


168 
NATURE 
| une 29, 1871 
————— a ””:~*” = Aas 
As we are going to press we hear of the death of M. Clapa- 
réde, one of the most distinguished naturalists whom Switzerland 
has produced. We hope in a future number to give an account 
of his labours, now unfortunately ended at an early age. 
Tur “Scheme of Education” Committee of the London 
School Board have sent in their report recommending science 
teaching in primary schools. We shall take an opportunity of 
referring to it on a future occasion. 
Forty of the teachers under the Science and Art Department 
are now in London for the purpose of undergoing practical 
ee years chemical 

or what they are doing. There will be 
ysics next month, 
ArT a meeting of the Senate of the University of London 
held on Monday last, Sir Edward Ryan was elected to the office 
of Vice-Chancellor fro ze7’., in the place of the late Mr. George 
Grote. 
NOTWITHSTANDING the alleged increased severity of the 
Matriculation examination at the University of London, and the 
large proportion who have failed of recent years, the number of 
candidates presenting themselves at the examination held during 
the present week is larger than in any previous year, being over 
six hundred. 
THE Ladies’ Educational Association has now been definitely 
connected with University College, London, where all the 
lectures will in future be held, an arrangement which will 
doubtless be of great advantage to both students and teachers. 
‘The Association has already issued its syllabus for the Michael- 
mas and Lent Terms of next winter session, The curriculum 
includes courses for ladies by the professors of Latin, Hebrew, 
English, French, Italian, German, Philosophy of Mind and Logic, 
Jurisprudence, Hygiene, History, Constitutional Law and History, 
Mathemetics, Physics, Practical Chemistry, Geology, and Archi- 
tecture. here will also be classes for Drawing and Painting 
in conrection with the Slade School of Fine Art ; and, during the 
Lent term, Prof. Oliver will deliver a course of ten lectures on 
the Structure of Plants and General Phenomena of Vegetation, 
with reference more especially to the general bearing of vegetation 
upon landscape. 
Dr. Hooker and party returned last week from their visit to 
North Africa. The number of species of plants brought home 
is estimated at about 1,200, among which it is expected there 
will be a considerable number entirely new. 
A MEETING of the friends and pupils of the late Prof. Goodsir 
was held in Edinburgh, in June, 1867, under the presidency of 
Dr. Dunsmure, and it was resolved, ‘* That steps be taken to 
form a lasting memorial of Prof. Goodsir’s distinguished career 
as an original investigator, and teacher of Anatomy and Physi- 
ology, and that the most appropriate manner of commemorating 
Prof. Goodsir’s services, was to establish in the University of 
Edinburgh a Fellowship in Anatomy and Physiology, to be called 
the Goodsir Fellowship.” A Committee was formed, and sub- 
sequently added to, to collect subscriptions, and to decide 
as to the conditions on which the Fellowship should be 
awarded, Honorary secretaries were appointed in various parts 
of the country, and in the Colonies. It was expected that a 
sufficient fund would have been collected within two years to 
found the Fellowship. At the present date, however, not more 
than 620/. has been subscribed, The hope of establishing an 
endowment in the University on the scale of a Fellowship has, 


therefore, been abandoned, and it is now proposed to institute a 
Scholarship in Anatomy and Physiology. In order to carry out 
this project worthily, it is necessary to raise the sum already 
collected to 1,000/., and renewed efforts are accordingly being 
now made to provide this amount, 
Tue Harveian oration on the Progress of Therapeutics was 
delivered last week in the Royal College of Physicians by Dr, 
T. K. Chambers, after which the biennial Baly medal for the 
most distinguished researches in physiological science prosecuted 
during the past two years, was presented by the president to 
Dr. Lionel S. Beale. 
TueE Royal Agricultural Society has decided on appointing a 
Consulting Botanist, at a salary of 1oo/. per annum, the engage- 
ment to be an annual one. It will be the duty of the botanist to 
examine plants, seeds, &c., for members of the society, and to 
report the principal work performed from time to time for its 
members, and to undertake the work at fixed rates, to be ar- 
ranged before his appointment, and to furnish papers to the 
Journal on special subjects of botanical interest. The appoint- 
ment of an Entomologist to the Society has also been in con- 
templation. 
AN International Congress, for the progress of Geographical 
Science, will be held at Antwerp from the 14th to the 22nd of 
August. A number of questions in Geography, Meteorology, 
Navigation, Ethnology, &c., will be submitted for discussion, 
An exhibition will also be held of objects connected with the 
purpose of the Congress, maps, plans, instruments used in navi- 
gation, &c., and prizes will be awarded for the best object ex- 
hibited in each class. 
THE excursion of the Geologists’ Association to Yeovil and 
neighbourhood on the 29th of May and three following days was 
a very successful one. Near Yeovil Junction station the Yellow 
Micaceous sands, considered by Dr. Wright to be of Upper 
Liassic Age, were examined, and characteristic fossils obtained. 
The large collection of Mesozoic fossils collected by the Rey, 
Edward Bower, at Closworth Rectory, was inspected, as well 
as that of the Rey. T. C. Maggs, of Yeovil. The next morning, 
under the guidance of Prof. Buckman, the party ascended the 
fine escarpment of Babylon Hill, where bands of concretionary 
sandstone contain fossils essentially Oolite and not Liassic. The 
characteristic fossils of the well-known ‘‘ Cephalopod-bed,”’ con- 
sidered by Prof. Buckman to be at the top instead of at the base of 
the series, as generally supposed, were obtained at the celebrated 
Half-way House Quarries, and at a small but very prolific quarry 
on the Professor’s own estate at Bradford Abbas, The following 
day the far-famed quarries of Ham Hill were visited, and the 
great bed of Inferior Oolite Freestone, which has supplied ma- 
terial for the churches and other buildings of the district for cen- 
turies, was carefully examined. The Middle and Upper Lias 
were also investigated at South Petherton; and on the fourth 
day the interesting and picturesyue Keuper Cliffs at Seaton were 
examined, and the coast section followed until the ‘‘ Landslip ” 
was reached, extending for a distance of about six miles. 
Tue thirty-seventh Anniversary Meeting of the Statistical 
Society was held on Thursday, the 22nd of June, Mr. William 
Newmarch, F.R.S., president, in the chair. The following is 
the list of president, council, and officers elected to serve for the 
ensuing twelvemonths, viz. :—President—Dr. William Farr, 
F.R.S. Council—Dr. T. G. Balfour, F.R.S., R. Dudley 
Baxter, Samuel Brown, Dr. Hyde Clarke, L. H. Courmey, 
W. Fowler, M.P., F. Galton, F.R.S., Robert Giffen, Rt. 
Hon, W. E. Gladstone, M.P., W. A. Guy, M.B., F.R.S., 
Archibald Hamilton, J. T. Hammick, F. Hendriks, J. Heywood, 
F,R.S., F. Jourdan, Prof, Leone Levi, Sir Massey Lopes, Bart., 
