Fune 9, 1870] 
NATURE 
107 
As regards the correct position of the Ceratodus forsteri 
in the “Systema Nature,” we must, of course, wait until more 
specimens are procured for the examination of competent 
naturalists, the single example in the Australian museum 
being in an incomplete condition, from theinternal organs 
having been removed. Mr. Krefft calls it a “ gigantic 
amphibian,” not being aware probably that all the best 
authorities now follow Johann Miiller in classing Lepi- 
@ostven as a fish. It is, however, certain that, as Dr. 
Giinther pointed out at the meeting of the Zoological Society 
when Mr. Krefft’s paper was read, this fish must either 
be placed, along with Lefidosiven and its African repre- 
sentative Profopierus, in the order Dipnoi, or that it must 
form of itself a new division of the Ganoid fishes. We 
must know more of its internal structure, and in particular 
of the organs of circulation, before this question can be 
decided. Mr. Krefft has referred the fish to the genus 
Ceratodus, aname established by Agassiz in his “ Poissons 
Fossiles” for the indication of certain teeth which were 
then supposed to be those of some kind of shark. Dr. 
Giinther, our best living authority on the class of fishes, 
is, I believe, of opinion that, so far as the structure of 
Ceratodus is known, there is nothing to show that Mr. 
Krefft’s decision is wrong, though it would appear to me to 
have been better to have proposed a new generic name for 
this animal. 
In conclusion, I may express a hope that this short 
notice may have the effect of calling the attention of some 
of the colonists of Queensland to the wonderful nature of 
this relic of the Devonian epoch that is now swimming 
about beneath their noses, and that they will cease, for the 
present at least, to kill it and eat it as “salmon.” Any 
specimens that may “rise to their fly” should be carefully 
kept out of the way of the cook, preserved in alcohol and 
transmitted to the British Museum or some other scientific 
institution. When the existence of Ceratodus forstert 
becomes more widely known, there willbe no lack of 
applicants for examples of it. P, L. SCLATER 
NOTES 
THE Syndicate appointed by the University of Cambridge to 
consider the question of the manner in which provision may be made 
for the establishment of a Professorship of Physical Science, 
and increasing the facilities for instruction in it, have again re- 
ported to the Senate. It may be remembered that the former 
report, after having been discussed in the Schools, was referred 
back to the Syndicate by the Council, The present report, 
however, only differs in one important point from the former, in 
recommending that the increase in the tax levied upon the M.A. 
members of the University should be temporary instead of per- 
manent. It had been hoped by many that the Syndicate would 
have taken courage from the general tone of the debate, have 
cancelled their former report, and proposed some bolder and 
more thorough measure. It is, however, not very probable that 
the University will accept the report. Several influential mem- 
bers of the Syndicate have not signed it; and there appears to 
be a growing feeling in Cambridge that, notwithstanding the 
obvious evil of delay, to postpone for a few months the appoint- 
merit of a Professor would be better than to carry at once a 
temporary and unsatisfactory scheme. 
Tue Council of the Society of Arts at their meeting on Mon- 
day last, awarded the Albert gold medal for the present year, to 
M. F. de Lesseps, * for services rendered to arts, manufactures, 
and commerce, by the realisation of the Suez Canal.” 
WE regret to learn that Baron Liebig continues dangerously 
ill. He has recently submitted to two operations for a very 
painful abscess in the shoulder, and continues very weak, but per- 
fectly clear and cheerful, although believing that death is near, 
THE new lectures on physiology at Trinity College, Cambridge, 
by Prof. Foster, will, we understand, be open to all members of 
the University, so that this liberal act on the part of the college 
is practically equivalent to the foundation of a professorship of 
physiology in the University. 
THERE will be an examination at St. Peter’s College, Cam- 
bridge, on Tuesday, June 14, for a Natural Science Scholarship, 
of the value of 60/. per annum, It will be open to all persons 
who may desire to enter at the University. The subjects are 
chemistry, comparative anatomy, physiology, and botany. Names 
of candidates must be sent a week previously to Rev. J. 
Porter, tutor of the college, from whom further information may 
be obtained. 
ArT the meeting of the French Academy of Sciences, held on 
the goth ult., Mr. Joule was elected a correspondent in the 
Physical section by 32 votes out of 43. Of the remainder, 
Professor Lloyd obtained eight, and Professors Angstrom, Doye, 
and Volpicelli one each. 
THE Senate of the Queen’s University in Ireland has unani- 
mously passed a resolution conferring the honorary degree of 
Doctor in Science on Prof. William King, in recognition of his 
scientific attainments. 
WE learn from the Afondleur Scientifigue, that M. R. Radau 
has been charged with a commission from the French Minister 
of Instruction to visit Germany, for the purpose of studying the 
organisation for instruction in the higher mathematics in the 
principal universities of that country, and prepare a report. 
A MONUMENT to John Kepler, at Weil der Stadt, the birth- 
place of the great astronomer, will be uncovered on the 24th 
inst. Subscriptions have been received from all parts of Ger- 
many, France, Russia, and even North America, 
On Friday, May 26, Dr. Carpenter delivered a lecture on the 
Physical and Biological Conditions of the Deep Sea, in the Senate 
House, Cambridge. His remarkably lucid and interesting ac- 
count of fhe results of the late expeditions, illustrated by some 
beautiful diagrams, was listened to with great attention by a very 
large audience, and at the conclusion, the Master of Christ's 
College (who occupied the chair in the unavoidable absence of 
the Vice-Chancellor) proposed, and Prof. Sedgwick seconded, a 
vote of thanks to the lecturer, which was carried with enthusiasm. 
The latter made some remarks upon the bearing of Dr. Car- 
penter’s discoveries upon Geology, which showed that notwith- 
standing the burden of eighty-five years, the old fire was still 
burning brightly. 
Dr. Hasskart, formerly superintendent of the Botanic 
Gardens, and introducer of the Cinchona plant into Java, pub- 
lishes a monograph of the Indian Commelinacew, especially those 
of the Indian Archipelago, with a few other species. 
WE have received papers of Port Louis, Mauritius, for April 
oth, containing a report of the meeting of the Meteorological 
Society, held March 24, when a valuable paper was read ‘‘ On 
the Origin of Storms in the Bay of Bengal,” by the secretary, 
Mr. C. Meldrum, with special reference to the monsoons and 
cyclones of the Indian Ocean. 
THE last volume of the ‘‘Transactions of the Linnean 
Society,” just published, contains Mr, Carruthers’s long-expected 
paper ‘* On Fossil Cycadean Stems from the Secondary Rocks of 
Britain.” 
Mr. CHARLES T. Brown, of the Geological Survey of 
Demerara, has lately returned from a journey of three months’ 
duration in the interior. He has examined the Potaro, Sipa- 
runie, and Burroburro rivers, and the country beyond the heads 
of the latter two, which he finds to be table-land, composed of 
slightly-inclined beds of sandstone and conglomerate. On the 
| Potaro river he met with a magnificent fall, hitherto unknown, 
