374 



NATURE 



[September 14, 191 1 



have completed a course of work in the engineering depart- 

 ment ; and some firms are prepared to take students into 

 their works at reduced premiums, or, in others, without 

 premiums. Some firms, too, have agreed to allow their 

 apprentices to present themselves at their works at 

 7 o'clock in place of at 6 o'clock on not more than two 

 mornings a week during the college evening-class session 

 provided they can produce a certificate from the college at 

 the end of the session stating that they have attended a 

 number of evenings equal to the number of cases on which 

 they have availed themselves of the concession. 



The new calendar of the Battersea Polytechnic shows 

 that in the Day Technical College full-time courses are 

 arranged in mechanical, civil, electrical, and motor 

 engineering, architecture and building, and chemical 

 engineering. The courses cover a period of three years, 

 at the end of which time students passing the necessary 

 examinations are awarded the polytechnic diploma. Con- 

 currently with the diploma courses, students can take the 

 degree courses in science and engineering of the University 

 of London. Several new developments have been arranged ; 

 in the mechanical engineering department a course of 

 lectures on illuminating engineering will be held ; in the 

 electrical engineering department special attention will be 

 given to electric traction, and new machinery and apparatus 

 are being purchased so that the subject may be more 

 thoroughly taught. Attention may also be directed to the 

 chemistry course for sanitary inspectors, and to the 

 arrangements which have been made for the provision of 

 special lectures by trade experts in connection with the 

 paper-making course. 



Among the college calendars, providing information re- 

 specting the arrangements made for the forthcoming 

 session, which have been received during the past week 

 may be mentioned that of the Edinburgh and East of 

 Scotland College of Agriculture, which affords evidence of 

 the greatly increased activity in this branch of technical 

 education. Particulars are given of the courses which may 

 be taken at the central institution in the departments of 

 agriculture, horticulture, and forestry. In horticulture, 

 during the coming session a commencement will be made 

 with the newly instituted two years' course leading up to 

 a special certificate. It is hoped that this course, which 

 has been established at the instance of the Scottish horti- 

 cultural societies, will be taken advantage of by intending 

 nurserymen, market and estate gardeners, and others. 

 Under the new arrangements with the University of Edin- 

 burgh, the teaching in forestry subjects is to be shared 

 between the University and the College, and details an' 

 given of the courses offered in the combined forestrv school. 

 Various experiments in the growing of field crops and in 

 other branches of agriculture and horticulture are con- 

 ducted under the advice of local committees of practical 

 men, and are directed towards the solution of problems of 

 importance in the business of the farmer and gardener. 



The celebration of the 500th anniversary of the founda- 

 tion of St. Andrews University is now in progress, and 

 the influx of distinguished visitors into the ancient city- 

 far exceeds anything of the kind in former years. The 

 presence of Royalty alone is necessary to complete the 

 scene. Almost all the visitors are the guests of the Uni- 

 versity staff, of the St. Andrews School for Girls, of the 

 citizens of St. Andrews and Dundee, or of country houses 

 in Fife and Forfarshire — within easy reach of the city liv 

 motor carriages. The cordiality with which all responded 

 to the call for accommodation was a source of gratification 

 to the executive. For the carrying out of the programme 

 various committees dealing with the several departments 

 have been at work about a year. Thus the publication 

 committee has issue! several memorial volumes, literary, 

 scientific, and historical, and then- is also a small quin- 

 centenary handbook of t H. ■ 1 iiv and the University of St. 

 Andrews by the librarian. In the memorial volumes the 

 zoological departmenl and the Gatty Marine Laborator) 'I" 

 not bulk so larg.lv as, fur example, chemistry, since th 

 history of the laboratory, with the list of publications up 

 to date, forms an independent publication. A larpv 

 temporary hall about 90 yards in length and jo vnrds in 

 breadth has been fitted with a spacious platform at one 

 NO. 2185, VOL. 87] 



end and an orchestra at the other, the whole structure 

 occupying the old archery butts to the north of the < 

 United College. This hall accommodates between three 1 

 and four thousand people. Covered ways lead to several I 

 cloak-rooms, to the museum, and to the United College j 

 buildings generally. In the upper hall of the library in I 

 South Street is an exhibition of early and rare printed 

 books and manuscripts. Everything has been done in the 

 way of facilitating transit by railway from a distance and 1 

 to Dundee, as well as arranging for local conveyances. 

 Clubs for men and for women, a camp in the University 

 park for students, a special post-office and a refreshment- 

 room in the Town Hall are other features which have 

 received attention. Never did the old grey and sea-girt 

 city, with its parallel streets leading to the cathedral, look 

 more charming, or its finely planted promenades and 

 walks (under the fostering care of the Town Council) more 

 enticing. To every graduate and student, as of old, the 

 place appeals with an irresistible charm, and it is to be 

 hoped that the distinguished visitors will be no less 

 fascinated by their unique surroundings. Next week wfe I 

 hope to have an account of the celebration, which 

 began with a reception by the Chancellor on Tuesday 

 evening. Besides the men of science mentioned in Nature 

 of last week, the following will receive the honorary degree 

 of LL.D. :— Dr. Berry, Dr. Byron Bramwell, Sir H. 

 Butlin, Sir Hector Cameron, Prof. Caullery, Prof. Goebel, 

 Prof. Gotch, Prof. Ludwig Graff von Paucsova, Prof. 

 Hoist, Dr. Home, Prof. Keen, Sir J. Larmor, Prof. 

 Leboucq, Prof. Sedgwick Minot, Prof. Nathorst, Prof. 

 Nijland, Prof. E. E. Prince, Prof. Reddingius, Prof. 

 Schaefer, Dr. Anthony Traill, Prof. Veit, Prof. Watts, 

 and Dr. Smith Woodward. 



CONTENTS. pack 



Lord Kelvin's Papers. By A. G 341 



The Nuclei of the Protista. By C. Clifford Dobell 343 



Cyclones and Sugar-Canes. By C. S 344 



Irrigation on the Indus. By H. G. L 344 



Elementary Statistics 345 



Our Book Shelf 346 



Letters to the Editor: — 



Rainless Thunderstorms — Dr. John Aitken, F. R.S. 346 



A Pseudo-Aurora — J. S. Grey 347 



The Destruction of Kingfishers near London — Fredk. 



J. Stubbs 347 



A Bright Meteor — Wilfred C. Parkinson .... 347 



Non-Euclidean Geometry — Rev. W. B. Frankland 347 



Examinations — W. P. Dreaper 348 



Habits of Dogs— Dr. Walter Kidd 348 



Miniature Rainbows — B. P. H. 348 



Underpayment of Teachers — E. R. Marie 348 



Rubber. (Illustrated.) 348 



The Lives of British Birds. (Illustrated.) 350 



A Monument to Janssen 351 



Pierre itmile Levasseur. By H. G. L 351 



The British Association at Portsmouth 352 



Section G. — Encineering. — Opening Address by Prof. 

 J. H. Biles, LL.D., TJ.Sc, M.Inst.C.E., Presi- 

 dent of the Section 353 



Section II. — Anthropology. — Opening Address by 

 W. H. R Rivers, M^D., F.R.S., President of 



the Section 356 



Section I. — Physiology. — Opening Address by Prof. 

 J. S. Macdonald, B.A., President of the 



Section 360 



Notes 368 



Our Astronomical Column: — 



Kiess's ('(Hint, 1911/1 372 



Meridian Circle Observations 372 



Brooks'- Comet, nil \c. (Illustrated.) 372 



\ ariabilii y ol P Jaris 373 



1 ibserval ion ol Mars 373 



University and Educational Intelligence 373 



