Jan. 13, 1 881] 



NA TURE 



259 



cleir that Prof. Wiedemann's line of investigation would afford 

 an absolute proof that the changes of spectra are really due to 

 the causes to which they are now hypothetically referred by the 

 majority of observers. It is however rather unfortunate that in 

 the particular case under discussion the chemical origin of the 

 band-spectrum has not been settled to the general satisfaction of 

 all observers. A good many of them believe the spectrum to be 

 due to a hydrocarbon, and in that case Prof. Wiedemann would 

 simply have measured the heat of combustion of hydrogen and 

 carboi>. No doubt Prof. Wiedemann will extend his measure- 

 ments toother gases fur which the spectroscopic difficulties have 

 been more satisfactorily settled. 



Prof. Wiedemann has also investigated some phenomena in 

 vacuum tubes, which have also been partly discussed by other 

 observers. Thus under certain conditions more exactly investi- 

 gated by Messrs. Spottiswoode and Moulton, it is known that a 

 conductor of electricity brought near a vacuum tube will deflect 

 the discharge. Prof. Wiedemann finds, as had already been 

 previously noticed by Mr. Goldstein, that the point touched by 

 the conductor behaves like a negative electrode. It is known 

 that as a rule the rays proceed.) ing from a negative electrode are 

 propagated in straight lines, and do not turn round a corner. 

 An experiment however is mentioned by Prof. Wiedemann, in 

 which an excejjtion to this rule seems to take place ; but Prof. 

 ■Wiedemann himself suggests that secondary phenomena might 

 have influenced the result. Perhaps an explanation is to be 

 found in the fact proved by Mr. Gold>tein, that when two tulies 

 of different width are fused together the point of junction 

 behaves like a negative electrode. 



Some experiments were made to show that the rays producing 

 the phosphorescence can traverse the positive discharge ; also 

 to prove that when the pressure is very small the shape of the 

 electrodes has a great influence on the number of discharges and 

 on the other phenomena attending them. 



Prof, Wiedemann winds up with some interesting speculations 

 on the nature of tlie discharge of electricity through gases, but 

 it w as our object to give an account only of his experimental 

 results. A theoretical discussion would lead us too far, as we 

 should have to take account of other writings which have lately 

 appeared. We may return to this part of the subject on another 

 occasion. It is evident from the account we have given that 

 the calorimetric methods e.nployed by Prof. Wiedemann have 

 enabled him to take a very material step towards the elucidation 

 of a difficult problem, and we may hope for another series of 

 his valuable measurements. ARTHUR ScHirsTER 



UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 

 INTELLIGENCE 



Edinburgh. — The Baxter Physical Science Scholarship of 

 n6/., conferred by the University of Edinburgh on the most 

 eminent B.Sc. who has taken his degree during the present or 

 the preceding year, has been awarded to Mr. D. Orme Masson, 

 lecturer on Chemistry at University College, Bristol, who is pre- 

 vented from accepting it in consequence of holding his pre-ent 

 appointment. 



The system of Fellowships in the Johns Hopkins University Is 

 of considerable interest. Twenty Fellowships, each yielding five 

 hundred dollars, are annually open to competition in this Uni- 

 versity. The system of Fellowships was instituted for the pur- 

 pose of affording to young men of talent from any place an 

 opportunity to continue their studies in the Johns Hopkins 

 University, while looking forward to positions as professors, 

 teachers, and investigators, or to otlier literary and scientific 

 vocations. The appointments have not been made as rewards 

 for good work already, done, but as aids and incentives to good 

 work in the future ; in other words, the Fellowships are not so 

 much honours and prizes best>twed for pa^t achievements, as 

 helps to further progres, and stepping-stones to honourable 

 intellectual careers. They have not been offered to those who 

 are definitely looking forward to the practice of either of the 

 three learned professions (though such persons have not been 

 formally excluded from tlie competition), but have been bestowed 

 almost exclusively on young men de.-irous of becoming teachers 

 of science and literature, or deternuned to devote their lives to 

 special branches of learning which lie outside of the ordinary 

 studies of the lawyer, the physician, and the minister. Every 

 candidate is expected to submit his college diploma or other 

 certificate of proficiency from the institution where he has been 

 taught, with recommendations from those who are qualified to 



speak of his character and attainments. But this is only introduc- 

 tory. He must also submit, orally or in writing, such evidence 

 of his past succes in study and of his plans for the future, 

 together with such examples of his literary or scientific work as 

 will enable the professors to judge of his fitness for the post. 

 The examination is indeed in a certain sense competitive ; but 

 not with uniform tests, nor by formal questions and answers sub- 

 mitted to the candidates. First, the head of a given department 

 considers, with such counsel as he may command, the a|jplicant's 

 record. The professors then collectively deliberate on the nomi- 

 nations made by individual members of their body. The list 

 upon which they agree, with the reasons for it, is finally sub- 

 mitted by the president of the University to the Executive 

 Committee, and by them to the trustees for final registration and 

 appointment, lly all these precautions the highest results which 

 were antici[>ated have been secured. A company of most pro- 

 mising students has been brought together, and their ability as 

 teachers and scholars has been recognised by the calls they have 

 received to permanent and attractive posts in different parts of 

 the country. 



A SPECIAL feature of Russian universities is that the students 

 mostly belong to the poorer classes, and that they earn the means 

 of existence by teaching or by translating foreign works for the 

 monthly reviews. Thus, at the same time as the foundation 

 stone of the Siberian University w.ts laid at Tomsk, a subscrip- 

 tion was r.-iised fir the erection of a building in which gratuitous 

 lodgings might be given to students. The well-known explorer 

 of Western Siberia, M. Yadrintzeff, immediately after his return 

 from his la-t journey, delivered a series of lectures on the scenery 

 of Altay, to raise funds for that purpose. 



The new university at Tomsk w ill be most liberally endowed. 

 Up to the day of laying the foundation-stone 354,000 roubles 

 (about 53 000/.) had been received for the building, 100,000 

 roubles (15,000/.) for teaching utensil-, and 31,000 roubles (4600/.) 

 for stipendia. A libraiy of more than 35,000 volumes is ready, 

 and only waiting the building of the necessary apartments to 

 house it. 



SCIENTIFIC SERIALS 

 Trimois Joutnal of Botany, October, i88o-]anuary, iSSl. — 

 Among the more valuable articles in the most recent numbers of 

 this journal may be mentioned : — Mitsci praleriti (new or badly- 

 described mosses), by R. Spruce. — An account of Ihe Acan- 

 thacese of Dr. Welwitsch's Angolan herb Hum, by S. Le M. 

 Moore, with descriptions of a number of new species. — O 1 

 Manihet Glaziovii, the plant affording Ceara india-rubber, by 

 Dr. Trimen. — On a collection of Madagascan ferns, by J. G. 

 Baker. — On Cham obln-a (stelligera 15auer), a species new to 

 Britain, by H. aud 1. Groves. — The history of the .scorpioid 

 cyme, by Dr. S. H. Vines. — On the plants of North Aran 

 Island, CO. Donegal, by II. C. Hart; with a number of interest- 

 ing shorter notices and articles. 



Jourual of the Royal Microscopical Siciety, vol. iii. No. 6 for 

 December, with special index number, contains — The Transactions 

 of the Society.— Charles Stewart, on some structural features of 

 Echinostrephus molare, Parasalenia gratiosa, and Stcmapneustes 

 variolaris, with plate 20. — Dr. H. Stolterfoth, on the diato- 

 macese in the Llyn Arenig B.ich depo-it. — Dr. G. W. Royston- 

 Pigott, on a new method of testing an object-ylass used as a 

 simultaneous condensing illuminator of tirilliantly reflecting 

 objects such as minute particles of quicksilver. — The record of 

 current researches relating to invertebrata, crvptogamia, micro 

 scopy, &c. — The year's journal forms a volume of over 1100 

 pages, of which less than 200 are filled with the Transactions of 

 the Society, and over 80c with the increasingly useful record. 

 With the February number will commence a new series. 



SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES 

 London 

 Zoological Society, January 4.— Prof. W. H. Flower, 

 LL.D., F.R.S., president,' in the chair. — Mr Sclater exhibited 

 and made remarks on a skin of the Southern Merganser (Mirgus 

 australis) from the Auckland Islands, belonging 10 the collection 

 of Baron Anatolevon Hiigel.— Prof. A. Newt )n, M.A., F.R.S., 

 exhibited on behalf of Prof. Alphonse Milne-Edv\ ards, F.M.Z.S., 

 an egg of Coriama cristata, laid last summer in the Jardin des 



