Jan. 14, 1886] 



NA TURE 



'55 



ihe determination, and he must not be too quickly condemned, 

 Ijecause the immediate results of the investigations which he has 

 undertaken are not yet apparent. The highest personal cha- 

 i-acter should be found in every one who is called upon to direct 

 the libours of a scientific corps ; he should be faithful, watchful, 

 careful that all the interests intrusted to him may be promoted ; 

 but he should be free within the limitations of his office to select 

 his subordinates, determine their duties, and prescribe their 

 methods. Only by such regulated freedom as this can the 

 highest results be obtained. Discretion with responsibility, in 

 all the higher work of science, will bring the best services from 

 those whose moral attitude is what it should be : no others 

 should be intrusted with the leadership." 



From the "Washington Letter" of Scicn-e we learn that in 

 the retiring address of the President of the Chemical -Society 

 there Prof F. W. Clarke gave "an able and entertaining rhume 

 of the growth of chemistry in Washington during the past twelve 

 or fifteen years." The President concluded with a plea for the 

 establishment of a national laboratory, which, in its dimensions 

 and equipment, should be commensurate with the importance 

 and dignity of the science. Arguments to show the economy 

 in, and the necessity for, such an establishment were not lacking, 

 either in number or force. Examples of duplication or useless 

 repetition of work, multiplication of instruments and faciUties 

 with no increase in efficiency, and frittering away time and 

 energy on work properly belonging elsewhere, were given with 

 a convincing emphasis, which made it a little difficult, at the 

 close of the address, to believe that there were two siies to the 

 question. 



The programme of the Congress of French Learned Societies 

 for 1886 has been declared by a decree published by the 

 Minister of Public Instruction. Amongst other subjects to be 

 discussed by the fifth, or Natural Sciences Section, we find the 

 following : — Study of the topographical distribution of the 

 species inhabiting the French coasts ; detailed study of the fluvia- 

 tile fauna of France, indicating the species which are migratory 

 and those which are permanent, and in the former case the dates 

 of arrival and departure, noting also the time of laying the 

 eggs, and the influence of the composition of the water ; study of 

 the migrations of birds, and of the periodical phenomena of vege- 

 tation, noting the coincidences of budding, flower, and maturity, 

 with the appearance of the principal kinds of insects injurious to 

 agriculture ; the influence of winter temperatures on insects and 

 their duration ; study of honey- and wax-producing insects ; 

 a study, from an anthropological point of view, of the different 

 populations which have occupied, in whole or part, a certain 

 part of France since the most remote times ; the course 

 and duration of the great epidemics of the Middle Ages 

 and of recent times ; a comparison between the Tertiary 

 vertebrates of the various French formations in view of 

 the successive modifications which the types have under- 

 gone ; a comparison of the Quaternary vertebrates with 

 similar species of the present epoch ; a comparison of the flora 

 of the southern departments of France with that of Algiers ; 

 the Eucalyptus and its uses ; the influence of the chain of the 

 Cevennes in the propagation northwards of the Mediterranean 

 species of plants and animals ; a study of the general move- 

 ments of sand in Asia and Africa, noting the region in which it 

 is retreating and that in which it is advancing. 



We lately commented on a suggestion made, on economical 

 grounds, that Jamaica should diminish the amount spent on, 

 and by consequence the usefulness of, the Colonial Botanic 

 Gardens. We are pleased to notice that .similar views do not 

 prevail elsewhere in the West Indian Islands, for at a late meet- 

 ing of the Legislative Council of Grenada, the Governor 

 announced that it had been decided to establish a Botanic 

 Garden on the island. The site, he said, was selected on 



Government land, and an annual grant of 300/. was placed on 

 the estimates for the expense of preparing the ground and paying 

 a superintendent, who has not yet been engaged. The sum 

 appears small, but is really a considerable amount for an island 

 which is small and far from wealthy. 



Messrs. Wodderspoon and Co., Serle Street, Lincoln's 

 Inn, are publishing in one sheet on paper for sixpence, an easy 

 guide to the principal constellations and stars visible in Great 

 Britain. We have first a map of the circumpolar stars, and 

 another showing those north and south of the equator ; the 

 guiding lines, by which the stars can be easily found from the 

 instructions carefully given, being printed in red ink. It is 

 very clear that the author has embodied in this cheap chart the 

 results of much labour for the teaching of people uninstructed in 

 such matters. We learn, indeed, that many copies have already 

 been given away among coastguardsmen, labourers, and others, 

 who, after a little instruction, use them greedily, and delight in 

 having them to refer to. This is distinctly a good work, and 

 we trust that some of our readers will follow it up. 



We hear that the reconstruction of the Naval Astronomical 

 Observatory of Japan, which has been deferred for several years 

 owing to the extraordinary outlay required, is to be commeuced 

 at once according to the plans originally prepared. 



It is stated that M. Paul Bert, the French physiologist, has 

 been appointed Resident in Annam, Tonquin, and Cambodia. 



A COMPLETE set of observations of the new star in Orion 

 discovered by Mr. J. E. Gore on December 13, 1885, was. Science 

 states, obtained at Harvard College Observatory on Decem- 

 ber 16 — the very evening on which the despatch was received 

 from Lord Crawford — settling the mn-identity of the star with 

 D.M. -I- 20°, 1 172, the star named in the despatch. A meridian 

 circle observation by Prof. Rogers gave for the jjo-ition of the 

 nova R.A. $\i. 49m. 4"25s., Decl. + 20° 9' I5"'6. Prof Picker- 

 ing's photometric measures made the magnitude 6 '2, and the 

 spectroscope showed the existence of bright bands. Two ex- 

 cellent photographs fixing the position of the star with reference 

 to neighbouring stars were obtained, and one photograph of the 

 spectrum. The indications are suggestive of the new star being 

 a long-period variable, and there was a slight suspicion of a 

 diminution in magnitude duiing the first six or seven hours it 

 was under observation. 



Mr. Wood-Mason has, it is stated, undertaken to prosecute 

 a thorough inquiry into the silk-producing larvae of India. 



South-Eastern Roumelia was visited on the evening of 

 the 8th and morning of the 9th inst. by earthquake shocks, some 

 of which \\'ere of a violent character. At Philippopolis the 

 movement is described as being in a south-south-easterly 

 direction. 



0.\ December 29, 1SS5, there was an earthquake at Ismidt, 

 in Asia Minor, not far from Constantinople. It took place at 

 half-past one in the afternoon. The oscillations were slight, 

 and passed from west to east. 



An interesting discovery of bronze hatchets and other prehis- 

 toric warlike instruments has been made at Llanwitt Major, 

 Glamorganshire. As a number of workmen were engaged in 

 digging a foundation for a building, they discovered three spear- 

 heads, six hatchet-like celts, and several other interesting relics, 

 which were concealed under an ancient wall. Some bones were 

 also found. A further sea''ch is being organised. 



Some interest is being excited among geologists in Kent by 

 the great depth to which a boring has been sunk at the Dover 

 Guard Prison for a water supply. The boring, which is close 

 to the sea, has now reached a depth of looo feet, being 700 feet 

 below the sea-level. 



