May 29, 1884] 



NA TURE 



117 



tioned, there is a red clay in which calcareous organisms are 

 nearly, if not quite, absent. 



In this manner, then, it is shown that the remains of calcareous 

 organisms are completely eliminated in the greatest depths of 

 the ocean. For if such be not the case, why do we find all these 

 shells at the bottom in the shallower depths, and not at all in the 

 greater depths, although they are equally abundant on the sur- 

 face at both places ? There is reason to think that this solution 

 of calcareous shells is due to the presence of carbonic acid 

 throughout all depths of ocean water. It is well known that 

 this substance, dissolved in water, is an energetic solvent of cal- 

 careous matter. The investigations of Buchanan and Dittmar 

 have shown that carbonic acid exists in a free state in sea water, 

 and in the second place, Dittmar's analyses show that deep-sea 

 water contains more lime than surface water. This is a con- 

 firmation of the theory which regards carbonic acid as the agent 

 concerned in the total or partial solution of the surface shells 

 before or immediately after they reach the bottom of the ocean, 

 and is likewise in relation with the fact that in high latitudes 

 where fewer calcareous organisms are found at the surface, their 

 remains are removed at lesser depths than where these organisms 

 are in greater abundance. It is not improbable that sea water 

 itself may have some effect in the solution of carbonate of lime, 

 and further, that the immense pressure to which water is sub- 

 jected in great depths may have an influence on its chemical 

 activity. We await the result of further researches on this point, 

 which have been undertaken in connection with the Challenger 

 Reports. We are aware that objections have been raised to the 

 explanation here advanced, on account of the alkalinity of sea 

 water, but we may remark that alkalinity presents no difficulty 

 which need be here considered (Dittmar, " Phys. Chem. Chall. 

 Exp.," part i. 1884). 



This interpretation permits us to explain how the remains of 

 Diatoms and Radiolarians (surface organisms like the Foraminifera) 

 are found in greater abundance in the red clay than in a Globi- 

 gerina ooze. The action which suffices to dissolve the calcareous 

 matter has little orno effect upon the silica, and so the siliceous 

 shells accumulate. Nor is this view of the case opposed to the dis- 

 tribution of the Pteropod ooze. At first we should expect that 

 the Foraminifera shells, being smaller, would disappear from a 

 deposit before the Pteropod shells ; but if we remember that the 

 latter are very thin and delicate, and, for the quantity of car- 

 bonate of lime present, offer a larger surface to the action of the 

 solvent than the thicker, though smaller, Globigerina shells, we 

 shall see the explanation of this apparent anomaly. 

 ( To be continued, ) 



UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 

 . INTELLIGENCE 



Cambridge. — The Special Board for Mathematics has re- 

 ported in favour of an interval of one year being allowed between 

 the second and the third parts of the Mathematical Tripos, in- 

 stead of seven months as at present. It is also suggested that 

 the work done in the first two parts of the Tripos has deteriorated 

 in consequence of being held in the latter part of the Easter Term, 

 when men are subject to many distractions. 



The new buildings for the Department of Practical Botany are 

 to be proceeded with forthwith, and thus Dr. Vines will gain the 

 much-needed accommodation he has so long waited for. 



The thanks of the University have been voted to Sir A. 

 Gordon and to Mr. A. P. Maudslay for their presents of valuable 

 ethnological collections, made by them in Fiji, to the new 

 Museum of Archaeology. 



The eighteenth annual report of the Museums and Lecture- 

 Rooms Syndicate draws attention to the pressing need of addi- 

 tional accommodation for Human and Comparative Anatomy 

 and for Physiology. Nothing can be done to enlarge the provi- 

 sion of Human Anatomy till the new Chemical Laboratory is 

 completed. A further report as to the accommodation for 

 Physiology and Comparative Anatomy will be made shortly. 



Pi. >fs. Liveing and Dewar report that additional special courses 

 fur medical students have been established. Lord Rayleigh re- 

 ports that the elementary demonstrations on Physics in the 

 Cavendish Laboratory are attended by forty students, the 

 advanced by twenty, and the professorial lectures by from twenty 

 to thirty students. Numerous additions of physical apparatus 

 have been made during the year. 



Prof. Lewis records a continued improvement in the Mine- 



ralogical Museum. Prof. J. P. Cooke of Harvard has presented 

 a large and fine series of American specimens. Mr. G. Selig- 

 man of Coblentz has sent specimens far exceeding in value those 

 for which they were exchanged. Mr. Solly brought back many 

 excellent specimens from a tour in Norway ; and the late Mr. 

 Tawney's polariscope and optic sections have been presented by 

 his brother. 



Prof. Stuart has added some large machines to the Mechanical 

 Department. There were sixty-one pupils in the Lent Term, 

 and their work continues to improve. He stales that Mr. Lyon's 

 services are of extreme value as superintendent of the workshops, 

 for he combines practical experience and theoretical knowledge 

 in a manner rarely to be met with. 



The additions to the Woodwardian Museum include twelve or 

 fourteen thousand specimens, the collection of the late Mr. 

 Montagu Smith, B.A., of Trinity College, a promising young 

 student of geology, given by his parents in fulfilment of his ex- 

 pressed wish. They include several thousand specimens from 

 all the crags of Norfolk and Suffolk, a rich collection of Chalk 

 mollusca from Berkshire, mollusca from the Gault of Folke- 

 stone, the Farringdon sponge-bed, and specimens from many 

 Jurassic localities. Mammalian remains from the Hamstead 

 Beds, Isle of Wight, and Vertebrates from the Gault of Folke- 

 stone have been purchased. A number of interesting specimens 

 from the Welsh Paleozoic strata, from Lower Llandoveny down 

 to Harlech, have been added by Mr. T. Roberts. The Library 

 continues to increase largely. 



Mr. J. W. -Clark reports that the collection acquired from 

 Dr. Dohm, exhibited at the Fisheries Exhibition, turns out 

 much more valuable than was anticipated, there being 283 species 

 of Invertebrates, and 3S of fishes in it, each being usually repre- 

 sented by several specimens. All are in first-rate order, and 

 exceptionally good specimens. Mr. H. B. Brady has announced 

 his intention of presenting all his valuable collections of Rhizo- 

 poda, chiefly Foraminifera, to be forwarded as the monographs 

 relating to them are completed. Large instalments have already 

 arrived, including the collection of British brackish-water and 

 estuarine forms described in Ann. and Mas;. Nat. Hist., 1870, 

 the North Polar Foraminifera from the Nares Expedition, the 

 Carboniferous and Permian Foraminifera ("Pal. Soc. Mono- 

 graph "), a large series of the genus Fusulina, a collection of the 

 genera Nummulites and Orbiloides, numerous specimens of 

 Loftusia and Parkeria, Nummulites from Egypt, and microzoic 

 rocks illustrating the extent to which Forominifera are concerned 

 in the building of geological strata. 



Mr. Cooke, Curator in Zoology, has catalogued and arranged 

 the specimens of Murex, Purpura, Triton, Fasciolaria, Buccinum, 

 Nassa, Fusus, Voluta, and Mitra, and related genera. 



Mr. Hans Gadow, Strickland Curator, has been occupied in 

 arranging the collection of birds' skins in a systematic way, and 

 preparing to exhibit the groups in a complete manner, skins, 

 skeletons, viscera, nests, and eggs, in juxtaposition, but want of 

 space, cases and drawers, is a great hindrance. Valuable dona- 

 tions of birds' skins have been received from Major H. W. 

 Feilden (Natal), Lady Barkly (Penang), and Mr. C. E." Lister (St. 

 Vincent, Antilles), and in exchange from the Australian Museum, 

 Sydney (New Guinea species). 



The Morphological Department records good progress ; many 

 diagrams and models have been added owing to the liberality of 

 Trinity College, and much valuable material has been brought 

 by students who have visited foreign countries for puqroses of 

 morphological research. The Balfour Library is of great value, 

 and Mr. A. T. Balfour, M.P., is defraying the cost of continuing 

 the periodicals. Twelve students have been engaged in research; 

 seventeen have worked in the advanced class ; forty-four worked 

 at embryology last year, while nearly fifty have worked at 

 Elementary Morphology during the past winter. Overwhelming 

 pressure has been put upon the department owing to the new 

 arrangements for Elementary Biology in the M.B. examinations ; 

 201 students entered it last term, belonging to more than one 

 year, and no lecture-room or work-room has proved adequate for 

 them all. The work of research, storage of material, and ad- 

 ministration of classes are much interfered with by want of suit- 

 able rooms, and new rooms are urgently needed. A bust of 

 Prof. Balfour, executed in bronze by Hildebrandt of Florence, 

 has been presented to the Laboratory by Prof. Darwin and Mr. 

 J. W. Clark. 



Prof. Michael Foster reports that the teaching of Physiology has 

 been still further developed, but has suffered somewhat from the 

 necessary use of the Laboratory by the class of Elementary 



