322 
NA TORE 
[/ed. 1, 1883 
odes in the College lecture-room and escapes to the 
fascinating microscopes and dissecting troughs of Prof. 
Moseley, or the verniers and milligram-weighing pans of 
Prof. Clifton, is marked out for patronage. And not only 
indeed are Oxford and Cambridge students of science 
thus benefited. 
The courses of instruction in scientific subjects given 
at the London Colleges, University and King’s, are pre- 
eminently such as will enable a candidate to do justice to 
his abilities in this examination. The examination is 
practical, and no mere smattering of a subject will obtain 
any marks for a candidate. Hence the “‘crammers’’ are 
at a disadvantage, and the teachers in duly-organised and 
properly-furnished laboratories, are rightly encouraged in 
their efforts to carry on thorough courses of instruction. It 
is indeed, a matter for satisfaction that hitherto the 
various cramming establishments where young men are 
“prepared ”’ for public examinations have failed to enable 
any candidate to gain a success in any branch of natural 
science in these higher competitive examinations, those 
candidates who have scored marks in natural science 
having been University students. We subjoin an extract 
from the Regulations issued by the Civil Service Com- 
mission, to the secretary of which body application for 
further information should be made. 
1. The limits of age for these situations are 18 and 24, 
and candidates must be of the prescribed age on the first 
day of the competitive examination. 
2. At the competitive examinations exercises will be 
set in the following subjects only ; the maximum of marks 
for each subject being fixed as follows, viz. :— 
. a Marks, 
English Composition (including Précis-writing)... ... 500 
History of England—including that of the Laws and 
Constitutions evisu) cc ens er ie rn 500 
English Language and Literature oh!” Eo 500 
Language, Literature, and History of Greece 750 
” ” 2” Rome oo 750 
“5 5A 40 Erance! eyes 7.5 
” ” a Germany 375 
on ” ” Italy 375 
Mathematics (pure and mixed) ... ... .. ... 1250 
Natural Science: that is, (1) Chemistry, including 
Heat ; (2) Electricity and Magnetism ; (3) Geology 
and Mineralogy; (4) Zoology ; (5) Botany .-. 1000 
*.* The total (1000) marks may be obtained by ade- 
quate proficiency in any two or more of the five 
branches of science included under this head. 
Moral Sciences: that is, Logic, Mental and Moral 
Eilosophys ser eee es 500 
Jurisprudence... .. 375 
Political Economy ... > [enc ens 75 
Candidates will be at liberty to offer themselves for 
examination in any or all of these subjects. No subjects 
are obligatory. 
No candidate will be allowed any marks in respect of 
any subject of examination unless he shall be considered 
to possess a competent knowledge of that subject. 
NOTES 
A TELEGRAM, dated December 21, has been received by the 
Finnish Academy of Sciences from Prof, S. Lemstrom, chief of 
the Finnish Meteorological Observatory at Sodankyla. He 
states that, having placed a galvanic battery with conductors 
covering an area of 900 square metres on the hill of Oratunturi, 
he found the cone to be generally surrounded by a halo, yellow- 
white in colour, which faintly but perfectly yields the spectrum 
of the aurora borealis. This, he states, furnishes a direct proof 
of the electrical nature of the aurora, and opens a new field in 
the study of the physical condition of the earth. A further 
telegram, dated Sodankyla, January 5, has been received, in 
which Prof. Lemstrom states that experiments with the aurora 
borealis made December 29, in Enare, near Kultala, on the 
hill of Pietarintunturi, confirm the results of those at Ora- 
tunturi, On that date a straight beam of aurora was seen over 
the galvanic apparatus. It also appears from the magnetic 
observations that the terrestrial current ceases below the aurora 
arc, while the atmospheric current rapidly increases, but depends 
on the area of the galvanic apparatus to which it seems to be 
proportional. The Professor regrets that with the means at his 
disposal further experiments cannot be made, and that he 
intended, on the 13th inst., to withdraw the apparatus. 
THE Report of the Royal Gardens, Kew, for 1881, shows 
what a large amount of varied and highly useful work is got 
through in the space of a year at that great national esta- 
blishment ; perhaps zmferial would be more accurate than 
national, for it is really the botanical and horticultural centre of 
the whole empire, One important feature is the lessons given 
during the year to the young gardeners in the science of these 
subjects ; this will certainly tend to secure that the work of the 
gardens throughout are conducted with intelligence and on a 
sound scientific basis. The Report contains extracts from the 
reports of various Colonial curators, on the progress of experi- 
ment in the culture of certain important plants, such as Cin- 
chona and india-rubber. Mr. Jamieson reports from the 
Nilgiris that he has found the Cape Coast and Liberian coffee- 
plants to be really two varieties. Queensland may yet add 
coffee to its other industries, a vastly important addition, The 
Report contains an illustration of Cinchona Ledgeriana, Moens. 
IN preparation for the International Fisheries Exhibition 
there is a large number of artificers now employed in erecting 
and completing enormous buildings for the reception of the 
exhibits on the ground known as the Royal Horticultural 
Gardens, South Kensington. Some four or five immense struc- 
tures have been already erected, two standing side by side on 
the western side of the gardens—one being about 180 yards, the 
other some 140 yards in length, with a width of about 20 yards, 
and of great height and capacity. Arched roofs contain in the 
centre, running the whole length of the building, a wide breadth 
of glass, which throws below as ample an amount of light as 
can be desired. Other similar buildings are in the course of 
completion at the north-eastern corner of the gardens, close to 
the Albert Hall ; and when the capacity of all these structures is 
considered, some estimate can be formed of the enormous pro- 
portions the International Exhibition will assume. The arcade 
at the south-western side of the gardens, well known for the 
horticultural and other expositions which the Royal Horticultural 
Society has held in it, is being devoted to the purposes of an 
aquarium, which will socn be completed, and in which both 
fre h-water and sea fish will be exhibited. The spacious long 
arcade affords ample room for all the tanks that may be required, 
and it is expected that the aquarium will form one of the most 
attractive features of the exhibition. Arrangements will be made 
to provide easy access from one building to another, and such 
portions of the gardens as remain uncovered by the necessary 
structures will serve as an agreeable promenade. All the works 
are so forward that everything will be ready in good time for 
the reception of the exhibits of our own and of foreign 
countries, 
CONSIDERABLE success has attended the Sunday Evening 
Association, its object being to bring together all persons who, 
estimating highly the elevating influence of music, the sister arts, 
literature and science, desire, by means of meetings on Sunday 
evenings, to see them more fully identified with the religious life 
of the people. The president is Dr. Geo. J. Romanes, F.R.S. 
The fifth series of meetings will be concluded next Sunday with 
a lecture by Dr. W. B. Carpenter, F.R.S., C.B., on ‘‘ Niagara.” 
A sixth series will be commenced on Sunday, February 11, and 
will include lectures by Dr. G. J. Romanes, F.R.S., on ‘‘Star 
