May ly, 1877] 



NA TURE 



47 



marked likeness between the annual variation of the 

 temperature range and the annual variation of the de- 

 clination range at the Kew Observatory. 



There yet remains a question which is nearly allied to 

 the present inquiry. If the sun affects the earth in a 

 variety of ways, and if the planets affect the sun, why 

 should not the moon affect the earth ? Now it is known 

 to affect terrestrial magnetism, producing a well-marked 

 variation of a tidal nature, that is to say with two maxi- 

 ma and minima in each lunar day, and there are al?o 

 indications of a variation with only 

 one maximum and minimum. 



Again, Mr. Park Harrison was the 

 first to point out that terrestrial 

 temperature is influenced by the 

 relative position of the sun and 

 moon. 



The writer of this article has 

 found in the daily temperature range 

 at the Kew Observatory an unmis- 

 takable reference to the phase of the 

 moon. 



In summer when the full moon is 

 low in the heavens, we have a less 

 decided reference, which seems to 

 imply a maximum of daily tempera- 

 ture range about new moon and also 

 about full moon. But in winter, 

 when the full moon is high, we have 

 a very decided reference showing a 

 maximum of daily temperature ran^e about new moon, 

 and a minimum about full moon. 



Again, in the magnetic ranges at Kew the same 

 features occur, namely, in summer a maximum range at 

 new and at full moon, and in winter a maximum at new 

 and a minimum at full moon. 



The winter lunar variations of the temperature and 

 declination ranges at Kew are exhibited in the Diagrams 

 L and M, from which it will be seen that there is a very 

 decided likeness between the two. 



These last diagrams are especially interesting because 

 they exhibit an influence which appears to be similar I'/t 

 form to that which the planets may be supposed to pro- 



duce upon the surface of the sun. This, however, is a 

 question which can only be decided by further inves- 

 tigation. 



If we now bring together the results of these three 

 papers we may compare the three problems, solar research, 

 terrestrial magnetism, and meteorology, to three corners 

 of a triangle that are bound together. Of their three rela- 

 tions we are, it may be said, perfectly certain of the con- 

 nection between solar research and terrestrial magnetism. 

 The connection between solar research and meteorology 



PH^HH 



is perhaps not so well defined, but our evidence is here 

 supplemented by independent traces of a connection 

 between magnetism and meteorology. Thus the three 

 things hang together, and scientific prudence points to 

 the desirability of their being studied together as a whole, 

 a consideration which will not, I trust, be overlooked in 

 the contemplated reorganisation of British meteorology. 



I would desire now to conclude by asking, in all 

 honesty. Have we not here a plea for the establishment 

 of some institution that will keep a daily watch upon 

 that luminary which is thus seen to affect us in such a 

 variety of ways ? 



Balfour Stewart 



THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM 



OUR notice of the condition of the South African 

 Museum, and the various sums allotted to research 

 by the Government of the Colony, has called forth some 

 criticism.s on the part of the Cape-town Siaiuiard and 

 Mail of April 7. " What NATURE and other scientific 

 organs in Europe mean by ' research,' " it states, " is not 

 what the responsible advisers of the Cape mean by their 

 favouring grants. It would not be saying too much, nor 

 putting it too strongly, to assert that there is no scientific 

 research carried on in connection with any botanical 

 gardens in South Africa. In regard to our museums 

 there is some genuine work being done ; at all events in 

 the South African and Albany museums original obser- 

 vations are being recorded. As to our libraries which 

 absorb 2,000/. per annum of the public money, the less 

 said, perhaps, the better. The South African Library, as 

 far as standard works in such branches of science as 

 anatomy, chemistry, mineralogy, natural philosophy, &c., 

 are concerned, is simply deficient, and unaccountably so, 

 considering the demands of these departments and the 

 standing of some of the directors. The only sums voted 

 for purely original scientific work are those for ' Geological 

 Researches,' for the publication of Dr. Bleek's Bushman 

 Researches, and for the Meteorological Commission. 

 With the exception of the first of these, which amounts 

 to 1,500/., research in the sense Nature must mean, is 

 fostered by only some four or five hundred pounds." 

 The writer then goes on to describe the consequences 



of Dr. Bleek's death ; the linguistic and ethnological 

 researches he was carrying on have been stopped, and 

 instead of appointing a qualified scholar to fill his place, 

 the Government allowed his office and salary ." to be 

 absorbed into the general and ignoble management of 

 the South African Library, which is only a representative 

 of Mudie, being conducted in the charitable idea of pro- 

 viding, at three pounds sterling per annum, the current 

 literature of the day to subscriljers who for the same 

 reading would have to pay in a circulating library about 

 four times the amount. ... ' Novels are the solace of 

 my life,' was the plea (of Mr. Goodlifte) from the chair in 

 favour of continuing a national institution subsidiEed by 

 the Government of the Colony, and therefore supported 

 from the revenue of the country, as a receptacle for the 

 custodianship of the popular writings of the period. The 

 scientific work of South Africa has been done by ama- 

 teurs holding no professed natural history appointments." 

 The Gill College Herbarium now receives a subsidy of 

 100/. a year, but " Prof Macowan worked at the botany 

 of the Colony for thirteen years before he received any 

 grant to enable him to prosecute the study, or to cover 

 the expenses of preserving a large herbarium." The 

 Colonial Herbarium in Capetown " has a collection of 

 types of the very highest value to Cape botany — those 

 arranged and classified by Dr. Harvey. It has the col- 

 lections of Dr. Pappe, the late Colonial botanist, con- 

 sisting of thousands of species, which were bought by 

 a former Government for some 200/. Other collections 

 more or less valuable are also in the Herbarium." But 



