Feb. 14, 18.' 4 J 



NATURE 



375 



Science Slaff of Professors in Oxford. As Magdalen College 

 has under its new statutes added a Fellowship to the endowments 

 of the Chair, we may congratulate the College on gaining another 

 addition to its already long list of distinguished Natural Science 

 Professors who are members of the Society. Profs. Westwood, 

 liurdon Sanderson, Odiing, Lawson, Balfour, Daubeny, Phillips, 

 Brodie (now dead), were all mem'iers of the College. 



On May 6 an examination will be held at New College to 

 elect an Exhibitioner in Natural Science. The Exhibition will 

 ))e given for proficiency in Chemistry and Biology. 



At Magdalen College an open Demyship will be offered for 

 Natural Science in June next. 



The University College (London) School "Old Boys" annual 

 dinner will be held this year at the Holborn Restaurant, on 

 Tuesday, February 19, at 7 p.m. ; George Buchanan, M.D., 

 F.R.S., in the cha'ir. 



The Central Institution of the City and Guilds of London 

 Institute in Exhibition Road is now approaching completion, 

 and the Executive Committee are proceeding to appoint, in the 

 first instance, four professors to the chairs of Chemistry, of 

 Engineering, of Physics, and of Mechanics and Mathematics 

 respectively. The salary attached to each professorship will lie 

 1000/. per annum, with a prospect of increase depending upon 

 the number of students in attendance. It is expected that the 

 appointments will be made during the next few weeks. The 

 Council of the Institute, at the request of the Duke of Bucking- 

 ham and Chandos, have consented to lend, during the summer 

 months, and pending the preparation of the fittings, a portion of 

 the Central Institution to the Commissioners of the International 

 Health Exhibition for the display of appliances for scientific and 

 technical instruction and of the work dune in technical schools 

 here and abroad. 



SCIENTIFIC SERIALS 



"Xwe.yournal of Physiology, vol. iv. Nos. 4 and 5, December, 

 1883, contains ;— An account of the discussion which took place 

 in the Physiol0gic.1l Section of the International Medical Con- 

 gress held in London, 1881, on the localisation of function in 

 the cortex cerebri. Prof. Goltz of Strasburg, it \\\\\ be remem- 

 bered, exhibited a dog, and Profs. Ferrier and Yeo a monkey. 

 The brains of these animals were handed over to a Committee, 

 consisting of Dr. Klein, Mr. Langley, and Prof. .Schafer. The 

 report of this Committee is preceded by a memoir on the normal 

 structure of the dog's brain, by J. N. Langley (plates 7 and 8), 

 and the report consists of a report on the parts uestroyed on the 

 right side of the br.ain of the dog operated on by Prof. Goltz, 

 by J. N. Langley (plates 9 and 10) ; of a report on the parts 

 destroyed on the left side of the brain of the same dog, by E. 

 Klein (plate II) ; and of a report on the lesions primary and 

 secondary in the brain and spinal cord of the Macaque monkey 

 exhibited by Profs. Ferrier and Yeo, by E. A. Schiifer 

 (plate 12). 



The Journalof the Royal Microscopical Society for December, 

 18S3, contains : — On some new Cladocera of the English lakes, 

 by Conrad Beck (plates 11 and 12). — On an improved method 

 of preparing embryological and other delicate organisms for 

 microscopical examination, by Edward Lovett. — Gn the relation 

 >.f aperture and power in the microscope, by Prof. E. Abbe. — 

 On a new camera lucida, by Dr. Hugo .'^chroder. — On optical 

 tube length, an unconsidered element in the theory of the micro- 

 scope, by Frank Crisp. — Also the usual summary of current 

 researches relating to zoology, botany, and microscopy. 



The American Naturalist for December, 18S3, contains ; — On 

 the development of a dandelion tlower, by John M. Coulter. — 

 Notes on Chittonotus lariis, by C. A. Fernald. — Notes on the 

 aborigines of Cooper's Creek, Australia, by E. B. Sanger. — 

 Zoological gardens, a critical essay by Theodore Link. — The 

 Copperhead, by Dr. R. E. Kunze. — Experiments with the 

 antennae of insects, by C. J. A. Porter. — On the position of the 

 Composita; and Orchidese in the natural system, by J. F. James. 

 — On the habits of certain sunfish, by C. O. Abbott. — Recent 

 literature, and general notes. 



Rrjtie Internationale des Sciences Biologiques, October 15, 

 1883, contains : — Translations of Mr. \V. S. Duncan's — Pro- 

 bable region of man's evolution, and of Prof. Huxley's — Living 

 beings and the method of studying them ; Dr. Hubrecht — on the 



ancestral form of the Chordata ; anu Dr. W. G. Parker — on the 

 people and language of Madagascar. 



The number for November 15, 1SS3, contains : — An essay by 

 Dr. Lanessan, on Buffon : his ideas, his role in the history of 

 science, his work, and on the development of the natural 

 sciences since liis epoch, which essay is to serve as an introduc- 

 tion to a complete edition of Buffon's works, including his corre- 

 spondence, to be shortly published by Le Vasseur, Paris. 



Reniiiconti del Rcale Istituio Lombardo, Milan, December 29, 

 18S3. — Reports on the work of the various physical, literary, 

 ethical, mathematical, and political sections of the Institute 

 during the year 1SS3, by the Secretary. — Meteorological obser- 

 vations made at the Brera Observatory, Milan, during the month 

 of December, 18S3. 



Nachrichtcn von der K. Gesellschalt da' Wissenschaften itnd der 

 Universitit zu Gdttingen, December i, 1SS3. — On the formation 

 of isomerous derivatives of toluol, by P.aul Jannasch. — On the 

 irreducibility of linear differential equations, by Leo Konigs- 

 berger. — On the polar repulsion, the coellicient of induction, 

 and temperature of a magnet, and on the determination of the 

 moments of inertia through bifilar suspen-ion, by F. Kohlrausch. 



SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES 

 London 



Royal Society, January 10. — "Extracts from a Report on 

 the Volcanic Eruption in Sunda Strait by Commander the Hon. 

 F. C. P. Vereker, H.M.S. Magpie, dated Singapore, October 

 22, 1883." Communicated by Sir Frederick Evans, K.C.B., 

 F.R.S. 



. . . On the 18th inst. I entered Sunda Strait, passing east of 

 Thw'art-way Island. This island had been reported to be split 

 by the eruption into several portions. This is incorrect. 



The island is intersected by low valleys in several places ; these 

 being covered with tall trees did not show so prominently for- 

 merly as they do now. The w hole of the vegetation having been 

 swept aw ay by the tidal wave, the island at a short distance off is 

 apparently divided, the low necks joining the higher portions 

 being only visible on close approach. 



The -urface of the Strait in this neighbourhood is covered with 

 extensive fields of floating pumice-stone, often in one to two foot 

 cubes, through which the ship easily forced her way. . . . 



I inclose sketches which I trust will c jnvey the general appear- 

 ance better than a written description. The whole of the 

 neighbourhood is covered with greenish yellow mud, and all 

 traces of vegetation evei-ywhere destroyed. 



I communicated personally with the captain of the Netherlands 

 frigate Queen Emma stationed on the spot, and was informed by 

 him that the changes are considerably more extensive than was 

 at first thought, and that Verlaten Island is still in a state of 

 activity as well as Krakatoa itself. 



From observation he thinks that another eruption is impend- 

 ing, but that Verlaten Island will be the centre of disturbance. 



The Netherlands Government vessel Hydrog}-aaf obtained a 

 sounding of 100 fathoms without reaching bottom, in the centre 

 of the group and off the cliff falling from Krakatoa Peak. 



The two new islands are low mud and pumice banks, their 

 configuration is continually altering, and I was informed that 

 they are gradually subsiding. . . . 



It is still impossible to examine Lampong Bay, but thejpumice- 

 stone is now beginning to float out. 



The light on Fourth Point (Java) has been temporarily replaced 

 by one of the 6th order, visible five miles, but beside this there 

 are no signs of life on the Java shore. The whole coast is covered 

 with the debris of trees, &c., demolished by the earthquake sea- 

 wave, and over all lies a thick incrustation of volcanic mud. 



During the height of the eruption a terrific whirlwind and 

 a fierce south-westerly gale, apparently local, was experi- 

 enced. . . . 



Victoria Institute, February 4. — Mr. Ernest Budge, B.A., 

 of the Oriental Department of the British Museum, read a paper 

 upon a new and important inscription of Nebuchsdnezzar the 

 Great. Two copies of the same text had been brought to England 

 by Mr. Kassam, one of which was much mutilated, but by a 

 careful comparison of the texts Mr. Budge has succeeded in gain- 

 ing a nearly perfect copy of the inscription. It related chiefly to 

 the restoration of the fortifications of Babylon — the great walls, 

 gates, and quays along the river bank, which had been thrown 

 down by the conquering armies of Sowgon, Sennacherib, and 

 Assurbanipal. It also stated the area of the citadel of Babylon 



