I90 



NATURE 



\7an. 8, 1874 



archway leaning towards the left, i.e. having its highest 

 point to the left of the middle point of its base. As be- 

 fore stated, the flap almost blocks up the tunnel, so that 

 to get to the nectar-holes the proboscis must pass over 

 the top of the flap, and must therefore travel along the 

 highest part of the tunnel, but since at the entrance arch the 

 hii;hest point is to the lelt, the bee finds it necessary to go 

 to the left of the coiled-up carina to reach the nectar- 

 holes in the easiest way. If this view of the function of 

 the flap, when considered in relation with the disposition 

 of the pistil, carina, iS:c., be correct, it adds another in- 

 stance to the long list of mechanisms for ensuring the 

 cross-fertihsation of flowers by means of the visits of 

 insects. Francis Darwin 



THE FRENCH MUSEUM OF PHYSICAL AND 

 MECHANICAL SCIENCE 



THE following official report of General Morin, the 

 director of the Conservatoire des Arts-et-M^liers, 

 Paris, to the Minister of Agriculture and Commerce, 

 which we take from the Journal of the Society of Arts, 

 furnishi s some interesting details as to the present condi- 

 tion of this magnificent educational establishment, the like 

 of which, dealing as it does with experimental and me- 

 chanical science, is entirely wanting in our country, 

 although in the British Museum, the student of Natural 

 History finds all he needs. 



" The total number of persons who attended the lec- 

 tures of the fourteen professors amounted in 1872 to 

 I3S.443) ^t 559 lectures, or in the proportion of 241 to 

 each lecture. The smallest number of lessons given by 

 any one professor was 40, from the opening in the com- 

 mencement of November, until the last days of April. 

 The total number of persons attending is smaller than in 

 preceding years, which is explained by the decrease of 

 the floating population of Paris. This year, as in all 

 others, the decrease commenced w'hen the days got 

 longer, and work kept the people in the workshop. 



" I would here limit this report if I did not think it 

 necessary to add a few words upon the means of instruc- 

 tion which the Conservatoire offers to the public and the 

 working-classes of all ranks. 



'■ This establishment, as is known, owes its origin to 

 the illustrious Vaucanson, inspector of factories, who, 

 after having made at the Hotel du Montague, Rue de 

 Charonne, a collection of machines, instruments and 

 tools, for the instruction of workmen, presented it to the 

 Government, on the sole condition that its original pur- 

 pose should be maintained. Louis XVI. accepted the 

 gift by an act of council, and the illustrious Vandermonde, 

 member of the Academy of Sciences, was named admi- 

 nistrator and conservator of this first industrial museum. 

 Later, by the decrees of the i5fh and iSch of August, 

 1793) 'hs Convention created a temporary commission of 

 arts, to pat a stop to the dispersion of objects of art, 

 science, and industry. This commission succeeded in 

 collecting a large number in a depot formed at the Hotel 

 d'Aiquillon, Rue de I'Universitc. The value of these col- 

 lections soon after determined the Convention, upon the 

 report of Gregory, to make a decree, the 19 Vcnd^maire, 

 year 3, that there should be formed in Paris, under the 

 name of Conservatoire des Arts-ct-Metiers, a public col- 

 lection of machines, models, tools, drawings, descriptions, 

 and books of all kinds of arts and science, the use of 

 which should be explained by three lecturers attached to 

 the establishment. 



" It may be well to mention that the title of 'demon- 

 strateur' or lecturer, often corresponded to that of professor, 

 and that the professors of the Jardin des Plantes re- 

 mained long after they had commenced giving regular 

 courses. However that may be, the organisation of the 

 Conservatoire, which was checked by several circum- 



stances, was again mooted by Alquier at the Council of 

 the Ancients, on the 27th Nivose, year 7, which urged 

 the great advantage of such an institution to workmen, 

 by saying that it is of more use showing them articles 

 than merely s eaking of them. It was not, however, 

 until the 12th Germinal, year 7, that the buildings of the 

 priory of St. Nicholas of the Fields were put into the 

 possession of the members of the Conservatoire, who 

 were then composed of Le Roy, Conti, Molard, and Ben- 

 velot, designer. The names of these savants, and that of 

 Montgolfier, who soon after replaced Le Roy, did not 

 allow of any comparison being made between the functions 

 of these lecturers and those who are differently named 

 now-a-days. 



" At length, in the year 8, all the models and machines 

 belonging to the State were definitively removed to this 

 building, and formed collections destined solely for the 

 instruction at sight. The functions implied by the title of 

 lecturer were never exercised, and this will easily be 

 believed when it is said that the numerous visitors who 

 are attracted by the rich collections sometimes amount to 

 200,000, which makes all verbal explanation on the spot 

 impossible. But that which is not possible to do for the 

 public has been for a long time aftorded by the Conserva- 

 toire to persons who are really desirous of information. 

 A complete and methodical catalogue has been made out 

 and published, and to it are added, from time to time, all 

 new acquisitions ; this has already passed through four 

 editions. The galleries have been systematically classified, 

 a guide has been placed in each, who, if he cannot give 

 any practical explanation, can at least show where such 

 and such a model is to be found, each of which is ticketed 

 and numbered, both in the catalogue and in the inventory. 

 Should an engineer or a workman wish to examine 

 separately a machine or machinery, a study card for the 

 necessary time is given to him. Or should any more com- 

 plete information or explanation be required, either the 

 curator of the collections, the under-director, or the direc- 

 tor, is always ready to furnish them, their office being 

 freely open to all. 



" The staff in charge of the collections consists of the 

 conservator, an assistant conservator, and of fourteen 

 chosen guardians, who, for the most part, are picked from 

 old non-commissioned officers or soldiers. The wish to 

 give explanations by these, even with the aid of written 

 details for the 9,000 models or articles which are there, 

 would lead to great errors and confusion by a zealous but 

 a badly instructed staff. In asking that popular confer- 

 ences, such as are held at the Polytechnic Institution of 

 London, should be introduced here, account has not been 

 taken of the great difficulties which stand in the way, and 

 greatly exaggerated ideas exist as to their value. 



" It is not by common and vulgar explanations that the 

 principles of Science can be spread an.ongst our work- 

 men, and the facts and experience which are so necessary ; 

 their minds and intelligence are developed enough, so no 

 fear need be had to speak to them on difficult scientific 

 questions, if it is done with wisdom. 



" All the professors who have followed this mode of 

 teaching have often been convinced, on meeting some of 

 their old hearers in workshops, that what may be termed 

 the knowledge of truth and scientific principle has more 

 deeply entered into their minds than into that ot scholars 

 of more celebrated schools. Hence it was not without 

 reason that, in 181 9, a decree of the king, brought about 

 by the respected Dean, M. le Baron Charles Dupin, 

 added to the instructions at sight given by the collections, 

 that of oral instruction in the amphitheatres, by professors 

 chosen from among the ranks of science. The number 

 of chairs, at first only three, is now fourteen, and the half 

 of the professors are members of the Institute, who diffuse 

 and popularise science, the progress of which they pro- 

 mote by their labours. This instruction, unique of its 

 kind in Europe, only takes place during winter ; it is free 



