_ DECEMBER 7, 1916| 
- Prof. Yves Delage (Darwin Medal). 
Prof. Delage is a member of the Institute, professor 
in the faculty ot science in the University of Paris, 
and director of the Zoological Station at Roscoff. He 
is well known for his biological and zoological writ- 
ings, especially for his great work, ‘‘ L’Hérédité et les 
Grands Problémes de la Biologie Générale,”’ and his 
important “ Traité de Zoologie Concréte”’ (the latter 
published in conjunction with Prof. Hérouard), 
Prof. Delage’s original memoirs include a very im- 
portant work on the development of sponges (‘* Em- 
bryogénie des Eponges; développement postlarvaire des 
Eponges silicieuses et fibreuses marines et d’eau 
douce,” Arch. Zool. Expér. (2), x., No. 3, pp. 345-98). 
M. Jean Gaston Darboux (Sylvester Medal). 
Professeur de géométrie supérieure A la faculté des 
sciences de Paris since April, 1881. Secrétaire per- 
pétuel de l’Académie des Sciences pour les Sciences 
Mathématiques since May, 1g00. Author of ‘‘ Legons 
sur la Théorie Générale des Surfaces’? (four volumes), 
**Lecons sur les Systemes Orthogoneux,”’ and of many 
individual papers dealing with kinematics, theory of 
partial differential equations, planetary theory, the 
principles of infinitesimal geometry, functions of 
a real variable, and numerous other subjects. He is 
one of the most distinguished of contemporary French 
mathematicians, and has been honoured by nearly 
every academy in Europe. 
Prof. Elihu Thomson (Hughes Medal). 
Prof. Elihu Thomson, of Lynn, Massachusetts, has 
long been a leading man in the technical applications 
of electricity in the United States. In the early ’seven- 
ties, when teaching in Philadelphia, he was one of the 
pioneers of electric arc lighting, and invented numerous 
pieces of electric apparatus. In 1887 he discovered, 
experimentally, the repulsion experienced by masses 
and sheets of conducting metal when placed in an 
alternating magnetic field. Following up this matter, 
he devised an alternating-current motor, for some years 
the only one of its kind. He is the inventor also of the 
process of electric welding which bears his name, and 
has made valuable investigations into the production 
of high-frequency discharges and oscillations. 
The following are among the subjects referred to 
in the report of the council of the society :— 
The late Lieut. H. G. J. Moseley, killed in action, 
bequeathed to the society the whole of his estate, to be . 
applied to the furtherance of experimental research in 
pathology, physics, physiology. chemistry, or other 
branches of science, but not in pure mathematics, 
astronomy, or any branch of science which aims 
merely at describing, cataloguing, or systematising. 
The value of this bequest has not yet been fully ascer- 
tained. Under the will of the late Prof. Meldola the 
society will eventually receive a legacy of 5ool. 
The council has decided that in present circum- 
stances it is not desirable that the Central Bureau 
should undertake any work pledging the society to 
publication of the International Catalogue beyond the 
fourteenth issue. The Committee of the Privy Council 
for Scientific and Industrial Research has made a 
grant of 42501. to the catalogue on condition of an 
equal sum being provided from private sources for the 
purpose of assisting the society to keep this important 
scientific undertaking in being. Sir Charles Parsons 
guaranteed the collection of this second sum of 4250l., 
and thus secured the contribution from the Treasury. 
At the request of Dr. Walcott, secretary to the Smith- 
sonian Institution, Washington, the Carnegie Corpora- 
tion of New York made a grant to the institution of 
6000 dollars (12531. 18s. 4d.) for the International 
Catalogue. Sir Charles Parsons has collected 1088I. 
NO. 2458, VOL. 98] 
NATURE 
279 
in private subscriptions, and, by himself subscribing 
1gogl., made up the sum available from all these 
sources to 85o0ol,. 18s. 4d. It is believed that this sum 
will enable the catalogue to be published. to the end 
of the fourteenth issue without the necessity of asking 
for further assistance, 
In June last, at the request of the President of the 
Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, the president and 
council appointed a committee to consider and report 
upon the bionomics and economic importance of grain- 
infesting insects, with especial reference to imported 
grain, the committee consisting of the treasurer (chair- 
man), Prof. V. H. Blackman, Prof. A. Dendy, Prof. 
Stanley Gardiner, Mr. W. B. Hardy, Prof. R, New- 
stead, with Mr. J. H. Durrant (of the British Museum), 
Mr, J, C. F. Fryer (representing the Board of Agricul- 
ture), and Mr. Oswald E, Robinson (president of the 
_ Incorporated National Association of British and Irish 
Millers). This committee has been at work for some 
time on the important subject referred to it, and 
has appointed a small sub-committee which is en- 
gaged upon the necessary investigations and has re- 
cently presented a progress report. 
Under regulations for the administration of the re- 
cruiting schemes adopted by the Government last year 
the Board of Trade included a provision that analytical, 
consulting, and research chemists were not allowed to 
be called up for service with the colours without the 
consent of the Royal Society. The Military Service 
Act which became law last March embodied a list 
of certified occupations, including that of analytical, 
consulting, and research chemists, *‘if recommended for 
exemption by the Royal Society.’ These provisions 
have led to a large number of applications being made 
to the Royal Society by persons claiming to come 
within the category of chemists above described, and 
the consideration of these claims has given, and con- 
tinues to give, rise to a large amount of labour and 
difficulty. 5 
The Sectional War Committees mentioned in the last 
report of the council have continued their labours, and 
several of them have been actively engaged throughout 
the past year in consultation with the departments of 
Government concerned. 
The classified lists for the War Register referred to 
in the last report of council have been completed so 
far as possible, printed, and placed in the hands of the 
naval and military authorities. In addition, a register 
of scientifically trained men available for work in con- 
nection with the war, covering roughly the period be- 
tween the issue of Lord Derby’s scheme and the pass- 
ing of the first Military Service Act, has been compiled, 
and arranged in the form of a card index, which has 
been placed at the disposition of Government depart- 
ments and freely consulted. 
Owing to the special test work undertaken, and the 
large number of special investigations carried out for 
the Admiralty, the War Office, and the Ministry of 
Munitions, the work of the National Physical Labora- 
tory has greatly increased during the past year, and it 
has been necessary temporarily to make considerable 
additions to the staff. In the last report of the coun- 
cil reference was made to the steps which had been 
taken before the war to secure more adequate support 
from the Government for the work of the laboratory, 
and while it is clear that during the war every effort 
must be given to war work, it is necessary that a 
scheme, to come into effect as conditions become 
normal, should be devised to enable the laboratory to 
take its place in the seneral plan of industrial research. 
Several of the senior members of the staff have been 
seconded for service in Government departments, and 
their responsibilities at the laboratory have had to be 
assumed, to a great extent, by the vounger men. Since 
| the formation of the Ministry of Munitions the direc- 
