56o 



NA TURE 



[April 14, 1887 



At the following meeting of the Seismological Society, Prof. 

 Ewing described an instrument of a similar nature, and only 

 differing from the one described by Mr, Gray in the details of 

 an arrangement for compensating the variable leverage, an 

 arrangement practically adopted by Mr. Gray in the above- 

 mentioned torsion pendulum. This seismograph is now dis- 

 tinctly claimed by Prof. Ewing as his own (Nature, December 

 23, 1886, p. 172). ^ 



In June 18S1, Mr. Gray suggested several methods by which 

 a pendulum might be rendered astatic (Trans. Seis. Soc. vol. iii. 

 p. 145). This was followed by Prof. Ewing's device to obtain 

 the same result by an arrangement which was closely fore- 

 shadowed by Dr. VVagener, who endeavoured to compensate 

 the movement of a pendulum by a heavy-headed recording 

 index (Trans. Seis. Soc. vol. i. pp. 66 and 67). 



In addition to the seismographs here referred to, there are 

 many others that might be mentioned. Amongst them we find 

 the parallel-motion instrument of Mr. West, which was imme- 

 diately followed by parallel motion instruments the invention 

 of Prof. Ewing and Prof. Ale.xander (Trans. Seis. Soc. vol. iv. 

 pp. 22 and 30). 



The development of the parallel-motion instruments may be 

 taken as illustrative of what has happened with regard to nearly 

 all the other seismographs, which in great measure have been 

 gradually developed from something which preceded them. 



By improving the bracket seismograph, Prof. Ewing made a 

 considerable advance in seismometry, for which the workers in 

 this country undoubtedly accord him their hearty thanks ; but 

 while describing a beautifully constructed, but at the same time 

 inconvenient and obsolete arrangementof seismographs (Nature, 

 vol. XXX. pp. 149 and 175, and vol. xxxiv. p. 343), it is hardly 

 fair that his fellow-workers, especially Mr. Gray, the most pro- 

 lific of earthquake inventors, should be passed by unnoticed, 

 and have their work practically appropriated. 



Tokio, February 10 John Milne 



Supposed Suicide of the Cobra 



The following observations may be of interest as bearing on 

 the reputed suicide of snakes. 



Yesterday, while riding over a bare sandy plain I caught sight 

 of a large black cobra moving leisurely along. Having no other 

 weapon with me but a '450 express rifle, I halted my camel and 

 fired, at about 50 yards, just as it was disappearing down a rat- 

 hole. The bullet passed through the middle of its body without 

 severing the spine ; the head ^\■as immediately withdrawn from 

 the hole, and the snake began to writhe in agony, rearing its 

 head, spreading its hood, and striking wildly in all direciions. I 

 was about to put it out of its agony by a second shot when it 

 struck close to its own tail, and my orderly cried out that now it 

 had bitten itself and would soon die. 



Though I had clearly seen that it did not bite itself, I thought 

 this a good opportunity of seeing whether there was any truth in 

 the popular superstition, and if not whether I could obtain any 

 light on the mode of its origin. The following is the result. 



The snake repeatedly reared its head, and after holding it 

 reared, struck wildly at some piece of grass or stick ; twice again 

 it struck at its own tail, and on each occasion the natives with me 

 declared it had bitten itself. This, however, I can assert, it 

 did not : on one occasion it stopped just short of the skin ; on the 

 other, being apparently unable to check itself, it swerved slightly 

 and struck the ground close alongside. It appeared to me that 

 the snake in its agony struck wildly at the first thing that caught 

 its eye and irritated it ; in three cases this was its own tail, but as 

 soon as it realised what it was doing — so far from there being a 

 deliberate attempt at suicide — it did all in its power to prevent a 

 fatal result. 



It is conceivable thatr under similar circumstances, owing to 

 loss of control over its own actions a snake might actually bite 

 itself, and there would be what might pass for a well-authenti- 

 cated case of suicide ; but such a case, did it ever occur, would 

 probably be due to an accident and not to deliberate intention. 

 I have no doubt, however, that the popular superstition finds its 

 support in cases like that described ; for the natives with me, if 

 questioned, would reply that the snake had certainly bitten itself 

 three times, the other apparently aimless strikes at sticks or grass 

 having escaped their notice. 



A similar explanation of the reputed suicide of scorpions was 

 given in Nature some time ago, but not having the file with me 

 I cannot give the reference. R. D. Oldham 



Camp near Pokran, in the Indian Desert, March 4 



THE RETIREMENT OF DR. TYNDALL 

 XXTE have had on more than one occasion during the 

 ' ' last si.x months to refer with regret to Ur. Tyndall's 

 impaired health brought about by overstrain. Our readers 

 will have gathered from the daily papers during the 

 present week that although much recruited by rest, 

 Dr. Tyndall has yet sent in to the managers of the 

 Royal Institution his resignation of the Chair of Natural 

 Philosophy, which he has held since 1853, and that the 

 resignation has been accepted. 



The managers and members, cordially appreciating 

 Prof. Tyndall's services, and being anxious to mark their 

 se;ise of the benefits he has conferred on the Institution 

 during his long connexion with it, have done what was 

 still open to them in the way of honourable recognition 

 and regard. He has been nominated for election as 

 Honorary Professor, a title previously borne by Sir 

 Humphry Davy and Prof. Brande ; and one of the annual 

 courses of lectures will be called "the Tyndall Lectures." 

 He has also been requested to sit for his bust, to be 

 placed in the Institution, in memory of his relations 

 with it. 



At the monthly meeting held last week the following 

 letter was read : — 



Hind Head, Aj>nl l, 1 887 



Dear Sir Frederick Bramwell, — I have halted in my 

 reply to your letter of March 23, through sheer inability to 

 express the feeling which the action of the managers, at their 

 meeting on the 21st, has called into life. 



And my reply must now be brief, for I hardly dare trust 

 niy>elf to dwell upon the "resolutions" which you have con- 

 veyed to me. Taken in connexion with the severance of my 

 life from the Royal Institution, and with the flood of memories 

 liberated by the occasion, this plenteous kindness, this bounty 

 of friendship, this reward so much in excess of my merits, well- 

 nigh unmans me. 



And, let me add, the noble fullness of style and expression, 

 which I owe to yourself, and in which the good will of the 

 managers takes corporate form, is in perfect harmony with the 

 spirit which it enshrines. 



Of the maiiagers existent when I joined the Institution, one 

 only remains upon the present Board. The beneficent work of 

 many of them is for ever ended ; but I do not forget the sym- 

 pathy and support which they extended to me during their lives. 

 And now the long line of kindnesses culminates in words and 

 deeds so considerate and appreciative — so representative of their 

 origin in true gentlemanhood and warmth of heart — that they 

 have almost succeeded in converting into happiness the sadness 

 of my farewell. 



With heartfelt prayers for the long-continued honour and 

 prosperity of the Institution which 1 have served so long, and 

 loved so well, believe me, dear Sir Frederick, most faithfully 

 yours, John Tyndall 



However much it may be regretted that Prof. Tyndall 

 has felt himself compelled to withdraw from the onerous Tl 

 duties of a particular office, we may hope that, so far from 

 this being a withdrawal from science itself, further leisure 

 and rest may soon be followed by the old vigour, and that 

 a fresh series of services may reward the labours of ftiture 

 years ; for the work in which Profs Huxley and Tyndall 

 have been the best known among the pioneers is not yet 

 half accomplished. 



On this subject the Times writes as follows : — 

 " Dr. Tyndall's name, in conjunction with that of 

 Mr. Huxley, stands for a symbol of the nationalisa- 

 tion of natural science as an educational instru- 

 ment. Sir Humphry Davy and Michael Faraday, 

 in the same position, flashed the light of science 

 into minds already prepared by leisure and cultiva- 

 tion to receive it. Dr. Tyndall's professorship in 

 Albemarle Street has synchronised, and by no casual 

 coincidence, with the recognition of the claims of the 

 masses to be scientifically instructed. Contracted as 

 Sir John Lubbock complains the domain of natural 



