NATURE 
rene as the Pyrenees in the palolithic “age, and 
ue or Iberic population ranged as far north as the 
yton, Essex,” by Mr. C. G. Talmage, contains well-arranged 
bles of double star observations, followed by copious notes 
on the observations, and occultations, and phenomena of 
_Jupiter’s satellites. Mr. Barclay thinks it so advisable to 
reduce and print observations at short intervals, that he has 
determined, wisely we think, to adopt the plan without waiting 
for a number to form a large volume. 
AMONG Messrs. Smith, Elder and Co.’s announcements of 
forthcoming works, we observe the following :—A translation 
of Prof. ‘‘ Hermann’s Elements of Physiology,” by Dr. Arthur 
- Gamgee; and “A Text Book of Pathological Anatomy,” by 
_ John Wyllie, M.D., Lecturer on General Pathology at the 
- School of Medicine, Surgeons’ Hall, Edinburgh. 
AMONG Mr. Robert Hardwicke’s autumn announcements we 
notice the following scjentific books—‘‘ Man and Apes:” an 
Exposition of Structural Resemblances and Differences bearing 
upon questions of affinity and origin, by St. George Mivart, 
_ F.R.S. This work will be published simultaneously in America 
and England. ‘* Waste Products and Undeveloped Substances :” 
a synopsis of progress during the last quarter of a century at 
home and abroad, by P. L. Simmonds, the editor of the 
“Journal of Applied Science.” ‘‘ Where there’s a Will there’s 
a Way ; or, Science in the Cottage,” by James Cash ; being an 
account of the labours and lives of some north-country botanists 
in humble life. ‘The British Hepatica,” with descriptions by 
Dr. Carrington, and drawings by J. E. Sowerby. This will be 
issued in twelve monthly parts. ‘‘ Hooker’s Synopsis Filicum,” 
a new edition brought up to the present time by J. G. Baker, 
Royal Herbarium, Kew. ‘‘ On Mounting Microscopic Objects,” 
by Thomas Davies. A new edition, much enlarged, by John 
Matthews, M.D., F.R.M.S. This last-named work is nearly 
ready for publication. 
THE library of the Manchester Athenzeum was destroyed by. 
fire on Sept. 24. The damage, estimated at 10,000/., is said to 
be wholly covered by insurance. 
WE have received the programme of the Edinburgh Vete- 
rinary College. We hope that, under the superintendence of the 
new Principal, Prof. Fearnley, this important institution will 
become more prosperous than it has ever been, and that the 
principles of the veterinary art will be taught in a thoroughly 
scientific way. That this is likely to be the case may be seen 
from the following list of professors :—Dr. Balfour, F.R.S., 
Dr. Murie, Mr. Dewar, F.R.S.E., Dr. Young, and Mr, Wally, 
Tue following are some ofthe most important recent additions 
to the'Brighton Aquarium :—2 Octopus (O. wx/garis) ; 1 Group 
of Barnacles (Zefas /7illt’) ; 30 Sea-horses (Hippocampus ramu- 
Tosus) ; 5 African Crocodiles ; 2 Alligator Terrapins (C/e/yara 
__ serpentina) ; 1 Edible Turtle (Chelonia midas) ; 1 Sturgeon (Aci 
penser sturio). 
Tue additions to the Zoological Society’s Gardens during the 
past week include a Brown Capuchin (Cebus /atuellus) from 
Guiana, and two Bonnet Monkeys (Macacus radiatus) from 
India, presented by Lord Louth; two Crested Ground Para- 
keets ( Calopsitta nove-hollandia) from Australia, presented by 
Miss L. E. Lyon, and two hatched ; four Alpacas (Lama pacos), 
two Llamas (Zama feruana) from Peru, a Vicuna (Lama 
vicugna) from South America; a ‘Cuvier’s Gazelle (Gaze//a 
cuvieri) from Muscat ; a Sultry Hermipode (Ortyxelos metffreni) 
from West Africa; a Southern Mynah (Acridotheres mahrat- 
tensis) from §, India, deposited; a Philantomba Antelope 
Cephalophus maxwellt) from Sierra Leone, received in exchange. 
MOLECULAR EVOLUTION 
AT quite uncertain times and places 
The atoms left their heavenly path, 
And by fortuitous embraces 
Engendered all that being hath, 
And though they seem to cling together 
And form “associations ” here, 
Yet, Jate or soon, they burst their tether, 
And through the depths of space career. 
So we, who sat, oppressed with Science, 
As British Asses, wise and grave, 
Are now transformed to fierce Red Lions, 
As round our prey we ramp and rave. 
Thus by a swift metamorphosis, 
Wisdom turns wit, and Science joke ; 
Nonsense is incense to our noses, 
For when Red Lions speak they smoke, 
Hail, Nonsense! dry nurse of Red Lions, * 
From thee the wise their wisdom learn, 
From thee they cull those truths of science 
Which into thee again they turn. 
What combinations of ideas 
Nonsense alone can wisely form, 
What sage has half the power that she has 
_ To take the towers of Truth by storm ? 
Yield, then, ye rules of rigid reason ! 
Dissolve, thou too, too solid sense ! 
Melt into nonsense for a season, 
Then in some higher form condense. 
Soon, ah ! too soon, the chilly morning 
This flow of soul will crystallise, 
And those who nonsense now are scorning 
May learn too late where wisdom lies, 
THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION 
WE are glad to say that the attendance at the Brad- 
ford Meeting was considerably larger than was at 
first stated. The total number of persons who attencel 
the meeting Is 1,983, and the total amount received, 
2,102/, 
The following is a list of the grants of money 
appropriated to scientific purposes by the General 
Committee :— 
Mathematics and Physics Ae 
Cayley, Prof.—Mathematical Tables tS “ie X00! “Ofd 
Cayley, Prof.—Printing Mathematical Tables ... 100 0 0 
Glaisher, Mr. J.—Efficacy of Lightning Conductors 
(renewed) ... a 50 0 Oo 
Balfour Stewart, Prof. ~ Mauritius Observatory “=e 100 OG 
Balfour Stewart, Prof—Magnelism of Iron cae 2 ao TED 
Brooke, Mr. C.—British Rainfall es rea 5 1GOL| Go 
Glaisher, Mr. J.—Luminous Meteors 6 zon” 30) ORIG 
Tait, Prof.—Thermo- Electricity (renewed) — 50 0 Oo 
Williamson, Prof. A. hs Baa be Siemens’ 5 Byro- 
meter (renewed)... 30 9 O 
Ginn 
Brown, Prof. Crum.—High temperature of Bodies 
(partly renewed)... jo 0 0 
Williamson, Prof. A. W. —Records of the Progress 
of Chemistry 100 0 O 
Gladstone, Dr. —Chemical Constitution and Optical 
Properties of Essential Oils wet 10 0 O 
Armstrong, Dr.—Ison.cric Cresols and their Deri- 
vatives sae ses as0 iG HS vey QA OL LO 
Carried forward £780 0 © 
* “VLeonum arida nutrix.” 
