ig: 



NA TURE 



{Jan. 8, 1874 



formed of a condensing system of two unaclnomatic lenses, 

 which are fixed in the stage of the microtcope, and transmit the 

 rays from the mirror below ; the purpose being that the object 

 (immediately above the upper lens) may be illuminated by light 

 from a great many different directions. 



We have received from the Science and Art Department 

 " Extracts from the Reports of the Professional Examiners in 

 Science on the Examinations of May 1873." The reports are 

 most thorough and painstaking analyses of the results of the 

 examinations, and give one the conviction that there is little 

 chance for candidates who are n.t masters of the subjects they 

 profess. On the whole the examiners report unfavourably on 

 the great bulk of the candidates, and it would be for the good of 

 future candidates, especially such as expect to be able to pass by 

 cramming, that these reports should be brought under their 

 notice. 



An observation of particular interest has been made by Mr. 

 C. S. Tomes {Quartoiy Journal of Microscopical Science). In 

 studying the development of the teeth of the Armadillo ( Taiiisia 

 pcha), he finds, contrary to what would have been expected, that 

 in their earliest stages, the first indications of their differentiation 

 are manifested by the formation of an " enamel organ" as in those 

 of higher mammals ; whereas in the teeth themselves there is no 

 enamel present, as is well known. Another peculiarity is that 

 behind each primitive tooth a second smaller sac is seen, which 

 corresponds in all its relations with the germ of the permanent 

 tooth in other mammalia. Consequently, Tatusia pMt zX. least, 

 amongst the Dasypodiihv, is not monophyodont, as has been 

 previously stated by Rapp, Gervais, and Flower, from which it 

 may be inlerred that the Edentata as an order, must have de- 

 scended from a truly diphyodont type, and have become subse- 

 quently specialised. 



The U.S. Exploring Expedition under Lieut. -Col. Wheeler 

 has now brought its work nearly to a close, having surveyed 

 about 100,000 miles of territory in Southern Colorado, Southern 

 Utah, Eastern Arizona, and Western New Mexico. The entire 

 geological formation of all this vast country has been carefully 

 studied, and from this study and the survey, accurate maps will 

 be drawn this winter. Over 1,000 species of plants have been 

 collected in Southern Colorado, and over 500 in Arizona and 

 New Mexico. Some plants, supposed to have medical proper- 

 ties, or such as might prove of technical use, have been taken 

 along for investigation. For example, the muskal, which is 

 used by the Indians as a principal article of food, is tasteless 

 when raw, but upon cookmg, by being embedded in hot coals, 

 turns sweet and is like the best honey. Attention was also paid 

 to the geographical distribution of plants, and many interesting 

 points elucidated. With regard to the fauna, more than Soo 

 bird skins have been collected and stuffed by one of the natu- 

 ralists, many of them very rare and beautiful. Some very rare 

 reptiles have also been obtained, among which the gilamonster 

 forms a peculiar feature. This animal, which is repulsive in ap- 

 pearance to many, and generally believed to be exceedingly 

 poisonous, is quite harmless and very interesting. Some new 

 species of rattlesnakes have been found. Very few butterflies 

 have been seen, but bugs and beetles were collected in great 

 quantities. The waters of the different streams were searched 

 for the finny tribe. Skulls of bears and mountain lions and other 

 specimens of the animal creation are included in the list of col- 

 lections. With regard to the Indians, many interesting facts 

 have been collected ; among others the vocabularies of seven 

 languages — the Apache, Navajoe, Tehua, Gohun (Tunta 

 Apaches), Waltoa (Jemes), Isletta, and Moquis. 



We notice with considerable satisfaction from the statistics pub- 

 lished in 'Ca&Publishcrs' Circular\!taX\^\i numberof scientific works 



issued during the past yearin England bears a very large proportion 

 to other classes and to the whole number of works published. The 

 number of new books and new editions published during 1873, 

 including 242 importations from America, is 4,991. Of these, 

 5S8 are classed under the head " Arts, Sciences, and Historical 

 Works," by which, we presume, is meant Science theoretical and 

 applied and the history of Science, as there are other heads under 

 which history and the fine arts more appropriately come. This 

 number, 588, is inferior only to that of works of fiction, and 

 theological and religious works, the former numbering 831, and 

 the latter, second in the list for the first time, 770. Were we to 

 class " Voyages, Travels, and Geographical Research," 283 

 volumes, among scientific works, the number would be 871, ex- 

 ceeding even that of works of fiction, not to mention theology. 

 The number of neiu books in Arts, Science, and Geography is 593. 



Dr. E. Kegel, Director of the Botanical Gardens, St. Peters- 

 burg, has published a work on the species of vines met with in 

 North America, Northern China, and Japan, in which he dis- 

 cusses the long-controverted question of the origin of the vine. 

 According to him, the cultivated vine, which forms our vine- 

 yards and produces our wines, is not a distinct and separate 

 botanic species ; it is a hybrid of two species, belonging 

 equally to the genus Vine, viz. V. lahrusca L., and 

 V. vulpina L. The former of these two species is met 

 with in a wild state in Northern America, in Japan, in Mant- 

 churia, and in the Himalayas. Its leaves have their inferior face 

 covered abundantly with a colton-like down. The second species, 

 which grows naturally in the same countries, has upon the infe- 

 rior face of its leaves only small hairs, short and very stiff upon 

 the nerves. The first of these two species has furnished the 

 two most remarkable varieties of American vines, the Cataiuba, 

 much cultivated for the production of wine, and the Isabella, the 

 grape of which, sought after for the table, has a perfumed flavour 

 and peculiar odour, agreeable to some, but disagreeable to 

 others. 



On Thursday evening last, by invitation of the Committee of 

 the Post Office Library, a large company assembled in the gal- 

 leries of the new Post Office buildings, St. Martin's-le-Grand, 

 in commemoration of the reopening of the library. In 

 the south-west gallery there was arranged a museum of early 

 telegraphic instruments and appliances, the latest improvements 

 in the science of telegraphy being illustrated by the mode ot 

 transmitting news to, and receiving messages simultaneously 

 from, nineteen of the larger towns of the kingdom. The new 

 process of despatching messages simultaneously in opposite 

 directions through a single wire by the instrumentality of Mr. 

 Steam's invention was worked throughout the evening, commu- 

 nication having been effected for the purpose with Southampton. 

 In the central gallery there were wires working in direct com- 

 munication with Australia, India, Teheran, America, St. Peters- 

 burg, Paris, and Berlin, the process being rivalled in interest by 

 the action of the pneumatic tubes which connect the Central 

 Telegraph Station with the principal offices for the collection 

 and delivery of messages in the metropolis. There was also in 

 this gallery a working model of the travelling post-office, with 

 the apparatus for the receipt and delivery of the mails while the 

 train is in motion. In the course of the evening the Postmaster- 

 General briefly addressed the company, sketching in outline the 

 history of the English postal service. The Post Office Library 

 was founded in 1S59 for the benefit of the clerks and other 

 officers of the Post Office. It was started by subscriptum among 

 the employees, but has received large donations of books from 

 authors, publishers, and the public. The library contains at 

 present 2, 500 volumes, of which we are glad to hear a fair propor- 

 tion cons sts of popular scientific works, which it is hoped will be 

 shortly increased. 



