DECEMBER 3, 1903] 
NATURE 
117 
The white of the head—the ‘blaze ’’ of horses, the facial 
stripes of the badger—often affects regions not of fat 
accumulation, but where the skin immediately overlies bone 
and membrane (frontals and nasals and zygomatic arch), 
which thus seem to produce an atrophy similar to that 
caused by underlying fat. 
In many animals the hair-atrophy assumes the form not 
of whitening, but of baldness. Marine mammals are hair- 
Jess in proportion to the development of their peripheral fat- 
layer; fattening cattle lose their hair, while the baldness 
of man corresponds in position to the “‘ blaze ’’ of horses, 
and the bare buttocks of monkeys to the white rumps of 
other animals. 
Yellow and red frequently follow the same rules of dis- 
tribution as white. They are well known to be fat pig- 
ments. 
I must carefully guard myself against the extension of 
my theory to all cases where white occurs in vertebrates. 
It is obvious that not all animals are subject to this atrophy, 
and that there must be other causes for absence of pigment. 
It seems highly probable from what I have written that the 
known unevenness of animal coloration is but the external 
irdication of uneven nutrition in different regions of the 
body. 
UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 
INTELLIGENCE. 
CampBripGeE.—Prof. J. A. Ewing, F.R.S., and Prof. Karl 
Pearson, F.R.S., have been elected honorary fellows of 
King’s College. 
Mr. W. Chawner, Master of Emmanuel, has been 
appointed an elector to the Sadlerian professorship of mathe- 
matics, in succession to the late Dr. N. M. Ferrers. 
Mr. C. H. Talbot has presented to the university a 
number of instruments used for the researches of his father, 
Mr. H. Fox Talbot, F.R.S. 
The Duke of Bedford has presented to the Museum of 
Zoology a number of valuable specimens of 
davidianas. 
Mr. W. Bateson, F.R.S., and Mr. A. C. Seward, F.R.S., 
have been appointed members of 
syndicate; Prof. Marsh a member of the museums syndi- 
cate; Mr. W. M. Coates and Mr. E. T. Whittaker members 
of the observatory syndicate; Dr. D. MacAlister and Prof. 
Marsh members of the State medicine syndicate; Dr. J. 
‘Griffiths a member of the medical board; Mr. F. H. Neville, 
F.R.S., a member of the board for physics and chemistry ; 
Mr. J. E. Marr, F.R.S., a member of the board for biology 
and geology; Mr. A. C. Seward, F.R.S., a member of the 
board for agricultural studies; Mr. F. C. Parsons an 
examiner in human anatomy. 
The grace for the appointment of a syndicate to consider 
changes in the university studies and examinations was 
carried by 170 votes placet against 79 non-placet. The 
members of the syndicate as proposed were appointed by 
156 votes to g2. 
Ir is reported that the late Mr. Seale Hayne has left 
residue estate amounting to more than 100,000l. for the 
purpose of establishing a college of science, art, and 
literature in Devonshire. 
Unber the auspices of several Greek educational societies 
recognised by the State, an educational congress will be 
held in April, 1904, in Athens. In connection with the 
congress it is intended to organise an exhibition of 
educational books and apparatus which will include an 
international section. Foreign contributors should deliver 
their exhibits in Athens not later than February 14, 1904. 
Detailed information can be obtained from the secretary, 
M. G. Drossinis, Comité d’Organisation du Congrés 
hellénique d’Education, Bureaux du Syllogue pour la Pro- 
pagation de Livres utiles, 42 Rue de 1’Académie, Athens. 
A COMMUNICATION from the Privy Council has been re- 
ceived by the agents for the promotion of the proposed 
University of Yorkshire with reference to the application 
for a charter for the Yorkshire College at Leeds. The 
Lords of the Committee of Council state that, in view of 
the additional information as to their financial position and 
prospects which the promoters of the Yorkshire College 
NO. 1779, VOL. 69] 
Cervus | 
the botanic garden | 
petition are able to furnish, they agree to recommend the 
grant of a charter following generally the terms of the 
draft submitted, on the understanding that the West Riding 
County Council makes a substantial subvention towards the 
maintenance of the university, and that the promoters under- 
take to raise a capital sum of at least 100,000l. by the 
earliest possible date. As to the title of the university, it 
is pointed out that ‘‘ The Victoria University of Yorkshire ”’ 
implies a possessory interest in the whole of Yorkshire, 
and objection might be made to it. Also, the use of the name 
“Victoria ’’ might cause confusion with the “‘ Victoria 
University of Manchester.’’ 
Tue report on the work of the department of technology 
of the City and Guilds of London Institute for the session 
1902-3 shows a marked increase in the number of examinees 
from India and the colonies. Last year India sent up 29 
candidates and the colonies 148. This year 53 Indian and 
238 colonial candidates were presented for examination, 51 
from New South Wales and 167 from New Zealand. 
Applications have been received from Cape Colony for the 
holding of examinations in telegraphy and _ telephony, 
manual training and other subjects, and the Agent-General 
has undertaken to transmit the question papers to the 
colonial educational authorities and to afford all necessary 
facilities for the conduct of the examinations. The number 
of candidates in cotton spinning examined in India is 
steadily increasing. In mechanical engineering there is 
also a large increase. There has been also a continuous 
and uninterrupted increase in the total number of classes 
registered by the Institute for instruction and in the number 
of students in attendance. While in 1902 the number of 
centres was 364 with 2320 classes and 36,189 students in 
attendance, in 1903 there were 396 centres, 2789 classes, and 
38,638 students. 
AT the annual dinner of the Institution of Mining and 
Metallurgy last week, Sir W. Anson, Parliamentary Secre- 
tary to the Board of Education, in proposing the toast of 
“ The Institution,’’ referred to the scheme for a great school 
of technology in London, and promised the cordial and 
hearty cooperation of the Board of Education. Some months 
ago, he continued, the Board had in view the appointment 
of a committee to inquire into the Royal College of Science 
and Royal School of Mines in their special relation to this 
scheme. He thought he could safely say that that com- 
mittee, of which Sir F. Mowatt had consented to become 
the chairman, would be appointed, and would commence 
work in January next. He was glad to be able to assure 
them of the cordial cooperation of the Board of Education 
in any scheme for the advancement of practical scientific 
education. He welcomed the efforts of the Institution of 
Mining and Metallurgy to advance technological study, 
because it was of immense importance to the education of 
the country that they should find among men of business 
this appreciation of the value of knowledge, of training, and 
of study. 
By the will of the late Mr. Gordon McKay, inventor of the 
sewing machine that bears his name, Harvard University 
receives a very large bequest for applied science, estimated 
to be about 800,000/., and eventually much more. We 
learn from Science that according to the terms of the will, 
Harvard University is to receive 200,000]. when this amount 
has accumulated from the income, and is thereafter to 
receive 8o per cent. of the balance of the income after 
annuities have been paid, and is to receive the entire residue 
of the estate after the death of the last surviving annuitant. 
The portion of the will defining the object of the bequest 
is as follows:—The net income of said endowment shall 
be used to promote applied science. First, by maintaining 
professorships, workshops, laboratories and collections for 
any or all of those scientific subjects which have, or may 
hereafter have, applications useful to man; and, second, by 
aiding meritorious and needy students in pursuing those 
subjects, especially in connection with mechanical engineer- 
ing. Science also states that under the will of Sarah 
B. Harrison, Yale University is given 20,o00l. in memory 
of her brother, the late Gov. Henry B. Harrison, of Con- 
necticut, who for thirteen years was a member of the Yale 
Corporation. The money is given in trust, the income to 
be used for such purposes as the university shall desire. 
