388 
already utilised Conorhinus rubrofasciatus, and had 
found that the parasite, after being ingested by this 
bug, degenerated. Further, an exhaustive attempt 
was being made to find whether kala-azar existed in 
dogs in Madras, and a long series of experiments by 
inoculating dogs and many other animals would be 
carried out at the first opportunity in order to find 
a susceptible animal. 
Captain Patton then shortly referred to the human 
and canine forms of kala-azar which occurred along 
the Mediterranean littoral. He very much doubted 
whether the human form was of canine origin, and that 
the dog-flea or human flea transmitted the parasite. 
The flagellates found in human and dog-fleas in Italy 
and elsewhere were unquestionably natural flagel- 
lates of the fleas, for he had found identical Herpeto- 
monads in the dog-fleas in Madras. He had studied 
these parasites, and knew that the flea became 
infected in its larval stage, so that no precautions 
had been taken by other observers to exclude these 
parasites. He was aware that one observer claims 
to have transmitted the parasite of canine kala- 
azar by the dog-flea, but these experiments were 
lacking in precision, and certainly required con- 
firmation. Even though it may eventually be found 
that the parasite was transmitted by the dog-flea, 
there was no proof whatever that the human para- 
site would be transmitted by the human fléa. He 
also doubted whether the recent observations of the 
development of the human parasite in mosquitoes 
were accurate, for the two mosquitoes which were 
utilised, namely, Anopheles maculipennis and 
Stegomyia fasciata, were known to be infected in 
Europe with natural flagellates. 
In conclusion, Captain Patton believed that the 
parasite of kala-azar had once been a natural flagel- 
late of the bed-bug, and that as this insect had altered 
its habits from being a plant-feeder to a_blood- 
sucker, the life-history of the parasite had been so 
modified that the post-flagellate stage had become 
transferred to the host of the bug, in whom it had 
become the pre-flagellate stage. In support of this 
view there was the fact that human blood was at the 
present day unsuitable for the flagellate stage of the 
parasite in the bug. MHe shortly referred to Cono- 
rhinus rubrofasciatus, which was at the present day 
becoming sanguivorous, like its ally, C. megistus, 
which is now entirely a  blood-sucking insect. 
C. rubrofasciatus in Madras was known to be in- 
fected with a species of Crithidia, and it seemed 
probable that the life-history of the parasite may in 
course of time be so modified that it will become 
transferred to the host of this bug. 
UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 
INTELLIGENCE. 
CaMBRIDGE.—The Public Orator, Sir John Sandys, 
spoke as follows on June 6 in presenting Major 
Leonard Darwin for the degree of Doctor of Science 
honoris causa :— 
Salutamus patris illustris filium, fratrum insignium 
fratrem dignissimum, Societatis illius perquam 
idoneum praesidem, quae populum totum in_ illis 
omnibus rebus educandum curat quae nomine noyo 
evyevuka nuncupantur. Salutamus Regiae Societatis 
Geographicae praesidem emeritum, qui a Societate 
illa nominatus studiorum geographicorum concilio 
nostro. iam dudum_ profuit. Olim in exercitu 
Britannico scientiae machinalis peritissimus, etiam 
itineribus longinquis scientiarum causa interfuit, et 
planetam Venerem praesertim solis orbem_ trans- 
euntem, primum abhinc annos duodequadraginta, 
deinde abhinc annos triginta, patria procul observavit. 
Senatui Britannico per triennium adscriptus, diuque 
NO. 2224, VOL. 89] 
NATURE 
[Jose 13 ,) nome 
scientiae oeconomicae deditus, et libero de commercio 
et municipiorum de commercio luculenter disputavit ; 
idem, velut iudex aequus, illorum sententiam expo- 
suit, qui non unius tantum metalli sed auri atque 
argenti e valore monetae mensuram petendam putant. 
Quot gentium leges monetales subtiliter examinavit; 
quot orbis terrarum in partibus impigre peregrinatus 
est; quot scientiarum provincias inter se diversas 
feliciter peragravit ! 
Duco ad vos virum ingenio perquam  versatili 
praeditum, virum et suo et fratrum suorum Canta- 
brigiensium nomine nobis acceptissimum, Leonardum 
Darwin. 
The General Board of Studies have reappointed 
A. Henry, of Gonville and Caius College, as 
reader in forestry; Dr. Myers as lecturer in experi- 
mental psychology; Dr. Nicholson as lecturer in 
Persian; W. H. R. Rivers, of St. John’s College, as 
lecturer in physiology of the senses; and R. P. 
Gregory, of St. John’s College, as lecturer in botany. 
Approved by the General Board of Studies for the 
degree of doctor of science, Francis Hugh Adam 
Marshall, of Christ’s College. The General Board of 
Studies have appointed G. Udny Yule as University 
lecturer in statistics for five years from October 1, 
1gt2, until September 30, 1917, and this appointment 
has been confirmed by the Special Board for 
Economics and Politics. The electors to the Sandars 
readership in bibliography, palzography, &c., have 
appointed Dr. Greg, librarian of Trinity College, to 
be Sandars reader for the year 1913. The Forestry 
Committee are prepared to appoint an adviser in 
forestry, whose duties will commence on October 1, 
1912. The appointment will be for three years. The 
chief duty of the adviser will be to supply to land- 
owners and others, in a group of counties in the east 
of England, advice on the management of their 
woods and plantations. He will also be required to 
study in detail lccal conditions in all matters pertain- 
ing to forestry. Applications should be sent to the 
secretary of the Forestry Committee, School of Agri- 
culture, Cambridge, to arrive not later than July 31, 
1912. 
Oxrorp.—A decree will be proposed in Convocation 
on June 18, authorising the Vice-Chancellor to apply, 
on behalf of the University, to the Board of Agricul- 
ture and Fisheries for a grant of 3001. a year for the 
expenses of agricultural research relating to the soils 
of Oxfordshire and parts of the adjacent counties, to 
be conducted in the School of Rural Economy under 
the direction of the Sibthorpian professor (Prof. W. 
Somerville). On the same day a decree will be sub- 
mitted to Congregation, authorising the curators of 
the University chest to receive a sum of gool., which 
has been offered by the Development Commissioners 
through the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, to 
be applied under the direction of the Committee of 
Rural Economy in aid of investigation into the 
economics of agriculture; and to provide from the 
resources of the University a sum of 300l. a year 
for each of the three years from October 1, 1913, for 
the same purpose, if the Development Commissioners 
shall in each of the same years, according to their 
offer, make to the University a grant of not less than 
6ool. towards the same object. Prof. Karl Pearson, 
F.R.S., having declined it, the Weldon Memorial 
Prize for 1912 has been awarded by the electors to 
Dr.. David Heron. 
Lonpon.—Mr. W. J. Dakin, assistant lecturer and 
demonstrator in zoology in the University of Liver- 
pool, has been appointed senior assistant in the 
department of zoology and comparative anatomy at 
University College. 
