May 25, 1871] 

and following years will be confined, and also those subjects 
which are suitable for the questions of the first six papers in the 
examination, as follows:—(1) Chemistry and certain other 
branches of Physic ; (2) Mineralogy ; (3) Geology; (4) Botany, 
Comparative Anatomy, Physiology, and Zoology, including (A) 
Morphology ; (B) Physiology ; and (C) Distribution. 
THE Slade Professorship of the Fine Arts referred to in our 
last number has been established in connection with University 
College, London. 
THE University of London has decided on the appointment of 
two assistant examiners in Experimental Philosophy at an annual 
salary of 25, each; and a salary of 30/. in place of 25/. to each 
of the assistant,examiners in Chemistry ; as it is thought expedient 
to charge them with the superintendence of the practical and 
laboratory examinations at the preliminary scientific and first 
M.B. examinations. 
Dr. C. R. A. WriGHT has been appointed Lecturer on 
Chemistry and Practical Chemistry at St. Mary’s Hospital, vice 
Dr. Russell, who is now the Professor of Chemistry at St. 
Bartholomew’s Hospital. 
A LECTURE was delivered on May 17 by Dr. W. B. Carpenter, 
F.R.S., in the Comparative Anatomy Lecture Room of the New 
Museum, Cambridge, on the results of the Deep Sea Explora- 
tions during the last summer. After a brief 7ésezé of the results 
of the deep-sea dredging up to the end of 1869, the lecturer gave 
an account of the configuration of the Mediterranean basin, of 
the singular difference in the laws of temperature at various 
depths in itand in the neighbouring Atlantic, of the proof of an 
outward current flowing beneath the surface in-current in the 
Straits of Gibraltar, of the additional proof of a great oceanic 
circulation between the waters of Polar and Equatorial regions, 
which he considered to have a far greater effect on climate than 
the Gulf Stream, and upon the fauna of the deeper parts of the 
Lusitanian seas, concluding with some remarks upon the com- 
paratively azoic condition of the Mediterranean basin and the 
bearing of this upon some geological questions. The lecture 
was most attentively listened to by a crowded audience, and at 
the conclusion a vote of thanks, proposed by the Vice-Chancellor 
and seconded by the venerable Prof. Sedgewick, was carried by 
acclamation. 
THE number of the members of the French Academy of 
Sciences is fast diminishing. The late Sir John Herschel was a 
foreign associate member, which is a very rare honour, as there 
can only be five such members created. Profs. Faraday and 
Graham were amongst the foreign associates. 
THE distinguished members of the medical profession have 
mostly deserted Paris, although there are many thousand sick and 
wounded to be taken care of within the walls of the unhappy 
city. But there are also sick and wounded by scores of thousands 
outside. Amongst the distinguished practitioners who are in 
Paris we see the names of M. Broca, the celebrated anthropo- 
logist, Lassergue, Maison Neuve, and Axenfeld. But ‘although 
some professors of the Ecole de Médecine are to be found 
amongst these medical gentlemen, the School of Medicine is 
closed. It appears, however, that an irregular course of lectures 
is kept up open at Hospital Beaujon, which hospital does not 
belong to the Government. 
M. Eiske RecLus, the newly-appointed director of the 
National Library, asked from his subordinates to give their ad- 
hesion to the Commune. Almost everyone refused, and were 
instantly dismissed. 
Tue Annual Conversazione given by the President of the In- 
stitution of Civil Engineers will be held on Tuesday evening, 
June 6th. A collection of Models of Engineering Construction, 
NATURE 

73 
a , 
of small and light pieces of Mechanism, and of Scientific In 
struments, as well as of Works of Art, by ancient and modem 
masters of eminence, depicting some engineering work, object, 
or matter of interest, as ‘‘a bridge, lighthouse, aqueduct, or 
harbour, &c., set in its appropriate landscape,” will be exhibited. 
THE following Excursions have been arranged by the Geolo- 
gists’ Association for the ensuing month :—Excursion to Yeovil : 
Monday, May 29, and three following days, under the leadership 
of Prof. Buckman and Mr. Lobley, including the following points 
of interest : Yeovil Junction (Fine Section of Upper Lias Sands) ; 
Closeworth (Rectory), inspection of large collection of Mesozoic 
fossils, belonging to Rev. E. Bower, M.A.; Babylon Hill 
(Inferior Oolite) ; Halfway House (Inferior Oolite, very fossili- 
ferous) ; Sherborne (Inferior Oolite, very fossiliferous) ; Bradford 
Abbas (Inferior Oolite) ; inspection of Prof. Buckman’s col- 
lection ; Handford Hill (Upper Lias Sands) ; Ham Hill (Inferior 
Oolite, very large quarries, ancient encampment) ; South Pether- 
ton (Middle and Upper Lias, very fossiliferous) ; Chard (Chloritic 
Marl, base of Chalk series). Should time permit, Crewkerne 
(Inferior Oolite) will be-visited on return. Excursion to Ilford : 
Saturday, June 17, under Mr. Henry Woodward.—On arriving 
at Ilford, the Mammalian beds in the Newer Pliocene deposits at 
this place will be inspected, and subsequently a visit will be paid 
to the residence of Sir Antonio Brady, who has kindly invited 
the Association to inspect his fine collection of stone implements 
and mammalian remains, Excursion to Caterham: Saturday, 
July 1, under the management of Mr. Lobley. Fine Sections 
of the Upper Chalk are exposed in the neighbourhood of 
Caterham. Excursion to Warwick: Monday and Tuesday, 
July 10 and 11, under the Rey. P. B. Brodie.—On arriving at 
Warwick the party will visit the Museum, in which will be found 
the finest collection of Triassic fossils in England. The Keuper 
sections near the town will then be inspected. At Wilmcote 
very interesting seetions of the Insect Bed of the Lower Lias are 
exposed. Should time permit, visits will be paid to the Permian 
sections at Kenilworth, and to the fine Lower Lias section at 
Harbury. 
WE learn from the Bvitish Medical Fournal that the Committee 
of the College of Physicians has produced a scheme of amal- 
gamated examination for consideration by the Joint Committee. 
Under this scheme, the examination would be a minimum 
examination, and essential for all the universities and licensing 
bodies of Great Britain. It would be carried out by examiners 
appointed by a Joint Committee, with a sole view to the fitness 
of such examiners, The fee for the joint examination would be 
one calculated only to cover the expenses—about fifteen guineas. 
The licensing bodies would not confer any licence except upon 
those who had passed the examination, and each would fix the 
fee for its licence. If the College of Surgeons will on its part 
accept this scheme, it will establish its claim to be considered 
sincere in the cause of medical reform. 
WE have received the first four fasciculi of a new Italian 
Journal of Chemistry, edited by Prof. Cannizarro, c’ ‘e Univer- 
sity of Palermo. It contains a number of origi: "as by 
the editor, Dr. U. Schiff, Profs. Lieben and J ar 
well-known chemists, translations of importa 
and an abstract of the proceedings of the « 
Italy, Germany, and England. 
THE Scottish Arboricultural Society * 
of Transactions for the past year, ed 
The objects of the society are the 
Arboriculture in all its branches 
members for the reading of 
reports on the practical opera’ 
the same ; and by such othr 
and it numbers among its ° 
