FERRUARY 25, 1904 | 
NATURE 
405 
>See 
done toward directly investigating and elucidating the exact 
nature and extent of the process. This seems to be especially 
the case in relation to the part played by these products in 
the formation of those features of coloration among 
organisms with which we are now concerned. 
From considerations of researches connected with various 
organisms three things seem to be more or less evident :— 
(1) That in all regenerative processes a very marked 
degree of metabolism is involved, whether in the mere meta- 
morphosis of old tissues into new, or in the direct regener- 
ation of new tissues by growth processes, both of which 
seem to occur. : 
(2) That in regenerative processes there is often associated 
the development of pigmentary substances which seem to 
have no direct function in relation thereto. 
(3) That in many cases there follows a more or less active 
excretion and elimination of portions of the pigment in 
question. 
In the present review I have not in the least sought to 
ignore or discredit the value of natural selection as a factor 
in organic evolution. Nor would I be understood as wholly 
discarding colour as a factor in organic adaptation, particu- 
larly among the higher and more specialised forms, but 
rather to show its limits. At the same time I must submit 
to a growing conviction that its importance has been largely 
overestimated, and that other factors have been as largely 
lost sight of. If the present discussion may serve in even 
the smallest degree to direct attention to some of the latter 
it will have served its chief purpose. 
UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 
INTELLIGENCE. 
CaMBRIDGE.—An examination in tropical medicine and 
hygiene will be held during the year 1904. The examin- 
ation will begin on August g, and extend over three days. 
The examination will have reference to the nature, inci- 
dence, prevention, and treatment of the epidemic and other 
diseases prevalent in tropical countries. Every candidate 
who passes the examination to the satisfaction of the ex- 
-aminers will receive from the university a diploma testifying 
to his knowledge and skill in tropical medicine and hygiene. 
All applications for information respecting the examination 
should be addressed to Mr. G. H. F. Nuttall, Pathological 
Laboratory, Cambridge. 
Tue Education Committee of the Manchester City 
Council has unanimously resolved to recommend that a 
grant of goool. be given from the city rates in aid of the 
University of Manchester. 
Ir is announced in Science that Prof. John Hays Ham- 
mond has added 10,000l. to his previous gift of 10,0001. for 
a metallurgical laboratory of Yale University, and that by 
the will of the late James A. Woolson Boston University 
will ultimately receive 120,000l., Radcliffe College 60,000l., 
and the Wesleyan Academy at Wilbraham, Mass., 60,000l. 
Mr. P. N. Russert, who for many years carried on 
extensive engineering works in Sydney, but has latterly 
resided in London, has made a further donation of 50,000l. 
for an additional endowment to the School of Engineering 
at the University of Sydney. Mr. Russell originated this 
school about seven years ago by an endowment of 50,000l. 
Lorp Ketvin will distribute the prizes at the North- 
ampton Institute, London, on Friday, February 26. The 
students’ conversazione will be held on the same evening, 
and will be continued on the evening of Saturday, February 
27, when the building will be thrown open to the whole of 
the members and students of the institute and their friends. 
THE annual report of the Carnegie Trust for the uni- 
versities of Scotland was submitted to the trustees at their 
third annual meeting, which was held in London on Friday 
last. The report states that the scheme of allocation for 
five years of an annual grant of 40,oool. among the four 
Scottish universities became operative on January 1, 1903. 
Of the grant for the year ended December 31, 1903, sums 
amounting to 20,325!. have been claimed and handed over. 
One chair has been founded and its first occupant appointed 
NO. 1791, VOL. 69] 
—the Burnett Fletcher chair of history and archeology in 
the University of Aberdeen. Of the sum of 20,000l. re- 
quired for the endowment of this chair, donations amount- 
ing to about 12,0001. have been received from the Burnett 
trustees, Mrs. Fletcher, and others. The ordinance insti- 
tuting a chair of geology in the University of Glasgow has 
been approved by Parliament, and it is expected that a pro- 
fessor will be appointed before next winter session, when 
the accumulations in hand of the annual grant of 2o000l. 
assigned towards the endowment of this chair will be avail- 
able, together with such portion of the future annual grants 
as may be needed to complete the endowment fund of 
15,000l., half of which is provided by the Bellahouston 
trustees and others. In the University of St. Andrews two 
lectureships—in French and in botany—have been estab- 
lished, each with an endowment of 10,0001. Under the 
scheme of endowment of post-graduate study and research 
the committee has made the first awards. The estimated 
outlay under this head for the academic year 1903-4 is 
35241., of which the sum of 1828/. was expended within 
the year 1903. The committee has entered into an agree- 
ment with the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh 
by which the trust has purchased the property and labor- 
atory of the college in Forrest Road, Edinburgh, for 
10,000l., on the understanding that the College of 
Physicians and the College of Surgeons continue their pre- 
sent annual contributions of 7501. and 2o00l. respectively to 
the working af the laboratory. 
Tue second annual report of the executive committee in 
connection with the fund for advanced university educa- 
tion and research at University College, London, was pre- 
sented at the annual general meeting of the members of 
the college on February 24. It will be remembered that 
the two main purposes of the fund are :—(1) to raise the 
sum of 200,o00l. to bring about the incorporation of Uni- 
versity College in the University of London, and thus to 
promote the unification of university studies in London; 
(2) To provide the sum necessary to equip and endow Uni- 
versity College adequately for its work as an integral part 
of the University of London. For this purpose it was 
estimated that a capital sum of 800,o000l. was required, or 
an income corresponding to such capital sum. For the first 
of these purposes the committee has raised 141,000l., leaving 
a balance of 59,0001. necessary to enable the conditions of 
incorporation to be fulfilled. Since August 31, 1903, a most 
important addition has been made to the fund owing to 
the munificence of an anonymous donor, who, through Prof: 
E. H. Starling, F.R.S., and Dr. Page May, promised the 
sum of 50,0001. This sum, together with additional sub- 
scriptions received since the date mentioned, brings the total 
amount raised up to 167,2871., of which 141,000l. is avail- 
able for the purpose of incorporation and the balance of 
26,0001. for the endowment and equipment of the college. 
It will be seen that while considerable progress has been 
made, much remains to be done to realise the whole scheme. 
t is desirable that the remainder of the money necessary 
for incorporation should be raised without delay in order 
to make it possible for a Bill to be introduced in the House 
of Commons next session. The report of the council of 
University College presented on the same occasion contains, 
in addition to full financial statements for the year 1902— 
1903, an exhaustive list of original papers and other publi- 
cations completed by members of the staff of the college 
during the same period, and also particulars of the post- 
graduate courses of lectures and laboratory work during 
the present session. 
Tuer secretaries of the Royal Society have addressed a 
letter to the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford 
directing attention to a resolution adopted by the president 
and council of the Royal Society :—‘‘ That the universities 
be respectfully urged to consider the desirability of taking 
such steps in respect of their regulations as will, as far as 
possible, ensure that a knowledge of science is recognised 
in schools and elsewhere as an essential part of general 
education.’’ Enclosed with the letter was a statement re- 
garding scientific education in schools, drawn up by a com- 
mittee of the Royal Society, and both are printed in the 
Oxford University Gazette. The statement points out that 
“it still remains substantially true that the public schools 
have devised for themselves no adequate way of assimilating 
