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_ FEpruary 10, 1923] 
NATURE 
197 

graphy within the faculty of arts. The exhibition, 
arranged jointly by the Manchester Geographical 
_ Society and the University, was opened by Sir 
+ 
Frederick Lugard, and the occasion was taken to 
bring before the public the appeal for funds which 
the Society is making to endow a chair of geography 
in the new honours school. The collections of maps, 
which have been placed on loan at the University by 
Col. D. Mills and Mrs. Booker, include facsimiles of 
such maps as the Madaba Mosaic, the Peutinger Table, 
the St. Sever copy of the Beatus map, 14th and 15th. 
portolani, the Catalan world map of 1375, and the series 
of maps reproduced principally under the direction of 
Prof. E. L. Stevenson, illustrative of geographical dis- 
covery in the period between the time of Juan de la 
Cosa’s portolan (1500) and the world map of Hondius 
(1611). The Booker collection contains many typical 
country and county maps from Norden and Saxton to 
Cary, Greenwood, and Bryant, while the reproductions 
of London and Paris views and maps (Mills collection), 
made by the London Topographical Society and the 
French Government respectively, form excellent 
material for the study of these two cities. In addi- 
tion, the exhibition includes a number of regional 
maps of the various parts of the world extending over 
a considerable period of time, of which those of Russia 
and the Far East are the most extensive. There is 
every prospect, with these maps as a nucleus, of a 
great development of all phases of cartographical 
studies within the University. 
Messrs. W. WATSON AND Sons, Ltp., of 313 High 
Holborn, W.C.1, have issued a new edition of Parts 1 
and 2 of their microscope catalogue. Included in the 
list is a new model, the ‘‘ Kima,” which is specially 
designed for students and sold at a reasonably low 
price. The instrument, which is somewhat similar 
to, but smaller than, the now well-known “ Service ”’ 
model, complies with the specification of the British 
Science Guild except in regard to the position of the 
fine adjustment milled heads. Various models—for 
example, the ‘‘ Royal,” the “‘ Van Heurck ’’—suitable 
for research or general high power work, as well as 
binocular microscopes for both low and high powers 
are described in detail and a complete list of eye- 
pieces, objectives, condensers, and other accessories 
is given. A welcome reduction in prices is noticeable 
in nearly all the items. There is also listed a hori- 
zontal or reading microscope consisting of a micro- 
scope body of large diameter fitted with a micrometer 
eyepiece and a 2-inch objective. The body is sur- 
mounted by a sensitive bubble for levelling purposes. 
Vertical adjustment is made by a rack and pinion, 
the pillar being divided into millimetres and fitted 
with a vernier. 
Tue Pasteur lecture delivered before the Institute 
of Medicine of Chicago on November 24 last, by Dr. 
Jacques Loeb, is reproduced in the issue of Science 
dated December 29. The lecture is devoted mainly 
to a consideration of the osmotic equilibrium of 
gelatin in the presence of various concentrations of 
acid and alkali. 
WE have received the new issue of the chemical 
catalogue of British Drug Houses, Ltd. In many 
cases there has been a considerable reduction in 
prices of chemicals in everyday use, and some sub- 
stances required by research workers are now listed 
which did not appear in former catalogues. Bio- . 
logical stains are included, and the catalogue should 
find a place in every laboratory. 
In the January issue of the Research Defence 
Society’s pamphlet, The Fight Against Disease 
(Macmillan andCo., price 6d.), the story of bubonic 
plague, by Surg.-Gen. Bannerman, is retold (the 
Society first published it in rgro). An excellent 
account is given of the ravages of bubonic plague and 
its transmission from rats to man through the inter- 
mediary of the rat fleas. Some data are also included 
of the efficiency of plague vaccine in the prevention 
of the disease. The general article on Pasteur which 
appeared in NATURE, December 23, is also reprinted. 
Our Astronomical Column. 
FIREBALLS IN FEBRUARY.—Mr. W. F. Denning 
writes: ‘‘ This month though it does not supply 
meteors in abundance has furnished a number of large 
fireballs, some of which have been of exceptional 
character. The Mon. Not. R.A.S. for March 1922 
contained a list of the remarkable meteoric phenomena 
recorded in recent years between February 7 and 22. 
Two of the most singular fireballs ever seen occurred, 
one on February 22, 1909, which left a long streak in 
the sky for two hours and drifted on upper wind- 
currents to north-west at the rate of t20 miles per 
hour. The other, on February 9, 1913, consisted of 
a stream of bright meteors which passed over North 
America, and had a luminous flight extending over at 
least 5500 miles. 
“Tt is impossible to foretell the time of appearance 
of any individual fireball, and it is necessary that 
observers should be specially on the alert during the 
present month, for the prospect of observing a large 
meteor is very good, especially during the periods 
February 7, 10-14 and February 19-22. There are 
several active radiants at this time of the year, such as 

52°. In the event of any bright meteors being seen, 
the particulars should be carefully noted, and their 
apparent paths among the stars recorded as accurately 
as possible.” 
ASTRONOMICAL CIRCULARS.—There is a class of 
astronomical announcements—discoveries of comets 
or of novae, unusual markings on planets, etc.—the 
early circulation of which is of importance to observers. 
In the last century Lord Crawford started the 
Dunecht and Edinburgh Circulars, but they were not 
continued after his death. The only resource up to 
the present for those who find the price of astro- 
nomical telegrams too high has been the series of 
circulars issued by Prof. Strémgren at Copenhagen, or 
that of the Astry. Nach. at Kiel. These take some 
days to reach this country. The British Astronomical 
Association has now decided to issue a series of 
circulars when news of an urgent character comes to 
hand. Non-members of the B. A. A. can obtain these 
circulars at a charge of a few shillings per annum on 
writing to the secretary. They will include the latest 
ephemerides of comets in addition to discovery 
those at 147°-11°, 167° +33°, 73° +42°, and 106° + | announcements. 
NO. 2780, VOL. 111 | 
