Dec. 29, 1870] 
NATURE 
171 

Pembroke, Wadham, and Oriel, and, we believe, at 
Queen’s and Magdalen, and one is to be given next 
February at Brasenose for Mathematics or Natural Science. 
It may not be superfluous to add that those who do not 
succeed in obtaining such a high reward as a fellowship, 
if they have takena first class in the Natural Science School 
at Oxford, rarely fail to obtain valuable appointments 
after taking their degree, as Natural Science masters or 
lecturers at various colleges and public schools, whilst 
some are induced to stay up at Oxford as demonstrators 
and assistants to the professors, or else as college lecturers 
or private tutors. 
In addition to the purely college rewards just mentioned, 
the University offers the following valuable emoluments, 
the first two only open to those who have taken their B.A. 
degree. The Radcliffe travelling fellowship, of the value of 
200/. a year, and tenable for three years, of which eighteen 
months z#zs¢ be spent abroad, and the holder must be 
studying medicine and ultimately take his medical degree 
at Oxford. The Burdett Coutts Geological Scholarship 
of about 6o0/. for two years. A gold medal for the Johnson 
Memorial Prize Essay on some Natural Science or mathe- 
matical subject, awarded every four years. Various 
special prizes for essays, &c., given to the University by 
various benefactors.” 
In addition to these, all the various open University 
Scholarships and prizes, so numerous at Oxford, are, of 
course, open to Natural Science students as to all others. 
Every term, speaking generally, courses of lectures are | 
given on the following subjects :— 
Chemistry, by Prof. Sir B. C. Brodie, Bart., F.R.S.; 
Physiology and Zoology, by Prof. Rolleston, F.R.S.; 
Geology, by Prof. Phillips, F.R.S.; Physics (Heat, Light, 
and Electricity), by Prof. Clifton, F.R.S.; Botany, by | 
Prof. Lawson, M.A.; Zoology (Invertebrate), by Prof. 
Westwood, F.R.S.; Mineralogy (occasionally), by Prof. 
Maskelyne, F.R.S. These lectures are open free to all 
undergraduates. 
Lectures are also given at various Colleges, as at Christ 
Church, on Chemistry (advanced), by Mr. Vernon Har- 
court, F.R.S.; on Physics and Mechanics, by Mr. Reinold; 
and on Physiology, by Mr. Thompson; at Merton on 
Chemistry (theoretical) ; at Magdalen on Physiology and 
Chemistry; at Wadham on Physics and Mechanics, 
which are open free to the members of the respective 
Colleges, and on payment of a small fee to others. 
In addition to these lectures, a large amount of practical 
work is made an absolute necessity for a degree in the 
Natural Science School. Every opportunity for this 
practical work is given at the Museum, where, under 
one roof, all the various splendid collections of com- 
parative anatomy, geology, mineralogy, and instruments 
for experimental, physical, and chemical science are col- 
lected together, and are made available for instruction. 
It is here also that all the University lectures are given, 
with the exception of those on Botany, which are given in 
the Botanical Museum in the Botanic Gardens. The 
illustration on the opposite page is from a photograph of 
the Museum taken before the building of the New Physical 
Laboratory. It would occupy far too much space in the 
present article to describe the contents of this Museum, 
adequately. Suffice it to say that on the left-hand side are 
the rooms occupied by Professor Rolleston, for practical 
work at physiology and comparative anatomy and osteo- 
logy, fitted up with every convenience, and freely com- 
municating with the general collection of specimens on 
these subjects placed in the Central Court. On the oppo- 
site side are the rooms and collections of Professor 
Phillips in geology and mineralogy, and above these in 
the gallery the magnificent collection of insects and in- 
vertebrata under the superintendence of Prof. Westwooa. 
* Thus a prize of so/. was awarded last year for an essay ‘* On Longevity” 
by an anonymous donor through the University ; and a prize of roo/. is 
now offered for an essay to refute the materialism cf the present age. 

SS 
The building on the right-hand side, built apart from the 
Museum, but connected with it by a narrow passage, is 
the chemical laboratory. On the opposite side of the 
central building, not shown in the illustration, is the fine 
building lately erected as a physical laboratory for Pro- 
fessor Clifton. This building, which is the most perfect 
physical laboratory in the world, was only opened this 
term. The collection of physical science apparatus is 
very valuable, most of it having come from the last Paris 
Exhibition. 
There is every facility given at the Astronomical Ob- 
servatory for a practical acquaintance with astronomical 
Instruments and methods of observation. There is a 
good chemical laboratory at Christ Church, as well as one 
at Magdalen, where, also, the valuable collection of fossils 
and minerals of the late Dr. Daubeny is open to all work- 
ing at these subjects. Magdalen, also, has a very good 
astronomical telescope, and various modern meteorological 
instruments. A collection of minerals and geological 
specimens is also in process of formation at Merton. The 
Botanic Gardens contain every requisite for the thorough 
study of botany, and in the Museum in connection with 
it, is a very large and valuable herbarium containing col- 
lections of plants for every quarter of the globe. 
Lastly, we have to mention what will ultimately tend 
as much, if not more, than anything else, to make 
Oxford the great home of Natural Science in the future. 
We allude to the splendid Radcliffe Scientific Library in 
the Museum. This Library occupies one side of the 
building, and consists of two great rooms each 8o feet 
long, 24 feet wide, and 20 feet in height. It contains the 
finest collection of scientific books almost in the world, 
certainly the most accessible. The importance and value 
of this fine Library cannot be over-rated. Connected 
with the Bodleian and the Radcliffe Libraries, it contains, 
as far as possible, complete sets of all the Transactions 
and Publications of every recognised Scientific Society in 
the world, and all the new scientific works are added as 
soon as published. Admirably arranged, admirably 
managed, freed from all narrow restrictions as to admit- 
tance, and open daily from ten to four, and twice a week 
in the evening from seven to nine, every possible facility 
is given to those who are working at Natural Science. We 
do not hesitate to say that until such libraries are founded 
in other places, Oxford cannot help becoming tke great 
centure of scientific culture in England. 
J. P. EARWAKER 


NOTES 
UNFORTUNATELY the weather does not appear to have been 
very favourable for the observation of the Eclipse in Sicily. The 
following telegram has been received from Mr. Lockyer, dated 
Catania, December 22, 9.40 P.M. :—‘‘ Observations of eclipse 
greatly interfered with by unfavourable weather, but substantial 
results have been secured. A definite [contact?] of the corona 
was noticed at a height of about one-third of radius as presented 
for corona. The sphero-spectroscopic method for first contact 
was successfully employed. The American observations of last 
year upon the corona are confirmed.” The Astronomer Royal 
has received the following telegram, which was despatched by 
Lord Lindsay immediately after the Eclipse. Lord Lindsay’s 
place of observation was La Maria Louisa, which appears to be 
near Puerto, the mainland station opposite Cadiz :—‘* Photo- 
graphs successful. Two good pictures of corona. Polariscope 
doubtful. Sketching good. Corona [gives] continuous spec- 
trum, no lines. Broken sky.” From telegrams received from 
other members of the expedition, it is hoped that the weather may 
have been more favourable at the more westerly stations. At 
Oran, however, we hear that dense clouds covered the sky for 
twenty minutes before the period of totality; and till after it was 
| over. The previous day there had been a gale of wind. 
\ 
