276 
of evolution, in its elementary form, means nothing more than 
that everything that exists has been derived from something 
that pre-existed ; that the former is related to the latter as effect 
is to cause. And it is most pleasing evidence of the accepta- 
bility of this doctrine, that it is now heard from many pulpits in 
the land, and is a strong illustration of the instructions which are 
thence given.’ 
LETTERS have been received from Mr. Forbes dated from 
Shonga, on the Niger, at the end of October last. Shonga is a 
smal] trading-station a short distance upacreek on the right bank 
of the main stream some fifty miles below Rebba, Mr. Forbes had 
been there three weeks, and was expecting to remain about three 
more, when the steamer would call for him, and try to get up to 
Sokoto—an excursion that would occupy at least six weeks. 
After this Mr. Forbes would return direct to England. Having 
been pulled down by fever and the want of good food, Mr. 
Forbes had not been very successful in his collections at Shonga. 
His list of species of birds obtained at the date of his letter was 
only 105, and the difficulty in obtaining spirit had interfered 
with the preservation of fishes, of which many species were 
abundant, 
In a collection of birds and insects just received from Mr, 
Andrew Goldie by Messrs. Salvin and Godman are specimens of 
a fine new Bird of Paradise, obtained in the D’Entrecasteaux 
Islands, south-east of New Guinea. This species, which belongs 
to the restricted genus Paradisea, is shortly characterised by 
Messrs. Salvin and Godman in the last number of the Zéis as 
Paradisea decora, and will be fully described and figured in the 
next number of the same journal. 
THE Lancet is happy to be assured that the rumours respecting 
the infirm state of health of Prof. Owen are unfounded. The 
large circle of the professor’s friends will share with us in the 
hope that his valuable life will be prolonged many years beyond 
the seventy-nine which it has already reached. 
A GROWING want has for some time been felt by lecturers on 
biological subjects, and especially Ly those whose lot it is to 
address large audiences or classes, of a good series of lantern 
slides, which would do for biology what has been so well done 
for physical science by York’s series of slides. The ever 
increasing use of the oxyhydrogen lantern as a means of illustra- 
tion, especially with popular audiences, renders this need more 
apparent. Arrangements have, however, now been made with 
Messrs. York and Son, 87, Lancaster Road, Notting Hill, 
London, W., to issue such a series, under the supervision of 
Dr. Andrew Wilson and of Mr. Wm. Lant Carpenter, to whom, 
at 36, Craven Park, Harlesden, London, N.W., or to Dr. 
Wilson, 110, Gilmore Place, Edinburgh, any communications 
on the subject may be addressed. It is intended that, in the first 
instance, the series shall comprise some of the principal types 
and life-histories of the lower forms of plant and animal life, and 
the elementary facts of animal and vegetable physiology. It is 
believed that the knowledge that these are in preparation, may 
save the construction of diagrams by some lecturers, and may 
lead others to make valuable suggestions as to sources of illus- 
tration, &c., to one of the above named gentlemen. 
Pror. Cook, of Canterbury College, New Zealand, points 
out in the new number of the V.Z. Yournal of Science that 
while the colony is remarkably well provided with museums, it 
is entirely without a public astronomical observatory. It is a 
fact that some years ago about 250/. were collected for such an 
observatory, but it came to nothing. We heartily endorse Prof. 
Cook’s able advocacy for the foundation of an observatory in 
New Zealand, which, if perfectly equipped and directed could 
not fail to do good work. Out of a total of ninety-five observa- 
tories in the Nautical Almanac only eight are in the southern 
latitudes. 
NATURE 
| Fan. 18, 1883 
AT the Guildhall last week Dr. Siemens and Dr. Percy were 
each presented with the freedom and Livery of the Worshipful 
Company of Turners. The honour was conferred upon Dr 
Siemens in recognition of his eminence as an engineer, his suc- 
cessful application of physical science to valuable practical pur- 
poses, especially electricity and metallurgy, and his personal 
support of technical education. The new member made a 
suitable reply in returning thanks for the honour conferred 
on him, an honour which was specially precious to him, and of 
which he should ever be proud. Referring to electricity, he 
said it was a new science, the applications of which had all to be 
developed, and in the development of which wonderful results 
had been produced. In the case of Dr. Percy, the honour was 
conferred in recognition of his distinguished scientific attain- 
ments, especially in connection with metallurgy, the great value 
of his researches, and his teaching not only to turners, but to all 
workers in. metal. 
THE German Fishery Society has petitioned the Reichstag to 
make a grant of 10,000 marks, chiefly to enable Germans to 
take part in the approaching London Fishery Exhibition. It is 
desired that an official delegate should represent this Empire in 
London in connection with the enterprise. 
THE astronomical observatories of Greenwich, Kiel, Pulkova, 
Vienna, Milan, Paris, Utrecht, and Copenhagen have fixed on 
Kiel as the centre for astronomical telegrams. For an annual 
payment of five pounds each of the above-mentioned observa- 
tories wjll receive by telegraph information of every fresh astro- 
nomicgl discovery wherever made. 
DR. SCHLIEMANN is desirous of commencing a new series of 
excavations in the North-West of Athens. In the neighbour- 
hood of the old Academy was the site of the official burial- 
ground, and there were buried the ancient Athenians who had 
fallen in battle. Dr. Schliemann hopes in this spot to find the 
grave of Pericles, At a subsequent period it is his intention to 
begin fresh excavations in Crete. 
In an address on education at Birmingham on Monday, Mr. 
Mundella said : ‘‘ They were asked if they were not over educa- 
ting; he said no, and he would tell them why. Our idea of 
education was the lowest, certainly, on this side the Alps. 
Those who had the longest experience in education, those 
nations which had spent the most on it, were at this moment 
making the greatest efforts. The educational impulse throughout 
Europe was something they could hardly believe, and it was so 
because the people on the Continent had found that knowledge 
was power, not only military power, but industrial power. 
Whereas in Birmingham, last year, the expenditure on education 
was 2s. 3d@. per head, in Paris it was 12s.” 
Tue following gentlemen have kindly promised to deliver 
popular lectures, with lantern illustrations, at the Royal Victoria 
Coffee Hall, Waterloo Road, on Friday evenings at 9 o'clock. 
January 19, Mr. Wm. Lant Carpenter, B.A., F.C.S., on *‘ The 
Telephone and how to talk to a man 100 miles away.” January 
26, Mr. C. A. V. Conybeare on Pompeii. On February 2, 
instead of a lecture a magic lantern entertainment, entitled 
‘Here, Fhere, and Everywhere,”’ will be given by Major George 
Verney. February 9, Mr. E. B. Knobel (Sec. R.A.S.), ‘‘ The 
Sun and his Family, with a glance at other Suns.” 
ACCORDING to the Yournal of the Russian Physico-chemical 
Society, the priority in photographing with the electric light 
belongs to the well-known St. Petersburg photographer, M. 
Lewitski, who obtained such photographs in the winter of 1856, 
on the following oceasion:—To produce the electric light during 
the celebration of the coronation of the Czar Alexander II. at 
; Moscow, a Bunsen battery of 800 elements had been constructed. 
