April x0, 1875) 
measure, can be connected by continual chains of triangles ; 
and the meridian line of France already prolonged north- 
‘ward to the Shetland Islands, carried out in Spain by the 
officers of that country, will reach the African Continent 
and extend to the Sahara, with a length of 30°. 
_ France will then be able to oppose to the Russian arc 
and to the one measured in Central Europe the French 
arc, which, passing over plains and very high mountains, 
will cross the North Sea and the Mediterranean. 
There is thus considerable truth in the words of M. 
Faye :—“ Let us not forget that the French, who are at 
_ the present time so often reproached with their geographi- 
cal ignorance, are the real creators of continental or 
maritime geodesy, and that they have continually, since 
Cassini to our days, published admirable geodetic papers, 
which have served as models to our rivals; the truly 
Iearned men abroad have always acknowledged their 
value.” 
The map of Algeria will be constructed on the same 
plan as the map of France, to the scale of sg)gq, but 
as it will be coloured, and as level curves will be substi- 
tuted for hatchings, it will have considerable advantages 
over the latter. M. CORNU 
NOTES 
THE French Société d’ encouragement have awarded to Sir 
Charles Wheatstone, F.R.S., the Ampére medal for his 
remarkable works in theoretic and applied physics. The 
grand prize of 12,000 francs for the discovery most useful to 
French industry has been awarded to M. Pasteur, for the 
improvements he has introduced into the manufacture of silk, 
of wines, of vinegar, and of beer. A prize of 3,000 francs has 
been awarded to M. Gramme for the construction of an appa- 
‘ratus giving an electric current constant in direction and in in- 
tensity, whose electromotive force and conductibility are equa] 
to those of an azotic acid pile of 60 or 80 elements of ordinary 
size, and superior both in economy and solubility to the appa- 
ratus which are at present in use. 
Ar the present time there are staying in England two illus- 
trious physiologists, Prof. Kolliker and Prof. Fick, the former 
the renowned head of the Histological School, and the latter of 
the Physiological Institute in the University of Wiirzburg. 
THE University of Cambridge has accepted a fund raised 
by several members of St. John’s College for the purpose of 
founding a prize to be called the Adams Prize, for the best essay 
on some subject of pure mathematics, astronomy, or other 
branch of natural philosophy. The prize is to be given once in two 
years, and to be open to the competition of all persons who 
have at any time been admitted to a degree in the University. 
The examiners have given notice that the subject for the prize to 
be adjudged in 1875 is a Theory of the Reflection and Refraction 
of Light. 
By the present monthly mail a testimonial, consisting of a 
silver tea and coffee service, is being sent to Dr. Kirk at Zanzi- 
bar, by the Royal Geographical Society. The inscription states 
that it is given in recognition of the services Dr, Kirk has ren- 
dered t6 his country and to science by his generosity, intelli- 
gence, and zeal in the advancement of African discovery. 
Mr. A. H. Garrop, B.A., has been appointed Lecturer on 
Zoology and Comparative Anatomy at the Charing Cross Hos- 
pital. Mr. Garrod, we believe, intends to give a course of lec- 
tures during the summer. 
Ar the general monthly meeting of the Royal Institution of 
Great Britain, on Monday, April 7, the special thanks of the 
members were returned to Dr. Warren De La Rue, for his dona- 
tion of 100/. towards the expense of fitting up the new Labora- 
tories, 
NATURE 
451 
THE Report to the Board of Visitors of the Astronomer 
Royal for Scotland, gives a satisfactory account of the work, 
astronomical and meteorological, done at the Royal Observatory, 
Edinburgh. The alterations in the observatory have been com- 
pleted, and the new equatorial, referred to in NATURE some 
months ago, is nearly ready for use, though we are 
sorry to see that its efficient working is very likely to be 
marred from want of funds. Though much needed for various 
purposes, Government (with a surplus of nearly five millions !) 
have absolutely refused to grant any additional aid to the Edin- 
burgh Observatory. Prof. Piazzi Smyth compares his position 
to that of an ‘‘unfortunate artillery officer who should have 
received a big gun, of perhaps the most approved wrought iron 
and steel construction in itself, but without means of moving it, 
without powder and shot; and yet should be expected by the 
public to be continually firing it with immense success and at all 
sorts of objects throughout the whole year.” 
Wirt reference to the sum of 500/. placed’ at the disposal of 
the Council of the Society of Arts, through Sir William Bod- 
kin, by a gentleman who does not wish his name to appear, for 
promoting, by means of prizes or otherwise, economy in the use 
of coal for domestic purposes, the Council have decided to offer 
the following prizes :—1. For a new and improved system of 
grate, suitable to existing chimneys as generally constructed, 
which shall, with the least amount of coal, answer best for 
warming and ventilating a room.—The Society’s Gold Medal 
and Fifty Pounds. 2. For a new and improved system of grate, 
suitable to existing chimneys as generally constructed, which 
shall, with the least amount of coal, best answer for cooking 
food, combined with warming and ventilating the room.—The 
Society’s Gold Medal and Fifty Pounds. 3. For the best new 
and improved system of apparatus which shall, by means of gas, 
most efficiently and economically warm and ventilate a room.— 
The Society’s Gold Medal and Fifty Pounds. 4. For the best 
new and improved system of apparatus which shall, by means 
of gas, be best adapted for cooking, combined with warming and 
ventilating the room.—The Society’s Gold Medal and Fifty 
Pounds. 5. For any new and improved system or arrangement 
not included in the foregoing, which shall efficiently and econo- 
mically meet domestic requirements. —The Society’s Gold Medal 
and Fifty Pounds. 
WE understand that the scientific authorities at Berlin are 
preparing a manual containing the necessary information for the 
requirements of the various expeditions sent out by the Imperial 
Government to observe the transit of Venus. The information 
given will by no means be confined to astronomical and physical 
subjects, but will incorporate all the branches of natural history. 
We hope our Government will follow so excellent a precedent, 
and associate a certain number of naturalists along with the 
astronomical observers, especially in situations where their obser- 
vations are likely to prove of value. 
THE forty tanks in the Brighton Aquarium, under Mr. Savile 
Kent’s superintendence, are now well stocked with fishes, and 
present a most interesting field of study to the Ichthyologist. 
Eight of them are devoted to fresh-water fishes, and the re- 
maining to the marine forms. Amongst the latter are fine 
specimens of the herring, lump-sucker, grey, streaked and red 
gurnets, sting-ray, balan wrasse, cook and cork-wing wrasses, 
and gold-sinny. Two species of dogfish have deposited eggs in 
their tanks, and the embryos are in process of development. 
The most recent addition to the fresh-water fishes is a fine salmon, 
presented by Mr. Berridge, Chairman of the Usk Fisheries. 
The two porpoises are in excellent health, and feed well on 
smelts and small whitings, The large tank, Ioo feet in length, 
and containing 110,000 gallons of sea-water, gives them ample 
space for their gyrations, 
