Fan, 12, 1871] 
Extraordinary Meteor 
Tue following account of an extraordinary meteor occurs in 
a letter I received froma brother who is a missionary stationed 
in Agra. He does not give the exact place where he was at the 
time, but it must have been very near to Agra. The letter is 
dated Agra, 24th November, 1870. A missionary from Allaha- 
bad was with him when he saw it. ROBERT GRYSON 
Mills Hill, Chadderston, near Manchester 
“Agra, Nov. 24, 1870 
“*T recently saw a marvellous meteor. I was in camp, and 
had risen for an early march a few minutes before 3 A.M. on 
Nov. 4th. I was standing under the shade of a cluster of trees, 
when a sudden flash of light fell around. Two or three camp 
fires were blazing near, and at first I thought it might be a 
sudden flare up from one of them, but on casting my eyes up 
towards the heavens, I saw a large oval light, stationary. It 
appeared to be composed of a large number of irregularly- 
shaped, differently-sized stars, yet so closely packed as to form 
one light, yet giving the whole a sort of dappled appearance. 
At first I was struck dumb with amazement—thought it must be 
some mental illusion, or that my eyes were playing me false. 
But as I gazed it remained steadily fixed. of Allahabad 
was with me. Iroused him. He was soundly asleep, and some 
seconds passed in waking him up. In the interval it appeared 
to have been lengthened, nearly, though not quite, by a straight 
line, and as we gazed it assumed the shape of a large magnet, 
with the upper limb rather shorter than the other. It then 
gradually expanded, diminishing in brightness as it increased in 
size, assuming a wavy, serpentine form, though keeping much 
te a horse-shoe shape, until it became so attenuated as to be no 
longer visible. It must have continued in sight five minutes. 
Tt was seen by all the servants, and one of them cried out 
‘ Bhagwauka secla hae,’* by which he appeared to mean that in 
his opinion the Almighty was amusing Himself with fireworks; 
literally, ‘It is God’s sport or amusement.’ ” 



NATURAL SCIENCE AT CAMBRIDGE 
(Re following is a list of the Scholarships and Exhibi- 
tions for proficiency in Natural Science which are 
likely to be offered in Cambridge during the present 
ear :— 
Z TRINITY COLLEGE.—One or two of the value of about 
S07, per annum. The Examination will be in Easter 
week, and will be open to all undergraduates of Cambridge 
and Oxford. Should one Scholarship only be assigned, 
preference will be given to the candidate who shows the 
greatest proficiency in Physiology and the allied subjects. 
Further information may be obtained from the Rev. E. 
Blore, Tutor of Trinity College. 
St. JOHN’s COLLEGE.—One of the value of 5o0/. per 
annum, The Examination (in Chemistry, Physics, and 
Physiology, with Geology, Anatomy, and Botany) will beon 
the 21st and 22nd of April, and will be open to all persons 
who are not entered at the University, as well to all who 
have entered and have not completed one term of resi- 
dence. In this College, moreover, Natural Science is now 
made one of the subjects of the regular College exami- 
nation of its students at the end of the academical year 
(in May) ; and Exhibitions and Foundation Scholarships 
will in consequence be awarded to students who show an 
amount of knowledge equivalent to that which in Classics 
or Mathematics usually gains an Exhibition or Scholar- 
ship in the College. In short, Natural Science is on the 
same footing as Classics and Mathematics, both as regards 
teaching and rewards. Further information may be 
obtained from the Rev. T. G. Bonney, Tutor. 
CuHRIST’S COLLEGE.—One or more, in value from 30/. 
to 70/., according to the number and merits of the candi- 
dates, tenable for three and a half years, and for three 
years longer by those who reside during that period at the 
* I cannot be quite sure of these words, not knowing the original language 
in which they were spoken.—R, 
NATURE 
<a 

209 


College. The examination will be on March 28, and wil 
be open to the undergraduates of this College, to non- 
collegiate undergraduates of Cambridge, to all under- 
graduates of Oxford, and to any students who are not 
members of either university. The candidates may select 
their own subjects for examination. Besides these there 
are three other Exhibitions perfectly open, which are 
distributed annually among the most deserving students 
of the College. 
Catus COLLEGE.—One of the value of 60/, per annum. 
The examination will be on March 30, in Chemistry and 
Experimental Physics, or Zoology, with Comparative 
Anatomy and Physiology, or Botany, including Vegetable 
Anatomy and Physiology.—Scholarships of the value of 
20/. each, or more if the candidates are unusually good, 
are offered, for Anatomy and Physiology, to members of 
the College——Gentlemen elected to the Tancred Medical 
tudentships are required to enter at this College ; these 
studentships are four in number, and the annual value of 
each is 113/. Information respecting them may be 
obtained from B. J. L. Frere, Esq., 28, Lincoln’s Inn 
Fields, London ; and respecting the other scholarships, 
from the Rev, N. M. Ferrers, Tutor of the College. 
CLARE COLLEGE.—One or more of the value of 50/7, 
per annum, ‘The examination (in Chemistry, Chemical 
Physics, Comparative Anatomy, and Physiology, and 
Geology) will be on March 23, and will be open to students 
intending to begin residence in October. 
DOWNING COLLEGE.—One or more, according to the 
merits of the candidates, of the value of 4o/. per annum. 
The examination (in Chemistry, Comparative Anatomy, 
and Physiology) will be in March, and will be open to all 
students not members of the University, as well as to all 
undergraduates in their first term. 
SIDNEY-SUSSEX COLLEGE,—Two of the value of 4o/, 
perannum. The examination (in Heat, Electricity, Che- 
mistry, Geology, Physiology, Botany) will be in October, 
and will be open to all students who may enter on the 
College boards before October 1. 
Although several subjects for examination are in each 
instance given, this is rather to afford the option of one 
or more to the candidates than to induce them to present 
a superficial knowledge of several. Indeed, it is expressly 
stated by some of the colleges that good clear knowledge 
of one or two subjects will be more esteemed than a 
general knowledge of several. 
Candidates, especially those who are not members of 
the University, will, in most instances, be required to show 
a fair knowledge of Classics and Mathematics, such, for 
example, as would enable them to pass the Previous 
Examination. 
There is no restriction on the ground of religious deno- 
mination in the case of these or of any of the Scholar- 
ships or Exhibitions in the Colleges or in the University. 
Further necessary information may be obtained from 
the Tutors of the respective Colleges. j 
It may be added that Trinity College will give a Fel- 
lowship for Natural Science once, at least, in three years ; 
and that most of the colleges are understood to be willing 
to award Fellowships for merit in Natural Science equi- 
valent to that for which they are in the habit of giving 
them for Classics and Mathematics. 

EXPLORATION OF THE PERENE 
(AMAZONS) RIVER 
N the 28th November the Peruvian Government 
published the report of the expedition sent to ex- 
amine the capabilities of the Perene river and neighbour- 
ing country, and the slope of their territory towards the 
Atlantic. This river, which is a branch from the Vcuyali, 
rises near Tarma, the capital of the Department of Junin, 
