i8o 



NA TURE 



[Dec. 23, 1886 



twelvemonth, unlesp, by some happy circumstance, these insects 

 were to disappear altogether." We learn from Kew that the 

 interesting indigenous tree, whose complete extinction within 

 twelve months is here anticipated, is very rare in Mauritius, 

 and unless steps are taken to preserve it at Rodriguez, it will 

 probably disappear altogether as a forest tree from the flora of 

 these islands. 



A MEETING of students anxious to form a Biological Society 

 in connection with University College, London, was held on 

 Monday, the 13th, in the Zoological Theatre, Prof. Lankester 

 in the chair. The provisional Committee appointed at the first 

 meeting submitted to the Society the rules they had drawn up, 

 which after some discussion were passed with slight amend 

 ments, and sent up to the Council for approval. Many lady- 

 students were present at this meeting, and so strong is the wish 

 on all sides that they may be admitted to the Society, especially 

 as the classes of Botany and Zoology have been thrown open to 

 them, that two lady-students were put up as candidates for the 

 Committee, and only missed election by a few votes. 



At a meeting of biologists held in the Natural History labora- 

 tory, University College, Liverpool, on Saturday, December ir, 

 it was resolved to found a Biological Society in Liverpool, to 

 have for its object the study and advancement of zoology, botany, 

 palaeontology, anatomy, physiology, and embryology, and the 

 publication of papers of scientific value on any or all of these 

 subjects. The following gentlemen were elected as oflSce-bearers 

 for the ensuing year : — President : Prof. W. Mitchell Banks, 

 M.D., F.R.C.S. ; Vice-Presidents : James Poole, J. P., Mayor 

 of Liverpool, and Prof. W. A. Herdman, D.Sc, F.R.S.E. ; 

 Treasurer: J. C. Thompson, F.R.M.S. ; Secretary: R. J. 

 Harvey Gibson, M.A., F.R.S.E. It was decided to hold the 

 first meeting of the Society at University College on Saturday, 

 January 15, 18S7, when the work of the Society will be initiated 

 by the delivery of an inaugural address. 



During a recent voyage of the U.S.S. Juniata to South 

 America, observations were made as to the height and length of 

 waves, with the following result, as reported by Commander 

 Davis : height of wave from hollow to crest, 25 feet ; length 

 from crest to crest, 375 feet ; wave-period, 7-5 seconds. The 

 wind-velocity at the time was 10 miles per hour. The height of 

 wave was measured by the elevation at which an observer could 

 see over the crest when the ship was in the hollow. The wave- 

 period was estimated by counting the average number of waves 

 per minute. The wave-length was determined by the time 

 occupied by the crest in passing a measured portion of the 

 vessel's length. 



It is stated that the task of working up the materials collected 

 by the survey parties of the Afghan Boundary Commission during 

 the past two years into a regular series of maps has been under- 

 taken by Capt. Gore, R.E., and that it will be carried out at 

 Dehra Dun. 



Higher mathematics in its applications to social problems is 

 the subject dealt with in a new Vienna journal, DU Coiitrolc, 

 which is edited by the mathematician. Dr. Grossmann. In an 

 appendix, entitled "Die Mathematik im Dienste der National- 

 oekonomie," questions of national economy are treated on a 

 mathematical basis. 



Prof. Dewar's course of six lectures on the Chemistry of 

 Light and Photography (adapted to a juvenile auditory) which 

 begin on Tuesday next (December 28) at the Royal Institution 

 will be very fully illustrated. Arrangements have been made 

 for the introduction of a powerful beam of electric light, equal 

 in intensity to a sunbeam, into the theatre, for photographic 

 experiments. Many improvements have been made in the warm- 

 ing, lighting, and ventilation of the theatre during the autumn 

 recess. 



The last mail from Singapore brings news of the death there, 

 on November 29, of Mr. William Cameron, explorer and geo- 

 logist to the Government of the Straits Settlements, at the age 

 of fifty-three. Mr. Cameron, after an eventful life in England 

 and Australia, settled down in the Straits Settlements, where 

 his practical knowledge of mineralogy and geology, combined 

 with his love of exploration, procured him several appointments. 

 Lately he had been employed by the Colonial Government in 

 exploring and mapping out the unknown parts of the Native 

 States, and he received the title of Government Explorer and 

 Geologist. The production of one of his maps of these States 

 has recently been noticed in these columns. He was well 

 known throughout the Native States, especially amongst the 

 Malays and Sakies, of whose language and customs he is said to 1 

 have had a most accurate knowledge, and over whom he had Ir 

 great influence. 



On December 18 the fine new Ethnological Museum at Berlin 

 was ceremoniously opened by the Crown Prince, who was 

 accompanied by the Princess. The Museum, which is a very 

 fine large building, contains collections from all parts of the 

 world, including the antiquities dug up by Dr. Schliemann at 

 Ilion. Herr Gossler, the Minister of Public Worship, read an 

 address on the nature and objects of the institution, and the 

 Crown Prince in replying referred among other things to the 

 benefits which had accrued to the Museum from the colonial 

 expansion of the Empire. 



At the last meeting of the Paris Geographical Society, M. 

 de Lesseps was in the chair. After having heard an account of 

 an explrration in the Panama Isthmus by M. Desire Charnay, 

 the Chairman spoke about the canal. He said that, if neces- 

 sary, sluices should be constructed, so that the canal should be 

 opened at any price in 18S9. Ulterior steps should be taken for 

 dispensing with them. 



We have received the report of the Leicester Liteiary and 

 Philosophical Society for the past year, and also the first number 

 of the new quarterly series of the Transactions. The reports 

 from the various sections contained in the former are in all 

 respects but one eminently satisfactory, as they show great 

 activity and excellent work. The exception is Section B, for 

 astronomy, physics, and chemistry, in respect to which it is 

 stated that there is " a lack of interest in Leicester in physical 

 science, especially when real work is to be done." Indeed, it 

 has become a question whether the Council should not be asked 

 to terminate the existence of the section; but "the Council 

 express a hope that the section may live through its time of 

 depression, and, when the interest in physical science has re- 

 vived, may regain its vigour." We are glad to observe that the 

 botanical sub-committee, who have undertaken and are now 

 editing a work on the flora of Leicestershire, have nearly com- 

 pleted the printing of the book, and hope to be able shortly to 

 announce its publication. The Transactions will in future be pub- 

 lished quarterly, in place of annually with the Council's report. 

 Of the first quarterly number of the Transactions little need 

 be said. It speaks well for the prosperity of the Society that the 

 annual publication no longer supplies its requirements, and the 

 high standard of the papers read is shown by the fact that a 

 number of them have been published by scientific periodicals of 

 repute. The papers now published deal mainly with scientific 

 subjects connected with Leicestershire, such as the Campanulas 

 of that county, the Lower Lias and Rhaetics in the Spinney 

 Hills, Leicester, &c. Special mention should be made of avei7 

 interesting chart by Mr. Montagu Browne, giving the dates of 

 arrival of summer birds of passage in Leicestershire, from 1843 

 to 1855, and from 1877 to 1886. 



We understand that Mr. H. S. Vines is intending entirely to 

 re-cast and almost re-write his edition of Prof. Prantl's " Ele- 



