~ Dec. 28, 1882] 
NATURE 
209 
AT a recent conference of members of the British Association, 
held in the rooms of the Geographical Society, a protest was 
drawn up against the proposed meeting of the Association in- 
Canada in 1884. 
AT the Conference of Head Masters the other day one of the 
subjects discussed was the teaching of geography in schools, in 
which many varied and vague opinions were expressed. There 
is in this country too great a tendency to treat geography as 
mere topography, the mere dry bones of the subject, which can 
only be clothed with flesh and endowed with life through the 
medium of the physical and natural sciences. We advise those 
teachers who desire to make the subject of geography both 
interesting and useful to make themselves acquainted with the 
programmes of German schools and universities under that 
head. 
THE Société d’Encouragement has held its annual meeting for 
1882, and awarded its gold medal to M. Gaston Plante for his 
work in the accumulation of electricity. 
IN a recent number of the St. Petersburg Academy’s Budletin 
(1882, t. xxviii.-p. 163), Herr Kortazzi reports on his observa- | 
tions of Jupiter at Nikolajus from September, 1879, to De- 
cember, 1881, giving, in four plates, forty-seven drawings of the 
planet. The time of rotation, calculated from the red spot, he 
finds to have ¢ontinually diminished, but not according to an 
ascertained law ; more recently an increase has appeared. The 
spot can hardly (he considers) be regarded as gaseous ; it is more 
likely a liquid or even solid mass forming part of the planet’s 
surface, In the former case it might be considered a large lake 
in an ocean of other liquid, which covers the southern hemi- 
sphere of Jupiter, and it might be expected that this lake, owing 
to currents flowing over the surface of the planet, would 
gradually be diffused and spread over the whole surface, or at 
least over the whole parallel. If the spot were a solid projec- 
tion from the solid body of the planet (if such a body there be), 
it would be impossible to account for the observed changes of 
position. The most plausible view is, that it is a solid floating 
mass on the surface of an ocean; but even this hypothesis the 
author considers bold, since we are not entitled to infer by 
analogy from terrestrial phenomena the nature of forms on 
Jupiter which may be very different in internal nature from the 
earth. 
A DOE having horns, which gave it the appearance of the male 
animal, was recently killed in the woods of Herr Pénsgen, near 
Aix-la-Chapelle. The longer horn was about 19 centimetres in 
length, Such acase is rare, though small rudiments of horns 
are sometimes met with in old does. A picture of the animal is 
given in the Revista Scientifico-[ndustriale, October 31. 
To illustrate the effect of expansion of the bulbs of liquid 
thermometers on the indications of those instruments, Prof, 
Govi connects a capillary tube with a bulb of ebonite, and partly 
fills it with mercury. Such a thermometer doesnot indicate 
gradual variations of temperature (within certain limits), With 
rapid variations, the mercury shows zzzverse movement (descend- 
ing with heat and rising with cold), but after some time the 
original level is restored, while the excess of heat or cold is lost. 
The phenomena are due to the almost perfect equality of the 
coefficients of cubical dilatation of ebonite and mercury, at least 
between zero and 50° or 60° C. ; and to the fact, that with 
sudden changes of temperature, the bulb responds first, and 
Leing a bar conductor, transmits slowly to the mercury. 
A RECENT report by M. de Bezerédy, Government Commis- 
sioner for cultivation of silk in Hungary, shows that the industry 
is making considerable progress in that country. In 1881 there 
were 2976 producers, who obtained 41,537  kilogrammes of 
cocoons in 426 communes, and the produce was sold for 41,816 
florins. The corresponding figures for 1880 are: 1059 pro- 
_ ducers, 10,132 kgr., 109 communes, and 11,062 florins. 
The 
Commissioner sold in Italy the produce of 1881 for 63,000 
florins, and the profit so realised allowed of the institution 
of a model school for silk-cultivation, without exceeding the 
eredit voted by the Chamber. This school has received 
three primary teachers sent by the Minister of Public Edu 
cation, and three from the Minister of Commerce; three 
more are maintained at private expense. These nine will 
acquire knowledge to be afterwards utilised in their place of 
residence. Further, a professor in the Model School of Graz 
has given public lectures on the rearing of silkworms in several 
villages, and more than 80 ker. of cocoons have been distributed 
continuously to cultivators. Lastly, 28,956 mulberry trees have 
been planted at Government expense. The report recommends 
the establishment of spinning mills in the country, and the plan- 
tation of mulberry trees on land belonging to the communes, 
and on the Government roads. The climate of certain regions 
of Hungary is highly favourable to the production of silk. 
THE Zimes Geneva correspondent states that the recent heavy 
rains, which recommenced on Friday, with, if possible, greater 
violence than before, are producing disastrous consequences in 
various parts of Switzerland. A considerable extent of ground, 
covered with vines, at Espesses, in Canton Vaud, is slipping 
rapidly towards Lake Leman, and, unless the measures taken 
by the engineers succeed in arresting its progress, must soon be 
engulfed. An earthslip has also taken place near Troistorrents, 
and another at Pully, in the same neighbourhood. Up to the 
end of November there had been 200 rainy days in that part of 
Switzerland since the beginning of the year, and only §0 days of 
sunshine, 
AN international exhibition will be held in Calcutta next De- 
cember. There will be nine principal sections: (1) fine arts ; 
(2) apparatus and application of the liberal arts ; (3) furniture 
and objects used in dwellings ; (4) clothing, including fabrics ; 
(5) products of mining industry, forestry, &c. ; (6) apparatus 
and processes in the common arts ; (7) food; (8) artisans’ work- 
manship ; and (9) children’s work, An attempt will also be 
made to hold an exhibition of live stock, agricultural and horti- 
cultural products, and of a loan collection of paintings, sculpture, 
and works of art generally. The usual gold, silver, and bronze 
medals will be awarded by special juries of experts. The 
exhibition will be opened on December 4, 1883, and will close 
on February 29, 1884. . 
M. GERMER BALLIéRE has published an edition of Father 
Secchi’s ‘‘ Les Etoiles” in two volumes, as a part of the Biblio- 
theque Scientifique Internationale. 
THE Academy of Moral and Political Sciences has announced 
the conditions of the competition opened every year for the 
prize of 200/. to be deyoted to the author of the work, which is 
to ‘faire aimer,” morality and virtue, and ‘‘faire repousser,” 
vice and egotism. 
M. DE CHANGY, the first electrician who attempted to manu- 
facture incandescent lamps 77 vacuo about twenty years ago, has 
constructed a small mocel for demonstration. The carbon is 
rectilinear, which permits a very small length to be given to it. 
It is to be lighted with bichromate of potassium elements. In 
his former attempts M. de Changy advocated very small carbons 
cut in the graphite from the retorts. Now his fibres are car- 
bonised according to the common practice. 
THE introduction of western improvements into China by Euro- 
peans is evidently a work beset with many difficulties. Some 
years ago the only railway in the country was purchased by the 
Government from the proprietors and promptly torn up; but 
now the officials themselves are laying down railroads from the 
mines in North China to the nearest canal. The telegraph also 
