3 b 4 



NATURE 



[September 21, 191 1 



his way up to a managership, and finally become a 

 wealthy estanciero on his own account. But the 

 author gives the emphatic warning that "Argentina is 

 not a country suitable for the English of the usual 

 emigrant class." 



A relief from the monotonous ranch life was the 

 crossing of the Andes into Chile by way of Mendoza, 

 with excursions of several weeks towards Aconcagua 

 and the glaciers of the Jheadwaters of the Tupungato 

 valley, in company of an enthusiastic exploring en- 

 gineer, who finds his recreation in the climbing of 

 difficult peaks. 



The ninety-one original photographs (two of which 

 are here reproduced by the courtesy of the publishers) 

 are excellent representations of a multitude of scenes 

 from lassoing gauchos, sheep-shearing, and locust- 

 plagues, to shifting dunes amongst lagoons, glaciers, 

 and nines penitcntes. 



THE ERUPTION OF ETNA. 

 T N the last issue of Nature (p. 368), a brief reference 

 ■*• was made to what has proved to be a somewhat 

 important eruption of Etna. Our knowledge of the 

 successive phenomena is still scanty, the telegrams 

 inserted in English newspapers being short; but, from 

 the more lengthy accounts given in the Corriere of 

 Catania, some further details may be gleaned. 



The eruption was, as usual, preceded by a series 

 of tremors interspersed with stronger shocks. At 

 Mineo, which lies about 35 miles S.S.W. of Etna, the 

 first movement was recorded on September 10, at 

 0.58 a.m., followed for more than fifteen hours by 

 almost incessant tremors. After 4.28 p.m., however, 

 a period of calm ensued, which for at least twenty- 

 four hours was interrupted by only one disturbance; 

 and, even at Linguaglossa (about ten miles north-east 

 of the central crater), the shocks had become so infre- 

 quent and so slight that the inhabitants were no 

 longer awakened by them. 



Almost concurrently with the fast tremors, black 

 clouds of vapour and ashes were seen to rise from 

 Etna. The first n<w vent was opened at 4.30 a.m. on 

 September 10 on the northern flank of the mountain 

 to the north-west of M. Erumento, 1 and at a height 

 of about ipoo feet; the second, at 9.40 a.m., in the 

 neighbourhood of M. Nero; in both cases an hour or 

 more after pronounced shocks. From both openings 

 there issued dense clouds, with lapilli, sand and ashes, 

 but no lava. Later in the day, at 12.15, a third vent 

 appeared, near M. Crozza, and a little "later a fourth, 

 near Castiglione Sicilia. After this, new vents opened 

 in rapid succession. On September 11 then' were 

 sixteen in action, of which fourteen ejected vapour and 

 dust, and the other two, lower down, lava. On 

 September 13 Prof. Ricc6 reported that as many as 

 54 vents had opened in the region between M. Rosso 

 and the craters formed in 1879. The central crater 

 also ejected an immense quantity of ashes, which have 

 covered tin- surrounding country to the depth of 

 several inches. 



During the first da\ there seems to have been no 

 outflow of lava. Al 1.30 a.m. on September 11, howl 

 ever, during a period of comparative seismic calm, a 

 new vent opened between M. Rosso and M. Nero, al 

 a height of about 5250 feet, with enormous emission 

 of dust, &c, followed by a stream of lava. Five 

 hours later another vent appeared in the same district, 

 from which a copious stream of lava issued. The 

 Streams rapidly descended the steep slope, passed 

 round M. Rosso and then between the lavas of 1646 



1 It should be remembered tbat some of the name* given above :,re 

 duplicated on Mount Etna. The height of the mountain in 1900 was 



I 



NO. 2l86, VOL. 87] 



and 1809, thus assuring the safety oi Linguaglossa 

 Tlie main stream presented a front from 12 to 15 

 yards high, and from 500 to 600 yards wide, 

 and advanced rapidly, sometimes at the rate of a 

 quarter of a mile an hour. During the next two or 

 three days, its velocity was reduced. On September 

 13, it had crossed the carriage road and circum-Etnean 

 railway; the next day it had approached to within two 

 miles 11I tlie Alcantara River, which forms the 

 northern boundarj ol the volcano. On the 15th the 

 main stream spin into four subsidiary .streams, and the 

 violence of the eruption perceptibly abated. At the 

 time of writing (September 18) tin- lava stream, the' 

 flow of which appeared to be checked, had made 

 another onward movement. 



C. Davison. 



THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION OF THE 

 UNIVERSITY OF CHRISTIAMA. 



XHE delegates oi the foreign and national universi- 

 -*■ ties and of many academies of science met an 

 enthusiastic reception at the centenary festival. The 

 organisation was admirable throughout, and much 

 useful .is-.i-i.uin was given by a number of students, 

 who acted as marshals, and by ladies who had been 

 asked by the University authorities to help in the 

 entertainment. The majority of the professors and 

 students spoke English well, so that if any foreign 

 delegate met with a difficulty — which is improbable — 

 at least the w.i\ was made smooth for all who spoke/ 

 English. 



The Prime Minister, Mr. Konow, and manv of the 

 other high officials of the State associated themselves 

 throughout with the University, so that the festival 

 was regarded not merely as academic but also as 1 

 national. 



On the afternoon of Monday, September 4, a short 

 reception was held at the University by the rector, Dr. 

 Brogger, to welcome the delegates, who numbered 

 about 130, and to explain the expediencv of dividing 

 us into twelve groups, according to the geographical 

 positions of our several countries. Each group was 

 requested to choose a spokesman, and 1 had the 

 honour of being chosen to represent the British 

 Empire. 



On the evening of Monday the doctors and pro- 

 fessors of the University invited their foreign and 

 Norwegian guests, to the number of three or four 

 hundred, to supper at the Grand Hotel. Before supper 

 Prof. Morgeiist jei ne gave us a cordial welcome in a 

 speech delivered in French, and afterwards we went to 

 the dining-rooms, of which there were several, and 

 supped in groups of skilfully chosen parties of con- 

 genial spirits. 



The more formal part of the festival took place the 

 following morning (Tuesday, September 31 at the 

 National Theatre. Dr. Brogger presided on tin stag 

 to which access was given by two gangways on each 

 side of the orchestra. The King and Queen honoured 

 the meeting with their presence ; and the spi 1 tacle was 

 brilliant with the dressi s of the lathes, tlie academic 

 robes, and bright uniforms. 



The proceedings began with a cantata com- 

 posed by Mr. Winter Hjelm, of which the words are 

 by Bjornsort, entitled "Lyset" (the Light), sung by 

 the- students, both men and women, with a full or- 

 chestra. After two parts of the cantata hail beS 

 given Dr. Brogger addressed tlie audience in 

 German on the history of the University. The groups 

 of delegates then presented their several addresses of 

 congratulation, and each spokesman delivered a 

 Speech of a few minutes in length. The rest of the 



