'14 



NATURE 



[July 27, 191 1 



The book consists of three parts. In the first of 

 these, treating of deep-sea waves, the evidence of 

 various writers as to the dimensions of storm-waves 

 in different ocean basins is collated, and supplemented 

 by the author's own observations. Accurate measure- 

 ments are from the nature of the case very difficult, 

 but it appears that there is a limit to the height (from 

 crest to trough), which different observers concur in 

 placing al aboul 40 feet, whilst the limit to the length 

 is somewhere about 600 feet. The waves are longer 

 and higher the longer the "fetch," i.e. the extent of 

 water to windward, where the waves are generated. 

 As to the mode in which waves grow under the influ- 

 ence of wind in a storm, we have at present little 

 beyond general indications. Another subject here re- 

 ferred to is that of the much longer and lower waves 



Fia. 2.— Stationary waves caused bv a weir on the River Aare, Switz 

 and other Water Wavi 



which constitute the "swell" of the ocean. To the 



this 1- often scat 1 eh pen epi ible il sea, and the 



only method of accurate observations consists in 



timing the waves as they break on lie- shore, where 



they arc exaggerated 1a the shoaling ol the water. 



In this way some inferences can be made, as pointed 



out by Stokes, as to the distance of the seal of the 



il disturbance i<> which tin 1 swell is due. 



'The second pari oi the treatise deals with the action 



i-waves in transporting shingle, sand, and mud. 



This is of enormous practical importance, and can be 



\iili 1.1 some extenl experimentally. From a 



! "i view it i- very difficult, and we 



shall hoi attempt here to discuss the contribution 



which the author makes i" speculation on this subject. 



The con eluding section gives an interesting a t, 



NO. 2 I 78, Vol.. 87 



with admirable illustrations, of the "bore" or abrupt 

 tidal wave observed in the Severn and other rivers 

 and of the stationary waves in flowing water due to 

 fixed obstacles, finally, the remarkable configuration 

 of "ship-waves," first elucidated by Lord Kelvin, is 

 exhibited in some beautiful photographs. These show 

 clearly the system of "transverse" waves, which were 

 (we believe) unnoticed in the earliest tank experiments 

 until their existence had been pointed out by theory. 



FIVE-HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 

 UNIVERSITY OF ST. ANDREWS. 



FROM September 12-15 next, inclusive, this cele- 

 bration will be held in the ancient ecclesiastical 

 capital of Scotland, with all the ceremony it is pos- 

 sible to have in the circum- 

 stances. Though the uni- 

 versity was not founded 

 until 141 1, ye 1 St. An- 

 drews for centuries pre- 

 viously had various teach- 

 ing institutions in connec- 

 tion with the learned 

 religious bodies in the 

 monasteries of the Culdees 

 and other sects concen- 

 trated in the ancient city. 

 the preceptors of which 

 had been trained in the 

 English or Continental 

 universities, especially 



those of France and Italy. 

 Steps, indeed, had been 

 taken before this period to 

 further the interests of the 

 Scottish students bv the 

 founding of the Set itch 

 College (Balliol) at Oxford 

 by Lady Devorguill, the 

 wife of John Baliol ; whilst 

 1 be good Bishop of Moray 

 bad instituted in 1326 the 

 Scotch College in Paris. 

 No university, however, 

 existed in Scotland, so that 

 her students had to study 

 for degrees elsewhere, and 

 in the unsettled state of 

 the times had not infre- 

 quently to encounter diffi- 

 culties ami hardships- 

 even to the occasional cap- 

 ture by their then hostile 

 neighbours, the Enc,b-li 

 on their way to othei 

 countries. Such was the 

 i ondition ol tilings « ben 

 Henry Wardlaw was ap- 

 pointed to the bishopric of St. Andrews, and as a 

 was 1 man distinguished for his wide culture, munifi- 

 d greal influence, it was not long before he 

 found an opportunity. Eighl years after his appoiral 

 ineiu in St. Andrews, viz., in 1411, the thought* 

 which doubtless bad been revolving in his mine 

 1, 11 a long time took shape and were pul in anion 

 \ Studium 1 ?i '■< rale w as at once commeni ■ 

 the aid ot a stall of able teachers in thf 

 faculties of law, divinity, and arts. He drew up rl 

 foundation-chartei oi the university, and forwards 

 il by envoys to the Pope (Benedict XIII. ), who en-i 

 dowed il by means of papal bulls with all the power- 

 of a university in 1413 — to teach science, philosophy. 

 and medicine, and this was subsequently confirmed b\ 

 King James, who was throughout a staunch bene- 



of the Se. 



