512 
NATURE 
[April 27, 187 | 
ee — ODS ae 
British plants generally, and scattered papers in his name, often 
containing valuable observations in structure, may be found in 
the “ Phytologist,” and other botanical journals, He is frequently 
quoted by Sir W. J. Hooker, in the ‘‘ British Flora,” and contri- 
buted many specimens, accompanied by careful MS, notes, to 
the Hookerian Herbarium. 
WE have received ‘‘ Zur Erinnerung an Wilhelm Haidinger, 
von Franz Ritter v. Hauer,” an eloquent tribute to the memory 
of the great mineralogist. 
THE photographic papers record the death, at the early age 
of forty-seven, of Mr. T. R. Williams, one of the earliest photo- 
graphic portraitists, and occupying the undisputed position of the 
most successful artist in his particular line. He was a pupil of 
Claudet’s. 
In the first number of the ‘‘ Zeitschrift fiir Ethnologie” of this 
year, is a very valuable list of works bearing on Mr. Darwin’s 
theories, compiled by Spengel, which occupies twelve closely- 
printed octavo pages. First comes a list of translations into 
German of ‘The Origin of Species,” of ‘* Fertilisation of Or- 
chids,” and of “ Variation of Animals and Plants ;” next, forty- 
three original German works, criticising and carrying out the 
Darwinian theory. Theseare followed by about an equal number 
of books which refer to the same subject incidentally, though 
sometimes at considerable length. Among these we find 
Kupffer’s ‘‘ Essay on the Relation of Vertebrata to Ascidians,” 
Von Baer’s lectures, Carus’s ‘‘ Natur und Idee,” and Riitimeyer’s 
“‘ Herkunft unserer Thierwelt.” The fourth list is a most valu- 
able one of reviews, magazine articles, and other scattered papers 
published in Germany on Natural Selection and the Descent of 
Man. Books devoted to the latter subject are next enumerated 
separately ; and then translations into German of the kindred 
writings of Huxley, Lyetl, Wallace, Agassiz, and Bates. Last 
comes a classified catalogue of all the works on Darwinism which 
have been published outside Germany, in England, France, 
Holland, and Italy. This list may be advantageously compared 
with that given by Mr. Darwin himself, in the 5th edition of the 
“ Origin of Species.” It will be invaluable to every student of the 
theory of evolution, and is a remarkable proof of the amount of 
scientific thought and work (as well as of some that is not scien- 
tific) which our great naturalist’s writings have called forth. 
A COMMUNICATION to the German Society of Anthropology 
during the past winter invokes the attention of all persons in- 
terested in science to the importance of making use of the oppor- 
tunities for ethnological research furnished by the war between 
France and Germany ; and the author, while acknowledging the 
difficulty of attending to such matters during the military opera- 
tions, expresses his earnest hope that every possible effort may be 
made to secure a good series of the skulls and brains of the 
African tribes brought by France into the conflict, and especially 
those of the Turcos. We have not yet heard to what extent this 
suggestion was heeded by those who had the opportunity. 
AT the last meeting of the Scientific Committee of the Horti- 
cultural Society, Mr. Alfred Smee introduced to the notice of the 
committee a new principle of boiler construction for heating hot- 
houses, &c. The peculiarity consisted in the use of only one pipe 
for the flow and return of the water, instead of two, as is usually 
the case. Mr. Smee finds that the difference in specific gravity 
between the hot and the cold water is quite sufficient to keep the 
two currents perfectly distinct, and to maintain for any length of 
time a free circulation at a uniform temperature. The principle 
is, of course, precisely the same as that of the polar and equatorial 
ocean currents, with respect to which so much has been said in 
our columns, 
UNDER the title of the South London Microscopical and 
Natural History Club, a society has been formed to enable micro- 


scopists and lovers of natural history residing in the district to. 
meet and interchange communications and specimens ; by lectures 
and papers to afford instruction to the younger members in the | 
use of the microscope, and preparation of objects, and to develop | 
a taste for the study of zoology and botany ; and by occasional | 
excursions into the country around to investigate the natural pro= | 
ductions of the district and procure fresh materials for observa 
tion, which eventually may lead to the formation of a cabinet and 
herbarium, illustrative of the indigenous fauna and flora of East 
Surrey. The first meeting was held on April 1, at Gloucester 
Hall, Brixton, and ordinary meetings are held on the first Tues- 
day in each month. We understand that the club already numbers 
more than a hundred members. The President is Mr. Henry 
Dean, F.L.S., Dr. Braithwaite is one of the Vice-Presidents, and 
Mr. Frederick Hovenden the Hon. Secretary. The annual sub- 
scription has been fixed at ten shillings, 

SCIENCE is certainly popular in America. We have received 
the first number of the American Journal of Microscopy, devoted 
to the elucidation of Scientific and Popular Microscopy, edited 
by Dr. E. M. Hale, and published at Chicago. A trial number 
having been issued some months ago met with such a warm re- 
ception that the proprietors have determined on a regular 
monthly issue. The present number contains practical articles 
on the use of the microscope, and others descriptive of micro- 
scopic objects, some of them well illustrated. It promises to be 
a useful and interesting magazine. 
On February 4, an extraordinary meteor was seen at Pichieani— 
in Peru. It was balloon-shaped, with the pointed end towards 
the earth, and red-coloured. It descended rapidly to the earth, 
and its descent was attended by an explosion, leaving a dense 
cloud over the place. It injured the roofs of several huts, 
and knocked down a fence for about 500 yards. On the spot, it 
is reported several dead fish were found of different species, which 
are supposed to have been lifted out of the river, and dashed 
against the stones. Similar events happened near Huanochullo 
and Atucachi. 
On February 22, several shocks of earthquake were felt at 
Puno in Peru, and on March 6, a slight earthquake of thirty 
seconds after rain. 
In March a most remarkable electric storm was witnessed at 
Tacua in Peru. For a few hours the snowy peak of Tacora 
seemed the centre of conflagration of lightning, nor was the 
thunder less terrific. The population were the more alarmed as 
the night before there had been some slight shocks of earth- 
quake. ; 
THE horned toad of Oregon ( Zafaya Douglassi’) is a remark- 
able creature, plentiful on the open plains of the district among 
rocks and sand, They are usually grey, but Dr. Cooper states 
that he met with one example which was of a brick red on the 
back, but beneath white like the rest. These colours resemble 
those of the stones among which they live, and it is supposed 
that they have the chameleon-like property of changing their hue. 
Though ferocious in appearance, they are perfectly harmless ; 
yet the Indians believe them to have the power of producing a 
poisonous wound with their blunt spines, just as, among ourselves, 
the newts are credited with many objectionable qualities. These 
toads are very slow in motion, and do not attempt to bite. One 
was kept in captivity for five months without food in asmall box, 
remaining quite lively for the greater part of the time. When 
irritated, it would spring ina most threatening manner at any- 
thing pointed at it, at the same time opening its mouth wide and 
hissing audibly, after which it would inflate its body, and show 
other marks of anger. 
THE Western gull (Zarus occidentalis) is very abundant on 
the whole coast of California, especially on the Farrallone 
