June 1 8, 1 8 74 J 



NATURE 



133 



University were conveyed to the Chancellor, the Duke of Devon- 

 shire, for his handsome gift of the Cavendish Laboratory. At the 

 Oxford Encainia yesterday, the degree of D.C.L. was conferred, 

 among others, upon Victor Carus, Professor of Comparative 

 Anatomy and Zoology in the University of Leipsig. 



We congratulate the University of Cambridge that its Board 

 of Natural Science Studies have at last come to see that the 

 Oxford system in the Natural Sciences Tripos is the only work- 

 able one, and the only one which can lead to really valuable 

 results and the discouragement of cramming and superficiality. 

 The Board having had under consideration the reports of the 

 examiners for the Natural Sciences Tripos for several successive 

 years, which express more or less dissatisfaction with the present 

 system on account of the inducements it offers to the candidates 

 to spread their reading over a wide area rather than tu study 

 deeply a limited section of natural sciences, think that the objects 

 of the examination — viz. to offer sufficient stimulus to exertion, 

 and at the same time to give encouragement to sound study — 

 will be best secured by dividing the first class into two divisions, 

 and by arranging the names in each of tliese divisions and in 

 each of the other two classes in .alphabetical order. They think 

 it desirable that the first class should consist of those who, having 

 shown adequate general knowledge in the first three days of the 

 examination, have shown superior proficiency in some one, at 

 least, of the branches of natural science included in the examin.a- 

 tion, and that in the case of every student placed in the first 

 clasi, the subject or subjects for knowledge whereof he is placed 

 in the first class be signified in the published list. They are 

 also of opinion that it is desirable th.at those who pass the first 

 three d.ays' examination with credit should be entitled to admis- 

 sion to the B. .-Y. degree. To carry out these recommendations 

 the Board propose certain alterations in the rules of the Tripos 

 defining more strictly the parts to be included in the first three 

 days' examination, and add regulations to carry out their new 

 scheme. 



As the statute for settling the future Stipend of the Professsor 

 of Geology at Oxford has now passed Convocation the Vice- 

 Chanccllor will proceed to an election in the course of the pre- 

 sent month. Any gentlemen who have not already sent in their 

 names are requested to do so on or before Saturday, June 20. 



There are several points in connection with the Annual 

 Commemoration of the University of Sydney, held on March 28 

 last, which are worthy of notice, and which must be pleasing to 

 the friends of scientific education. The number of students 

 attending lectures at the University during the past Session 

 was 48, being the largest number at one time since the 

 establishment of the University. The number of "superior 

 graduates "now in the University is 87; on this reaching too 

 it will be entitled to send a representative to the Legislative 

 Assembly. In recognition of the zeal and efficiency with which 

 Mr. Liversidge has performed his duties as Reader in Geology 

 and Mineralogy, the Senate have promoted him to the higher 

 grade and position of Professor in those sciences, and Demon- 

 strator in Practical Chemistry, and have also voted 500/. (or the 

 improvement of his Laboratories. 



Further the Senate of Sydney University have made 

 what many of our readers will regard as a wise law ; viz. 

 that candidates, who at the second yearly examination should 

 have displayed a marked proficiency in any one of the three 

 schools of classics, mathematics, or natural science, should be 

 allowed, on the recommendation of the examiners, to devote 

 themselves in their third year exclusively to the subjects of that 

 school, and to be examined for B. A. in them only. 



At the same commemoration, a very gratifying act of 

 munificence was announced. Mr. William Macleay, M.L.A., 



F.L.S., has expressed his intention of bequeathing to the Uni- 

 versity his valuable library and collection of natural history, upon 

 trust for the promotion of that science, and the instruction of the 

 students and the inhabitants of the colony in the same. He also 

 expresses his intention of leaving to the University the sum of 

 6,000/., the interest upon which is to be applied to the payment 

 of the salary of a properly-qualified curator, to be specially and 

 exclusively employed in the care and preservation of the speci- 

 mens belonging to the collection, or any additions that may be 

 made to it. The library already consists of about 2,000 volumes, 

 and Mr. Macleay states that he is continually adding to it all the 

 most valuable of the periodicals and proceedings of Societies of 

 Natural History, published in England, France, Germany, 

 Belgium, and Russia. It includes a large number of books on 

 Natural History, which belonged to the late Mr. William Sharpe 

 Macleay, F. L. S., and which have been presented by his brother, 

 Mr. George Macleay, C.M.G., F.L.S., to accompany the col- 

 lection. The collection of specimens, we believe, may be con- 

 sidered one of the most extensive and valuable in the world. It 

 was first formed by the late Alexander Macleay, F.R.S., F.L.!;., 

 and ■\\as considered about fifty years ago the first collection in 

 Europe. Many additions were made to it by his son, the late 

 Mr. W. S. Macleay, who, as well as his father, was considered 

 one of the most eminent entomologists of his day. During the 

 last fifteen years the collection has been greatly enriched by the 

 present owner, Mr. William Macleay, by the accumulation of 

 large numbers of Australian insects, besides a considerable col- 

 lection from other parts of the world . The library and collec- 

 tion are to be maintained and known by the name of the 

 " Macleayan Natural Ilibtory Collection," and to be open to the 

 inspection of the students of the University and the general 

 public, at all such proper and convenient times as may lie 

 appointed for that purpose. From the admirable spirit which 

 seems to animate the University of Sydney, we should think this 

 munificent gift is hkely to be fruitful of the best results. 



On June 10 W. li. Miller, F.R.S., Professor of Mineralogy 

 in the University of Cambridge, was elected a FelloAf of St. 

 John's College, Cambridge. Prof. Miller tojk his degree at the 

 college and was formerly for several years a Fellow. He has 

 now been elected for the second time under the statute empower- 

 ing the college to elect as Fellow "any person eminent for 

 Science or learning." At the same time the Very Rev. C. 

 Meridale, Dean of Ely, Prof. J. C. Adams, and T. Todhunler 

 were elected Honorary Fellows. C. T. Clough, and J. N. 

 Langley have been elected Scholars for proficiency in Natural 

 .Science, and A. M. Marshall (Scholar 1873) has received an ex- 

 hibition in augmentation of his scholarship. First class in the 

 college examination in Natural Science (alphabetical order) : — ■ 

 Clough, Langley, Marshall, and .Stewart. 



We are glad to see from the Fourth Annual Report of the 

 Devon and Exeter Albert Memorial Museum, Scliools of Science 

 and Art, and Free Library, that all departments of the institution 

 are in a nourishing and satisfactory condition. It is gratifying to 

 see that the Science schools are gaining ground, and we hope the 

 Committee will do all in its power to develop these and induce 

 those for whose benefit they are intended to take advantage of 

 them. The museum has been greatly improved during the past 

 year by the addition of cases, the arrangement of specimens, and 

 the acquisition of a number of skeletons of typical vertebrates. 



We are pleased to see from the Sixteenth Report of the East 

 Kent Natural History Society that it is in a satisfactory condition as 

 regards members, funds, and work ; the number of members at 

 the end of 1S73 was 97; several valuable and appropriate books 

 have been added to the library and a new microscope purchased. 

 Several important papers have been read bearing on local and 

 general natural history. 



