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NATURE 
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Cambridge Upper Greensand, by Mr. A. F, Buxton (Trinity) ; 
The Mechanism of Consciousness and Volition, by Mr. H. N. 
Martin, D.Sc. (Christ’s). . 
' Mr. G. F, RopweELt lectures at the London Institution on 
Wednesday, 15th inst., on “‘ Ancient Science.” 
Tue Sunday Lecture Society has issued a very satisfactory 
programme for the next three months. On Jan, 26, Mr. A. Ei. 
Green gives a lecture ‘‘On the Glacial Period; a Chapter of 
English Geology.” On Feb. 23, Mr. A. Balmanno Squire 
lectures on ‘‘ The Skin ; its Structure and Uses.” Last Sunday 
Mr, W. J. Lewis lectured on “The Next Transit of Venus, 
and the Measurement of the Distances of the Planets from the 
Sun.” ; 
THE Mercers’ Company have given notice that during the 
ensuing Hilary Term the lectures founded by Sir Thomas 
Gresham will be read to the public gratuitously in the theatre of 
Gresham College, Basinghall Street. Among them are lectures 
on Astronomy by the Rev. Joseph Pullen, on the r1th, 13th, 
and 14th inst. ; Physic, by Dr. Symes Thompson, on the 17th 
and 18th; Geometry, by the Dean of Manchester, on the 25th 
and 27th, g 
A FUND is being raised for founding, at University College 
London, an Exhibition in commemoration of the services of the 
late W. A. Case, M.A. The Exhibition is to be held by 
students on leaving the college school, with which Mr. Case 
was connected for twenty years. The amount already promised 
is upwards of 300/. 
THE Professor of Mineralogy (Mr. Miller) at Cambridge, will 
lecture on Mineralogy on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays 
Fridays, and Saturdays, from 1 to 2, in the lecture-room at 
the north end of the west wing of the new museum, com- 
mencing January 31. 
Two very interesting birds have just been received by the 
London Zoological Society, an American Stilt or Stilt-plover 
(Aimantopus nigricollis), and a Darter (Plotus anhinga), both of 
them remarkable in form and appearance, and new to the 
Society’s collection, They are to be seen in the Fish-house. 
THE first number of the new monthly journal of popular an- 
tiquities, Zong Aygo, is a capital one, the contents being very 
varied and of wide range. If it keeps up as it has begun, it 
will be of real and lasting value. 
A NEW series of the AZechanics’ Magazine is to be commenced 
this month, under the new and admirably brief title of Zon, 
WE would draw the attention of our readers to a series of 
letters on the marriage of the Emperor of China which have 
been appearing in the Daily ews, especially to the one in Tues- 
day’s issue describing the structure of “the Temple of Heaven ” 
and other temples, in which certain astronomical notions seem 
to be involved, suggesting comparison with certain theories 
about the pyramids of Egypt. 
WE are glad to see, from some scraps sent us from the New 
York papers, under the title of ‘‘News Splinters,” that Prof, 
Tyndall is making excellent use of Mr. W. Spottiswoode’s polari- 
scope apparatus. So impressive and popular apparently are his 
lectures on polarisation, that one of the “splinters” remarks 
that ‘‘if anybody don’t go who can get a ticket to go to hear 
this very remarkable course of lectures, he or she deserves recti- 
linear propagation into outer darkness.” We believe that Prof, 
Tyndall is expected back on the 25th or 26th inst. 
WE are glad to see, in the Mercantile Marine Magazine, an 
article on ‘‘ Meteorology: Past, Present, and Future, General 
and Particular.” It would, however, have been better had the 
writer had the courtesy to acknowledge that his article was 
suggested by, and is largely based upon, an article in NATURE 
for December 12 last, on the ‘‘ Meteorology of the Future.” 
WE learn from the British Medical Fournai, that there is some 
prospect that a long-talked of scheme—the removal of the 
Medical School of St. Andxew’s University to Dundee—may be 
carried out. A large field for medical instruction is to be ob- 
tained in connection with the Dundee Royal Infirmary ; anda 
similar step, that of the University of Durham, which established 
a Medical School in Newcastle, has not been without success. 
THE following is from the A/edical Record :—‘* The recent 
meeting at Bordeaux of the French Association for the Promo- 
tion of Science, in its first annual session, appears to have sown 
seed which is likely to ripen in good fruit in that city. At a 
preliminary meeting held on Dec, 20, a committee was named, 
consisting of well-known physiologists, chemists, and men 
of science and others, to carry out a proposed scheme of general 
regulations for a laboratory of physiological and chemical re- 
search. Important sums were offered for the purpose, and the 
muncipality of Bordeaux, appreciating the importance of en- 
couraging scientific labours, will, it is stated, contribute hand- _ 
somely to the installation and maintenance of the proposed 
laboratory.” ” ; 
THE feuilleton of the Gazette Medicale for January 4 contains 
a number of details concerning English medical education, 
medical fees and etiquette. 
THE number of Z’/ustitut for January next commences a 
new series. This Journal has been in existence for forty years. 
STANLEY’s ‘‘ How I found Livingstone,” is being translated in 
Le Tour du Monde. 
THERE is a very good article in the ied for January 4, ex- 
posing some popular delusions with regard to the dangers 
incurred by living in or travelling through countries where snakes 
are abundant. The writer thinks it would be difficult to pro- 
duce a well-authenticated instance of a European having been 
killed by a snake in any tropical country. Many of these delu- 
sions the writer ascribes to the sensation stories found in some 
popular novels, eg. ‘‘Tom Cringle’s Log,” and some of 
Marryatt’s works, as also in the narratives of credulous travellers, 
and even in the works of such an eminent ornithologist as 
Audubon. “The actual risk incurred,” the writer says, “ by 
those who visit and explore the haunts of snakes is practically 
so inconsiderable as very soon to become habitually as much 
disregarded as is the existence of the common adder in this 
country.” He also animadverts with justice on the extreme 
vagueness of the multitude of popular names applied to snakes, 
and speaks of the necessity of always recognising the established 
system of technical nomenclature, without which all is vague 
and delusory. 
WE have received a lecture delivered before the Torquay 
Natural History Society by its Vice-president, the Rey. T. R. R. 
Stebbing, M.A., on ‘Museums and Owv Museum,” in which he 
gives some very excellent hints as to what a model museum, both 
general and local, ought to be. This society has been in ex- 
istence for twenty-eight years, and during that time has done 
much useful scientific work, and accumulated a valuable collec- 
tion of specimens illustrating the natural history of the country, 
which ‘already exceeds the accommodation at the society’s dis- 
posal, Its reference library is also rapidly increasing in bulk, 
and the’society has therefore appealed to the Torquay public to 
assist in raising such a building as will satisfy the requirements 
of the lectures, library, and museum. Not only for the sake of 
the society, but for the sake of their own highest good, we hope 
the public of Torquay will respond liberally to the society’s 
appeal, 
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