of 

 sand in its epidermal filaments, undoubtedly finds pro- 

 tection in this peculiarity. 



It v.as not the intention to go outside of New England 

 species in citing these examples, but in this connection I 

 cannot forbear mentioning tlie tropical genus Phoriis. 

 The species are said to frequent rough botto r.s, and to 

 scramble over the ground, like the Strombs, and not to 

 glide evenly. This peculiar manner of moving would 

 render them very conspicuous, and it is curious to observe 

 that most of the species attach foreign substances to the 

 margins of their shells as they grow, so that when a shell 

 has attained its growth, it is almost completely concealed 

 by fragments of shells large and small, spines of Echini, 

 bits of coral, and stones. 



These few observations are offered (and they might be 

 multiplied) with the belief that if there is any truth in the 

 theory of protective colouring, as advanced by Wallace, 

 the various colours of MoUusca in many cases can be ex- 

 plained, and the occurrence of varieties in colour are also 

 accounted for by the same theory. 



Edward S. Morse 



SCIENCE AT THE LONDON SCHOOL BOARD 



PROF. J. J. .SYLVESTER has issued his address 

 as candidate for election to the London School 

 Board for Marylebone in the room of Prof. Hu.xley. 

 The importance of having at least one representative of 

 Science on the Board induces us to print his Address in 

 full. It must be obvious that many subjects will come 

 before the Board wherein the opinion of a man of Prof. 

 Sylvester's scientific training will be of the highest value ; 

 and we heartily wish the Board may be fortunate enough 

 to obtain the additional strength which v/ill be secured by 

 his election. 



"Ladies and Gentlemen, — An influential body of 

 ratepayers have appealed to me as a man of science, to 

 offer my services on the London School Board. 



" It has been represented to me, as the wish of your 

 great constituency, that Prof. Huxley should be replaced 

 by one who, like himself, has made the scientific part of 

 education the chief business of his life. On this ground 

 I have ventured to place myself in your hands. 



" My University career at CamlDridge, added to my 

 experience both as Professor of Natural Philosophy 

 at University College, London, and subsequently as 

 Government Professor of Mathematics during a period 

 of fifteen years at the Royal Military Academy at Wool- 

 wich (from which 1 have recently retired), have given 

 me considerable knowledge of educational matters in 

 England. My position as Corresponding Member of 

 the Institute of France, as Corresponding Member 

 of the Royal Academy of Science of Berlin, as 

 Foreign Member of the Royal Academy of Science of 

 Naples, and other learned corporations, gives me an 

 early and acciuate knowledge of what is passing in 

 the chief intellectual centres of the Continent. I have 

 ample leisure for the work that is to be done, not only in 



attending the ordinary meetings of the Board, but also the 

 various sub-committees on which the general working of 

 the Act devolves, as well as the divisional and district 

 committees, on the efficiency of which the local benefit of 

 that Act depends. 



" If you send me to the London School Board, I shall 

 be prepared, while looking forward to the gradual adop- 

 tion of a National system of Education, to adhere to that 

 wise and moderate compromise by which, without viola- 

 tion of principle, you may obtain the use of existing 

 school machinery. 



" 1 have the honour to be, Ladies and Gentlemen, your 

 obedient servant, 



"J. J. Sylvester, LL.D., F.R.S. 

 " Central Committee Room, 

 25, Great Quebec Street, Marylebone Road, W." 



Dr. Sylvester has already received the promise of the support 

 of the following scientific men : — Sir Chas. Wheatstone, D.C.L. ; 

 Prof. Sharpey (Sec. Royal Society) ; Prof. Busk, Pre;. Royal 

 Col. Surgeons ; Phillip H. Calderon, R. A. ; William Hey wood, 

 C.E. ; E. H. Lawrence, F.S.A.; J. Norman Lockyer, F.R S. ; 

 1. Gerstenberg, F.R.G.S. ; J. Gwyn Jeffreys, F.R.S. ;';;Nich9las 

 "Triibner, M.R.A.S. ; Prof. T. Hewiit Key, F.R.S.; Dr. 

 Wilson; David Forbes, F.R.S.; H. W. Bates, Sec. Royal 

 Geog. bociety ; Henry Holiday ; Henry Watts, F.R.S. ; Dr. 

 Pick; Thomas Woolner, A.R.A.; Professor Williamson, 

 F.R.S.; Charles Brooke, F.R.S. ; Sir Henry Thompson; 

 Colonel Stuart Wortley ; Dr. Forbes Win^low, F. R S. ; Joseph 

 Durham, A.R.A. ; C. Murchison, M.D., F.R.S.; Prof. 

 Henry Charlton Bastian, F.R.S. ; William Perkins ; Noel 

 Humphreys F.S.A. ; T. Spencer Cobbold, M.D., F.R S. ; 

 A. W. Bennett, F.L.S. ; Sir Julius Benedict; Prof. W. War- 

 rington Smyth, F.R.S.; George Cruick.^hank ; Prof J. 

 Percy, F.R.S. ; George Hariey, M.D., F.R.S. ; Nevil S. Mas- 

 kelyne, F. R. S. ; W. S. Dallas, Sec. Geol. Soc. ; Prof. G. C. 

 Foster, F.R.S. ; William Chaffers, F.S.A. ; J. J. Stevenson, 

 F.R.G.S. ; and J. H. Pepper. 



NOTES 



We congratulate the Science and Art Department on a resDlu- 

 tion at which they have just arrived, in consequence of applica- 

 tions from science schools, to form collections of such specimens, 

 models, di.igrams, &c., as are best adapted for teaching the 

 various branches of science which the Department aids by grants. 

 It is proposed that collections shall be sent on loan for short 

 periods to the local schools, to assist them in furnishing them- 

 selves with the necessary apparatus. The specimens and appa- 

 ratus already in the Educational Department of the South Ken- 

 sington Museum have been arranged for examination under the 

 different subjects of instruction, and a letter has been forwarded 

 to all the Examiners of the Department, requesting them to 

 inspect the collections, with the view of advising what portion 

 of them they consider may with advantage form part of the pro- 

 posed travelling collections ; what additions should be made, so 

 as to give the science schools an idea of what they would require 

 for a complete outfit ; and what are the best and cheapest forms 

 of apparatus, &c., for them to provide themselves with. 



A I'EW months ago we noticed the expedition to Moab which, 

 by the aid of the British Association, was organised by Dr. Gins- 

 burg and Dr. Tristram. We have now to announce the s^fe 

 return of Dr. Ginsburg, and hope soon to be able to state some 

 of the results of the expedition, which we have reason to believe 

 are bo'h nuoierous and interesting. 



The Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, 

 and Commerce is about to organise examinations in the science 

 and technology of the various arts and manufactures of this 

 country, which shall be conducted by a Board of Examiners, 

 capable of testing the practical knowledge and skill required in 

 the application of the scientific principles involved in each art or 



