) a teeeaieall 
Dec. 7, 1882] 
NATURE 
133 
systematic observations, and plans of operation for local societies, 
together with a more uniform mode of publication of the results 
of their work,” and to ‘* draw up a list of local societies which 
publish their proceedings,” Mr. H. G, Fordham (Secretary), 
Rey. Dr. Crosskey, Mr. C. E. De Rance, Sir Walter Elliot, 
Mr. Francis Galton, Mr. John Hopkinson, Mr. R. Meldola, 
Mr. A. Ramsay, Prof. W. J. Sollas, Mr. G. J. Syisons, Mr. W. 
Whitaker. 
COLONEL PREJEVALSKY, the distinguished traveller, intends 
to resume his explorations in Central Asia in the spring, and to 
make another attempt to penetrate to the capital of Thibet. He 
is now suffering slightly from weakness of sight. 
PROFESSORS have been appointed to give courses of lectures 
at the Louvre upon its collections, and the school opens this 
week. Gaulish antiquities will be expounded by M. Bertrand, 
curator of St. Germain Museum; Egyptian remains by MM. 
Pierret and Revillout ; Semitic epigraphy and archzology by 
M. Ledrain ; and ancient art by M. Ravaisscn. 
A “Projet de Mer Intérieure dans le sud de l’Algérie et de 
la Tunisse” (occupying the space usually known as ‘‘ The 
Schots” or ‘‘Les Chotts,” which is lower by several feet than 
the Mediterranean Sea), suggested by M. le Commandant 
Roudaire, was communicated some time since to the French 
Government, and was in May last laid by M. de Freycinet 
before a ‘*Commission Supérieure.” This Commission has 
examined the question under every point of view, antiquarian, 
political, practical, and commercial, and their labours are re- 
corded in a quarto volume of 546 pages, illustrated by a map. 
On July 7, 1882, the Commission made the following Report :— 
**La Commission, 
Considérant que les dépenses de 1'établissement de la mer 
intérieure seraient hors de proportion avec les résultats qu’on 
peut en espeérer, 
Est d’avis qu’il n’y a pas lieu pour le Gouvernement Frangais 
d@encourager cette enterprise.” 
IN the course of the coming winter Prof. Emil Selenka hopes 
to publish a Monograph of the Sipunculacea, in which he will 
be assisted by Doctors J. G. de Man and C, Biilow. The volume 
will contain the descriptions of 81 distinct species placed in 10 
genera. Some of the species are new. The Monograph will 
form vol. iv. of Semper’s ‘* Reisen im Archipel der Philippinen,” 
and will contain the forms collected by Semper ; but in order to 
make it a more or less complete revision of the group, Dr. 
Selenka also describes in it the species collected at the Mauritius 
by Dr. Mobius, those in the Berlin Museum throuyzh the good- 
ness of Prof. Peters (this collection contains the types of Grube), 
those from Stuttgart containing Dr, Klunzinger’s Red Sca col- 
lection (through Dr. Krauss), those from the British Museum 
(through Dr, Giinther), and those from Gottingen, the types of 
Keferstein (through Dr. Ehlers). In addition. Dr. Selenka has 
been indebted for specimens to the liberality of Dr. von Martens, 
Dr. Hilgendorff, Dr, Krapelin, and Dr. Lang. Dr. Groeffe was 
able to forward living examples of Asfidosiphon miilleri. Besides 
a general introduction and description of the genera and species, 
there will be dissertations on the ten acular and blood systems, 
while special care has been taken about the subjects of the geo- 
graphical distribution, anatomic:] relations, and synonymy of 
the species. The volume will be accompanied by 15 plates with 
more than 200 partly coloured drawings. 
SINCE the commencement of the present Session the Society 
of Arts meeting room has been lighted by means of electricity. 
A Siemens dynamo is employed driven by an 8 horse-power 
Crossley gas engine. Nearly the whole cost of these was 
defrayed by subscriptions from a few past and present members 
of the Society’s Council. The lamps used are those of Edison, 
and there are at present fifty of them in the room. ‘The chan- 
deliers now in use have been lent by Messrs. Verity, who are 
constructing chandeliers to be permanently fitted, now that the 
number of lights to be used has been decided upon. Temporary 
fittings have been put up in the council room, and the result 
having been proved satisfactory, it is in contemplation to arrange 
for the lighting by electricity of this and other parts of the 
building. 
AN unusually large number of seals have made their appear- 
ance in the Baltic, a few miles north of the Samland coast, 
Should these animals make that spot their permanent residence, 
the salmon fisheries would be ina sad plight. On the Pomeranian 
coast the damage to salmon fisheries done by seals is very con- 
siderable. 
No less than thirty-four communes in the district of Chambery 
(Savoie) are now infected by Phylloxera, 
A ComMissIoN has been appointed by the Prefect of the 
Seine to reconsider the disposal of the Paris sewage. A depu- 
tation will be sent, at the expense of the Municipal Council, to 
Brussels, Antwerp, Amsterdam, Berlin, and London to report 
on the matter. 
A BRUSSELS paper, Z’Athenaum Belge, reports some interest- 
ing observations made by M. W. Spring regarding the seat and 
origin cf thunderstorms. During the summer 1881 M. Spring 
ascended the Schnzhorn in the Bernese Oberland during a 
thunderstorm. He then noticed that for a considerable time no 
rain fell, but that a vivid formation of hail took place. From 
time to time the hail fell very much thicker, and in such moments 
came a bright fla-h of lightning followed by a tremendous clap 
ofthunder. After a pause rain-drops mixed with the hail. The 
same observations were made on the summit of S. Giacomo, 
where he again observed a thunderstorm. He concludes from 
his observations that the actual seat of thunderstorms, 2.2. of the 
aérial electricity is not in moist regions of the atmosphere but in 
the dry and cold region of hail. 
Pror, HEULE, the eminent anatomist, has been elected, in 
the place of the late Prof. Wohler, as permanent secretary of the 
Royal Academy of Sciences at Gottingen. 
News from Champagne states that a new enemy to the 
vine has made his appearance in the shape of a minute fungus, 2 
kind of Peronosporve, the dangers of which are said to be far 
more serious even than those of Phylloxera, 
Dr. C. W. SIEMENS, F.R.S., has consented to distribute the 
prizes and certificates gained by the successful candidates of the 
metropolitan centres at the recent technological examinations, as. 
well as by the students of the City and Guilds of London Tech- 
nical College, Finsbury, and of the City and Guilds of London 
Technical Art School, Kennington. The distribution will take 
place on Thursday evening, December 14, at 7 o’clock, at Gold- 
smiths’ Hall, Foster Lane, E.C. 
TELEGRAMS from General Nansouty to Admiral Mouchez 
announce that an avalanche of fresh fallen snow had swept away 
five labourers who were trying to carry victuals to the Pic du 
Midi for MM. Henry, who are at that place to observe the transit 
of Venus. Two of these poor people lost their lives. 
THE additions to the Zoological Society’s Gardens during the 
past week include a Bonnet Monkey (M@acacus rvadiatus) from 
India, presented by Mr. W. Nash; a Capybara (Ajdrocherus 
capybara) from Venezuela, presented by Mrs. R. H. Fitz- 
Simons; a European Scops Owl (Scofs git), European, 
deposited. 
