.514 



NATURE 



[Sept. 30, 1880 



in Polynesia, New Guinea, and elsewhere, have a definite 

 history and meaning yet to be traced. Modern European 

 patterns have also interesting histories to disclose. One 

 of the series in the collection explains the origin of the 

 lozenge- and leaf-pattern common on oak carvings from 

 the intersections of the Gothic arch and ogee arch. 



Of the development of ornament from chance marks 

 upon objects, the most interesting example exhibited is 

 probably an Australian boomerang, which happens to have 

 three small round black knots on one side of it placed at 

 equal intervals. The savage owner, struck by the appear- 

 ance of the knots, burnt a series of similar black marks 

 at equal distances all along the one face of the boomerang, 

 to complete the natural pattern, and then, pleased with 

 his work, put a series of lozenge-shaped marks to corre- 

 spond on the other side of the weapon. At the Sandwich 

 Islands a most beautiful ornament of the gourds used for 

 water is derived from the net-bag in which the gourds 

 were slung. No doubt the pattern at first became acci- 

 dentally printed on the gourds, and were afterwards 

 elaborated. 



The last series to which avc shall draw attention relates 

 to the transformations of the curious ornament which 

 General Pitt Rivers calls the double-loop coil, and which is 

 characteristic of all New Zealand weapons and implements, 

 canoes and houses. The ornament was probably originally 

 copied from coils of string or wire. The distribution of the 

 ornament is very interesting. It is found abundantly in 

 New Guinea, so exactly corresponding to the New Zealand 

 form that it seems certainly to point to some connection 

 between the islanders or partial migration from New 

 Guinea to New Zealand at some time or othe-, unless 

 some floating object may have conveyed the pattern. A 

 similar ornament occurs in the far-off Marquesas Islands, 

 the natives of which in several other matters of culture 

 show affinity with the Melancsians. It is also very common 

 on Mexican and Peruvian works of art, and especially on 

 gold figures, where it is represented in its former live 

 form by spiral coils of fine wire. From the double-loop 

 coil, as General Pitt Rivers has shown, many other pat- 

 terns are derived. The fret or key pattern is merely a 

 continuous loop-coil squared. Other patterns, such as 

 the wave pattern, are derived from the coil by slight 

 degeneration. Some of the most marked patterns derived 

 from it are shown in the accompanying figure (Plate 4), 

 which explains itself. It is most curious how nearly 

 parallel the series of modifications attained in the Old 

 and the New World run to one another. 



In conclusion we can only express a hope that the Pitt 

 Rivers collection will be accepted by the nation on its 

 generous donor's conditions, and we strongly recommend 

 any of our readers who have not studied it to pay it 

 a long visit at once, and profit by the varied fund of 

 instruction and entertainment which it cannot fail to 

 impart. 



THE MASON COLLEGE, BIRMLNGHAM 



'X'HE Josiah Mason Science College, which is to be 

 -*• opened by an interesting address from Prof. 

 Huxley to-morrow, was begun about five years ago by 

 the venerable and generous donor. Sir Josiah Mason. 

 It is intended to cover ground not occupied by any other 

 of the numerous educational institutions of Birmingham, 

 to which it promises to be an addition of the highest 

 value. The building itself is described as a lofty and 

 spacious Gothic pile, covering about an acre in extent in 

 the very heart of Birmingham. 



By its foundation deed the College is established to 

 provide instruction, as far as possible, in mathematics, 

 abstract and applied ; physics, both mathematical and 

 experimental; chemistry, theoretical, practical, and 

 applied ; the natural sciences, especially geology and 

 mineralogy, with their application to mines and metal- 



lurgy; botany and zoology, with special application to 

 manufactures ; physiology, with special reference to the 

 laws of health ; the English, French, and German 

 languages ; and the scheme may, in the discretion of 

 the trustees, include all such other branches of instruc- 

 tion as will conduce to a sound practical knowledge of 

 scientific subjects, excluding mere literary education. 

 The trustees have also power to make provision for 

 instruction in art as well as in science ; and, by a 

 supplemental deed, they are authorised to include in the 

 course of study certain subjects requisite for the training 

 of medical students. There is no restriction of the 

 advantages of the college as to sex, creed, or birthplace ; 

 but, other things being equal, preference is to be given to 

 candidates who have been educated in Sir Josiah Mason's 

 Orphanage at Erdington, and after these to persons born 

 in Birmingham or Kidderminster, the latter being the 

 founder's birthplace. One wise provision of the deed 

 empowers the trustees, with certain reservations, to alter 

 the course of teaching and the arrangements of the 

 instruction when a change is considered desirable, and 

 at stated intervals the trustees are required to take the 

 arrangements into consideration with a view to revision. 

 At present the branches for which provision is inade are 

 confined to mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology. 

 The mathematical professor is Mr. J. M. Hill, M.A., 

 London, BA., Cantab, Fellow of University College, 

 London. Physics are taught by Prof. J. H. Poynting, 

 M.A., B.Sc, London, Fellow of Trinity College, Cam- 

 bridge. The chemistry professor is Mr. W. A. Tilden, 

 D.Sc, London, F.R.S. ; and biology is represented by 

 Prof. T. W. Bridge, M.A., F.Z.S. According to present 

 arrangements instruction is provided in the elementary as 

 well as the higher branches of the sciences taught, with a 

 special view to their application to the industries of the 

 Midland district. The course is also designed to prepare 

 students for the degrees of B.Sc. and D.Sc. in the 

 Lhiiversity of London. 



The internal arrangements seem to be altogether 

 admirable. The main corridor abuts on two noble apart- 

 ments, each 4S feet by 30 feet — one intended for the 

 library and reading-room, the other for the physical 

 laboratory — both rooms being provided with ante-rooms. 

 On the first floor, the chief and central room, situated in 

 the front of the building, is the chemical lecture theatre, 

 50 feet by 33 feet, fitted with seats, tier above tier, for the 

 accommodation of 155 students. The male students will 

 occupy the lower half and the female students the seats 

 above and behind them, a separate entrance being pro- 

 vided for each sex. The mechanical arrangements and 

 apparatus for the use of the lecturer and the carrying 

 away of noxious fumes are of the most complete and 

 ingenious character, and the assistants' ante-room, for the 

 preparation of chemical experiments, is on an equally 

 satisfactory scale. Class-rooms for electricity, magnetism, 

 biolog)', physics, and models, and a couple of spacious 

 lecture theatres, each 47 feet by 30 feet, one for biology 

 and mathematics, the other for physics, occupy the re- 

 maining space on the first floor. The second floor is 

 devoted principally to the chemical departments, for 

 w^hich the arrangements are of the most complete and 

 elaborate character. A large room, 52 feet by 33 feet, in 

 the front of the building, over the chemical lecture theatre, 

 will be used as a general assembly or examination room, 

 and will be available for the meetings of scientific societies. 

 The two laboratories situated at the back of the building, 

 and lit both by windows and skylights, measure together 

 about 104 feet long by 32 feet wide. In the larger 

 laboratory, intended for qualitative analysis, there are 

 four double operating-tables fitted with sinks, gas and 

 water for forty students, in addition to a large unen- 

 cumbered table in the middle of the apartment for long 

 trains of chemical apparatus. The laboratory for quanti- 

 tative analysis contains similar fittings and appliances 



