- 
Sept. 28, 1871] 
NATURE 
435 

be exhibited in the School of Mines in Paris of specimens 
\ of the strata obtained from the Mont Cenis Tunnel. This 
: collection, which consisted originally of only 127 speci- 
_ mens, has received 69 new specimens, which brings the 
total number to 196 altogether. 
The total vertical thickness of the strata explored was 
_ more than 7,000 metres. The general colour is grey, or, 
_ rather, black, and the colouring matter is mostly carbon. 
Bvery few fossils were met with, having been destroyed by 
_ the subsequent crystallisation. 
The disturbances which have created Mont Cenis and 
made it emerge from the bottom of the sea have pro- 
_ duced many cracks and faults. But all these faults have 
been filled up with quartz in a perfect manner in rela- 
tively modern times. The infiltration amounts practically 
_ tonothing. The only spring which was discovered is situated 
near Modane, and gives only seven gallons per minute. 
The water is cold. The contractors were obliged to send 
_ to Modane and Bardonnéche for the water required for 
drinking, and for grinding the stone. 
Mont Blanc, although 4,800 metres above the level of 
the sea, is only 3,500 above its own base. The vertical 
section of the perforated strata is thus equal to two Mont 
Blancs ; and it is something like one whole Himalaya. 
M. Sismonda, Professor of Geology at Turin, presented to 
the Royal Academy of Sciences, Turin, in the sitting of 
the 5th of December, 1866, a paper entitled Move osser- 
waztont geologiche sulle rocce anthracitifere delle Alpi, 
at the end of which was printed a map drawn by M. Sis- 
monda twenty-five years ago, and exhibiting the theoretical 
succession of strata. Everything was found in the place 
where it was supposed to be by M. Sismonda. 
No artesian well has ever given an opportunity of 
comparison with the perforation of Mont Cenis, as the 
deepest bored by European engineers is only 1,000 metres, 
and by the Chinese only 3,000 metres. 
The Acaderny listened during more than an hour to the 
lecturer. M. Faye presented to the learned Perpetual 
Secretary the hearty thanks of the Academy, and expressed 
a wish that a series of pendulum experiments should 
be conducted on the top of Mont Cenis as well as in the 
central part of the tunnel, to test the effect of the mass 
of the mountain on the time of the oscillations. 


NOTES 
WE believe that the stations to be occupied by the Eclipse 
‘Expedition are Baikul, Gunote, and Manantoddy, near the Mala- 
bar coast ; Poodoocottah, near Trichinopoly ; and Jaffa, in 
Ceylon. These arrangemenis are necessitated by the informa- 
tion received as to the weather chances from the Viceroy of India 
and the Governor of Ceylon, who are taking the warmest inte- 
rest in the intended operations. It is hoped that Prof. Stokes 
/ will take charge of the Expedition, and in this hope we venture 
to join very warmly. As our leading physicist, as Secretary of 
the Royal Society and potential President, as one who has so 
closely studied solar physics and the methods of attack contem- 
plated—on each and all of these accounts it is obviously for the 
advantage of science that the Expedition should be under his 
command. The Committee has communicated by telegram with 
Prof. Peirce, expressing a hope that the Expedition may be 
strengthened by the addition of some American observers who 
are all veterans in eclipse matters. Prof. Respighi has also 
been invited to accompany the party. We must not omit to 
add that Lord Lindsay has supplied the Committee with many 
valuable instruments, and is aiding in other ways. 
Dr. CARPENTER arrived at Malta in the Shearwater last week, 
and has been engaged in conjunction with Captain Nares, com- 
manding that vessel, ina series of researches on the Gibraltar 
current, intended to complete the inquiries made last year in the 
Porcupine. The existence of the outward undercurrent, which 
was indicated by the experiments of last autumn, has now been 

conclusively demonstrated. Dr. Carpenter will accompany the 
Shearwater to Egypt for the purpose of prosecuting in the eastern 
basin of the Mediterranean the physical and zoological inquiries 
which he carried on last year in the western basin. 
Mr. HIND informs us that on Friday night last he secured 
observations of an extremely faint nebulosity, which he believes 
will prove to be Encke’s Comet, though the predicted time of 
perihelion may be eight or nine hours too late. 
September 22 at 11h 37m 21S Twickenham M.T. 
(OPIS Oe ae On b Th 58™ 455'9 
Ge Declineiern fa) v4) cee Pict ake 
This position depends on comparison with one of Bessel’s stars 
extending over more than an hour, during which motion in the 
right direction for Encke was apparent. Though very faint, it 
is hardly more so than Mr. Hind expected to find it from previous 
experience. We may look fora fine telescopic object in November, 
and one just visible to the naked eye after the middle of the 
month and in the first days of December, before it gets too near 
the sun’s place to be observable. 
THE College of Physical Science at Newcastle-on-Tyne has 
issued the prospectus of its first session, to open October 7. The 
following is the programme of studies :—Prof. Aldis will con- 
duct three classes in Mathematics ; two for junior students, and 
one for any who may enter with sufficient knowledge to enable 
them at once to take up subjects which will in future be ordinarily 
read by students in their second year. There will also be an 
Exercise class for all the students, In Experimental Physics, Prof. 
Herschel will have two classes ; the advanced class will contain 
experimental illustrations of Practical Mechanics, and of Heat 
considered especially with reference to its application in mining, 
manufactures, and to the steam-engine ; but there appears to be 
no provision for practical laboratory work, In Chemistry, Prof. 
Freire-Marreco will conduct both the course of lectures and the 
practical course in the laboratory. Prof. Page will deliver a 
course of lectures on Geology, and will accompany the students 
in field excursions or visits to museums. As yet there is no 
immediate prospect of a chair of Biology, though we understand 
its creation is a settled thing as soon as funds allow. The 
medical degrees at Durham University can now be taken without 
residence, but an additional year must in that case be made at 
Newcastle. The College has taken off the hands of the College 
of Medicine the new lecture room, built expressly for Chemistry 
and Physics, and the laboratories. 
THE Chargé d’Affaires of the Japanese Government in this 
country, who has looked with longing eyes on Messrs. Cooke's 
great equatorial, the gem of the present International Exhibition, 
should also inspect some meteorological instruments for transmis- 
sion to Japan. The following extract from a little illustrated 
news-sheet now being hawked about Yedo, giving an account of 
the late typhoon in the inland sea, and a picture of the ap- 
pearance of Kobe Bay after it, will show that the Japanese have 
as yet quite elementary notions in meteorological science :—‘* The 
Great Storm-Wave in Kishiu, Idzumi and Setsu.—The sydden 
changes and moyements of heaven and earth are caused by the 
commingling of the female and male elements, and the conten- 
tion of wind and rain. Alas! not even can the influence of the 
gods of Buddah prevail to govern them. It was on the night of 
the 18th day of the fifth month of the fourth (goat) year of 
Meiji, and about ten o’clock, that the wind and rain became ex- 
ceedingly violent, and a great storm-wave arising, not only the 
steamers, but also about 700,000 large and small boats were 
thrown ashore at Kinohana and Kumanoura in Kishin, at Sakai, 
and at Tempozan off Osaka. At the frightful destruction, old 
and young, males and females, wept and howled ; and the sound 
thereof was most pitiable. The number of the dead was in pro- 
portion to the size of the places (visited by the storm). It was 
