130 
NATURE 
[Fune 12, 1843 
THERE will be an election at Magdalen College, Oxford, in 
October next, to not less than six Demyships and one Exhibition. 
Of the Demyships, one at least will be mathematical, one at least 
in Natural Science, atid the rest classical, The Exhibition will 
be in Natural Science. Thestipend of thé Demyships is 957. per 
annum, and of the Exhibition 752, inclusive of all allowances ; 
and they are tenable for five years, provided that the holder does 
not acéept any appointment which in the judgment of the electors 
will interfere with the completion of his University studies. The 
examination for the Mathematical and Natural Science Demyships 
will be held in common with Merton College, at the same time 
and with the Same papers. Each candidate will be considered 
as standing in the first place at the College at which he has put 
down his nams, and, unless he shall give notice to the contrary, 
will be regarded as standing at the other College also. In 
conducting the Examination for Magdalen College Demy- 
ships in Natutal Science, questions will be put relating to 
General Physics, to Chemistry, and to Biology, including 
Human and Comparative Anatomy and Physiology, with the 
principles of the classification and distribution of Plants and 
Animals; but a clear and exact knowledge of the principies of 
any one of the above-mentioned Sciences will be preferred to a 
more general and Jess accurate acquaintance with more than one. 
The Examination in Biology and Chemistry will be partly prac- 
tical, if necessary. Candidates for Demyships in Natural 
Science and Mathematics have also to satisfy the Electors of 
their ability to pass the ordinary Classical Examinations required 
by the University. Very superior excellence, however, in 
Natural Science or Mathematics will be allowed to compensate 
for any deficiency which Candidates may Show in thé Classical 
part of the Examination, provided that the Candidate, if elected, 
undertake to make up this deficiency at a subsequent period. 
The next Examination will commence on Tuesday, October 7, 
at 9 A.M. Particulars relating to the examinations in the vatious 
subjects may be obtained by applying to the senior tutor. 
THERE will be an election at Merton College, Oxford, in 
October next, to three Postmasterships, value 80/. per annum, 
tenable for five years, of so long as thé holder does not accept 
aty appointment incompatible with the full putsuance of his 
University studies. One of these Postmasterships will be 
awarded for proficiency in Mathematics, two for proficiency in 
Physical Science; In the examination for the Mathematical 
Postmastership, papers will be set in Algebra, Pure Geometry; 
Trigonometry, Theory of Equations, and Analytical Geometry 
of two dimensions. Candidates for this Postmastership must 
not have exceeded four terms of University standing. There is 
no limit of age. In the examination for the Physical Science 
Postmasterships, papers will be set in Chemistry, Physics, and 
Biology ; and an opportunity will be given of showing a know- 
ledge of practical work in Chemistry atid Biology. The Post- 
masterships will be given either for special excellence in one sub- 
ject, or for €xcéllence in two of the three subjects ; but no can- 
didate will be examined in more thati two subjects. A paper 
will be set ia Elementary Algebra and Geometry, which, cater?s 
paribus, will be of weight in the election to the Postmasterships. 
Candidates for thesé¢ Postmasterships mtist not have exceeded 
six Terms of Univétsity standing. There is no limit of age. 
The examination will cofiiineficé on Tuesday, October 7, at 9 
A.M., iti Merton Collegé Hall. Candidatés are required to call 
on the Warde on thé Sathe day BétwWeéfi 4 ahd 5 p.m. Thé 
examination will be held in common with Magdalen College at 
the sate tite, and with the Same papers. Each candidate will 
be considered as standing, in the first instance, at the College at 
which he has put down his name, and, unless he has given notice 
to the contrary, will be regarded as standing at the other College 
also, 
From the report on the progress and conditiofi 6f thé Royal 
Gardens at Kew during the year 1872, just published by Dr. 
Hooker, it appears that the number of visitors to the gardens 
shows an increase of 6,000 over that in 1871, very nearly half 
the number being Sunday visitors. Considerable additions and 
improvements have been made during the year in various paits 
of the gardens; the Pinetum now numbers about 1,200 species 
of coniferous plants, including almost very species that can be 
grown out of doors in this climate. Seeds and living plants 
have been received from various parts of the world, and a large 
number of parcels serit off to our colonies and elsewhere. The 
acquisitions to the Museums have been considérable, aiid tho8e to 
the Herbarium quite excéptional in magnitude and importance, 
including an extremely valuable presentation by the Rev. C. 
New of plants collected on the Alpine zone of Kilima-njaro, the 
only hitherto visited snow-clad mountain in Equatorial Africa ; 
2,000 Brazilian plants from M, Glaziou, Director of the Botanic 
Gardens at Rio de Janeiro; and a beautiful collection of Ap- 
palachian inosses from Prof. Asa Gray of Cattibridge, U.S. 
Among the publications issued during the last yeat either 
officially or by private botanists working at Kew, are thé com- 
mencement of the second volume of Betitham and Hooker's 
“ Genera Plantarum,” the sixth volume of the ' Flora Austra- 
liensis,” by Mr. Bentham; the first part of the * Flora of 
British India,” by Dr. Hooker; several parts of Martius’s ee F lora 
Brasiliensis ;”? Col. Grant’s account of the plants collected by 
Capt: Speké and himself in Central Africa, Ke: 
SPECIAL certificates of proficiency have been taken at the 
recent examination for women of the University of London in. 
the following scientific branches :—in Mathematics, by Miss 
Black and Miss Orme ; in Chemistry and Natural Philosophy, by. 
Miss Eaton and Miss Wood; in Human Physiology, by Miss 
Kilgour of the Ladies’ College, Cheltenham, the first titié this 
branch has been taken by a lady: and in Political Keonomy by 
Miss Lord ahd Miss Orme: 
Mr. GwyN Jerrreys is about to join the Challenger at 
Madeira for a cruise to the Caharies, Cape de Verde Islaiids, 
and Bahia. 
M. P. J. VAN BeNevEN describes, in the Bulletin of the 
Belgian Academy of Sciences, a fossil bird foundin the Rupélian 
clay of Waes, in all respects similar to the existing Anas 
Marila, 
Last Saturday appeared the first number of a new French 
Scientific periodical named Za Nature. The articles are all 
high-class, and the illustrations ate plentiful and well executed: 
Dr. Leone LEvI, the Consul-General for Paraguay, is arrdng: 
ing a scientific comthissiod to inquire into the resources of 
Pardguay. The commission is to consist of botanical, agti= 
ctilttial, g@dlogical, iineralogital) and geographical siirveyors. 
It i8 tmndéistood that thé Colsil-General las in view to Appoint 
a French botanist, of great réputation, and a Scotth agticul- 
turist, but has madé no drrdigement for the géologist and 
geographer. Dk. Levi would be glad to givé information to 
anybody who might be willing to offer liis co-operation in such a 
scientific expedition. 
Lertérs froii Sydney atinoiince the afrival there of the 
Italian frigate, Vellore Fisani, with the naturalist D’Albertis on 
board, he having been forced to leave New Guinea by repeated 
attacks of fever. His companion, Odoardo Beccari, well known 
for the valuable collections he madé between 1865 and 1868 in 
Borneo, atid subsequently i N.E. Afiicd, 4nd Which ate now 
iti the civic inugeum of Gettoay Has remained in New Guinea. 
Signor D’Albertis is, coniing oyefland to Londoii, and will Bag 
with him a large collection of Zool8@leal specimens! “ogee 
