394__ 



dor is a very large tank (24), containing a large number 

 of freshwater fish given by Mr. T. R. Sachs, of the 

 Thames Angling Preservation Society. In tank 25 are 

 Sea Perch ; and in tank 27, which occupies the entire 

 side of corridor No. 3, being no less than 63 feet in length 

 by 14 feet in width, with seven feet of water, are a large 

 number of full-sized dog-fish, a perfect shoal of large cod, 

 and a Monk Fish more than five feet in length. 



The aquarium in this direction is capable of almost 

 indefinite extension, should the present success of the 

 Company be maintained. 



The sea- water for the aquarium is obtained from the 

 Baths Company, who draw their supply from a point in 

 the channel near the end of the pier, which is more than 

 1.400 yards in length. The water is received in a large 

 storage tank under the conservatory, from which it travels 

 through the various tanks, returning to a lower storage 

 reservoir, from which it can be pumped back into the 

 upper one, not less than 150,000 gallons of water bemg m 

 constant circulation. As at Berlin and Brighton, com- 

 pressed air is forced into the tanks, through indiarubber 

 pipes ; and Mr. Lloyd's plan of putting oysters into the 

 tanks, introduced at Brighton, is adopted. The tanks, as 

 well as the rest of the building, including the conserva- 

 tory, are lighted at night by gas. 



In the existence of large aquariums at Southport 

 and Brighton, the ideas so long advocated by Messrs. 

 Carl Vogt, Milne-Edwards, and Dr. Anton Dohrn,for the 

 estabhshment of zoological stations, have to a certain 

 extent been realised in England ; but before they can be 

 made available for original observation and research, 

 laboratories must be built, and depot stations established 

 at a few points on the coasts of Ireland and Scotland. 

 Moreover, other large expenditures of an eminently un- 

 commercial character must be incuiTed, which will never 

 be entertained by commercial companies ; but these, on 

 the other hand, would probably not object to afford facilities 

 for study if the necessary funds were found by those col- 

 leges, universities, and learned societies that prosecute the 

 study of biological science. 



CH.4RLES E. De Range 



NA TURE 



'\March i8, 1875 



NOTES 



The Eclipse Expedition arrived safely at Point de Galle on 

 March 15. The Indian observing party proceeds to Nicobar 

 Island by the Enterprise, which left Calcutta on the nth inst. 



As we have already intimated, the Faraday Lecture of the 

 Chemical Society will be given to-night in the Theatre of the 

 Roy.-il Institution by Dr. Ilofmann, of BerUn, on " I.iebig's 

 Contributions to Experimental Chemistry." 



The service of meteorological telegrams to the ports of 

 France was resumed on the ist inst. The arrangements now 

 in operation are as follows : — A large placard is sent down 

 to be posted up in some public place, containing two specimen 

 daily charts of the weather, and some simple rules for inter- 

 preting them, There are three blank spaces at the foot of the 

 placard, which are intended for the chart of the preceding day 

 from the Bulkiin International, which arrives by post, and for 

 two forecasts, morning and evening, which are to be transmitted 

 by telegraph daily. It does not appear that there is to be any 

 provision for exhibiting signals for the purpose of giving warning 

 of storms. At present the only such signals which are apparently 

 in use on the French coasts are those hoisted by the authorities 

 of the Marine Ministry, from Dunkirk to Nantes, on the receipt 

 of warning telegrams from London, and those hoisted south of 

 Nantes, on the coast of the Bay of Biscay, on the receipt of 

 orders from the Prefet Maritime of Rochefort. 



The French Telegraphic Administration has appointed two 

 delegates to examine, in common with the Board of the Obser- 

 vatory, what steps should be taken to collect by wire meteor- 



ological information, in order to send warnings to agricultural 

 districts. The organisation of agricultural warnings will be one 

 of the principal subjects of discussion at the forthcoming Paris 

 Meteorological Congress. 



M. MoucHEZ, the chief of the St. Paul French Transit party, 

 gave before the Academy of .Sciences of Paris, at its sitting of 

 the 15th inst., the first part of his report. M. Velin, the natu- 

 ralist of the expedition, brought with him to Paris three 

 living and a number of preserved specimens of all the species 

 of the existing fauna, which is" almost entirely marine. No 

 landing could be effected on Amsterdam Island. Saint P.aul and 

 Amsterdam cannot be regarded as the remains of a shattered 

 continent, but from their appear.ance and geological connection 

 must have been elevated from the bottom of the ocean by indi- 

 vidual volcanic eruptions. 



We learn from the Soar und Mosel Zeitung that we are liable to 

 the importation not only of potato-beetles and Phyllo.xera, but 

 even shells. About fifteen years ago some small shells were dis-. 

 covered in the Moselle near Treves, which were very different in 

 form from the other native species. A few weeks back the dis- 

 covery was made that the same locality now abounds in this new 

 animal, as large numbers were found in a perfectly developed state. 

 This seems to prove that the little ones, that were doubtless im- 

 ported by some raft, have grown and propagated. It is stated that 

 the real home of this species is the Sea of Azoff and the Black Sea, 

 and it is remarkable that they inhabit both salt and fresh water. 



The Kolnische Zeitung reports that besides Phylloxera 

 and the Colorado Beetle a third noxious insect has come 

 over to Europe from America ; it is the so-called Blood Louse, 

 which causes much damage to apple-trees. As a practical 

 remedy against this unwelcome guest, it is recommended to paint 

 the young trees with naphtha and lime-vv-ater. With arger trees 

 of course this is impossible ; but it is said that if during winter a 

 thin lime paste is placed in a circle round the tree where it comes 

 out of the ground, the ova of the Blood Louse are then com- . 

 pletely destroyed. 



The discoveiy is announced at the Pola Marine Observatory 

 of Planet 143, by Director J. Palisa, with a telescope of 7-5 ft. 

 focal length. It appeared of the 12th magnitude, and the ephe- 

 merides given are : 1875, Feb. 23, 8h. 42m. 12s. Pola mean 

 time; R.A., gh. 57m. 57s. (daily motion - 60s. ); and Decl. 

 -f 13' 46' (daily motion + 1'). Of the 143 asteroids, 97 have 

 been discovered in Europe, 41 in America, and 5 in Asia. 



The celebrated physicist Araberg lately delivered three lec- 

 tures at the " Volksbildungsverein " at Cologne, principally on 

 the phenomena of Electricity, Optics, and Acoustics. 



There will be an election at Magdalen College, Oxford, in 

 June next, to at least one Demyship and to one Exhibition in 

 Natural Science. The stipend of the Demyship is 95/. per annum, 

 and of the Exhibition 75/., inclusive of all allowances, and 

 they are tenable for five years. Particulars may be obtained 

 by applying to the senior tutor. 



The Council of the Senate of Cambridge University propose 

 to offer a grace early next term for the appointment of a syndi- 

 cate to consider the propriety of establishing a professorship of 

 Mechanism and Engineering. 



Among the papers appointed by the Council of the Insti- 

 tution cif Naval Architects to be read at the meetings on the 

 iSlh, 19th, and 20th inst., are the following: — On the Tele- 

 graph ship y'a;<7i;'(7j', by W. C. Merrifield, F. R.S. ; On a mode 

 of obtaining the outlines of sea-waves in deep water, by W. W. 

 Rundell ; On the graphic integration of the equation of a 

 ship's rolling, including the effect of resistance, by W. Froude, 

 F.R.S., vice-president; On a method of obtaining motive 



I 



