I40 



NA TURE 



[June 6, 1907 



is recorded. The author proves to his own satisfaction 

 " that the highly complicated methods of biometry are no 

 more reliable in their results as far as this material is 

 concerned than other methods far less cumbersome and 

 slavish." The nature of coloration and its ontogeny in 

 the adult beetles and in the larvx is discussed in 

 chapter iii., and Dr. Tower adheres to his former view 

 that colour originates from definite centres, and all 

 patterns are merely extensions of these centres ; all species 

 start in life with an identical arrangement of colour- 

 producing centres, which become modified, suppressed, or 

 iiccentuated in different stages and in different species. 

 .Strong evidence against atavistic induences on the colour- 

 development is adduced in the case of three species. Large 

 numbers of specimens in all stages of growth were sub- 

 jected to the most various conditions of temperature and 

 humidity, and the conclusion is reached that like results 

 are produced by diverse stimuli, c..§. any factor, such as 

 heat, above or below the normal has the effect up to a 

 certain point of producing increased pigmentation, beyond 

 that point, of ret.wding it. The author believes that 

 stimuli applied before the germ-cells begin to develop pro- 

 duce somatic variations only, which are not heritable ; 

 on the other hand, if the beetles were subjected to 

 abnormal conditions when their germ-cells were sensitive 

 to such stimuli, heritable variations resulted, and he 

 attributes the inheritance of characters produced in the 

 experiments of Weismann, Standfuss, and others to the 

 fact that the stimuli acted on sensitive germ-cells, not on 

 the soma. The subject is open to considerable argument, 

 and doubtful critics may be referred to pp. 212-5 °f Dr. 

 Tower's moiiograph for a complete exposition of his views. 

 Of high interest are the observations on the protective 

 value of the gaudy coloration of these beetles. All the 

 species have on the elytra and round the edge of the 

 thorax, rows of glands whence exudes an oily and dis- 

 tasteful fluid ; young fowls turned loose in a potato field, 

 where L. decemlineata was common, eagerly attacked the 

 insects at first, but soon learnt to avoid them, and sub- 

 sequently could not be induced to eat them even when 

 offered in company with edible insects. Specimens with 

 the yellow stripes of the elytra covered with blackened 

 shellac were given to experienced fowls, and then were 

 readily seized, but as soon as their distasteful properties 

 were realised they were dropped. 



Limitations of space forbid a discussion of the experi- 

 ments on selective and pedigree breeding, but they are 

 of much interest and of great importance ; the experiments 

 extended over several years, but were brought to an 

 abrupt conclusion through the carelessness of some work- 

 men ; Dr. Tower has with indomitable perseverance re- 

 commenced them, and his final conclusions will be awaited 

 with eagerness. In the last chapter Dr. Tower confesses 

 the faith that is in him ; he will have none of the 

 " Weismannian id-biophore-determinnnt hypothesis." He 

 puts his finger on the weak spot in the theory of de Vries, 

 and asks how mutants fare under natural conditions ; his 

 experience with< Leplinotarsa shows him that they are 

 rigorously exterminated. Variations he regards as 

 epigenetic, not predetermined, evolution is continuous and 

 direct, and new species have arisen in magrating races by 

 direct response to the conditions of existence, natural selec- 

 tion acting as the conservator of the race by limiting the 

 variations to a narrow range of possibilities. R. S. 



UNJVER.'^ITV AND EDUCATIONAL 

 INTELLIGENCE. 

 Cambridge. — Mr. T. B. Wood, universitv reader in 

 agricultural chemistry, has been appointed Drapers' pro- 

 fessor of agriculture in the University. Mr. Wood has 

 been secretary of the Board of Agriculture since the found- 

 ation of the board, and the marked success of the agri- 

 cultural department at Cambridge is in no small sense 

 due to his energy and initiative. The professorship was 

 vacated owing to Prof. Middleton being appointed assistant 

 secretary to the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries. Mr. 

 Wood is the author of many scientific and practical papers 

 on agriculture, and he is co-editor of the Journal of Agri- 

 cultural Studies. 



NO. 1962, VOL. 76] 



Keith Lucas has been appointed an additional demon- 

 strator in physiology ; and F. A. Potts has been appointed 

 assistant to the superintendent of the museum of zoology. 



Demonstrations in practical physics will be given during 

 the long vacation, commencing on Monday, Julv 8. The 1 

 chemical laboratory of the University will be open for the | 

 use of students during the months of July and .August. 

 Notice is also given that during the month of July, Mr. 

 Fearnsides will deliver a course of elementary lectures on 

 " The Study of Rocks." 



An examination for one " Surveyors' Institution Scholar- 

 ship " will be held on July 24-27. The scholarship will 

 be tenable for three years, and of the value of 80/. per 

 annum. Candidates will be examined in (a) elementary 

 chemistry and physics ; (ft) more advanced chemistry, 

 physics, botany, and geology. 



Oxford. — In the Convocation to be held on June 26, it 

 will be proposed to confer the honorary degree of D.Sc. 

 upon the following men of science, nominated by the 

 Chancellor on the occasion of the Encaenia following his 

 installation : — Sir Norman Lockyer, K.C.B., F.R.S. ; Sir 

 Richard D. Powell, president of the Royal College of 

 Phvsicians ; Sir William Ramsav, K.C.B., F.R.S. ; Sir 

 William H. Perkin, F.R.S. ; Prof. W. Watson Chevne, 

 C.B., F.R.S.; and Dr. Ludwig Mond, F.R.S. 



The report read at the annual meeting of the City and 

 Guilds of London Institute on May 28 referred to the 

 negotiations which have taken place with the Board of 

 Education with the view of the Central Technical College 

 of the institute being included in the scheme for the estab- 

 lishment of the Imperial College of Science and Technology 

 at South Kensington. The draft provisions dealing with 

 the purpose and scope of the new institution, and the 

 manner in which the Central Technical College will be 

 associated with the scheme, have been approved by the 

 executive committee. 



."^s was explained in an article in Nature of May ifi 

 (p. 56), the new Imperial College of Science and Technology 

 is shortly to be incorporated in accordance with a charter 

 which is to be considered immediately by a committee of 

 the Privy Council. The suggested charter provides for 

 the continuance of the Royal School of Mines and of the 

 diploma of .'\ssociate of the Royal School of Mines, and the 

 Central Technical College is to retain its individuality and 

 to continue to exercise its privilege of awarding its diplomas 

 of associate and fellow. A question was asked in thf 

 House of Commons on May 30 whether, under the pro- 

 posed charter, it is intended also to retain the title and 

 associateship of the Royal College of Science. The Presi- 

 dent of the Board of Education replied that the new 

 governing body when established will consider the question 

 and decide whether it is expedient to continue the name 

 Royal College of Science and its diploma, and to secure 

 to present associates of the college their existing privileges. 



The Imperial Department of .Agriculture for the West 

 Indies has established agricultural schools at St. Vincent, 

 Dominica, and St. Lucia, and the result has been to 

 provide a good practical training in agricultural science 

 to a selected number of boys. Instruction is given in the 

 theory and practice of agriculture and in agricultural 

 botany and chemistry, in addition to the subjects of an 

 ordinary education. Each boy receives daily training in 

 raising the crops under cultivation and in the care of live- 

 stock. .At each school a portion of the land is divided into 

 experiment plots for testing varieties of different plants, 

 the introduction of new plants of economic importance, and 

 inethods of controlling insect pests and fungoid diseases by 

 insecticides and fungicides. Besides these facilities, the 

 Agricultural News of Barbados reports that rabbit breed- 

 ing is taken up, and pure-bred Belgian hares have been 

 introduced in order to improve the local stock. Poultry 

 raising also receives attention, and now, by the use of 

 incubators, a good supply of well-bred chickens is avail- 

 able for disposal throughout the different islands. The 

 pupils become acquainted with all the details of work in 

 the field before the theoretical knowledge of science neces- 

 sary for keeping abreast with agricultural progress is 

 learned. It has been found that the blending of practical 



