408 
natural position during life. Other photographs of 
the series were exhibited at the International Con- 
gress of Zoology at Monaco, and created much interest 
and admiration. Each plate will be accompanied by 
six pages of description, and the publication will be | 
of quarto size. The price, 8 marks for each part of 
ten plates, is not excessive. The series will be pub- 
lished by Werner Klinkhardt, of Leipzig, with tbe 
title, ‘‘ Tier- und Pflanzenleben der Nord See.” 
Ir is well known that the loss of life during earth- 
quakes in Italy, which in some towns has amounted 
to more than half the population, is largely due to 
the faulty construction of the houses. Prof. Omori 
indeed estimates that 998 out of every thousand per- 
sons killed in Messina in 1908 were victims of such 
defects. The construction of new buildings in the 
seismic districts is governed by stringent regulations 
both as regards site and design. Dr. Agamennone, 
however, suggests in a recent paper (Rivista di Astro- 
nomia, September, 1913) that these regulations should 
be supplemented by periodic inspection, and, if neces- 
sary, strengthening, of all existing houses. 
The Times for November 25 contains an article 
from its Panama correspondent on the recent earth- 
quakes felt in the canal zone. The strongest shock 
of the series was that which occurred on October 1, 
but it seems to have caused little damage except at 
Los Santos, which is about a hunderd miles from the 
canal. The writer considers the effects of a fault- 
displacement through the Gatun dam or the locks at 
the ends of the canal, and shows without difficulty 
that the result in either case would be disastrous. It 
seems unnecessary, however, to take into account a 
contingency so remote. The danger, if danger there 
be, is more likely to arise from the secondary effects 
of a strong shock occurring within a comparatively 
short distance from the canal. So long as the epi- 
centres remain in a region a hundred miles or more 
from the canal, the risk of such damage must be 
small. 
ALTHOUGH the crest of the Appalachian chain has 
long been known to form a line of division between 
two more or less distinct fresh-water faunas on its 
opposite flanks, the fact that a similar condition, in a 
more pronounced degree, holds good in the case of 
the Alleghenies has been to a great extent overlooked. 
In order to fill this gap in our knowledge, 
Dr. A. E. Ortmann has undertaken an investigation 
of the faunas of the various streams, based chiefly on 
the fresh-water mussels or naiads, but also including 
certain other groups, such as crustaceans, the results 
of which are published in vol. lii., No. 210 (pp. 287- 
390), of the Proceedings of the American Philosophical 
Society. It is considered that the Allegheny system 
forms an ancient and well-marked boundary between 
the fresh-water fauna of the interior basin and that 
of the Atlantic slope. In the former area the fauna 
of the upper Ohio basin is characterised by its uni- 
formity—a feature acquired in post-glacial times; but 
on the western side there are indications of a pre- 
glacial faunistic differentiation. On the other hand, 
the marked distinctness of the Atlantic. fauna is held to 
NO. 2301, VOL. 92] 
NATURE 
[DECEMBER 4, 
justify the foundation of two faunistic prov 
Mississippian and Atlantic—despite the fact 
fauna of the latter is a derivative from that 
former area. The Atlantic fauna is divisible 
northern and a southern group; and a disp 
directed both north and south is recognisab 
Atlantic slope. Finally, a few cases in the mow 
point to a crossing of the divide; while on the 
side there occur certain instances of abnorma 
tribution which demand special explanation. 
Tue synoptic weather maps for November 
included in the first issue of the Meteorological ( 
chart of the North Atlantic for December 
hibit a very striking feature of the dist 
tion of atmospheric pressure. The useful 
which accompany the maps explain that 
extensive and deep cyclonic system lay almost 
tionary athwart the Transatlantic steamer routes, ; ar 
remained there persistently for some days. Phe 
was a complete wind-circulation, but only few recor 
of gales. Another deep disturbance lay over 1 
American Lake region, and exceptionally violent ga 
were reported there. The abnormally mild type 
weather over this country and western Europe w 
due to the ocean depression above referred to. * 
two disturbances were separated by a ridge of hi ) 
pressure, extending across Newfoundland towards 
Davis Strait. . 
DurinG the ice season of this year patrols in th 
North Atlantic were undertaken by the U.S. revenu 
cutters Seneca and Miami, and very interesting re- 
by Pace ae duced the cruises of the for me 
vessel. All the ice seen on or near the Grand Bar 
was of the Greenland type, in berg form. 
berg seen was about 400 by 300 ft., 
the water being 7o ft.; as to shape, no two bore an 
striking resemblance to each other. The only type 
not seen was the kind popularly pictured in school 
books, with overhanging, craggy pinnacles. 
greatest distance at which ice was observed w 
eighteen miles, on a clear day. With the searchlig 
a berg could pe seen about three miles on a dimly 
moonlight night, but owing to the blinding effect on 
the observer, its general use for a vessel under w. 
is not recommended. A berg may or may not give 
an echo; about 90 per cent. of attempts made were 
without result, so that the absence of an echo pro\ 
nothing. Sudden changes of sea temperature mi 
nothing so far as bergs are concerned, and as a ru 
little or no change was found in the air temperatt 
near a berg. In Capt. Johnston’s opinion, the only 
safe way to navigate regions of icebergs is to sl 
during thick weather and to run very slowly on de 
nights. 
see for 1910 Mn . B. Ritchie showed hae t 
amplitude of the nth torsional oscillation of a weigh 
supported by a thin wire was inversely proportional — 
