Fune 29, 1871] 
NATURE 
169 

M.P., W. G. Lumley, Q.C., J. MacClelland, Dr. F. J. Mouat, 
W. Newmarch, F.R.S., R. H. I. Palgrave, R. H. Patterson, 
F. Purdy, W. H. Smith, M.P., T. Sopwith, F.R.S., Col. W. 
H. Sykes, M.P., F.R.S., Ernest Seyd, W. Tayler, Prof. Jacob 
Waley. Treasurer—J. T. Hammick. Honorary secretaries— 
W. G. Lumley, Q.C., F. Purdy, Jacob Waley. 
TuE Winchester College Natural History Society, founded on 
March 12, 1870, has just issued its first Report, which includes 
some useful papers, and botanical, entomological, and palzonto- 
logical lists of the neighbourhood, It gives promise of good and 
useful work to be done in future years. 
WE have received the thirty-eighth annual report of the Royal 
Comwall Polytechnic Society. As might be expected from the 
locality of the society, the majority of the papers bear on subjects 
connected with mining and metallurgy ; though there are also 
some meteorological tables, and a useful list of addenda to the 
fauna of the county. A marked feature of the report is the 
number of woodcuts illustrative of various adaptations of machi- 
nery, &c., connected with the subjects of the papers. 
Dr. LAUDER Linpsay has reprinted his essay on the Physio- 
logy and Patholegy of Mind in the Lower Animals, in which he 
insists that the mind of the lower animals does not differ in kind 
from that of man; and that they possess the same affections, 
virtues, moral sense, and capacity for education, and are liable to 
the same kinds of mental disorders. 
Mr. W. Rosinson, author of ‘* The Wild Garden,” ‘‘ Alpine 
Flowers for English Gardens,” &c., publishes a useful Catalogue 
of Hardy Perennials, Bulbs, Alpine Plants, Annuals, Biennials, 
&c., intended as a help to exchanges between cultivators of hardy 
plants, analogous to those that have long been common among 
botanists. 
WE have received Nos. 203-206 of the “‘ Biicher- Verzeichniss” 
of Friedlander and Son, of Berlin, comprising the following sub- 
jects—‘‘ Geology, Mineralogy, and Crystallography,” ‘‘ Botany,” 
“Zoology,” and “Mathematics, Physics, Astronomy, and 
Technology.” 
Mr. PENGELLY has reprinted two papers read before the 
Devonshire Association for the Advancement of Science, Litera- 
ture, and Art, “‘ On the rainfall received at the same station by 
gauges at different heights above the ground,” and “On the 
supposed influence of the moon on the rainfall,” in which he 
thus sums up the conclusions arrived at :—‘‘ 1. That under un- 
objectionable conditions, and at the same station, less rain will 
be received by a gauge high above the ground than by one 
nearer the surface ; 2. That the total defect will increase with 
increase of height; 3. That the defect will not increase so 
rapidly as the height.” And again:—‘‘The result of my 
observations then may be briefly summed up thus: At Torquay, 
the second quarter of the moon, or that which terminates on the 
day before each full moon, had the least number of wet days, 
the heaviest average daily rate of rain, and the greatest aggregate 
rainfall; whilst the third quarter, or that commencing on the 
day of each full moon, had the greatest number of wet days, the 
lightest average daily rate of rain, and the second greatest 
aggregate rainfall. The differences are but slight ; but it must 
be borne in mind that the moon’s meteosological influence can 
be but slight. The results, however, do not accord with any of 
those mentioned by the authors so largely quoted at the com- 
mencement of this paper, yet they are such, and only such, as 
are calculated to induce any one to pause before giving an opinion 
for or against the alleged connection of the moon with our rain- 
fall. Perhaps I cannot better conclude than by echoing the 
words of M. Arago, ‘The subject requires to be examined 
afresh.’ ”” 
Ir is reported that about June 7, an earthquake took place on 
the south coast of Asia Minor, opposite Rhodes, resulting in the 
almost total destruction of the small town of Marmaritza. 
STRONG earthquakes continue in Peru. There was one in 
Arequipa on April 11. The movements were from east to west, 
and the duration forty to fifty seconds. It is worthy of notice 
that on the same April 11 two slight shocks of earthquake were 
felt at Rangoon, in Burmah, the direction being from north to 
south. On the night of the 16th another earthquake was felt, 
EARTHQUAKE shocks were felt on May 21st in the vicinity of 
Rochester and Buffalo, in the state of New York; at Augusta, 
in Georgia ; and at Quebec, Ottawa, and other points in 
Canada, 
THE remote island called Sunday Island, in the Pacific, has 
been subjected to a terrible volcanic eruption so that the inhabit. 
ants have been removed to Norfolk Island, to join the descends 
ants of the Bounty Mutineers. 
ON February 22 several shocks of earthquake were felt at 
Puno, in Peru, and on March 4 a slight earthquake of 
thirty seconds at Arequipa after several rainy days, 
On February 7 two distinct shocks of earthquake were felt in 
the department of Minititlan, in Mexico, followed by a wave 
rising one foot. 
AMONG the late remarkable disturbances in the Pacific basin 
are to be numbered those affecting the waters of the ocean 
around the guano Islands of Guanape on the Peruvian coast, 
which took place on the 5th of February. During the whole 
of that day the sea was much agitated, though nothing particular 
was noted in the tides, On the morning of the 6th there was some- 
thing strange about the currents, with a westerly wind freshening 
with dangerous force. The winds and currents ruling along the 
Peruvian coast are from the S.E., but on the 6th this was not 
so, for they veered round and came from the W. at six miles an 
hour (? currents). Thenit was noticed that as the day grew on 
the currents seemed to flow in from all directions, forming 
numerous whirlpools, while alarm for the shipping was caused 
by the increasing strength of the west wind. The nights of the 
6th and 7th were consequently times of alarm to the masters of 
the guano ships, which were dashed against each other. The 
phenomena had a great resemblance to those at Arica and the 
Chincha Islands on the 15th of August, 1868. On the 9th of 
February the appearances were calmer, and the wind veered 
round to S.E. 
A? Pichicani, in Peru, an extraordinary meteor appeared on 
February 12. It was of a red colour, balloon-shaped, with the 
end ar neck pointed to the earth, and exploded as it reached 
the surface, leaving a dark cloud on the plain, injuring the roofs 
of several huts, and knocking down a fence of about 500 yards 
belonging toa farm, Among the fragments of this meteorite 
were found dead fish of several species, supposed to have been 
lifted out of the river. Similar phenomena had been observed 
near Huacochullo and Atucachi. 
INDIAN papers report that the tea prospects in Darjeeling this 
year are so favourable that up to the present time (May) the 
crop has been from twice to three times what it was at that date 
last season. 
THE report of the Curator of the Natal Botanic Garden for 
1870 states that there had been shipped to various public and 
private gardens 5 Ward’s cases, 22 boxes, and 11 parcels, and 
that there had been received 13 Ward’s cases, 9 boxes, and 22 
parcels. 
Iris reported from Chile that the Planchon Pass across the 
