\i GUST 31, 1911] 



NATURE 



>°5 



has been divided by tbe Geological Surve) for the pur- 

 pose of hydrographical research, and that it is equally 

 it in compilation and treatment. 

 The two papers on well waters contain much usi ful 

 information on the means of finding and securing for 

 consumption a satisfactory supply of watei from 

 underground sources. The pamphlet on well-drilling is 

 practical in its description of the outfit and 

 appliances required for the purpose, and of the methods 

 to be followed according to the exigencies of particular 

 , exigencies which, it is to be observed, are fre- 

 quently of an exceptional nature. The literature on the 



sub] I well-sinking is by no means extensive, and Mr. 



Bowman has exploited a field of his own, comprising those 



features ol American practice which are associa 



pi. hi. - 1 work in district- where many of the ordinary 



of highly developed communities are not 1 ill 

 available. The scope of the manual is not limited to 

 water wellst— all classes of borings for oil, ga*. and whim 

 ted, though naturally the hydraulic aspect of the 

 that which receives most prominent considera- 

 tion. The interaction of borings undertaken for different 

 ends is noted, and the flooding of oil wells by carelessh 

 constructed and abandoned water shafts is made the sub- 

 ject of very necessary advice and caution. Thi 

 freely, yet judiciously, illustrated by diagrams and photo- 

 graphs ; and though one of the former, otherwise complete. 

 Father amusingly indicates a platform carrying a couple of 

 men in mid-air without any visible means of support, yet 

 vli.i. misconception is unlikely it would be ungrai 

 cavil at so slight a defect. The manual is one deserving 

 of cordial commendation. 



MAGNETIC OBSERVATIONS. 

 TPHE magnetic observations made during iqio at the 

 Khedivial Observatory, Helwan, are included in a 

 small pamphlet of seven pages, which gives for each month 

 and the year the mean values of the magnetic elements, 

 the diurnal variations in declination, horizontal force and 

 vertical force, and particulars of the ranges of these 

 elements ..n the eight most disturbed days of the year 

 In the diurnal variation tallies values are given for both 

 *hts, the aperiodic element not being eliminated. 

 This is rather unusual. These tables go to o-i' in declina- 

 tion and to 17 (1 x in- ' C.G.S.) in the force components. 

 As the days tabulated in the month average twenty-eight, 

 the expediency of going to o-oi' and to 0-17 seems worthy 



ol sideration, especially as the diurnal ranges are small. 



Disturbances at Helwan, at least in 1910, seem to rule 

 small. The largest ranges in the selected disturbed days 

 were only 1 ;' in declination, 1877 in horizontal force, 

 and 587 in vertical force. So far as internal evidence 

 enables one to judge, its magnetic work does increasing 

 credit to the Egyptian Survey Department, and it is to be 

 hoped thai it will continue to be prosecuted under favour- 

 able . 1 mditions. 



In Ill.it t 3 of the Royal Observatory of Wilhelmshaven 



the a istanl director, Prof. Bidlingmaier, continues the 



discussion of the magnetic disturbance character of the 



1.11... initiated in Blatt 1 and 2, already noticed 



(March [6, | His method, it will be remembered, 



extends to individual hours the international scheme which 

 assigns a magnetic character to individual days. Dr. 

 Bidlingmaier's original view seems to have been that the 

 disturbance character of a magnetic element might be based 

 on the extent of its departure at the hour concerned from 

 the corresponding mean monthly value on quiet days. He 

 now regards this view as unsatisfactory, owing to its dis- 

 regarding the influence of previous disturbance and making 

 no allowance for Chree's discovery that the regular diurnal 

 inequality varies according to the magnetic character of the 

 day. Hi- present estimate of hourly disturbance character 

 seems based on the size of the maximum departure of the 

 element during the hour from its mean value for the hour. 

 He arrives at a numerical estimate of what lie terms 



Erdmagnetische Aktivitat for the months of iqio, and 

 compares it with Wolfer's sun-spot frequency. The hourly 

 character of the first six months of iqn is shown graphic- 

 allv in the manner applied in Blatt 1 and 2 to 1010. 



The results of observations made at the U.S. Coast 

 NO. 2183, VOL. 8/] 



and Geodetic Survej 's magnetic observatories at Chelten- 

 ham (Maryland), bitka 1 \ ., Honolulu during 



1. ...7 .111.I 1908 are published in volumes similar to those 

 ol |u.\ious biennial periods. Besides hourl) readings and 

 diurnal inequalities for the two years in question, the 

 1 heltenham volume gives particulars ..I the mean annual 

 values of the elements since the observatory began opera- 

 tions in 1901. A list is given of the fifty-eight principal 

 magnetic disturbances of 1907 and 190X, with the times of 

 ili.ii beginning and ending, and the curves obtained on 

 nineteen of these occasions are reproduced, the times shown 

 being G.M.T. The time scale adopted, 15 mm. to the 

 hour, is more open than in previous years. The largest 

 storms of the period were those of September 11 and 2S, 

 1908. A list of earthquakes recorded by a Bosch-Omori 

 ograph is also given. The Sitka volume contains the 

 usual tables of hourly readings and diurnal inequalities, 

 and mean monthly values lor the two years. A li-t is 

 given of the sixty-two principal magnetic storms of the 

 period, and the curves for sixteen of these are reproduced 

 on a scale of 15 mm. to the hour. Sitka is a highly 

 disturbed station, and during the principal storms there is 

 at times considerable loss of trace; also the traces from 

 tlir several elements being on one sheet — the usual pr.-i.ii.> 

 with Eschenhagen magnetographs — there is a good deaf 

 of intercrossing of the traces. During the early part of 

 190S there was also some loss of trace owing to defects 

 in the driving clock, and a new one had to be substituted. 

 Particulars are also given of the earthquake records 

 obtained with a Bosch-Omori seismograph. Besides the 

 ordinary tables of hourly readings, diurnal inequalities, 

 c\c, the Honolulu volume contains a list of the principal 

 magnetic storms of the two years, and reproduces the 

 curves for a number of these. Honolulu is a relatively 

 quiet station, and loss of trace seems rare. The volume 

 also contains a register of earthquakes recorded by a Milne 

 seismograph. 



UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 

 INTELLIGENCE. 



The death is announced of Prof. J. P. Schweitzer, pro- 

 fessor of chemistry in the University of Missouri from 

 1872 until 1910. when he became professor emeritus. Prof. 

 Schweitzer was born in Berlin in 1840, and went to the' 

 United States in 1S65. He was known for his work in 

 analytical and agricultural chemistry. 



Mr. F. Pullinger, chief inspector of the Technological' 

 Branch of the Board of Education ; Mr. W. R. Davies, 

 assistant secretary of the Technological Branch of the 

 Board of Education; Prof. John Perry, F.R.S., professor 

 of mechanics and mathematics in the Imperial College of 

 Science and Technology ; and Mr. W. Cannon, principal of 

 ih" Woolwich Polytechnic, have been appointed members, 

 for a period of three years, of the Examinations Board of 

 its Department of Technology by the City and Guilds of 

 London Institute. Thev succeed Mr. C. A. Buckmaster, 

 Prof. W. Gowland, F.R.S., Mr. J. H. Reynolds, and 

 Prof. \Y. Ripper, whose terms of office hive expired. 



It is announced in The Pioneer Mail of August 4 that 

 Rao Saheb Vasanji Trikamji has generously placed at the 

 .lisp,. sal of the Governor of Bombay a sum of two and a 

 ouarter lakhs of rupees for the foundation of a scientific 

 library in connection with the institute of science now 

 being erected in Bombay. The conditions attached to this 

 donation are that the science institute library shall be 

 called Yasanaji Trikamji Mulji Library. A marble bust ..I 

 Vasanji Trikamji Mulji and two marble tablets mention- 

 ing the amount of the donation and other particulars are 

 to" be placed in suitable positions. The Governor has 

 publicly thanked Rao Saheb Vasanji Trikamji for his 

 benefaction, which will enable provision to be made for 

 the formation of an adequate scientific library in Bombay 

 in connection with the institute of science. 



With the adoption of the Budget for 1909-10, a system 

 of automatic increases in salaries was inaugurated at the 

 University of California. We learn from Science that an 

 instructor's salary is to be increased automatically 20/. per 

 year from 200?. to 300/.. and the salaries of assistant pro- 

 fessors 20/. a year from 320/. up to 400/. The automatic 



