334 
XVII., Systematic and Economic Botany. (c) Subjects XVI. 
and XVII. will be treated as perfectly new subjects, except that 
all persons will be qualified to earn payments on results in those 
subjects who are now qualified in Subject XV., Zoology, and 
Subject XVL, Vegetable Anatomy and Physiology, and also 
all those persons who have obtained a class at the courses in 
Biology and Botany respectively for teachers at South Kensing- 
ton. (d) As the elementary stage of Subjects XVI. and XVIL. 
is the same, payments can only be made on account of a pupt!’s 
success in one or the other, and not in both. Payments for the 
advanced stage and for honours can be obtained in both. 
THE following are the regulations for exhibiting Recent 
Scientific Inventions and Discoveries of all Kinds, at,the Inter- 
national Exhibition of 1874 :—Division III. Recent Scientific 
Inventions and Discoveries will consist of objects the excel- 
lence and novelty of which are considered by the Committee of 
Selection to be so great as to render it undesirable that their 
introduction to the public should he delayed until the proper 
year for the exhibition of their Classes of Manufacture in Di- 
vision II. No objects will be admitted into Division III. which 
have been shown in previous International Exhibitions of this 
series, unless very important alterations or improvements have 
been added to them since the date of their previous exhibition. 
The latest day appointed for receiving objects in this Division is 
Wednesday, March 11, 1874. 
Tue Birmingham Natural History and Microscopical Society 
propose to undertake a novel and commendable enterprise in 
the shape of a marine excursion. The sub-committee appointed 
to consider the practicability of the proposal are of the opinion 
that if such an excursion be properly carried out, it cannot fail 
to be productive of interest and enjoyment to the members. 
Taking all matters into consideration, the sub-committee are of 
opinion that the South Coast of Devon is the most favourable 
for the proposed excursion ; and if Teignmouth be selected as 
headquarters, it will allow of dredging and shore collecting in 
the vicinity, and in Tor Bay, and off Berry Head, as well as 
botanical and geological excursions in the neighbourhood, and 
(if time permits) visits to the wilds of Dartmoor and the beautiful 
and picturesque scenery of the River Dart, Holne Chase, Lust- 
leigh Cleave, Becky Falls, &c. It is proposed that the excur- 
sions commence on Monday, September 1, which would allow 
six clear days dredging in the neap tides after the August new 
moon, and some shore collecting during the September full 
moon, A first-class yacht, with two men and a boat, can be 
hired for a very moderate sum, and the Midland Railway Com- 
pany offer return tickets at very moderate rates with the privilege 
of staying in Devonshire for 17 days. Various members have 
undertaken to superintend the dredging, botanical, microscopical, 
and geological work, and altogether the arrangements proposed 
are very complete and seem likely to make the excursion a suc- 
cess. We hope it will prove so, and that the example of the 
enterprising Birmingham Society will be followed by others, 
either singly or in combination. Inquiries should be addressed 
to Mr. W. G. Blatch, Hon. Secretary, Green Lane, Small 
Heath, Birmingham. 
Tue Brighton and Sussex Natural History Society has deter- 
mined to collect facts in connection with the Natural History of 
Sussex, for the purpose of verifying existing Lists, and prepar- 
ing (with a view to ultimate publication) an authentic systematic 
record of tke land and marine fauna and flora of the county. 
The Society will be much obliged to all who can render assist- 
ance in any or all of the following ways :—(1) By forwarding to 
the Society lists of such species as may have fallen under one’s 
own personal notice ; (2) by contributing facts relating to such 
points as apffrvoximate locality (in order to prevent the extir- 
pation of rare species, the approximate, and not the exact, 
NATURE 
pro raté amongst the landowners. 
= > <r 
[Aug. 21, 187 
locality is asked for); whether rare, local, or common; acci- 
dental variations ; apparent extinction ani re-appearance ; times 
of appearance ; any noteworthy matters connected with the life 
history of species ; and (3) by sending specimens to be deposited 
in the Brighton Free Museum or other Museums in the county, 
Communications will be thankfully received by Mr. R. Glaisyer, 
Honorary Curator, Dispensary, Queen’s Road, Brighton ; or by 
T. W. Wonfor, and Jno. Colbatch Onions, Hon. Secs, 
SCHIAPPARFLLI has recently published two very interesting 
memoirs, the one an elaborate historical monograph on “The 
Precursors of Copernicus,” and the other on “ Falling Stars.” 
SicNor Aucusto RiIGuI, Demonstrator of Physics in the 
University of Bologna, has published a very interesting memoir, — 
Sul Principio di Volta (Bologna: Tipi Gamberini e Parmeg- 
giani, 1873). In this he discusses at great length Volta’s theory 
of electrical excitation. A number of original experiments are 
given, and photographs of a new apparatus employed for them, 
ENGINEERS have been busy on the estate of Mr. W. Gilford, 
at Dalby-on-the- Wold, aad other places in Leicestershire, inves- 
ligating the allegation that the Midland coal measures extend in 
an almost direct line from near Leicester to Melton Mowbray, 
and through the Vale of Belvoir, embracing an area of many 
square miles. As the reports made are of a highly favourable 
character, and as the importance of having a coal-field close to 
the town of Leicester can scarcely be over-estimated, it is pro- 
posed to bore to a depth of 1,000 ft., and to divide the expense 
Several of those most inte- 
rested have signified their desire to have the problem solved in 
the only practical manner. Mr. Harrison, of the Mining School, 
Nottingham, is of opinion that ‘‘coal exists under East Notts 
and East Leicestershire, there being an anticlinal fault throwing 
out all the measures in the western part of Notts, and throwing 
them all in on the eastern side. From this and other considera- 
tions” he is convinced ‘‘that there isan immense coal-field 
stretching along the county of Nottingham, by Bingham, through 
the Vale of Belvoir, as far as Melton Mowbray, and will be 
found at a workable depth.” ! 
AT the last monthly meeting of the council of the Victoria 
Institute, it was announced that seventy-nine new members had 
joined during the past seven months. It was also reported that 
in accordance with a resolution passed at the previous meeting 
the Institute had joined in the application made to the Goyern- 
ment for adequate aid to the expeditions to observe the transit 
of Venus, more especially those so strongly urged by the Green- 
wich board. ; 
THE valuable library of Conchological and other Natural His- 
tory books belonging to the late Mr. Thomas Norris, of Preston, 
was sold by auction on July 30, by Mr. J. C. Stevens, for 3227. 
Mr. Stevens also sold, on Aug. 7, the library of the late D, H. 
Beaumont Leeson, F.R.S., of Bonchurch, for 58o/, ' 
THE recent earthquake in South America extended, it is 
stated, over 30,000 square miles. 
THE following is from the Gardener's Chronicle :—** We learn 
that Baron von Mueller is about to retire from the directorship 
of the Botanic Garden, Melbourne. On scientific grounds this 
is much to be regretted, for no one has done so much as the 
Baron to forward the interests of Botanical Science and practical 
applications in Australia as he has done. We cannot profess to 
judge the circumstances which may have led to this step ; but if, 
as is alleged in some of the Melbourne papers, ‘the gardens are 
henceforth required more as an ornamental adjunct to the Vice- 
regal domain than as the centre of Botanical Science and experi- 
ment in Australia,’ then undoubtedly the authorities manifest an 
ignorance of the proper functions of a botanic garden which is; 
