658 
NATURE 
| April 28, 1870 
present engaged, without adding a further contribution, and I 
hope not an unimportant one, to what is known respecting the 
nature of the deep-sea mud. 
You speak of the chemical behaviour of these masses. ~The 
question whether these minute organisms represent animals 
or plants is still open. I have exposed the ooze to the 
action successively of a solution of iodine, of iodine and 
sulphuric acid, and of zinc chloride with potassium iodide, 
and have each time obtained in a remarkable manner a distinct 
blue colour, different shades from violet to green, in the substance 
of the coccoliths. There must therfore exist in the organism of 
the coccoliths, besides the calcareous skeleton, a kind of 
cellulose. Their organic nature is thus established beyond all 
doubt ; but the conclusion might after all be drawn that we are 
dealing with plants, were it not that in the animal kingdom 
cellulese has been found in the Ascidians. But it is at all 
events interesting here on the boundary of organic life, to 
meet with cellulose. As a confirmatory test, I treated the 
substance with Millons’ test which, as is well known, colours 
conchiolin red, but leaves the chitin of the Orthrofoda on the 
other hand unchanged. 
I obtained by this means no red colour in the flakes belonging 
to the coccoliths after the limestone had been dissolved by the 
excess of acid. A red colour showed itself, on the other hand, 
in many other particles, for instance, in the Polycistinee whose 
siliceous coat was coloured red at the margins ; and in irregular 
patches, which appeared to be derived from broken and crushed 
mussel-shells. [I also noticed much. deep brown and yellow 
colour. Especially by treatment with different chemical reagents, 
differentiated minute particles make their appearance which can 
scarcely be recognised by my microscope, and which, before 
the treatment with the chemical reagents, cannot be by any 
means detected. I expect that by this method an important 
extension of our knowledge of the most minute forms of organic 
life will be effected. I will only mention further that the red of 
the conchiolin shows itself of a bright red in the smallest par- 
ticles which are found in such great numbers in the agglomerated 
flakes (Bathydius), and which are smaller than the little elevations 
on the epidermal structures, which probably belong to /o/o- 
thurid@, and which frequently occur in the field of the micro- 
scope. : 
J should like to pursue further the chemical side of these in- 
vestigations ; but, unfortunately, the supply sent over to me is 
almost exhausted. If you consider these researches of sufficient 
importance to be worth continuing, and could obtain further 
material for me for this purpose, I should be greatly indebted to 
you. If youcan make any use of this communication, it is at 
your service, 
NOTES 
PROBABLY few are aware of the magnitude or special aim of the 
Cornell University. While our own rulers canscarcely grapple with 
the Education question because of the unsettled state of Ireland, 
the Government of the United States laid the foundation, during 
the height of the most terrible struggle for existence of modern 
times, of one of the most important educational movements 
the world has ever seen, On the 2nd of July, 1862, Congress 
passed an Act granting public lands to the several States and 
Territories which might provide colleges for the benefit of agri- 
culture and the mechanical arts; the share of the State of New 
York amounting to 990,000 acres. In 1865, this grant was con- 
ferred on a University about to be established, on the condition 
that the Hon. Ezra Cornell should give to the institution 
500,000 dollars, with a few other conditions. This muni- 
ficient grant was afterwards supplemented by another of 
200,000 dollars; and the University was established at the 
village of Ithaca. It is needless to say that the Act of 
Inauguration provides that the education shall be given to 
all comers irrespective of creed, colour, or race ; the motto of 
the founder being, ‘‘I would found an institution where any 
person can find instruction in any study.” Besides the original 
grants, the University has since been enriched by private 
liberality, with gifts of public buildings, laboratories, libraries, 
museums, a herbarium, printing-press, &c. A simple, but, as 
far as it goes, a strict entrance examination in geography, 
English grammar, and arithmetic and algebra, admits intending 
pupils as undergraduates, and they can then take their choice of 
pursuing their studies in either of several departments in which 
degrees are conferred, in Science, Philosophy, Arts, or in some 
other special subjects, the full course extending over four years. 
The special feature of the University, however, is what is called 
the voluntary labour scheme, by which students are enabled to 
work out a portion or the whole of the expenses of their edu- 
cation, either by unskilled labour on the farm, or by skilled 
labour at the printing-press or workshops. The University 
Register just published states that the scheme has thus far been 
worked with a degree of success hardly to be expected at so 
early a stage. We shall look with great interest on the pro- 
gress of the University. 
WE are in a whirl of soirées. Last Saturday the second 
Royal Society’s soirée of the season drew together a brilliant 
gathering, and we shall next week give an account of the scien- 
tific novelties exhibited. On Wednesday the President of the 
Linnean Society's conversazione came off, and to-morrow Sir 
R. Murchison, the president of the Geographical Society, freceives 
his friends at Willis’s Rooms. 
THE question of admitting lady students of n.edicine to classes 
inthe Edinburgh University on the same footing as other students 
was discussed at the half-yearly meeting of the University Court 
on the r9thinst. Professor Masson moved a resolution in fayour 
of so admitting them, and quoted Miss Pechey’s case in support 
of his motion. Mr. Balfour, Professor of Botany, seconded the 
resolution, Mr. Laycock, Professor of Physic, moved a negative 
resolution. Professor Christison seconded the amendment, 
which was carried by 58 votes against 47 in favour of the motion. 
A PROPOSITION was some time ago made to telegraphists 
by Mr. Robert B. Hoover, of Alleghany, Pennsylvania, to present 
Professor Morse, the “ father of the telegraph,” witha testimonial 
upon his eightieth birthday. The response was general, and 
the nucleus ofa fund was immediately raised. It has since been 
found that this fund will warrant the casting of a bust, or perhaps 
a full-length figure, of the professor; so the original idea of 
making Professor Morse a birthday testimonial has-been aban- 
doned, and a really national one is to take its place. 
THE corner-stone of a new college for Melbourne, which is to 
be affiliated with the Melbourne University, under the title of 
Trinity College, was laid on the 1oth February, by the Right 
Rey. the Bishop of Melbourne. The building stands near the 
south-west corner of the reserve, to the north of the University, 
and considerable progress in the erection of it has already been 
made by the builder. Only a small portion of the whole design, 
namely, the Provost’s lodge, &c., has been undertaken, and it is 
to cost 7,500/. The funds in hand amount to 4,000/., and the 
buildings will be carried out as far as the money will allow. 
Tue schooner yacht Morna, Mr. Marshall Hall, owner and 
master, is fitting out to dredge off the west coast of Spain and 
Portugal. Mr. W. S. Kent, of the British Museum, and Mr. 
Edward Fielding accompany the expedition. 
EVENING Technical Schools are to be established in the chief 
towns of Massachusetts. A museum of mechanical inventions 
and models of machinery are to be formed in connection with 
each, and there is to be one instructor for every twenty-five 
pupils. 
WE regret tohave to announce the death, in his 82nd year, 
of Mr. Jonathan Couch, of Polperro, Cornwall, a well-known 
naturalist. His name is especially associated with ichthyology, the 
