Aug. 24, 1871] 
of course be made for the altitude of the sun and the 
state of the weather at the various stations. 
The dark frames were numbered from 1 to 6, and the 
plates were exposed in the order in which they had been 
prepared, and the development proceeded im the same 
order. 
Much of the delicate detail of the negatives is likely to 
be lost by varnishing. It is therefore preferable to cover 
them with glass, carefully binding*the edges to exclude the 
air ; the glass cover should not touch the film, Instead 
ef using an ordinary plate-box for the negatives, I prefer 
that each plate should have a slight frame similar to an 
ordinary “ carrier,” and these frames are then placed flat 
on a box prepared for them. ; 
In counting seconds it is preferable that the assistant 
should count consecutively throughout the totality. Sup- 
posing the eclipse to last 130 seconds, by counting from 
to 130 the operators know exactly the point arrived at 
after each exposure ; and this is most important towards 
the end, as the last plate might be spoiled hy the least 
mistake in this respect. ; 
Artificial light of some kind will probably be required 
during the totality—certainly in the dark-room. Weused 
the ordinary railway reading lamps. Boxes open on one 
side were provided, and in them the lamps were fixed. 
These boxes effectually protected the lights—without 
them the candles would have been extinguished by the 
wind, 
It is better to assume that nothing will be found at the 
place of observation but water, but as in India there may 
be some difficulty in obtaining that necessary article suffi~ 
ciently pure for photographic purposes, it will be better to 
provide a small still, which will cost about 5s. At 
Syracuse we used rain-water, which was sufficiently pure 
for the purpose. 
Those accustomed to photographic work in India will 
be aware of the necessary precautions to be observed to 
prevent the plates drying. At Syracuse we kept our 
observatory and dark-room well sprinkled with water ; 
and the glass plates, when they were in the dark frames, 
were covered on the backs with wet blotting-paper. 
Much disappointment will be avoided if proper care be 
taken in packing the apparatus. All bottles and other 
glass articles should be placed in separate divisions and 
packed with cotton wool or paper cuttings. Packing-cases 
should be made very strong and bound with iron plates. 
By attention to these matters the whole of the apparatus 
and chemicals were found on being unpacked at Syracuse 
to be altogether uninjured—the packing cases bear testi- 
mony to the rough usage they have undergone. 
A, BROTHERS 

CLIFTON COLLEGE SCHOOL OF NATURAL 
SCLENCE 
\ E have long insisted in NATURE on the extreme im- 
portance of science teaching in the higher grade 
schools in this country, and we are glad to find that at 
length its importance has begun to be recognised by the 
head masters themselves ; so that, on the whole, the pro- 
gress now being made in this direction is such that we 
may confidently expect thatat novery distant future science 
NATURE 
instruction will be provided for in all our superior schools. | 
Foremost, if not positively the first among the schools in 
which the sciences are thus taught stands Clifton College, 
under the able direction of the Rev. J. Percival, in which 
scientific study is introduced to the utmost, and keenly 
pursued by the boys, with the encouragement of all their 
masters, the latter a most important consideration, and 
which, we are sorry to say, we cannot assert in refer- 
ence to other schools of equal pretensions. There are 
several points of interest about the method of teaching 
at Clifton, and we are glad to have the opportunity of 
laying before our readers a sketch of the way in which 

o-9 
the work there is carried on, together with a sketch of 
the museum, which, may well become the model of all 
schoo! museums. Science is much indebted to Mr. Per- 
cival for the magnificent example he has set in science 
education. 
Natural Science at this College is not a voluntary 
subject, but forms a regular part of ordinary school 
work. The boys m the two highest classes on the classical 
side are allowed to choose between Science and German ; 
throughout the rest of the school some branch of science 
is compulsory. In the Junior School Botany is taught, in 
the Upper School Chemistry and Physics. The boys on 
the classical side receive one lecture, those on the modern 
side two lectures a week on each of these latter subjects. 
The lectures are illustrated by experiments, accurate notes. 
are exacted from the boys, and examinations are held 
every fortnight or three weeks. 
The accompanying is one of these fortnightly papers :— 
MAGNETISM 
I. Soft iron can never be permanently magnetised, yet a piece of 
soft iron in contact with a magnet becomes a magnet. 
Why? 
What do you understand by evercive force, and magnetic 
saturation ? 
. How is magnetism influenced by heat ? 
Mentiom the substances which are attracted by a magnet in 
addition to iron. 
. State one or more of the methods by which steel bars may be 
magnetised. 
. What is the declination or variation of the magnetic needle, 
and the present extent of it? 
Rr 
aD nu Bw 
CHEMISTRY 
a. For First and Second Sets, Modern Side only. 
1. Mention the oxygen compounds of phosphorus, and the actiom 
of water upon them. 
Give an account of arsenicum and its chief characteristics. 
What are the constituents and characteristics of arseniuretted 
hydrogen ? 
4. What is ‘‘ white arsenic,” and how may it be prepared ? 
5. You are given a liquid suspected to contain arsenic ; by what 
means would you examine it 2 
6, For all other Forms, 
Ammonia gas, and hydrochloric acid gas, are brought into 
contact : what is the resulting compound, and to what may 
it be compared ? 
2, What is ammonium ? Describe the formation and appearance 
of ammonium amalgam. 
. What do you know of chloride of nitrogen? 
. What is nitric acid, and by what means may it be procured ? 
. State the action of nitric acid upon metals,—copper, tin, 
antimony,—and the general tendency of the acid. 
nb 
BOTANY 
Third A, and B. only. 
1. Describe the following forms of roots :—/ap, napiform, pre- 
morse, tubercular. 
(To be written on separate paper only). 
2. How are fluids absorbed by the roots ? 
3. Show clearly the true nature of the various forms of the bulb. 
4. What is a ‘‘rhizome” (or root-stock)? Compare it with a 
“corm.” 
5. Give an account of the structure of the stem in a common 
potato. 
6 
. Why is it that plants and animals have a mutual dependence 
on each other for their life ? 
Special classes are formed for those who wish to go 
deeper into these subjects, or to take up others. Thus, 
there are special classes studying Chemistry, Physics, 
Zoology, Physiology, Botany, Physical Geography, and 
Civil Engineering- 
Facilities are also afforded for learning science practi- 
eally. In the Chemical Laboratory about twenty boys 
study analysis. A Physical Laboratory has been built 
and will be opened next September. It willaccommodate 
about twenty pupils, and its arrangements will be based 
