- experiments 
NOVEMBER 27, 1913] 
NATURE 389 
_—— 
Dr. Gregory discussed the phylogeny of the 
primates, which he divided into three series :—(1) 
Lemuroidea, including Prolemures (Notharctide, 
Adapidz), Lemures, and Nycticebi; (2) Pseudo- 
Jemuroidea; (3) Anthropoidea. The Prolemures are 
the lowest and most generalised, and contain the 
ancestors of the Lemuridz and Indriside. Neso- 
pithecus and other ape-like lemurs with enlarged 
brain-case are closely allied to the Indrisidze, and their 
resemblances to the Anthropoidea are demonstrably 
convergent,not genetic. The oldest known platyrrhine, 
Homunculus, of the Patagonian Santa Cruz forma- 
tion, is definitely a Cebid. The oldest Anthropoidea 
are those described by Schlosser from the . Upper 
Eocene of Egypt, and they show no special approach 
to the platyrrhines. The Hominide are linked 
securely with the Simiidz, not only by the abundant 
evidence of anatomy and physiology, but also by recent 
paleontological discoveries. 
Morphology of the Mammalian Tonsil. 
Miss M. L. Hett gave an account of the principal 
types of tonsil found in mammals. Tonsils are 
normally present, and do not atrophy until extreme 
old age (except in man), in most of the mammalian 
orders, but they are wanting in many rodents, some 
insectivores, and most bats. The gross anatomy of 
the tonsils is very distinctive for each group of mam- 
mals, being always characteristic of the order, and 
frequently also of the family, or even, in some cases, 
of the genus. Miss Hett remarked that it was not 
easy to show, in the case of this organ, an actual 
correlation between structure and habit, but it was 
worthy of note-that the tonsils of carnivorous marsu- 
pials bear a remarkable resemblance to those of 
Eutherian carnivores. 
Several other papers were read, which, however, 
do not lend themselves to the purpose of a summary. 
Prof. Poulton pointed out that the term mutation has 
been employed in three different senses, and sug- 
gested that it should be restored to its original use 
and that new terms be employed for the other two 
uses of ‘“‘mutation,’’ and for the two kinds of ‘ fluc- 
tuation.” Mr. R. H. Whitehouse discussed the 
evolution of the caudal fin of fishes, and the morpho- 
logy of the elements of the fin. Prof. R. J. Anderson 
presented notes on the skull and teeth of Tursiops 
and on the skeletal elements of vertebrate limbs; 
the Rev. Dr. Irving exhibited teeth and limb bones 
of the Solutré type of horse from the Stort valley; 
Mr. Forster Cooper gave an account of Thaumasto- 
therium, a new genus of Perissodactyles; Dr. W. S. 
Bruce exhibited a series of photographs of the new 
zoological gardens near Edinburgh, and Mr. F. 
Coburn submitted observations on the migration of 
birds over the midland district. 
By the courtesy of Major C. C. Hurst, about eighty 
members of Sections D, K, and M were invited to 
inspect the Burbage Experimental Station for applied 
genetics. Attention was particularly directed to six 
series of exhibits, of each of which Major Hurst gave 
a brief explanation and demonstrated the special 
features shown :—(1) garden races of Antirrhinum, 
illustrating the inheritance of minute variations in 
tint, height, and habit of growth; (2) segregation of 
specific characters in F, hybrids of Berberis; (3) 
breeding experiments with racing pigeons, with the 
view of investigating the transmission of homing 
powers; it is interesting to note that feeble-minded- 
ness behaves as a recessive in birds; (4) breeding 
with Dutch rabbits, with respect 
to the inheritance of coat-colour and markings; (5) 
the colt of a pure-bred shire mare and a thoroughbred 
NO. 2300, VOL. 92| 
stallion ; (6) breeding experiments with poultry, which 
suggest that both the male and female parents trans- 
mit to their daughters factors for egg-size and egg- 
colour, that the smaller grade egg is dominant to 
the larger grade, and the darker tint dominant to the 
lighter. J. H. AsuworrtnH. 
UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 
INTELLIGENCE. 
CampripcE.—In a paragraph last week (p. 362) it 
was stated that the number of students receiving in- 
struction in the school of agriculture was 320. Prof. 
T. B. Wood, Drapers Professor of Agriculture, in- 
forms us that the correct number is about one-third of 
that stated. The mistake arose by adding together 
the number of students in each of the three terms. 
Tue Swiney lectures on geology in connection with 
the British Museum (Natural History) will be given 
this year by Dr. T. J. Jehu, his subject being ‘The 
Natural History of Minerals and Ores.’ The lectures 
will be delivered in the Metallurgical Lecture Theatre 
of the Imperial College of Science and Technology, 
Exhibition Road, South Kensington, on Mondays and 
Tuesdays, at 5 p.m., and Saturdays at 3 p.m., begin- 
ning Saturday, November 29, and ending Tuesday, 
December 23. Admission to the lectures is free. 
Ir is announced in Science that complete plans for 
the new home of the Massachusetts Institute of Tech- 
nology have now been made public. There are to be 
nine contiguous buildings, each devoted to a separate 
department. Building operations have already been 
started. The principal buildings are expected to be 
ready for occupancy in two years. Of the 2,000,000l. 
necessary, 1,460,o00l. has been already promised. 
From the same source we learn that the Chamber of 
Commerce of New York City has received a gift 
from a donor whose name is withheld of 100,o000l. 
for a building for a college of commerce. Gifts have 
also been received of 10,o00l. from four other sub- 
scribers. The Chamber of Commerce proposes to 
provide a building and to install a commercial and 
civic museum on condition that the City of New York 
provides the working expenses. 
THE conditions of admission to the new Register 
of Teachers were approved finally at the meeting of 
the Teachers’ Registration Council held on November 
21. The conditions of registration are set out in 
the text of the regulations which was published in 
full in The Times of November 22. The register will 
contain the names of all registered teachers in alpha- 
betical order in one column, with the date of regis- 
tration, and a further statement of attainments, train- 
ing, and experience. Among the conditions approved 
under which entries may be made on the register 
the following may be mentioned:—The candidate 
must have obtained one of a number of the qualifica- 
tions specified, produce satisfactory evidence of having 
completed successfully a year’s course of training, 
and of having had a three years’ period of experience 
as ateacher. In addition, applicants must be twenty- 
five years of age, and pay a fee of one guinea. 
Teachers not satisfying these conditions may, up to 
December 31, 1918, apply for registration if they have 
had five years’ approved experience of teaching, or 
ten years’ not mainly or solely employed in teaching. 
The period of experience will be reduced if evidence 
of a year’s training can be given. The certificate of 
registration is valid for nine vears, and can then be 
renewed without fee. 
’ WE have received an interim report of the Book 
Production Committee of the Library Association. 
