1 12 



NATURE 



\ytme 7, 1877 



men named should be communicated with in relation to all con- 

 cerning his special department. The programme is a very 

 inviting one, and if successfully carried out the result must be 

 highly interesting and valuable. We hope British anthropolo- 

 gists will do all in their power to help the Commission to carry 

 out their aims. 



The Maritime and Piscatorial Exhibition, which was opened 

 at the Aquarium on Monday, contains a large collection of 

 stuffed river fish — the largest collection, probably, ever brought 

 together. Fourteen angling clubs, and many private indi- 

 viduals, have sent contributions. The Prince of Wales has also 

 lent his collection of Indian fish obtained during his tour, and 

 there is also a collection from the Indian Museum. As the 

 exhibition includes, among other things, all subjects connected 

 with fishing, there is a good show of fishing-tackle, and with 

 them a fine set of flies. Those by Mr. Ogden Smith are quite 

 works of art. Messrs. Sotherati and Co. have, at considerable 

 trouble, made a collection of books on fish and pisciculture, 

 which deserves attention. 



A Hungarian prelate, the Archbishop Louis of Haynald, 

 has constructed an astronomical observatory at his own expense 

 at Kalocsa, lat. 46° 31', long. 16° 32'. Among the instruments 

 are a Browning telescope, a small (4-inch) Merz refractor, and a 

 Cooke transit instrument. The arrangement of the new observa- 

 tory is superintended by M. de Konkoly, already known as having 

 built on his own property, O-Gyalla, a well-furnished observa- 

 tory. We may add that the Archbishop of Haynald has already 

 devoted considerable sums to botanical researches. 



The conversazione of the Society of Arts is fixed to take place 

 at the South Kensington Museum, on Wednesday, June 27. 



The Commission appointed by the U.S. Government to 

 examine Capt. Howgate's proposal for the establishment of an 

 exploring colony within 400 miles of the North Pole recommend 

 that 50,000 dollars be granted for the purpose. 



At the meeting of the Zoological Society of France on June I, 

 M. Perier, Professor of Conchology at the Paris Museum, explained 

 that the number of specimens was far too large to be properly exhi- 

 bited in the galleries, and that consequently it had been resolved 

 to exhibit only specimens of each genus, and to have the types 

 of species arranged systematically in drawers. Each species is 

 to be entered in an alphabetical and systematic catalogue, so 

 carefully compiled that the information it contains may be got 

 at instantly. Any visitor wanting to inspect a particular species 

 will have only to make an application to the galleries for con- 

 chology. The work is immense, but it is supposed that in ten 

 years it will be completed. 



The French Society of "Amisdes Sciences," instituted twelve 

 years ago for distributing pensions to the families of deceased 

 men of science or to savants themselves when incapacitated by 

 old age, has held its anniversary meeting under the presidency 

 of Prof. Berthelot. The report was read by M. Paileur. It 

 shows that the assets of the Society amount to 19,000/. The 

 sum spent in pensions was 1,200/. last year. An t%>»(? of M. 

 Charles Sainte Claire Deville was read by M. Fouquier, his 

 successor as professor at the College de France. 



We have received the yearly report for 1876-7 of the new 

 Scientific Club of Vienna, and its perusal is well calculated to 

 fill a cultured Londoner of moderate means with envy. For an 

 entry money of five florins and a yearly contribution (payable 

 quarterly !) of sixteen florins all the advantages of a good London 

 club can be obtained combined with those of the Royal Institu- 

 tion. The club possesses a spacious building with lecture-halls, 

 reading and conversation-rooms for smokers and non-smokers, 

 writing-rooms, refreshment-rooms, splendid library, all the best 



journals of every kind from all parts of the world. During the 

 greater part of the year there are scientific and other lectures, 

 entertainments and receptions, excursions during summer, and it 

 is contemplated to publish a weekly journal connected with the 

 affairs of the club. The members, numbering already upwards 

 of 500, belong to all classes of society ard to all profes>ion?, 

 their only bond of union being a desire for cultured intercourse. 

 The only institution in London at all approaching to this Vienna 

 club is the modest German Athenaeum. 



Under the care of Dr. P. P. C. Hoek there has been pub- 

 lished in German a catalogue raisonne of zoological woiks and 

 papers that have appeared in the Netherlands during 1S75 -6. 

 There are in all eighty-seven titles. The title is " Die Zoologie 

 in den Niederlanden," and the publishers are E. J. Brill, of 

 Leiden, and C. F. Winter, Leipzig. 



Intelligence received at New York, June i, from the 

 Sandwich Islands announces that simultaneously with the earth- 

 quake at Iquique, Peru, a tidal wave struck the group of islands 

 on May 10, between 4 and 5 A.M. The sea suddenly receded 

 and returned with great violence in a wave sixteen feet high, 

 which entered the harbour at Hilo, and swept away the wharves 

 and storehouses in the front part of the to'wn. All the houses 

 at Waiakin within loo yards of the shore were destroyed. Five 

 persons were drowned ; many were picked up in the harbour. 

 The earthquike undulations continued during the day, the differ- 

 ence between the highest and lowest water-mark varying from 

 three feet to thirty-six feet in various parts of the islands. Cocoa- 

 nut {sic, but probably Molokai) island 'was entirely submerged, 

 and the hospital at that place was swept away. A fresh eruption 

 of the Kilauea volcano commenced simultaneously with this 

 oceanic disturbance. The same earthquake wave was also felt 

 all along the Mexican Pacific Coast. Late particulars announce 

 that great devastation and loss of life were caused by the tidal 

 wave which swept the Peruvian coast. Six hundred persons are 

 reported to have perished. 



In connection with the above the following is of interest : — \ 

 Press despatch from Washington, of May 12, states that Assistant- 

 George Davidson telegraphs to C. P. Patterson, Superintendent 

 of the Coast Survey, in relation to the earthquake waves registered 

 in the tide-gauge at Fort Point, at the entrance of San Francisco 

 Harbour, to the following effect : — " Sharp earthquake waves 

 commenced on Thursday, May 10, at 6.18 am., five rises and 

 falls of 9 in. in 80 minutes ; then nine maxima or crests 48 

 minutes apart, with secondary maxima, the largest of which were 

 15 in. ; then six sharp rises of 14 in. each to irregular broken 

 crests one hour apart ; then to 5 A.M. Friday, double maxima 

 as at the commencement, the largest rise being iS in. From 

 5.20 A.M. Friday, to 1. 15 P.M., irregular maxima, thena sudden 

 fall of l6 in., and action, continuing until 5 P.M. No well- 

 defined maximum of action, but exhibitions of markedly different 

 character. It may be stated that the earthquake wave of the 

 great earthquake in Japan some years ago was twenty.three 

 minutes in traversing the Pacific to San Francisco." 



On Monday afternoon, about 330, a tornado partially 

 destroyed Mount Carmel, a flourishing town of 3,000 inha- 

 bitants on the Wabash River, South-Eastern Illinois. It struck 

 the town on the southern quarter and passed north, destroying 

 almost everything in its path. Three churches, two newspaper 

 offices, two schools, the Court-house, and 120 buildings were 

 demolished. The ruins caught fire, burning almost till midnight 

 before the flames were extinguished. Many persons were killed 

 or injured. 



On the vote in Parliament last Thursday to complete the sum 

 of 24,569/. for the Patent Office, Dr. Playfair remarked that 

 while the Government derived .i revenue of iSc^QOo/. from the in- 



