August 28, 1884] 



NA TURE 



409 



against a disk of polished metal with slightly elliptic rim, 

 producing in either case a bell fringed all round its 

 circumference and lacking transparency. 



The bell to which we here call attention is distinguished 

 by the way in which it causes the liquid vein to expand as 

 soon as it reaches the orifice of the ajutage. Instead of 

 making it strike against a metal plate, the surface of 

 which, however carefully polished, always betrays some 

 imperfection, M. E. Bourdon brings an antagonistic 

 column of water to bear on it, so that the jet expands and 

 falls into the basin, forming a bell as clear as crystal and 

 impervious enough to cut off all communication between 

 the interior and circumambient air. 



The pipe conducting the water from the reservoir ends 

 in a truncated form of nozzle, of about 12 degrees of 

 angular opening, in such a way as to make all the threads 

 of water converge towards the middle of the jet. Over 

 this is placed concentrically to the truncated nozzle a glass 

 tube of about 20 cm. in length, and of the same interior 

 diameter as that of the orifice by which the water rises 

 from the reservoir. This antagonistic tube, as it may be 

 called, has to be supported by a copper rod fixed either 

 against a wall or on the margin of the basin, at a 

 distance of 2 cm. between its lower extremity and the 

 truncated appendage. The reservoir must be kept at a 

 constant level by means of a water-gauge cock. The 



water-height above the jet will be about 60 cm. The flow 

 of the water or its stoppage will of course be regulated by 

 a cock. 



The apparatus so arranged and the basin filled with 

 water to the level of the overflow, the cock will be gently 

 opened, and the water traversing the interval between 

 the ajutage and the antagonistic tube will rise a few 

 centimetres high in the latter. A ball of ovoidal shape 

 will then come to view. By opening the cock very slowly 

 its diameter will gradually enlarge till the bell assumes 

 the form of a hemisphere. At this point let the opening 

 of the cock be reduced a very little, and the bell will 

 change its shape ; its rim will become lowered to the 



plane of the water of the basin, and its profile will show 

 a bell similar to the gardener's bell glass. 



By placing a very thin copper wire vertically towards 

 the top of the bell, a vertical incision may be made in 

 the bell, parting it into two separate sides. Through the 

 gap thus formed, a statuette, a lighted candle, or a cage 

 containing a bird, may be introduced inside the bell with- 

 out wetting it. The tubes hitherto used have not ex- 

 ceeded 20 mm. in diameter ; but by employing appa- 

 ratus of much larger dimensions, water bells of from 

 3 to 4 metres in diameter might be produced just as per- 

 fect as those of from 60 to 80 centimetres, and under 

 which people might walk about or lounge at pleasure. 



SCIENCE AND THE SANDHURST 

 EX AM IN A TIONS 



\\ TE. have now before us the revised regulations for the 

 " * examinations of candidates for admission to the 

 Royal Military College, Sandhurst. Up to and including 

 the summer examination of 1885 the present scheme is to 

 remain in force. Under it Mathematics, English History, 

 and Latin receive 3000 marks each ; Greek, French, 

 German, Experimental Science, General and Physical 

 Geography and Geology count 2000 marks each. Candi- 

 dates are left free to select any four of these subjects. 

 They may also take up drawing, for which 1500 marks 

 are given. After the summer of 1S85 the subjects are to 

 be grouped and marked as follows : — 



Marks 



Class I. — 1. Mathematics ... 3000 



2. Latin ... ... ... ... 3000 



3. French ... ... ... ... 3000 



4. German ... ... ... ... 3000 



Marks 



Class II. — 1. Greek ... ... 2000 



2. Higher Mathematics 2000 



3. English History ... ... 2000 



4. Experimental Sciences ... 2000 



5. Physical Geography and Geology 2000 

 Class HI. — I. English Composition ... ... 500 



2. Drawing, Freehand ... ... 500 



3. ,, Geometrical... ... 500 



Of these subjects candidates must take up three from 

 Class I., and may take up either the remaining subject in 

 Class I. or any one subject in Class II., and may also 

 take up all the subjects in Class III. 



These figures speak for themselves. Science is now 

 placed on an equal footing with Greek and Higher 

 Mathematics, &c, and its position is therefore somewhat 

 improved as compared with that assigned to it in the pro- 

 posals of a few months since. In the main, however, the 

 revised scheme cannot be satisfactory to any one who has 

 the interests of education at heart. 



