May 8, 1884] 



NA TURE 



4' 



in his scientific tour may write to M. de Mortillet at the Chateau 

 de Saint Germain. The banquet hall was decorated with a 

 life-size picture of an early Gaul. The picture was executed 

 according to the last discoveries of M. de Mortillet. The 

 man is represented as having no hair on his body ; his 

 arms are very long and muscles very powerful, but the 

 toes of his feet are not opposable, although they could be 

 used for climbing the trees of the primitive forest. His jaw 

 is strongly prognathous, but not at all equal to that of an anthro- 

 poid ape. His breadth is strongly compressed laterally and his 

 abdomen prominent. The skin is not negroid, but of our pre- 

 sent colour. The expression of the face is in intelligence on a 

 level with that of an Australian. 



Anthropology plays a great part in the Paris salon this 

 year. One of the largest pictures, attracting the attention of 

 crowds, represents a primaeval tribe preparing in their cave to 

 feed upon an Ursus speleucus which has been killed by the 

 warriors with their stone implements. 



The spring meeting of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers 

 was held at the Institution of Civil Engineers on May I and 2. 

 The most interesting paper read was on the Consumption of 

 Fuel in Locomotives, by M. Georges Marie, Engineer to the 

 Paris and Lyons Railways. This paper is of considerable im- 

 portance as bearing on the actual economy of the locomotive 

 considered as a heat engine. The chief conclusion is that the 

 locomotive is a better engine, as regards economy of fuel, than is 

 usually believed, and cannot be very much improved unless the 

 pressure in the boiler can be increased at one end or a condenser 

 applied at the other. The author looks forward confidently to 

 both these improvements, but when achieved they will, he con- 

 siders, necessitate an improvement in the valve gear, and 

 probably the use of compound engines on the scheme now 

 brought forward by Mr. Webb. With these and with some 

 other improvements, such as a better clothing of the boiler and 

 the heating of the feed-water by the exhaust-steam, M. Marie 

 looks forward to the locomotive attaining a position, as regards 

 economy of fuel, much beyond even that which it possesses at 

 present. The other papers read were entirely of a practical 

 character, with the exception of one by Mr. Robert Gordon, of 

 Burmah, describing the apparatus used at Mr. Froude's works 

 at Torquay, for testing current meters. The arrangement of 

 the tank, dynamometer, governor, &c, is clearly described, but 

 would hardly be intelligible without the aid of drawings. 



We are glad to direct the attention of our readers to the Ileal h 

 Journal, published by Heywood of Manchester, and which, with 

 the May number, has concluded its first volume. The Journal is 

 a monthly review " of sanitary science and of voluntary effort for 

 the public good." It seems to us to be admirably calculated to 

 serve the purpose for which it has been established, and we hope 

 it will receive all the encouragement it deserves. 



The recent threat of certain French journals that their troops 

 would occupy the island of Hainan until China had paid an 

 indemnity has directed attention to that little-known appendage 

 of the Chinese Empire. In a late number of that valuable 

 periodical, the China Review, we find an account of a journey 

 through Hainan by Mr. Henry. As in other outlying possessions 

 of China, the native tribes have succeeded in a measure in holding 

 their own against the ubiquitous Chinese. The northern part of 

 the island is described as a large plain, while the central and 

 southern portions are mountainous. Here the aboriginal tribes, 

 the Les, take refuge. They are cordial and hospitable to 

 strangers, and are probably of Malay origin. There are fifteen 

 or sixteen different tribes, known under distinct names, varying 

 more or less in dress, language, and customs, but all evidently 

 belonging to one homogeneous race, bound together by common 



ties, and, as a rule, living on friendly terms with each other. 

 The flora and fauna appear singularly rich, and but little 

 investigated. In a visit of a few weeks the late Mr. Swinhoe 

 noted 172 species of birds, nineteen of which were new to 

 science, and were first described by him. The leeches are an 

 especial plague to the traveller. They are described as of a 

 grayish-brown and earthen hue, and vary from half an inch to 

 an inch and a half in length, and swarm from the ground on all 

 sides. Along the path, on the ends of grass blades and branches 

 of shrubs, they may be seen holding by one end, while they 

 reach out their whole length feeling on every side for their 

 prey. The instant they touch foot or hand, or any part of the 

 body, they take fast hold, and can only be detached by the 

 application of fire, or when they are sated with blood. The 

 natives carry bamboo sticks, with which by a quick motion they 

 can sometimes detach them. Although the people appear in a 

 state of rural prosperity, as there is very little foreign trade, while 

 the climate is bad, it is difficult to see what France would gain 

 by the occupation of the island. 



Reports from Mount Hamilton, California, Science states, 

 say that this has been the most stormy winter known since obser- 

 vations were begun at the Lick Observatory. The bad weather 

 did not begin till so late in January that a drought in California 

 was feared ; but there have been 40 inches of rain and melted 

 snow up to April 4, and at that date the mountain was covered 

 with 2 feet of snow. The anemometer cups were blown away, 

 witli the wind-gauge indicating 65 miles per hour. The lowest 

 temperature has been 4- 12°; and at this temperature outside 

 water did not freeze within the uncompleted buildings. 



The additions to the Zoological Society's Gardens during the 

 past week include a Rhesus Monkey (Macacus rhesus ¥ ) from 

 India, presented by Miss Harbord ; a Pig-tailed Monkey 

 (Macacus nemeslrinus) from Java, presented by Miss Ethel 

 Fenwick ; a Macaque Monkey (Macacus cjnomolgus $) from 

 India, presented by Mr. F. Harrison ; a Garnett's Galago 

 (Galago garnetli <J ) from Eastern Africa, presented by Lieut. 

 James Knowles, R.N. ; a Dow's Tapir (Tapirus denvii 6 ) from 

 Venezuela, presented by Mr. Reginald Pringle ; a Spotted 

 Ichneumon (Hcrpestes nepalensis) from Nepal, presented by Mr. 

 John Walker ; two Clapperton's Francolins (Francolinus clappn- 

 tom) from West Africa, presented by Major H. Wade Dalton ; 

 twoChukar Partridges ( Caeca bis chukar) from North- West India, 

 presented by Lieut. -Col. C. Swinhoe ; a Herring Gull (Larus 

 argentalus), European, presented by Miss Laura Dunnage ; two 

 Barn Owls (Strix fammea), British, presented by Mr. R. 

 Church ; two Hoary Snakes (Coronella cana) from South Africa, 

 presented by Mr. E. Watson ; two Wattled Cranes (Grits carun- 

 culata) from South Africa, two Spur-winged Geese (Plectropte'us 

 gambensis), four Vinaceous Turtle Doves ( Turtur vinareus), 

 three Harlequin Quails (Coturnix histrionica S 6 9 ) from West 

 Africa, deposited ; a Grey-cheeked Mangabey (Cercocebus albi- 

 gena &) from West Africa, two White Cranes (Grus leuco- 

 gerauos) from India, a Cabot's Horned Tragopan (Ceiionn's 

 caboli £ ) from China, a Banded Gymnogene (Polyboroidcs 

 typiais) from Africa, two Yucatan Blue Jays (Cyanccitta yuca- 

 tanica) from Yucatan, two Axolotls (Siredon mcxicanus) from 

 Mexico, purchased ; a Moustache Monkey (Cercopithecus cephus) 

 from West Africa, received in exchange ; a Maholi Galago 

 (Galago maholi), seven Coypus (Myopotamus coypus), born in 

 the Gardens. 



OUR ASTRONOMICAL COLUMN 



White Spots upon Venus. — Four years since M. Trouvelot 



drew attention to two remarkable white spots which he had 



observed on opposite limbs of Venus, near the extremity of the 



cusps, from November 13, 1877, to February 7, 1878. The 



