!5 2 



NATURE 



[September 14, 1911 



condition under the Third Empire. Working in such 

 fields, his attention was early directed to statistics, 

 and in his important work " La Population Fran- 

 caise " he not only treats of the geographical aspects 

 of the question, but deals with it statistically and 

 points out the importance of the proper use of 

 statistics in all questions of applied geography. In 

 all that relates to human geography, the definiteness 

 which we meet in physical geography is only attained 

 with difficulty, and by the careful and prudent use of 

 the best statistical material available. In this direc- 

 tion Levasseur's work furnishes many examples of 

 the highest value as giving a truly scientific formto 

 investigations which, from the numerous factors in- 

 volved, are too often treated superficially. 



H. G. L. 



& 



THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION AT 

 PORTSMOUTH. 

 S we went to press last week, the concluding 

 meeting of the British Association at Portsmouth 

 was being held; and the thanks of the Association 

 were being expressed to the local authorities for the 

 work they had done and the trouble they had taken 

 to make the visit to Portsmouth pleasant and memor- 

 able. Everyone agrees that the Portsmouth meeting 

 was most enjoyable ; and well it might be, consider- 

 ing that it was held at a seaside resort during the 

 season when "sunny Southsea " is full of attractions. 

 In spite of great difficulties, the Mayor (AldermanT. 

 Scott Foster) was able to arrange for the accommoda- 

 tion of the secretaries and other officials in the best 

 hotels, and to provide hospitality for distinguished 

 visitors. There was little private hospitality, and the 

 grant of 3500Z. made to the Mayor by the Corporation 

 of Portsmouth for the entertainment of the visitors 

 can scarcelv have covered the expenses involved. 



The best thanks of the world of science are due 

 to the Mayor and the Corporation for the public 

 spirit they have shown in making provision for the 

 meeting, in spite of a certain amount of local oppo- 

 sition to the necessary expenditure. The actual work 

 of local arrangements has, of course, fallen largely 

 upon the shoulders of the local secretaries, namely, 

 the town clerk (Mr. G. Hammond Etherton) and 

 the medical officer of health (Dr. Mearns Fraser). 

 Only those who have had to be responsible for the 

 organisation of a meeting such as that concluded last 

 week can understand how well the thanks received 

 by the local secretaries are merited. The total 

 attendance at the meeting was 1,241. 



Of the attractions provided for the entertainment 

 of the visitors, the naval display, which was viewed 

 from the battleship Revenge, was most impressive ; 

 ami it will long remain in the memories of the large 

 party privileged to see it. The Association owes this 

 distinctive feature to the Commander-in-Chief, 

 Admiral Sir William Moore, who, in acknowledging 

 ill.' vote of thanks to him and the officers and men 

 of the Royal Navy for the display, paid a generous 

 tribute to the work of science. "When I am at sea," 

 said Sir William, "Lord Kelvin's compass and 

 sounding-line make me think of him with gratitude 

 twenty times a day"; and. referring to Sir William 

 Whin-, who proposed the vote of thank-;, he remarked, 

 "He has given us the greatest essential in the design 

 of our ships, namely, a steady gun-platform." 



On account of the naval display, it was impossible 



for tin- Committee of Recommendations to decide 



upon the grants for scientific purposes en the Mondav, 



subjoined list, which was adopted by the 



NO. 2185, VOL. 87] 



General Committee on Wednesday afternoon, was not 



available for publication last week. The total is 40/. 

 less than last year. 



Grants of money appropriated for scientific 



purposes by the general committee at the 



Portsmouth meet inc. 



£ 



Section A. — Mathematical and Physical Science. 



Seismological Observations 60 



Upper Atmosphere 30 



Magnetic Observations at Falmouth 25 



Establishing a Solar Observatory in Australia 50 



Grant to the International Commission on Physical and 



Chemical Constants 30 



Tabulation of Bessel Functions 15 



Section B. — Chemistry. 



Study of Hydro-aromatic Substances 20 



Dynamic Isomerism 30 



Transformation of Aromatic Nitro-amines 10 



Electroanalysis 10 



Plant Enzymes 30 



Section C. — Geology. 



Erratic Blocks 5 



Palaeozoic Rocks 10 



Composition of Charnwood Rocks 2 



Igneous and Associated Sedimentary Rocks of Glen- 



saul 15 



List of Characteristic Fossils 5 



Sutton Bone Bed 15 



Benbridge Limestone 20 



Section D. — Zoology. 



Index Animalium 75 



Table at the Zoological Station at Naples 30 



Belmullet Whaling Station 20 



Secondary Sexual Characters in Birds 10 



Section E. — Geography. 



Equal Area Maps 20 



Calculation of Areas on the Spheroid 25 



Section G. — Engineering. 



Gaseous Explosions 60 



Section H. — Anthropology. 



Glastonbury Lake Village 5 



Age of Stone Circles 15 



Anthropological Notes and Queries 40 



Artificial Islands in Highland Lochs 13 



Physical Character of Ancient Egyptians 40 



Excavations in Easter Island 15 



Anthropometric Investigations in British Isles 5 



Section I. — Physiology. 



The Ductless Glands 35 



Table at the Zoological Station at Napf-s 20 



Anaesthetics 20 



Calorimetric Observations 40 



Section K. — Botany. 



Structure of Fossil Plants 15 



Experimental Study of Heredity 35 



Survey of Clare Island 20 



Jurassic Flora of Yorkshire 20 



Section L. — Education. 



Mental and Physical Factors 5 



Overlapping 5 



Industrial and Poor Law Schools 10 



Influence of School Books on Eyesight 5 



Corresponding Societies Committee. 



For Preparation of Report 25 



Special Grant. 

 Collections to illustrate Natural History, &c, of the 



Isle of Wight 4° 



Total mW 



