562 
NATURE 
[APRIL 15, 1897 
is represented as a teacher: he holds a bone in one 
hand, while the other is outstretched, as if it had just 
been pointing to some feature in the specimen; the 
attitude is easy and natural, so that it does not force 
itself into notice, and the face at once absorbs attention. 
The likeness is said to be very successful by some of 
those who knew Sir Richard Owen most intimately. The 
lines of the face suggest power and vigour ; the deeply- 
shrunk eyes look intently forward ; the whole ex- 
pression is that of a teacher who is speaking with 
authority, and expects to carry conviction rather than to 
win it. At the same time the side view of the face gives 
a suggestion of that kindliness to which Owen owed so 
much of hissocial charm. The selection of the specimen 
which Owen holds inhis hand is happy. It isa Dznornis 
femur, and reminds us that it was after an examination 
of an odd fragment of this bone that Owen, in 1839, 
predicted that birds larger than the ostrich would be 
found to have once lived in New Zealand. 
The new statue has one great advantage over that of 
Darwin, which stands on the staircase at the other end 
of the hall; for its material is bronze instead of marble. 
Although marble is perhaps the more useful medium for 
statues of ideal characters like Donatelli’s St. George, 
bronze appears to give more pleasing representations of 
individual men. 
Mr. Brockis warmly to be congratulated on his success- 
ful statue, which will permanently remind the public of 
the services of the great naturalist, to whose persistent 
agitation we owe the great Museum, that will ever be 
the truest monument of his life and influence. 
PLAN TO GENERATE ELECTRICITY AT 
THE NILE CATARACTS. 
elie HE Department of Public Worksin Egypthas long been 
engaged on plans for dams on the Nile to improve 
the irrigation. Having lately learnt that the vast energy 
now wasted in the rapids, generally called cataracts, on 
the Nile might be converted into electric power, and con- 
veyed even to considerable distances, where an economical 
form of power would tend greatly to the development and 
wealth of the country, they asked Prof. George Forbes to go 
to Egypt during the period of high Nile, and to investi- 
gate and survey the localities where power might be 
‘developed toa point as far south as the Egyptian frontier. 
Prof. Forbes was asked to report on the capabilities 
of all the rapids, and prepare plans and estimates for 
works both in conjunction with, and independent of, the 
proposed irrigation dams. The Report, which is to be 
completed by September 1898, will further embody the 
scheme for transmitting the electric power to places where 
it is wanted. 
The principal demands for power which are immediately 
apparent are (1) for railways, (2) for pumping in: connec- 
tion with irrigation, and (3) for the large sugar factories 
which are now established. The existence of this power 
will doubtless also stimulate other industries. 
Prof. Forbes has satisfied himself, by personal in- 
spection, that the works required would not be too 
expensive, and that the economical distance of trans- 
mission reaches the places where there is demand for 
power. The high and low Nile conditions are very 
different, but this presents no insurmountable obstacle. 
At the first cataract the available power is at high Nile 
500,000 h.p., at low Nile 35,000 h.p. 
The pumping works to be started will reclaim vast 
areas, and raise additional crops on areas now cultivated. 
For 4000 years every improvement in the condition 
of Egypt has come from the Nile and irrigation. So it 
will be in the future. But it must also be remembered 
that the sugar-cane industry has already developed to 
an important extent of late years. The factories use a 
NO. 1433, VOL. 55] 
great deal of power, and the lands growing cane require 
irrigation by pumps. Here there is an immense field for 
using cheap power. 
The first cataract is the most important to utilise, but 
the others must also be taken in hand. As an example, 
before the Mahdi’s time, the province of Dongola had 
8000 sakias for pumping water of irrigation, now nearly 
allgone. These used eight head of cattle each, costing 
1o/.a head. Here is a capital expenditure of 640,000/., 
which will now be saved by using electric pumps, the cost 
of which is far less. The construction of the desert railway 
from Wady Halfa to Abu Hamed would have been robbed 
of its difficulties as to water and coal if electric instead of 
steam locomotives had been used. 
} NOTES 
THE first of the two conversaziones held annually at the 
Royal Society will take place on Wednesday, May 19. This is 
the conversazione to which gentlemen only are invited. 
Tue Paris Municipal Council has voted a sum of 5000 
francs (200/.) towards the cost of installation and maintenance 
of a laboratory for Réntgen photography at the Trousseau 
Hospital. 
THE Lords Commissioners of the Treasury have authorised 
an extension of Sir William Flower’s term of office as Director 
of the Natural History Departments of the British Museum for 
three years from the expiration of his retirement date under the 
age regulation of the Civil Service. 
Pror. W. W. HENDRICKSON, head of the department of 
mathematics at the Naval Academy at Annapolis, has, says 
Sctence, been appointed superintendent of the American 
Ephemeris and Nautical Almanac, in succession to Prof. Simon 
Newcomb. The retirement of Prof. Newcomb, on reaching the 
age limit fixed by the naval authorities, has called forth many 
notices in appreciation of his great contributions to science. 
THE sixty-ninth annual meeting of the great German Asso- 
ciation of Naturforscher und Aerzte will, it is announced, 
be held this year at Brunswick, from September 20 to 25. The 
work will be distributed among thirty-three sections, being an 
increase of three as compared with previous years. One of the 
new sections is apportioned to anthropology and ethnology, 
another to scientific photography, and the third to geodesy and 
cartography. 
Lorp Lisrer will preside at the anniversary dinner of the 
Literary Fund on May 5. 
Tue King of Denmark has conferred upon Dr. Nansen the 
Gold Medal of Merit with the Royal Crown. 
A COMPLETE set fof the Challenger Reports has been pre- 
sented to Dr, Nansen in recognition of the eminent services 
which he has rendered to the cause of scientific exploration in 
high latitudes by his recent expedition in the 7yav. 
WE regret to have to record the deaths of the following men 
of science :—Dr. de Marbaix, founder and some time director 
of the Bacteriological Institute of Boma; Dr. Siuku Sakaki, 
professor of psychology in the University of Tokio. 
WE notice with much regret the announcement of the death of 
Prof. E. D. Cope, professor of zoology and comparative anatomy 
in the University of Pennsylvania. 
WE note with the highest satisfaction the complimentary 
remarks which the Colonial Secretary, Mr. Chamberlain, made 
in the House of Commons on Friday, with reference to the 
Royal Gardens, Kew. When the vote of 112.2917. for Royal 
