April 27, 1882] 
leven, but, at such a prospect, anglers have taken alarm, 
fearful lest the newcomers, when they have attained their 
full size, may devour the “finest trout in the world’’— 
Salmo levensis—a fish which has been compared with 
the Fario /emanus of the Lake of Geneva; and in con- 
sequence of this opposition of the anglers, the Coregoni 
will probably find a home in Duddingston Loch, near 
Edinburgh, which, however, is much too small for such a 
large number of fish. Why not place the Russians in 
some of the lakes of Scotland, which already contain 
similar fish, in the town loch of Lochmaben, for instance, 
the home of the Vendace, or in Lochlomond, where may 
be seen the Powan? Or some hundreds of them might 
be sent to Loch Neagh in Ireland, which contains the 
Pollan. Hoping that a suitable home may be found for 
these finny treasures, it will be interesting to note their 
future growth, to ascertain when they breed, how long it 
is till the spawn comes to life, and at what age the fish 
become reproductive. 
The Edinburgh Exhibition is undoubtedly indebted to 
Sir James Gibson Maitland for a good show of young 
fish ; “live Salmonide artificially reared,” at his exten- 
sive fishery of Howietoun near Stirling, where there is 
accommodation for the hatching of many millions of fish 
eggs. Sir James has directed his attention chiefly to the 
breeding of the trout of Lochleven, in which he has been 
exceedingly successful, also salmon, and the common 
trout of the country, as well as the S2l#o Fontanalis of 
America. Howietoun is a commercial fishery, from which 
supplies of fertilised eggs and ‘‘eyed ova” of the fishes 
named may be procured at a given price. The proprietor 
has an exhibit in the Waverley Hall (No. 168 in Cata- 
logue) of hatching and other apparatus incidental to thz 
piscicultural operations carried on at his fishery. It has 
been found in the course of the routine work at Howie- 
tou, that it is possible to transport eyed-ova with perfect 
safety to any part of the United Kingdom, and apparatus 
are shown suitabie for the transport of large trout, pro- 
viding for the automatic aération of the water by means 
of a wedge of perforated zinc in the lid; there is also 
shown a ‘‘ packing-case for transport of ova for long dis- 
tances, with air chamber, ice tray, and ventilation of ova.” 
It may interest persons interested in Pisciculture to know 
that the chief food supplied to the young fishes at Howie- 
town is horseflesh, three or four horses being used every 
week; the Lochleven trout are fed on clams procured 
from the Firth of Forth, and Sir James Maitland, we 
believe, is also growing snails for the purpose of feeding 
the young fish. 
It may, we think, be taken for granted that the piscatorial 
feat which we have recorded, the transport of the fry from 
St. Petersburg to Edinburgh will give such a decided fillip 
to piscatorial operations of all kinds as may prove bene- 
ficial ; there are many barren sheets of water which might 
be advantageously populated with some one or other of 
the many species of the finny tribe, whilst proprietors of 
lakes or rivers which are tending to barrenness cannot do 
better than restock them with fry of the far-famed Loch- 
leven trout, or of the S. fortanalis of America, the latter 
for running streams, the former for sheets of water of 
some magnitude. 
THE EDINBURGH CHAIR OF NATURAL 
HISTORY 
ROF. RAY LANKESTER, who has resigned the 
Edinburgh Chair of Natural History, which he 
accepted a fortnight ago, has requested us to publish the 
following statement :— 
I have elsewhere stated the reasons which have led 
me, with very great regret and after anxious considera- 
tion, to withdraw from the honourable position of Regius 
Professor in the Edinburgh University, before actually 
ntering upon the duties of the office. They, briefly 
tated, amount to this—that I had formed a mistaken 
NATURE - 
607 
estimate as to the extent to which the Professor’s time 
would be occupied, the appliances at his disposal, and 
the security of his emoluments. For this mistake I am 
anxious to state that I accept the painful responsi- 
bility. At the same time I desire to say to those to 
whose support and interest in the matter I have been and 
remain so deeply indebted, that the warmth of the con- 
test, which has occasioned nosmall expenditure of time and 
trouble to them--expenditure which I must ever remember 
with gratitude, and unfortunately also with deep regret— 
explains and, I hope, may be considered as excusing the 
tardiness of my arrival at a correct estimate of the desir- 
ability of exchanging my position in London for that in 
Edinburgh. 
I have also to explain that it was solely a desire to give 
the least inconvenience possible to the authorities, which 
led me to communicate my resignation, and the reasons 
for it, to those whom it affected, wéthout any delay. It 
has been pointed out to me, that my action may have 
appeared abrupt, and wanting in consideration for others. 
I should wish, on the other hand, to say that the reflec- 
tion that my resignation must cause considerable disap- 
pointment, and even annoyance, to those whom I had 
most reason to spare such feeling, led me to hesitate 
in taking action, until the necessity for making arrange- 
ments both in Edinburgh and in London, was so pressing, 
as to make the immediate statement of my intentions, to 
all persons concerned, imperative. 
Lastly, I should wish to state that I should find my 
regret for the present occurrence greatly increased, were 
it supposed that I do not recognise the dignity and im- 
portance of the University of Edinburgh, and the high 
position of its professors. I can only say, that [ am 
sincerely sorry that circumstances should render it, in 
my opinion, desirable to forego the honour of entering 
upon that association with the University which was con-~ 
templated, and of working with colleagues for whom J, 
in common with all men of science, have the greatest 
respect and esteem, and amongst whom I am proud to 
reckon personal friends. E. Ray LANKESTER 
ON THE RELATIVE RESISTANCES OF LAND 
AND WATER TO WIND CURRENTS 
te 1878 I received a grant from the Government 
Research Fund for the purpose of ascertaining the 
law of variation of wind velocities at different heights : 
and I found that the curves traced out by the velocities 
in relation to the heights were most nearly represented 
A + Ue. where AH and + re- 
h + 72 
present respectively the heights in feet of the high and 
low level stations above the ground, and V and v the 
respective velocities at those levels. 
I have since then been making observations with the 
view of ascertaining the relative resistance of land and 
water to the aérial currents. These observations are 
very far from being complete, but I give the following 
results in the meantime, as they may be interesting. 
by the formula V=v | 
Sand. Water. 
6” waves 12°8 :13°8 miles per hour = 1 : 1°08 
(OY Saps Se USHOS SS WAYS) agli = f+ 106 
a Sp ree 7hcloe Oi ene eb Seg cre 
Grass. Water. 
SY Bp os EL BOY 50) 103 = 1: 1274 
sg » -- 10°13 : 14°75 ” ” = 1: 1°450 
The velocities given are the means of observations 
taken every five minutes for about an hour. 
From this it will be seen that the resistance is least for 
water, somewhat greater for smooth sand, and greater still 
for grass. Further observations are not only required on 
this subject, but also on the velocity of the wind over the 
water in relation to the height of the waves. 
Edinburgh, April 18 THOMAS STEVENSON 
