470 
NATURE 
[ Oct. 13, 1870 
attendant upon such works fall less heavily upon those 
who undertake their compilation, and a fair number of 
subscribers is more readily obtained. Although much has 
already been done in publishing such works, there is still 
much remaining to be done ; we could wish, for example, 
that the Manchester naturalists would publish a new and 
more complete edition of the “ Manchester Flora,” and 
that the Liverpool people would issue in a separate and 
completed form the flora which appeared in part in their 
journal. These floras, with that of Birmingham, if care- 
fully worked out, with full references to the older writers, 
would be of a value second only to that of Trimen and 
Dyer’s “Flora of Middlesex,” as showing the influence of 
cultivation upon the botany of a district. 
We must not dismiss the subject of publications without 
a reference to one or two of those emanating from more 
recently established societies, which have been favourably 
received. The Woolhope Club has now issued four 
volumes, copiously illustrated with photographs and 
coloured lithographs, the contents of which are of some- 
what more general interest than those we have already 
referred to. This being the case, we can but regret that 
the volumes are inaccessible to the general public; but 
a limited number only are printed, which are almost con- 
fined in circulation to the members of the club. Note- 
worthy papers are those on the remarkable trees of Here- 
fordshire (adorned with some exquisite photographs), on 
the fungi of the county, and on its geology ; while the an- 
tiquarian will find some prominence given to archaeology. 
The Malvern Naturalists’ transactions are similar in gene- 
ral features to those of the Woolhope Club, and we ob- 
serve that the two societies vie with each other in the 
attention they bestow upon edible fungi. The Birming- 
ham Society has just issued the first volume of its pro- 
ceedings—a very creditable one—which has the additional 
advantage of being obtainable by outsiders at the moderate 
cost of half-a-crown. We need not remark further upon 
this, as a notice of it lately appeared in our columns. 
The general arrangement of meetings, &c., must de- 
pend almost entirely upon local circumstances ; and the 
same remark will apply to rules, which should be as few 
and simple as possible. As we are now speaking only 
of firmly established bodies, any hints upon these matters 
are deferred for a second paper. 
A WORD ABOUT YALE 
HE following account of the Yale University scheme, 
by Professor J. D. Dana, is taken from the Va/e 
College Courant :-— 
1. The Classical or Academic and the Scientific de- 
partments (ordinarily called Yale College, and the Shef- 
field School of Science) are distinct colleges for the 
undergraduate students of the University—distinct in 
teachers, scholars, buildings, apparatus, and special 
working libraries, They have in common a general 
library, and the officers meet for the discussion of 
University questions in a common University Faculty. 
2. In each college the first two years of the four* are 
years of preparatory study without optional or elective 
courses, except perhaps in place of the higher mathema- 
* The three-years’ course of the Scientific School will probably be made a 
four-years’ course within a year or two, 
tics of the second year. After the close of the second 
year a number of elective courses are before the student. 
3. In the Academic College—whose special subjects of 
study are the classics, modern Janguages, mathematics, 
astronomy, history, intellectual and moral philosophy, 
political economy, general literature, &c.—the principles 
of natural science, physics,and chemistry are taught so 
far as is necessary to give depth and breadth to an 
academic education ; a general knowledge of the laws or 
systems of nature, both organic and inorganic, being 
essential in these days to a true scholar, whatever his 
purpose in life. 
4. In the Scientific College—whose special subjects of 
study are the various natural sciences, physics, chemistry, 
mathematics, and the practical applications of these 
sciences—literary subjects are added, including modern 
languages (some knowledge of the ancient languages being 
required for entering), political, moral, and intellectual 
science, history, physical and political geography, &c.— 
in order to give in this branch of the University a thorough 
and well-grounded education, and make the graduate a 
man of high culture. 
5. In the Academic College, optional or elective courses 
are confined to its special subjects of study: (1) the 
classics, (2) modern languages, (3) English language and 
literature, (4) mathematics. None are allowed in the 
departments of natural, chemical, or physical science, as 
these subjects are admitted into this college only so far 
as is necessary to give that breadth and depth to educa- 
tion which every graduate should have. 
6. In the Scientific College also, elective courses are 
confined to its special objects of study—that is, to the 
natural sciences, physics, geology, metallurgy, mechanics, 
engineering, &c. 
7. The post-graduate courses of the University com- 
prise many distinct departments in the lines of the Aca- 
demic and Scientific Colleges. Connected with the 
former, there are (or may be) courses in Latin, Greek, 
different Oriental languages, linguistics, English language 
and literature, history, intellectual philosophy, mathe- 
matics, astronomy, &c. &c. Connected with the latter there 
are (or may be): First, in pure science, courses severally 
in the different physical sciences, general chemistry, 
organic chemistry, mineralogy, botany, zoology, palzcon- 
tology, geology, mathematics, astronomy, &c.; Secondly, 
in applied science, courses in civil engineering, mechani- 
cal engineering, mining and mining engineering, prac- 
tical mechanics, metallurgy, agriculture and agricultural 
chemistry, &c. 
8. The students of the Academic College take, on gra- 
duating, the degree of Bachelor of Arts ; and those of the 
Scientific College that of Bachelor of Philosophy, 
The students of the post-graduate courses, after two 
years of study, in which high scholarship is attained as 
tested by a rigid examination, take the degree ot Doctor 
of Philosophy ; except in the case of students in Civil 
Enginecring, who may receive that of Civil Engineer after 
one year of study. 
The University includes also the Schools of Law, 
Medicine, Theology, and the Fine Arts. But of these it 
is not necessary here to speak. Neither of them has, in 
any part of its curriculum, an undergraduate department 
analogous to that of the Academic or Scientific College, 
