24 
comprehensiveness could be successfully instituted only through 
the association of a considerable number of observers ; and 
how, more than a hundred years ago, the Societas Palatina in 
Mannheim had organised an extended network of stations of 
observation, at which observations were instituted with instru- 
ments of the same construction, according to the same plan, 
and at the same times, and were collected at the central office, 
and published in a manner which would be deemed exemplary 
even if issued at the present time. This work was prosecuted 
till the French Revolution put a termination to it. In Prussia the 
suggestion of a meteorological institute was made by Alexander 
yon Humboldt, and was crowned with success only in 1847, 
when, on Humboldt’s proposal, Mahlmann was made the first 
Director of the Meteorological Institute, which was connected 
with the Statistical Bureau. In 1849 Dove succeeded Mahl- 
mann as Director of the Institute, and held the post till his 
death in 1879. Meanwhile, however, the necessity of a com- 
plete transformation of the Meteorological Institute came to be 
recognised. Formerly, simple average values for the different 
stations were calculated, and for these no special stress was 
laid on the single observation, in consideration that mistakes 
balanced one another. Now, however, when it was a question 
of preparing synoptic maps and of obtaining exact maps of the 
meteorological conditions prevailing at a determinate time over 
a large area, the value attached to the single observation was 
a much higher one, and it was of the greatest importance 
that all the data should be as free from error as possible. It 
would accordingly be the first task of the Institute to pro- 
vide all stations of the second and third order with good instru- 
ments, carefully to see they are maintained in good order, and to 
collect the materials of observation. The network of stations of 
observation would have to be completed and equally distributed, 
and there were about 200 stations of the second and third order, 
besides some thousands of subordinate stations, in contempla- 
tion. The subordinate stations should be equipped with rain- 
gauges, and make observations on precipitation, thunderstorms, 
and such like. A second problem of the Institute was the exact 
determination of the course of the meteorological elements for 
the day, the month, and the year, by uninterruptedly continuous 
observations not only of the climatic factors—temperature, atmo- 
spheric pressure, moisture, &c.—but also of the phenomena of 
the earth’s magnetism and electricity. This work would be done 
by the Observatory, which was completely separated from the 
Meteorological Institute. The Observatory, under a special 
direction, was transferred to Potsdam to the Astro-physical 
Observatory. Two similar Observatories of the first rank, one 
in Breslau, perhaps, and one in Bonn—at all events, in Univer- 
sity towns wide apart from each other—were in contemplation. 
While the Observatory prosecuted its observations in the quiet 
of Potsdam, the Meteorological Institute should have its seat in 
the midst of. Berlin, in the edifice of what was formerly the 
Building Academy, and continue in connection with the lively 
intercourse of the capital. Irrespective of the service for weather 
warnings to be introduced perhaps at a later date, which would 
require to be in proximity to the head telegraph office, the 
central position should be readily accessible to the different 
observers who came from the provinces to the capital. The 
Institute, moreover, should be easily available for all students of 
science and experts who were in need of meteorological data : 
such, for example, as agriculturists, physicians, persons engaged 
in hydraulic labours, &c. The Meteorological Institute should, 
finally, have as its main function that of being a teaching insti- 
tute for the scientific training of meteorologists, Its function 
in this respect should not be merely confined to lectures at the 
University, but should especially consist of practical work done, 
under the guidance of assistants, by students and young 
observers in the Meteorological Institute, similar to what is 
carried on in chemical, physical, and other laboratories. 
With this programme in hand, the new Director hoped very 
soon to bring the Meteorological Institute to the degree 
of efficiency attained by similar institutes in neighbouring 
countries, and particularly by the teaching thus imparted to 
cultivate a new field fruitful of good results for science.—Dr. 
Weinstein, with reference to his paper recently read to 
the Society, made some further communications respecting 
disturbances of the earth’s currents which had occurred 
on January 9 and March 30. On March 30 the disturb- 
ances were so great that in the course of the forenoon 
telegraphic communication in Germany was stopped. Even 
with currents of 60 Daniells no signs could be forwarded 
NATURE 
{ Way 6, 1886 
by the telegraph wires. The magnetic elements in Wil- 
helmshaven showed great simultaneous disturbances, and from 
the direction of these magnetic disturbances it was inferred 
that the disturbances of the earth’s electricity were the 
primary, the oscillations of the earth’s magnetism the secondary. 
—In connection with these observations of Dr. Weinstein, Prof. 
Sporer stated that from March 26 to April 4 a very re- 
markable and numerous group of spots had been observed 
on the sun. On March 30 Dr. Less had observed squalls, 
accompanied with remarkable oscillations of temperature and 
of atmospheric pressure, and Dr, Assmann read several 
reports on North Light phenomena which had been perceived 
on March 30 in Eldena, Greiffenhagen, Magdeburg, and Nord- 
hausen.—Dr. Weinstein further communicated that Prof. Forster 
had entered into an arrangement for having reports of dis- 
turbances observed in the earth’s current at once forwarded to 
the Astronomical Observatory that the state of the sun might be 
simultaneously examined. 
BOOKS AND PAMPHLETS RECEIVED 
** Journal of the Statistical Society,’’ March (Stanford).—‘* Earthquakes 
and other Earth Movements,” by John Milne (K. Paul).—‘* Transactions of 
the Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders in Scotland,” 1885-86 (Glas- 
gow) —"* The Forest Flora of South Australia,” part 7, by J. E. Brown 
(Spiller, Adelaide).—-‘‘ Jahrbuch der k.k. Geologischen Reichsanstalt,”” 
Band xxxvi. Heft 1 (Holder, Wien) —‘‘ Archives Italiennes de Biologie,” 
tome vii. fasc. 11 (Loescher).—‘‘ Sea-Weeds, Shells, and Fossils,” by Peter 
Gray and B. B. Woodward (Sonnenschein).—“ A Treatise on Nautical 
Astronomy,” by J. Merrifield (S. Low).—‘“‘ Birds of Cumberland,”’ by H. A. 
Macpherson and W. Duckworth (Thurnam, Carlisle).—‘* Handbuch der 
Palzontologie,” Abtheil. 1, Band rr, Leif. 5, ‘* Myriopoda, Arachnoidea, und 
Insecta,” by S. H. Scudder (Druck, Miinchen).—‘‘Handbuch der Palzontolo- 
gie,” Abtheil. 11. ‘‘ Palzophytologie.” Leif. 4, ‘f Coniferae und Monocotylz,’” 
by Dr. A. Schenk (Druck, Miinchen).—‘‘ Letters and Journal of W. Stanley 
Jevons” (Macmillan).—‘ Solid Geometry.” 3rd edition, by P. Frost (Mac- 
millan).—‘* Recherches sur l'Instabilité des Continents et du Niveau des 
Mers,” by J. Girard (Leroux, Paris)—‘‘ Johann Kepler,” by C. Anschutz 
(Prag).—‘‘ The Management of Athletics in Public Schools,” by G. 
Fletcher (Lewis). 
CONTENTS PAGE 
Homer’s Sense of Colour. By Allan Cunningham 
(Major, RSE3)).. ssc fe): fore ie) ae 1 
Our Book Shelf :-— 
‘¢ The Journal of the Engineering Society of the Lehigh 
University) 2c) ec i euie Meuron enn 2 
‘* Fresenius’s Quantitative Analysis” .. ..... 2 
Letters to the Editor :— 
Protective Influence of Black Colour from Light and 
Heat.—G. N.S.... A os 2 
On the Form of Mole-Hills Thrown up under Snow.— 
Prof. Thos. McKenny Hughes, F.R.S. (Z/lus- 
trated) 6 a te fo: io Yo. Ha Ne eC 
Protective Imitation.—J. M.H. ......... 
Iridescent Clouds.—J. G. Grenfell... 
Madras Magnetical Observations. By Prof. Balfour 
Stewart: FRiSo- <2 Gales tee 
Plants and their Defences = 3 = .))) -tueeenee 
o () (© fe (elmeumel 
‘The (Origin of our/Potato . . ssa. 
The Colonial and Indian Exhibition ....... 
IMIDE 6 6 oo 6 Boa oo 
Our Astronomical Column :— i 
The Influence of Phase on the Brightne$s of the Minor 
Planets 2 205 fj Sos. 2S i eee 2 
Comet Fabry: Ss ice fe iether olen ee et cine en 
Barnard’s:Comet |. se 1. yee) en iyo ue) hel es 
The Application of Photography to Astronomy ... 16 
Astronomical Phenomena for the Week 1886 
me 
WnNnno Oe Ga Ge 
Mayig=t5. 6 (s 2 cso aie: fens 0 folie ue) cto I 
Biological Notes :— 
The Hymenoptera of the Hawaiian Islands .... 16 
Vegetable Parasites of Codfish . . . . . . . 3). geny, 
Superimposed Stamens 37 2 5). 5) es) eaten 
Structure of Lingula pyramidata ...+..++. ITT 
The! Guckog (.0 sce) As see OC te 
Note on Earthquakes in China. By Dr. D. J. Mac- 
CK fl Vino reo OL ce Go od oro O10 C0 0 oo LY 
University and Educational Intelligence ..... 19 
ScientificiS erials 972 loi veuet Neitet ce ieel iio ollie Ahoy] eo EZ) 
Societies and’ Academies 2 2 5-5. 5... «= = = 920 
Books and Pamphlets)Received) = 3.) 00.) cnet 
an: lly all, il gman Ra tty 
a 
