828 
NATURE 
[JUNE 16, 1923 

in a very narrow space at the edge of the glacier of 
different plants and plant societies. Compared with 
the Bernina, the flora of the Grimsel is poor in number 
of species, a fact due primarily to the uniform 
character of the mineral which forms the basis of 
the soil. The general features of the district and 
its vegetation, are illustrated by nine very good 
photographic plates. 
Dr. Mario Jaggli’s study of the vegetation of the 
Maggia delta (‘‘ I] delta della Maggia e la sua vegeta- 
zione,’’ Rascher, Ziirich, fr. 7) on Lake Maggiore, 
between Locarno and Ascona, deals with a fluctuating 
low-lying area, just above water-level, or periodically 
or permanently submerged. The writer describes 
the general character of the delta and its recent 
transformations, as well as the climatic conditions 
in relation to the vegetation. He gives an account 
of the plant associations at the different levels and 
also a complete systematic list of the species and 
their distribution in the area. The work is illustrated 
by a coloured phyto-geographical map and a section 
in profile. 
A widely differing area forms the subject of a 
communication by Rolf Nordhagen (“ Vegetations- 
studien auf der Insel Utsire im _ westlichen Nor- 
wegen ’’; Bergens Museums Aarbok, 1920-21, Hefte 
1), who gives an account of the vegetation, with the 
constituent plant-associations and a list of the 
species, of a small isolated island, about 614 square 
kilometres in area, off the west coast of Norway. 
The flora of the island bears a strong resemblance 
to that of the Faroe Islands, though, unlike the Faroes, 
it has no high lands, the highest. point being only 
80 metres above sea-level. The value of the work 
is enhanced by a large number of photographically 
produced text-blocks. 

University and Educational Intelligence. 
CaMBRIDGE.—Mr. H. M. Fox, Gonville and Caius 
College, has been appointed demonstrator of com- 
parative anatomy. The following members of the 
staff of the Solar Physics Observatory have been 
reappointed for five years: Messrs. C. T. R. Wilson, 
Sidney Sussex College, F. E. Baxandall, C. P. Butler, 
and W. Moss. 
The Committee for Geodesy and Geodynamics re- 
ports that funds have now been secured for the erection 
of a small building for practical work near the Ob- 
servatory. It is expected to be ready early in July. 
A grant of 200/. has been made by the Royal Society 
from the Caird Fund towards the purchase of pen- 
dulum apparatus for research purposes. A pair of 
transit instruments, an astronomical clock, and a 
twelve-inch theodolite have been presented to the 
School of Geodesy by the Surveyor General of the 
Trigonometrical Survey of India, with the approval 
of the Government of India; and other valuable loans 
and presents have been received. 
Prof. Nils Bohr has been proposed as an honorary 
member of the Cambridge Philosophical Society on 
the occasion of his receiving an honorary degree from 
the University. 
Lonpon.—The following doctorates have been 
awarded :—Ph.D. in Science: Mr. L. G. F. Dolley 
(University College) for a thesis entitled “ The 
Compressibilities of Binary Gas Mixtures’’; and 
Vidya Sagar Puri (King’s College) for a thesis entitled 
“* Studies in Alternating Current Electrolysis.” 
The chairman (the Rt. Hon. the Viscount Chelms- 
ford) and members of University College committee, 
the Provost and members of the academic staff, will 
hold a reception at the College on Saturday, July 7. 
NO. 2798, VOL. 111] 

The new anatomy building and the extensions of the 
physiology and engineering departments will be open 
to inspection. 
MANCHESTER.—The award of the degree of D.Sc. 
has been recommended to Mr. J. C. Duff for a thesis 
on ‘“‘ Complex Metallic Ammines,’’ and to Mr. W. F. 
Rawlinson for papers dealing with X-ray spectra and 
with the properties of supersonic waves in water. 
Mr. W. H. Dearden has been elected Hadfield 
research scholar in metallography. This is the first 
award of the scholarship, which was instituted last 
year by Sir Robert Hadfield on the occasion of the © 
inauguration of the Metallographic Institute at 
Stockholm. The scholarship is tenable at the 
Institute, and the scholar works under the direction 
of Prof. Benedicks. Mr. Dearden was a student of 
the Department of Metallurgy, 1919-22, and being 
head of his year in the Final Examination was 
awarded a graduate scholarship. During the past 
session he has carried out research on the causes of 
the failure of manganese bronze as a result of the 
attack of solders. 
Oxrorp.—The annual report of the Savilian pro- 
fessor of astronomy, Prof. H. H. Turner, was presented 
to Convocation on June 5. Reference is made in the 
report to the seismological work done at the observa- 
tory, especially on the determination of the depth at 
which earthquakes take place, and on the various 
periodicities which have been found in the recurrence 
of earthquakes, notably one of about four years 
which seems to be connected with a change in the 
earth’s interior. In this department Prof. Turner 
has received much assistance from Mr. J. S. Hughes, 
of New College, whose services have been made 
possible by the financial help of Dr. J. E. Crombie, 
of Aberdeen. Voluntary work on the Vatican Zones 
of the Astrographic Catalogue has been given by 
Messrs. F. Sargent, A. Burnet, and C. Martin. Dr. 
Fotheringham has lectured on ancient chronology, 
and has published papers on the “‘ Visibility of the 
lunar crescent’’ and on a correction of the secular 
acceleration of the moon’s mean motion as deter- 
mined from occultations and conjunctions in the 
Almagest. Mr. F. A. Bellamy has continued his 
general supervision of the observatory as first assist- 
ant, and has published a paper on faint stars with ~ 
large proper motions on plates of the Oxford Astro- 
graphic Catalogue. Miss E. F. Bellamy has con- 
tinued her revision of the Vatican Zones of the 
Catalogue. 
At the ensuing Encenia it will be proposed to 
confer the degree of D.Sc. on Sir Ernest Rutherford 
and on Prof. Louis Lapicque, professor of physiology 
in the University of Paris. 

Tue University of Geneva has conferred the degree 
of doctor honoris causa on Prof. A. C. Seward, pro- 
fessor of botany in the University of Cambridge, and 
on Mr. Douglas W. Freshfield. 
APPLICATIONS are invited by the Imperial College 
of Science and Technology for the Henry George 
Plimmer fellowship in pathology. Candidates must 
be qualified to undertake research in morbid anatomy, 
histological anatomy, chemical pathology, proto- 
zoology, bacteriology, and allied subjects in either 
zoology or medicine or botany. Further particulars 
can be obtained from the Rector of the College, 
South Kensington, S.W.7. The latest date for the 
receipt of applications is June 25. 
Tue Imperial Education Conference, which will 
open on June 25 at the Board of Education and 
