March 16, 1882] 
NATURE 
469 
not now be discussed it has never come into practical use 
among astronomers. } 
The celebrated cup anemometers, now so extensively 
used, are an indication of the practical skill and ingenuity 
_ by which Dr. Robinson was distinguished. The very 
latest scientific labour of his long life was a redetermina- 
tion of the constants of the cup anemometer. This was 
accomplished by experiments on a very large scale, in the 
dome of Mr. Grubb’s workshops, at Dublin. The results 
of these labours have been published in the PAz/. Trans., 
1878-1880, 
Considering that Dr. Robinson was an author before 
the battle of Trafalgar, that he was elected a Fellow 
before the battle of Waterloo, and that he was made 
director of the Armagh Observatory within a year or two 
of the death of Sir W. Herschel, it is not surprising to 
find that Dr. Robinson’s scientific friends and associates 
belonged mainly to the past generation. In that past 
generation, Dr. Robinson occupied a distinguished and 
-remarkable position. He was intimately associated with 
the late Earl of Rosse in all those memorable experiments 
which culminated in the great reflector at Parsonstown. 
He was the friend of Sir James South, of Sir William 
Fairbairn, and of many other celebrities. His wide 
sympathy, his gentle and invariable kindness, his won- 
drous stores of knowledge, his charming powers of con- 
versation, his brilliant eloquence, were qualities universally 
recognised, and caused him to be welcomed and beloved 
in many circles besides those purely scientific. 
NOTES 
WE learn that Dr, Huggins obtained a photograph of the spec- 
trum of the great nebula in Orion on the 7th inst., and that in 
addition to known lines, it shows a strong line in the ultra-violet. 
THE death is announced, at the early age of forty-six years, 
of Prof. A. Freire Marreco, who filled the Chair of Chemistry 
in the Newcastle College of Science. Prof, Marreco had a con- 
siderable reputation as a working chemist, and did much to 
promote the cause of science in the north of England. 
THE death is announced of Herr J. J. Sievers, the well-known 
astronomer, who died at Altona on February 22 last, aged 
seventy-seven. 
AT the dinner given by the Lord Mayor on Saturday to a 
large number of gentlemen who have shown an interest in the 
Smoke Abatement Exhibition, Mr. Shaw Lefevre pointed out 
that we had advanced nothing in the cure of London fogs since 
the days of Evelyn, who gave great attention to the subject. 
Mr. Ernest Hart, the Chairman of the Committee, spoke of the 
loss by dirt and the loss by darkness, amounting to many mil- 
lions, occasioned by smoke and fog; and, referring to the late 
exhibition, said the scientific results were most satisfying and 
encouraging. Many excellent inventions proved the perfect 
practicability of abating smoke from domestic grates, and 
especially from kitcheners (which were now the greatest 
offenders), and there was not an industry in the country which 
would not be benefited by an application of some one or other 
of the exhibits. Mr, Hart adduced some striking statistics to 
show the serious loss of life by the recent London fogs, and 
stated that during these fogs he had telegraphed to various 
places just outside London, and found that the weather was 
clear and beautiful. Surely some earnest effort will now be 
made to abate the serious nuisance, 
IN a note on the appointment to the Edinburgh Natural 
History Chair, the Spectator of March 11 says: ‘‘ There isa 
great, though not obtrusive, dissatisfaction in Scotch educa- 
tional circles, and even beyond them, at the unprecedented delay 
of the Home Office in filling up the Chair of Natural History in 
the University of Edinburgh, which Sir Wyville Thomson long 
ago resigned. The post is the academic blue riband of natural 
science in Great Britain. The annual emoluments, between fees 
and endowment, come to close upon 2000/7, The work of the 
Chair is not arduous, and the occupant has the advantage of 
living in the most charming of provincial cities, and of being 
lionised by its society. Some of the most eminent biologists 
in the United Kingdom, including the Professors of Natural His- 
tory in the three other Scotch Universities of Glasgow, Aberdeen, 
and St. Andrew’s, are candidates for the Chair. But Lord Rose- 
bery, with whom, as Under-Home Secretary, the appointment 
virtually lies, is understood all over the country—we hope falsely 
—to be desirous to appoint Prof. Ray Lankester, of University 
College, whose cause is actively championed by Prof, Huxley. 
Able as Prof. Ray Lankester is, we should greatly regret, in the 
interests of Scotland, to see the appointment of so very relent- 
less a champion of vivisection, nay, even of a large extension of 
vivisection, to a Chair of influence in Edinburgh.” This is a 
fine instance of good taste and sound judgment. If Prof. Lan- 
kester’s high qualifications are recognised, Lord Rosebery is 
not likely to be influenced by a bye question, urged especially 
in such a way from such a quarter. 
THE Society of Chemical Industry has proved so far successfu] 
that they have been able to begin the publication of a Yournal 
intended as a “‘ Monthly Record for all interested in Chemical 
Manufactures.” The first number was published in Jamuary, 
and contains various reports connected with the Society and its 
branches, a paper on Artificial Indigo, by Professors Roscoe 
and Baeyer, and a number of interesting notes. Prof, Abel’s 
address at the opening of the London section is of great interest 
as showing in a great variety of instances the intimate dependence 
of manufactures on success in improvement.of chemical processes, 
and advance in chemical research. ‘‘It is, indeed, I submit,” 
Prof. Abel said, ‘‘the special duty of this section of the Society 
to demonstrate, by its activity, how intimately interested in the 
advancement of applied chemistry, physics, and mechanics, are 
a large number of trades which are practised in the metropolitan 
area, and how closely allied to each other in regard to their 
interests in the development of chemical and engineering science 
are many trades which, to the general public or the superficial 
observer, would appear to have little interest in common. Cer- 
tainly, in no part of Her Majesty’s kingdom, I may say of the 
universe, can be found congregated together so great a variety 
of important manufacturing trades—all of them deriving direct 
advantage from the advance and the application of science—as 
exist within our metropolitan area and its immediate environs. 
Thus, among those whose trades, pursued in and around the 
metropolis, may be considered to bring them within the possible 
scope of activity of a society founded for the advancement of 
chemical industries, we have the manufacturers of definite che- - 
mical products, of drugs, and of pharmaceutical preparations, of 
white lead and other mineral colours, of varnishes and lacquers, 
of all the various products of coal-tar distillation, from creosote 
and pitch to dyes of the greatest beauty and purity ; of manures, 
of cements, of candles, soaps, and lubricants ; the refiners of 
sugar, of oils, and of metals ; brewers, distillers, tanners, makerS 
of glue and size, of pottery, stoneware, and glass, of gunpowder 
and pyrotechnic compositions, of waterproof goods and insulating 
materials. Extensive as this list is, it might probably be added 
to considerably.” It is evident there is ample scope for the work 
of such a society as this, and on its present lines it is likely to do 
much good. 
Pror. HAECKEL, of Jena, has now concluded the zoological 
work he was conducting on the south coast of Ceylon during two 
months, and has sent over fifty cases with natural history collec- 
tions to Jena. His researches on the Ceylon coral reefs were 
