94 



NATURE 



[May ^1, 1877 



Association, the Abbe Laraey, under the above heading, endea- 

 vours to explain by a new theory, certain abnormal temperatures 

 which in one case, at least, has formed the subject of popular 

 tradition. "The Summer of St. Martin," as the common 

 phrase runs, presented itself, according to the Abbe, in a very 

 definite manner in the last year ; the month of November com- 

 menced colder than usual, but on the 12th it suddenly became 

 warmer than from the sun's altitude could have been expected. 

 Long-continued notice of a similar rise in temperature about the 

 feast of St. Martin the Abbe considers is a proof that our ances- 

 tors were excellent observers, while the existence of a tradition 

 upon the point shows clearly that the phenomenon has not been 

 confined within restricted limits ; it has been exhibited, he says, 

 simultaneously in Europe and in the United States, and this 

 without being materially affected by the climacteric conditions of 

 the places of observation. One circumstance only he thinks ap- 

 pears to influence it, viz., the latitude; it vanishes as the 

 equator is approached, and is not yet known to be recognised in 

 the southern hemisphere. 



The anomalous tliermometric effect is not, however, per- 

 ceptible only about St. Martin's Day. There is an analogous 

 phenomenon according to the Abbe, in August : "une chaleur 

 torride qui regne subitement apres quelques jours de refraichisse- 

 ment de I'air," and a similar effect, though in an opposite di- 

 rection, has been noticed at the end of April or at the beginning 

 of May, when vernal frosts so disastrous at this season occur, 

 and have often been preceded by " une douce chaleur precoce," 

 as the Abbe terms it, which has hastened forward the veje- 

 tation. 



After remarking that the cause of such abnormal changes of 

 temperature is not to be sought in any influence residing cither 

 in the sun or in the earth's atmosphere, it is suggested by the 

 Abbe that it may be more probably found in what he calls 

 cosmical meteorology, or as we are more accustomed to term 

 this branch of science, meteoric astronomy. In November, 

 August, and April meteors are more numerous than usual, and 

 two of the greatest periodical showers yet observed, fall in 

 November and August. His theory is that when a large 

 number of meteors are passing between the earth and the sun, 

 the solar rays are intercepted to a sufficient extent, to cause a 

 diminution of temperature on the earth's surface, while, when a 

 similar large number of meteors are so placed that they might 

 reflect the heat derived from these rays, and so produce an effect 

 of the opposite nature, that, to use his own words, those calorific 

 rays "qui viendront frapper I'essaim meteorique encore voisin de 

 la terre seront riverbSr^'s sur notre planete, de fajon a recevoir 

 alors un surcrott de chaleur." The Abbe lays some stress also 

 upon another point of apparent coincidence : the intensity of the 

 periodical meteoric showers of November varies from year to 

 year, and " the summer of St. Martin" does not present itself 

 under the same circumstances in every year. 



In thus noticing the Abbe Lamey's attempt to explain a phe- 

 nomenon which has been so long remarked as to have become a 

 popular 'oelief, at least in France, it will be understood that we 

 are by no means advocating the probability of such a theory. 



UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 

 INTELLIGENCE 



Oxford. — In a Convocation held May 23 a decree was carried, 

 without opposition, to the effect that the Vice-Chancellor and 

 I'roctors be authorised to nominate a delegate to represent the 

 University at the 400th anniversary celebration of the University 

 of Upsila, in September next. 



In a Convocation to be held on June 5 it will be submitted to 

 the I louse that the Curators of the University Chest be authorised 

 to expend a sum not exceeding 7,000/. on the construction and 

 fittings of new chemical laboratories at the University Museum. 



Also that a sum not exceeding 2,400/. be expended on certain 

 additions to the University observatory. 



An examination will be held in common at Magdalen, Uni- 

 versity, and New Colleges, on Tuesday, June 26, for election to 

 the following mathematical scholarships : — One demyshi]! at 

 Magdalen College, of the annual value of 95/-, inclusive of allow- 

 ances ; one scholarship at University College, of the annual 

 value of So/., tenable for five years during residence ; one 

 scholarship at New College, of the annual value of 100/., tenable 

 for five years during residence. Testimonials of conduct, &c., 

 to the President of Magdalen College, Mr. C. J. Faulkner, of 

 University College, or the Sub-Warden of New College, between 

 4 and 6 or S and r. M., June 25. 



The commemoration fixed for June 13 will, it is understood, 

 be held in the .Sheldonian Theatre, although no official notice 

 to that effect has appeared. There will be the tisual round of 

 festivities attendant on the event, though it has not transpired if 

 the University will confer any honorary degrees on distinguished 

 persons at the commemoration. 



Cambridge. — The Museums and Lecture-rooms Sjmdicate, 

 in their Eleventh Annual Report, just issued, state that the 

 buildings are in an efficient state of repair, and the collections, 

 to which many valuable additions have been made during the 

 past year, are in good order. They draw attention to the muni- 

 ficence of the Chancellor of the University, the Duke of Devon- 

 shire, who has now completely furnished the Cavenrlish Labora- 

 tory with the instruments required by the present state of science. 

 Profs. Liveing, Dewar, and Stuart complain of want of suitable 

 accommodation for the work of their several departments, and 

 the Syndicate concur in the reasonableness of their complaints. 



An important report has been issued by the Musical Exami- 

 nations Syndicate, w'lich states that under existing regulations 

 for obtaining a degree in music no provision is made for testing 

 the literary and scientific qualifications of the candidates. They 

 therefore recommend that no candidate be admitted to the 

 examination for the degree of Mus. Bac. unless he have passed 

 Parts I. and II. of the Previous Examinations, or one or other 

 of their equivalent examinations. As to the examination for 

 the degree of Mus. Bac, it is proposed to divide it into three 

 parts — I, a preliminary examination, consisting of acoustics, 

 harmony, counterpoint ; 2, the exercise ; 3, a more advanced 

 examination in musical science ; and'that no person be accepted 

 as a candidate for the second or third parts until he has qualified 

 in the previous part or parts. In order to encourage the study 

 of music, that it be recognised as the subject of an additional 

 special examination for tlie ordinary B.A. degree, and that a 

 student who has passed the Previous and the General Exami- 

 nations, and is in his ninth term of residence at least, having 

 previously kept eight terms, shall, on passing the preliminary 

 examinations in acoustics, hannony, and counterpoint, be 

 entitled, when he has kept nine term 5, to receive, the degree 

 of Bachelor of Arts. 



The " Rede" lecture was delivered on May 25 in the Senate 

 House by Sir C. WyviUe Thomson, who gave a brief sketch of 

 the main results obtained by the Challenger expedition. 



London. — A new and additional Cliair of Clinical Surgery 

 has been created at King's College, which is to be filled by Prof. 

 Lister of Edinburgh. The Chair of Systematic Surgery is 

 thus still vacant. 



EDlNTitTRGU. — The students at the University have, during 

 the past session, taken a step which it seems surprising they 

 have not taken long ago. There is, in the Scotch universities, 

 no college life as in England, the students appearing at their 

 classes at the proper hours, and then dispersing to their respective 

 lodgings in v.arious parts of the town. VVliile this system 

 has undoubtedly its advantages, it is attended with not a few 

 social, moral, and physical drawbacks, so that we are glad to 

 learn that the Edinburgh students have started a Students' Club 

 which has been thoroughly successful, and calculated we believe, 

 if prudently ctmducted, to be productive of considerable benefit 

 to the raw and lonely Scotch youth " when first he leaves his 

 father's fields," to get what training and equipment for the 

 future fight Edinburgh can give him. 



By the transference of Prof. Lister to London, the Chair of 

 Clinical Surgery in the University becomes vacant. 



Sir James K.\y-Shuttleworti[.— The death took place on 

 Saturday last of Sir James Kay-Shuttlewortli, a name well 

 known in connection with educational and social reform. The 



