April 17, 18S4] 



NA TURE 



003 



known as Peverels, where the true oxlip (Primula elatior) grows 

 in profusion, the groimd being in parts carpeted with the flowers 

 of this interesting species. After luncheon a visit was paid to 

 Mr. Joshua Clarke, F.L. S., at his residence, Fairycroft, and the 

 visitors viewed the magnificent collection of humming-birds and 

 birds of Paradise formed by this gentleman. The Club next 

 assembled in the grounds of Mrs. Gibson, and inspected the site 

 of the ancient Saxon cemetery and the collection of skulls and 

 relics found therein during the excavations undertaken by the 

 lale Mr. G. S. Gibson, a full description of which has been 

 published in a recent number of the Transactions of the 

 Essex Archaological Society. The splendid library of scien- 

 tific and other works belonging to the late Mr. Gibson having 

 been hastily viewed, and the party having partaken of the hos- 

 ]5itality offered by Mrs. Gibson, they were next conducted to the 

 .Saffron Walden Museum, where the various collections were 

 greatly admired, and the curator, Mr. Maynard, much compli- 

 mented upon the ability and zeal which he had displayed in 

 their organisation and arrangement. In the ruins of the ancient 

 castle adjoining the Museum Mr. Maynard read a paper on the his- 

 tory of these remains, and the party then proceeded to view the 

 church, under the guidance of the Rev. Mr. Stevens. After 

 tea an ordinary meeting of the Club was held, the president. 

 Prof. Boulger, being in the chair. A paper, on the cultivation 

 of the saffron in connection with the old town of Saffron Walden, 

 was read by Mr. Joseph Clarke. With the object of promoting 

 the extension of natural history science throughout the county, 

 the Club proposes to establish local centres in the chief towns 

 of Essex, and arrangements will shortly be made to commence 

 operations at Saffron Walden, where so much interest was 

 shown in the visit of the Club. 



On Saturday next, April 19, at three o'clock, a meeting of the 

 Essex Field Club will be held at the British Museum of Natural 

 History, .South Kensington, under the direction of Dr. Henry 

 Woodward, F. R.S. Dr. Woodward will deliver an address in 

 the lecture-room on " Wingless Birds, " and afterwards give a 

 demonstration of the species, extinct and recent, in the geological 

 and zoological galleries. 



The Council of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 

 have been presented by a member of the Society with 100/., 

 accompanied with a request that it should be offered as a prize 

 for an essay on "The Life Histoiy of the Bacillus of Typhoid 

 Fever." The Council has assented to the proposal, and adver- 

 tisements to that effect will be immediately inserted in the most 

 prominent scientific publications throughout the world. The 

 essay will be received by the Society not later than December 31, 

 1884. The intention and wishes of the donor of the prize will 

 be best given in his ow-n words. "The questions chiefly to be 

 solved in the investigation of the life history of the Bacillus of 

 typhoid fever, are — i. What are the specific characters of the 

 organism, as distinguished from other Bacteria ? 2. What are 

 the changes, if any, which the organism undergoes in the human 

 body ? 3. What are its modes of development and reproduction 

 in the human body? 4. What changes or metamorphoses, if 

 any, does the organism undergo after ejection from the human 

 body, or in any other condition of its existence ? 5. What fluids 

 or other substances seem best adapted for the growth and multi- 

 plication of the organism ? 6. Can the organism live or be 

 cultivated in pure or distilled water? 7. What are its limits of 

 endurance of heat, cold, dryness, or humidity ? As far as these 

 points are concerned the author shoidd confine himself entirely 

 to facts which come under his own ob5er\-ation, and those should 

 be given in detail, with a full e.\-planation of the method of 

 investigation. But in deaUng with the results obtained by these 

 investigations, and the consideration of the means whereby a 

 knowledge of the life history of this most dangerous organism 

 may help towards its eradication, the theories and observations 



of others may appropriately be referred to, but in every such case 

 the authority must be correctly cited. The chief points to be 

 ascertained in this branch of the subject are — I. How, and under 

 what conditions, does the organism get access to the human 

 body? 2. How can its growth be impeded, or its vitality 

 destroyed in the human body without serious injury to the indi- 

 vidual affected ? 3. How can it be eradicated or rendered 

 innocuous in wells, water-holes, drains, &c." 



Among the superabundant "Universities" of the United 

 States Harvard is unquestionably taking its place as a national 

 institution on a par with British establishments which hold a 

 similar designation. The last quarterly Bulletin of its proceedings 

 is before us, which has to acknowledge during that short time 

 nine legacies or donations in money, varying from 200 to 100,000 

 dollars, and amounting to i6S,ooo dollars. One of these is 

 10,000 dollars subscribed for the purchase of meteorites, and 

 another is 2000 dollars from the Massachusetts Society for Pro- 

 moting Agrictdture, to assist in the establishment of a veterinary 

 hospital, to which institution also a collection of pathological 

 models is presented. Other donations are, a new building for 

 the law schools, two portraits of eminent divines, and the ana- 

 tomical collection of a doctor who had previously fotmded a 

 museum there. The Bullclin is edited by the well-known Har- 

 vard librarian, Mr. Justin Winsor, and a very carefully printed 

 catalogue of the chief accessions to the University library in 

 English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Danish, Russian, 

 Polish, and Hindustani, forms the bulk of it. Many of these 

 additions are treasures which few libraries can acqttire possession 

 of, a few only of which have been printed, chiefly for private 

 circulation, others, nevertheless, being both important and 

 familiar books published a year or two ago. The books are 

 divided into ten subjects, and it shows how different technical 

 experience sometimes is from theoretical ideas, when so experi- 

 enced a librarian finds it convenient to class together " History 

 and Geography," while "Antiquities" are under a separate 

 heading. We doubt, however, whether Izaak Walton or any 

 one else would have looked for ' ' The American Angler's 

 Guide ; or the Complete Fisher's Manual for the United States'," 

 under the head of "Law and Sociology," even if " Caxton's 

 Game and Play of the Chesse " may in some sense belong to the 

 latter. The advantages possessed by the librarian of such an 

 institution as this are being fully utilised by Mr. Justin Winsor 

 who is issuing in each number of the Bulletin most carefully 

 written results of his researches into the bibliography of various 

 subjects — in this January number, of " Ptolemy's Geography " 

 and " The Kohl Collection of Early Maps," specially noting the 

 gradual and irregidar spread of the knowledge of America. 



A STALACTITE cavern was recently discovered by accident 

 near Cerdon in the Ain Department (France). It is situated 

 near the old high road connecting Lyons with Geneva. Some 

 country people who ventured into it state that it extends about 

 300 metres underground, and that its height varies considerably. 

 Lyons and Geneva naturalists are now making a more minute 

 investigation of the cave. 



A STRONG shock of earthquake was felt at Urbino at a few 

 minutes before 8 a.m. on the 9th inst. Its duration was five 

 seconds. A shock was also felt at Belpasso, near Catania, at 

 to a.m. on the loth. It occasioned no damage. 



Owing to the frequent earthquakes that have recently occurred 

 in Slavonia, Prof. Pillar has been sent to observe these occur- 

 rences by the Hungarian Government, and will shortly present a 

 detailed report to the Government on the subject. 



According to Herr Jasger of Rinde, on the Sogne Fjord, 

 who, since 1858, has noted the number of earthquake shocks 

 that have been felt in the district, there have been appreciable 

 shocks from that period till 1879. Since the latter year no shock 



