) 
Fan. 6, 1870] 
NATURE 
265 
comment ; and they will have served their purpose if they 
direct attention to the part played in the phenomena of 
terrestrial magnetism by moving conductors. It will be 
noticed that they leave untouched the mysterious and 
important connection between sun spots and magnetic 
disturbances. B. STEWART 
P.S.—Since writing the above, Prof. Sir W. Thomson has 
informed me that Faraday tried to detect induction currents 
by tides in the Thames, but found no positive result. In 
an article in the Philosophical Magazine, Dec. 1851, 
Prof. Sir W. Thomson quotes this idea of Faraday, and 
makes a proposal to test it from tides inthe Channel. He 
also discusses the part which may be played in the pheno- 
mena of terrestrial magnetism by moving conductors. 
BRITISH RAINFALL 
M® G. J. SYMONS (62, Camden Square, N.W., 
December 22, 1869) sends us the following list of 
localities whence observations are “urgently required ;” 
we think he will have many volunteers :—Cornwall : 
Falmouth, Jacobstow. Devon: Hatherleigh, Hartland, 
Exmoor. Dorset: Bere Regis. Oxford: Thame. Surrey: 
Redhill. Suffolk: Halesworth, Mildenhall. Lincoln: 
Kirton, Nottingham: Mansfield. Warwick: Stratford- 
upon-Avon. Shropshire: Bishop’s Castle. Yorkshire : 
Milford Junction, Pateley Bridge, Kettlewell, Askrigg, 
Driffield, Bridlington, on the North York Moors. Lanca- 
shire: Broughton. Northumberland: Haltwhistle. Cum- 
berland: Kirkoswald. Westmoreland : Ravenstonedale. 
Isle of Man: any part of the Island. Pembroke: Tenby, 
Fishguard. Cardigan: Aberaeron, Brecknock, Llanwrtyd. 
Radnor : Builth, Knighton. Montgomery: Montgomery, 
Llanfyllin. Merioneth: Barmouth, Harlech. Carnarvon: 
Pentrevoclas. Wigtown: Northern part of. Kirkcud- 
bright: Western part of. Peebles: Peebles, Biggar. Ayr: 
Muirkirk. Argyle: Mull of Cantire, Ballimore, Glencoe, 
near Ben Cruachan. Perth: North-west part of. Forfar: 
Western part of. Inverness: along the Caledonian 
Canal, and in Lochaber. Aberdeen : North-west part of. 
Nairn: any part of. Banff: Southern part of. Ross: 
any place inland, or in Lewis or Harris. Sutherland : 
any place inland. Caithness: any place inland. Ireland: 
except from the vicinity of Belfast, Dublin, Londonderry, 
and Waterford, where there are many observers, returns 
are required from nearly all parts of the country. 
THE LATE PROFESSOR MICHAEL SARS, OF 
CHRISTIANIA 
HIS eminent zoologist died on the 22nd of October 
last ; and his loss will be much felt by all naturalists 
who have benefited, as I have done, by his long, laborious, 
and conscientious investigation of the invertebrate fauna 
of the Norwegian seas. 
He was born on the 30th of August, 1805, at Bergen, 
where his father was a shipowner. After finishing his 
academical studies at Christiania, and evincing at an 
early age his predilection for natural science, he entered 
into priest’s orders, and in 1830 became pastor at Kinn, 
in the diocese of Bergen. Ten years afterwards he had 
charge of the parish of Manger in the same diocese. As 
both these parishes were on the sea-coast, Sars had con- 
stant opportunities of pursuing his zoological researches. 
In 1829 he published his first essay, entitled “ Bidrag til 
Séedyrenes Natur-historie,” and in 1846 the first part of 
his celebrated work “ Fauna littoralis Norvegie.” In 
1854 he was appointed Professor Extraordinarius of 
Zoology at the University of Christiania, a position which 
he filled up to the time of his lamented death with great 
honour to his country, and to the satisfaction of the whole 
world of science. His celebrity as a zoologist, as well as 
a paleontologist, was fully recognised by all naturalists 
and geologists, and he was elected a member of several 
foreign scientific societies. Our own distinguished country- 
man, the late Edward Forbes, individually showed his 
appreciation of Sars’s labours in eloquent pages (66 and 
67) of his own posthumous work, “The Natural History 
of the European Seas,” when he said, “ More complete or 
more valuable zoological researches than those of Sars 
have rarely been contributed to the science of Natural 
History, and the success with which he has prosecuted 
investigations claiming not only a high systematic value, 
but also a deep physiological import, is a wonderful 
evidence of the abundance of intellectual resources 
which genius can develop, however secluded and 
wherever its lot be cast;” and he added that the 
name of this Norwegian priest, “who reaped reputa- 
tion when seeking no more than knowledge familiar to 
every naturalist in Europe and America, in Asia, and at 
the Antipodes—for there are great naturalists settled far 
in the south, and many in the far east—is a sufficient 
proof that able work brings the rewards of applause and 
veneration, even when they be unasked for.” By the ob- 
servations of Sars on the development of the Medusz he 
greatly advanced our knowledge of that remarkable phy- 
siological phenomenon known as the alternation of gene- 
rations, which Chamisso had first indicated in the Salpae. 
His last publication, “ Mémoire pour servir 4 la connais- 
sance des Crinoides vivants,” caused especial interest, by 
showing that a race of animals, supposed to be extinct for 
a period so long as only to be measured by the duration 
of several past geological epochs, occurred in a living 
state in the abysses of the Norwegian seas.~ This disco- 
very mainly induced the recent exploration of our own 
seas at great depths, which has produced such wonderful 
results ; and the living Crinoid, or “stone-lily” (Rhzzo- 
crinus Lofotensis), has now been ascertained to inhabit 
many parts of the Atlantic from the Loffoden Isles to the 
Gulf of Mexico. The published works of Sars are seventy- 
four, and they are not less sound and valuable than nu- 
merous. One of his sons, Dr. George Ossian Sars, in- 
herits the zoological inclinations and talent of the late 
Professor, and is second to none in the knowledge of the 
Sessile-eyed Crustacea. 
It is exceedingly to be regretted that, in spite of the 
most rigid economy, the large family of Professor Sars is 
left in very impoverished circumstances, six of his chil- 
dren being wholly unprovided for. May I hope that 
naturalists and lovers of science will assist me in making 
a subscription for the temporary relief of this distressed 
family, and that they will by such tribute to his memory 
express their admiration of his career and services? [I 
shall be very glad to receive any contributions. 
J. GWYN JEFFREYS 
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 
[ The Editor does not hold himself responsible for opinions expressed 
by his Correspondents. No notice is taken of anonymous 
communications. | 
Cuckows’ Eggs 
I AM very grateful to Mr. Sterland for asking for further in- 
formation “on some points of difficulty” in my recent paper 
on Cuckows’ Eggs, because it shows me where I have failed in 
making myself plainly understood. In endeavouring to reply so 
far as lies in me to his questions, I will take them in order. 
1. “ Are they [Cuckows’ Eggs] so variable as some assert ?”” 
Mr. Sterland supports the doubt here indicated by the statement 
of “one of the most eminent and experienced of living oologists ;” 
but who this oologist may be he leaves to be guessed, and I 
venture with all respect to remark, that quoting an anonymous 
authority in natural history is quoting no authority at all. Iam 
therefore not willing to bring such experience as I myself have 
had into conflict with that of this eminent but nameless person. 
Still, as Mr. Sterland is not satisfied with the opinion on this 
