

NATURE 

[Sepé. 21, 1871 

Mr. THOMAS GRAY, the Marine Secretary of the Board of 
Trade, has collected a sum of 200/. as a prize for the most effi- 
cient and most simple green light for the starboard side of ships 
that shall fulfil the Board of Trade conditions, which require 
that it shall be of sufficient power to be seen ona dark night, with 
a clear atmosphere, for a distance of two miles uniformly over an 
arc of ten points of the compass, from right ahead to two points 
abaft the beam. Lamps intended to compete for the prize should 
be sent in by the 31st December next. 
THE preparations made by the Governments of the present 
age to have every phase of a total eclipse studied and recorded, 
contrast favourably with the superstition that prevailed a few 
centuries ago. For instance, the Scientific American quotes the 
following from a German paper :—‘‘ The Elector of Darmstadt 
was informed of the approach of a total eclipse in 1699, and 
published the following edict in consequence :—‘ His Highness, 
haVing been informed that on Wednesday morning next at ten 
o’dlock a very dangerous eclipse will take place, orders that on 
the day previous, and a few days afterwards, all cattle be kept 
housed, and to this end ample fodder be provided ; the doors 
and windows of the stalls to be carefully secured, the drinking 
wells to be covered up, the cellars and garrets guarded so that 
the bad atmosphere may not obtain lodgment, and thus produce 
infection, because such eclipses frequently occasion whooping 
cough, epilepsy, paralysis, fever, and other diseases, against 
which every precaution should be observed.’” 
A NATAL correspondent writes that the diamond fields on the 
Vaal River cover so large an extent of ground that to effect a 
thorough search would occupy 20,000 men 100 years. From this 
assertion it might be supposed that the diamonds lie very deep ; 
but the contrary seems to be the case, for we are told that they 
all lie comparatively near the surface, the diggers seldom going 
down deeper than seven feet. The copper in Namaqualand is 
likewise found near the surface, and stone implements are also 
found in a similar position. This is accounted for by the fact that 
the country is fast wearing down. These implements and other 
indications of former habitations appear to be abundant in 
Basutoland. Upon digging several feet below the surface near 
any of the occupied villages of the Basuto people, stone imple- 
ments are found, and at a less depth the remains of fire places, 
broken pots (clay), and ash and cinder heaps are discovered. 
These remains are very abundant throughout the whole of 
Basutoland. 
AMERICAN naturalists are anticipating with pleasure the 
promised visit from Mr. Gwyn Jeffreys. He is expected in the 
course of the summer ; and though his stay will be a short one, 
it is hoped that he will be enabled to secure personal conference 
with the leading American naturalists, and to make such an 
examination of the sea-coast fauna as he desires. He wi.l pro- 
bably arrive in time to meet Prof. Agassiz before he starts on the 
expedition, which contemplates the expenditure of at least a 
year in an exploration of the physics and natural history of 
the deep seas of both the Atlantic and Pacific, under the auspices 
of the United States Coast Survey. 
ScIENCE forms an important element in the educational course 
at the Friends’ School, Sidcot. From the report and Transac- 
tions of the Boys’ Literary Society for the past year, we find 
that sixty-six monthly reports and thirteen original papers on 
subjects connected with their several departments, have been 
read by the curators. Careful and systematic observations by a 
large section of the members have been made in ornithology, 
and several rare species have been observed. Considerable 
attention has also been paid to the collection of plants and in- 
sects, 
Tue Ludlow Natural History Society has little to report in 
the way of active proceedings during the past year, owing to the 
jllness and subsequent death of the secretary, Colonel Colvin, 
Many details of work, especially in the completion of arrange- 
ments, were however attended to. The balance sheet is satisfac- 
tory, and the museum attracts a certain number of visitors ; but 
the donations acknowledged suggest the idea that a collection of 
curiosities rather than a Natural History Museum is the object 
of the society. Mr. Alfred Salwey has been elected secretary. 
THE Quekett Microscopical Club has just issued its sixth 
Annual Report, from which it appears that the club continues to 
maintain its usefulness ; not only has the number of members 
considerably increased during the year, and the selection of 
microscopical slides kept for the use of members and the number 
of volumes in the library been augmented, but the papers read 
at the fortnightly meetings show that important additions to 
microscopical knowledge have been made by members of the 
club, The fortnightly field excursions during the summer months 
have been wellattended. The number of members now amounts 
to 550. 
WE have received an abstract of the reports of the surveys 
and of other geographical operations in India for 1869-70. It 
includes notices of Indian marine surveys, the great trigono- 
metrical survey, and the topographical, geological, and archzeo- 
logical surveys during these years, with a chapter on geographical 
exploration. 
THE Royal Society of Victoria is just recommencing the 
publication of its Transactions, discontinued since 1868 in conse- 
quence of the withdrawal since that year of the customary annual 
grant of 100/. from the Colonial Government. Notwithstanding this 
official discouragement, the society was never in a more prosperous 
and active condition ; the premises have been rebuilt, and con- 
sidera ble additions have been made to the library. 
AN event of rare occurrence has happened in the southern part 
of the great rainless desert of Atacama, a heavy fall of rain having 
taken place in Northern Chile on the 31st May from the coast to 
the Cordillera, and from Tres Puntas to Chonarcillo, including 
Copiapo. This was, perhaps, an extension of the rains in 
Southern Chile. 
THERE were several earthquakes in Chili and Peru in June. 
On the 20th there was a strong shock at Tacua about 7 p.m., 
but no damage was done. 
Dr. HENRY CASSERE, a German, has been sent by the Peru- 
vian Government to make a collection of plants and animals in 
its Amazon territory, which are to form part of the Great Inter- 
national Exhibition at Lima. 
THE great subject of excitement in the South Pacific is the 
continued discoveries in the new Caracoles district of Bolivia. 
Silver is now being produced at the rate of 4,000 Ibs. per day, or 
400,000/. a year. Coal has been discovered, and new gems are 
found. The amethyst is tie most abundant, and the opal of 
the finest quality. Marine fossils have been recognised in the 
formations. 
THE artesian well at Umballa had in July reached a depth of 
527 feet. 
A MINE of silver lead of good quality has been found in the 
Marwar State in India, 
THE sea has made considerable encroachments at Aleppey in 
India. We lately recorded the high tide which swept over the 
Laccadive islands. 
Tue Agri-Horticultural Society of India have reported that 
ihe nettle of the Neilgherries furnishes a valuable fibre, at least 
equal to Rhea grass, but attended with the same difficulties in 
working. 
Ir may be of interest to collectors to known that there is. 
now an ornithologist or bird stuffer at Constantinople, Mr, 
William Pearse, and a dealer at Smyrne, Mr, A, Lawson, 
V 
