94 
NATURE 
[May 29, 1873 
sics, both mathematical and experimental ; chemistry, theoretical, 
practical and applied; the natural sciences, especially geology and 
mineralogy, with their application to mines and metallurgy; 
botany, and zoology, with special application to manufactures ; 
and physiology, with special reference to the laws of health. 
The English, French, and German languages will also be taught. 
The trustees have power to include mechanics and architecture 
and all other subjects necessary to carry out the objects of the 
founder. Mere literary education and instruction are excluded, 
as well as all teaching of theology and subjects purely theo- 
logical, No principal, professor, teacher, or other officer of the 
college is ever to be called upon to make any “‘ declaration as to 
or submit to any test whatever of their religious or theological 
opinions,” nor are these in any wise to be considered either as 
qualifications or disqualifications for holding any office, fitness to 
give the instruction required being the sole and only test. Pro- 
vision is also made for giving lectures and opening classes for 
popular or unsystematic instruction, at which the attendance 
shall be open to all persons, ‘‘ without distinction of age, class, 
creed, race, or sex.” The founder’s object being to pro- 
mote the prosperity of the manufactures and industry of 
the country, especially of the two towns so frequently named, 
the college will be open to qualified persons of all classes who 
have to rely on science, art, or manufactures for a liveli- 
hood, ‘‘ especially the more intelligent youth of the middle 
class.’ Provision is also made, when the funds permit it, 
to provide instruction for females as well a3 males. The 
site selected for the college is in the centre of the town, and 
the land is therefore of the greatest value, and the generous 
founder has already laid out upwards of 20,000/. on the site. 
He has also conveyed landed property producing about 600/. a 
year, and thereisa clause in the deed in which he states it to 
be his intention to devote by his will additional funds for the 
use of the college. The total amount of this noble endowment 
cannot, therefore, be positively stated, asit will, of course, depend 
upon circumstances. Enough, however, has already been done 
to render the ‘‘ Josiah Mason College” one of the most princely 
gifts yet made to posterity-in England by any of her wealthy 
sons. 
THE forthcoming number of Petermann’s JZittheilungen will 
contain an interesting article compiled from the Australian 
papers, giving an account of a three months’ journey during 
August, September, and October of last year into the interior of 
Australia, by Mr. Ernest Giles, accompanied by Messrs. Car- 
michael and Robinson. They struck off from the route of the 
overland telegraph at Chambers’s Pillar, about 133° 55’ E. long., 
and 24° 53’ S. lat., and journeyed in a north-west direction 
along Finke Creck, traversing ground which has not hitherto 
been explored. They passed among long ranges of hills, lying 
in an east and west direction, and varying in height from a few 
hundreds to 4,000 ft., though few of the heights are appa- 
rently above 1,000 ft. At about the 24th parallel, in 133° N., 
they came upon multitudes of magnificent fan palms growing 
along the bed of the creek; they named the place the 
**Glen of Palms.” Their journey in this direction extended to 
129° 55’ W., and about 23° 10’ S., the utter sterility of the region 
and the want of water compelling them to turn back. It was 
only during the last few days, however, of their western journey 
that water became scarce. The most characteristic vegetation 
throughout was Spinifex ; Casuarina was also of frequent occur- 
rence. Travelling for about 100 miles in a southern direction, 
the explorers came upon an extensive salt marsh, apparently from 
Petermann’s map upwards of 100 miles long and from 6 to 7 
miles broad ; Baron von Miiller has named this Amadeus Lake, 
After staying here for a few days, Giles and his companions 
struck northwards for about 40 miles, and then south-eastwards, 
passing numerous creeks and a range of hills, ‘‘Gill Range,” 
and meeting the Finke again on November 16, not far from 
their starting-point. Altogether these plucky explorers travelled 
1,300 English miles, and have added considerably to our know- 
ledge of the interior of Australia. _ 
UNDER the name of ‘* Herbarium Mycologicum Giconomi- 
cum,” F, Baron Thiimen proposes to form a collection of those 
parasitic fungi which are injurious (including, also, any that are 
useful) in forestry, agriculture, horticulture, or in any other 
branch of industry. The specimens of each species will be 
labelled with the scientific name, diagnosis, and any needful re- 
marks, and, where possible, will be sufficiently numerous for a 
portion to be submitted to microscopic examination. The col- 
lection will be issued in fasciculi of fifty species, at the price of 
three thalers each, and may be obtained of the collector, at . 
Teplitz, in Bohemia. 
WE regret to learn that Mr. Louis Fraser, at one time promi- 
nently connected with the Zoological Society of London, author 
of the ‘* Zoologia Typica,” and a professional taxidermist of 
high repute, is suffering from destitution, in his old age, in 
British Columbia. On April 7 last a communication was pre- 
sented before the meeting of the Academy of Sciences of San 
Francisco on this subject by Mr. Henry Edwards, one of the 
members, and an appeal for assistance was made to the friends 
of science. This was answered by contributions on the part of 
several persons, but it is not stated to what extent. 
THE anniversary meeting of the Royal Geographical Society 
was held on Monday, Sir Henry ‘Rawlinson in the chair. Sir 
Bartle Frere was elected President, and the Earl of Derby, Sir 
H. Rawlinson, Sir R. Alcock, and Admiral Richards, vice- 
presidents. The retiring president, in his valedictory address, 
reviewed at some length the progress of scientific exploration 
during the past year, 
AT the special request of Rear-Admiral Sands, the U.S 
Congress, at its last session, allowed an ‘appropriation for the 
purpose of completing and publishing the catalogue of southern 
stars, observed by Gilliss in 1850-52, and the work is now being 
put in the hands of computers for publication as soon as 
possible. 
A sLIGHT shock of earthquake was felt on the morning of 
April 14, at Goalparah, Assam. 
AnpITIOons to the Brighton Aquarium during the past week : 
Smooth Hound (Afustelus vulgaris); Skate (Raja batis); Gur- 
nards (Zrigla Lyra); John Dorée (Zeus faber) ; Scad, or Horse 
Mackerel (Zvachurus trachurus) ; Lump-fish (Cyclopterus dum- 
pus); Turbot (Rhombus maxinus) ; Common Carp (Cyprinus 
carpio); Gold and Silver ditto (Carassius auratus); Tench 
(Zinca vulgaris); Herrings (Clupea harengus) ; Sharp-nosed Eels 
(Anguilla vulgaris); Sand-launce (Ammodytes lancea); Gar- 
fish (Belone vulgaris); Zoophytes, Actinoloba dianthus, Tubu- 
lavia indivisa, Sertularia cupressina, Obelia geniculata, Pleuro« 
brachia pileus. 
THE additions to the Zoological Soziety’s Gardens during the 
past week include two Cretan Ibexes (Cara ficta), presented by 
Mr. T. B, Sandwith; a Macaque Monkey (AZacacus cynomol- 
gus); a Rhesus Monkey (JZ erithracus) from India, and a 
Vervet Monkey (Cercopithecus lalandiz) from South Africa, pre- 
sented by Mr. H. N. Hewett; a dark-green Snake (Zamenis 
atrovirens). and a four-lined Snake (Coluber quadrilineatus) from 
Malta, presented by Mr. C. A. Wright; a pig-tailed Monkey 
(Macacus nemestrinus) from Java ; a Malabar Parrakeet (Palae- 
ornis columboides) from South India; an olive Weaver Bird 
(Ayphantornis capensis), from South Africa, purchased; a Bra- 
zilian Tapir (young) (Zapirus terrestris) from South America ; 
a Harpy Eagle (7 /rasaétus harpyia) from South America, depo- 
sited ; four variegated Sheldrakes (Zadorna variegata), and 
four ruddy Sheldrakes (Z. vwét/a) hatched in the Gardens, 
eis 
Ge 
