the case of Mauritius from 1695 to 1847. In the former list 
_ there are only two years, 1741 and 1749, in which no mention 
is made of hurricanes, while the latter is apparently much more 
incomplete, having many gaps. While some of these gaps may be 
owing to the absence of hurricanes, still, no doubt, hurricanes 
have occurred which are not included in the list. But it is re- 
markable that many of the gaps occur about the time of minimum 
frequency of sun spots. It is to be hoped that the Society will 
be able to compile a pretty complete and trustworthy list, as 
such a list would go far to solve questions of high importance. 
It is to be hoped that with an efficient observatory, which 
Mauritius is likely soon to possess, and uninterrupted observa- 
tion, complete data for future meteorologists may be gradually 
collected, 
Tue following note from the Colonial Farmer (Frederickton, 
New Brunswick), concerning the recent shower, has been for. 
warded us :—A brilliant meteoric display was observed in the 
heavens early on Wednesday evening, Nov. 27th, and the clear- 
ness of the night gave every facility for witnessing this attractive 
exhibition. For at least two hours the falling meteors were 
visible in hundreds, and seemed to come from the Milky Way, 
with a course from the zenith to the south and south-west. 
Above 190 were counted in about twenty minutes. The shower 
commenced at dusk, and continued for two hours with increas- 
ing brilliancy, after which it gradually faded away. 
Some months ago we announced that the glass of the great 
telescope of the Alleghany Observatory, one of the largest of the 
kind in America, and valued at about 4,000 dols., was stolen 
from the building, and all efforts to detect the robber and regain 
the plundered article were unavailing. We now learn from the 
College Courant that the Jens has been recovered, haying been 
stolen by two men, but for what purpose is not said, It was 
found to have received serious damage in the form of several] 
scratches, which may require the regrinding of the glass at a 
cost of 30 or 40 per cent. of the driginal cost. 
- We learn from the Atheneum that Mr. Edward Thomas has 
been elected corresponding member of the French Academy, for 
his contributioas to Oriental Numismatic Archeology, 
_ WE learn from the British Medical Fournal, that Dr. C. J. 
B. Williams has been nominated by the Council of the Royal 
Medical and Chirurgical Society for the Presidency. 
Mr. E. B. NICHOLSON, librarian of the Oxford Union Society, 
has been appointed to the Librarianship of the London Institu- 
tion, in room of the late Mr. J. C. Brough. 
Tue Fifth Annual Report of the Eastbourne Natural History 
Society shows that it continues prosperous, and has been making 
valuable additions to our knowledge of the Natural History of 
the district in/all its departments. 
THE lioness, which has so successfully reared the cubs born 
in the Zoological Gardens, July 8, 1872, died on the 21st inst. 
WE have received an advance sheet of the next number of 
- Petermann’s A/ittheiJungen containing the second article on Dr. 
Livingstone’s Exploration of the Upper Congo, appended to 
which is a splendidly constructed map of the section of Africa 
included between 2° and 12}° S. lat. and 22°— 40” E, long., in 
which not only the most recent discoveries are filled in, but the 
routes of all travellers are given from Lacerda in 1798 down to 
Livingstone and Stanley in 1871-2. Moreover by seven shades 
of colour the heights of the various regions are indicated from 
1000 up to 18,710 feet. 
Tue whole of No. 34 of the supplement to Petermann’s A/it- 
theilungen is occupied with the journal kept by Jerhard Rohlfs, 
who in 1865-6-7, journeyed through North Africa, from Lake 
Tsad to the Gulf of Guinea. Two magnificent maps accompany 
NATURE 
251 
the narrative, the one representing the region to the south of 
Lake Tsad, and showing the routes. of Rohlfs and of all previous 
travellers through that region ; the other represents the country 
from Borneo to Lagos, and contains the routes of travellers from 
Clapperton and Landor down to Rohlf. 
LIEUTENANT GRANDY, leader of the Livingstone Congo Ex- 
pedition, has written to Sir Henry Rawlinson reporting his 
arrival at Sierra Leone on December 14, where he got together 
his exploring party, consisting of his brother, Mr. M. B. Grandy, 
two Congo men to act as interpreters, 19 Kroomen, and a steady 
native from the police, Daniel E. Gabbidon, The party left 
for the South Coast on the 27th, in good health, after an in- 
spection and a few cheering words at Government-house. The 
local Government presented Lieutenant Grandy with a travelling 
tent, water-proof blankets, and other useful articles. 
WE are glad to see that the botanical members of the Perth- 
shire Society of Natural Science are preparing ‘‘a Flora of 
Perthshire,” one of the richest counties, botanically, in the king- 
dom. Botanists who can assist with information are requested 
to communicate at once with Dr. Buchanan White, Dunkeld, 
than whom no more competent editor could be found. 
A MEETING was held the other evening which pledged itself 
to use every effort to establish a South London Museum on the 
model of that recently opened at Bethnal Green. 
Tue first of a series of lectures was given on Tuesday evening 
the 21st inst., on the ‘‘ Physical Geography of the Sea,” in the- 
Town Hall, Shoreditch, by Dr. Carpenter. The lecture was 
listened to by an audience of 2,000 persons, chiefly of the work- 
ing classes, men and women, with marked attention, for nearly 
two hours. : 
A COLLECTION of Saxon antiquities, cf rare value, has been 
presented to the library and museum of Trinity College, Cam- 
bridge, by Mr. White, sub-librarian of the society. These were 
obtained from the site of an Anglo-Saxon cemetery, situate at a 
place known (and described on maps 200 years old) as “ Edix- 
hill hole,” near Orwell, Cambridgeshire. Mr. White’s donation 
includes various implements in iron and spear heads, shield 
bosses, and handles, &c., and some articles used in hunting and 
for domestic use. Among the collection are three jaw bones, 
one of immense size, all having the teeth perfectly sound. The 
collection has been deposited in the library, : 
THE Medical Record for January 15, in a note entitled 
‘Science the Peace-maker,” has the following :—‘‘ Immedittely 
after the war, the French Societies occupied themselves in 
striking off the roll the names of all German Associates, and 
French savans withdrew theirs from the German societies of 
which they were honorary members. We are glad to note, as 
indicating a return to a more sound and philosophic mind, that 
at a recent meeting of the Berlin Chemical Society M. Cahours, 
an eminent Frenchman, applied for, and was accorded, admis- 
sion to the honorary membership.” 
Tue principal article in the Revue Scientifique for January 25 
is a long one by M. Léon Dumont on the theory of evolution in 
Germany, with special reference to the doctrines of Haeckel. 
A WELL-KNOWN British explorer, in the person of Com- 
mander Alexander John Smitb, has recently died at Sandhurst, 
Victoria. This gentleman was lieutenant on board the Zredus, 
under Captain Sir James Clark Ross, in the expedition to 
investigate the magnetism of the Antarctic region, and was 
subsequently one of the officers in charge of the magnetic obser- 
vatory at Hobart Town. 
