Fune 25, 1885] 
NATURE 
189 
(each raised to 100/.), Bushe-Fox, Kirby, Mossop, Foster Hill, 
Natural Science and Medicine: Shore, Rolleston, Seward. 
Exhibitions. —Mathematics : Holmes, Middlemast, Pressland, 
Roseveare, Bushe-Fox, Foster, Flux. Natural Science and 
Medicine: Rolleston, Olive, Jones. Natural Science: Evans, 
Rendle, Lake. 
Proper Sizarships.—Mathematics: Norris, Varley. 
Hughes Prizes.—Mathematics: Love. Natural Science : 
Shore. 
Wright Prizes.—Mathematics: Fletcher, Bakre, and Flux 
(equal). 
Herschel Prize (for Astronomy).—Bushe-Fox. 
Hockin Prize (for Electricity). —Not awarded. 
The Hutchinson Studentship (NATURE, May 28, p. 90) was 
awarded to Ds. Rapson (First Class, Classical Tripos 1883-85, 
and Indian Languages Tripos 1885) to assist him in the prose- 
cution of his studies in Sanskrit literature. 
The next Adams Prize will be adjudged in 1887. The sub- 
ject is Ellipsoidal and Spheroidal Harmonic Analysis, attention 
being particularly drawn to the reduction of the formulz in this 
calculus to practical forms adapted to numerical calculation. 
Since, with the exception of spherical harmonics, this method 
has remained almost barren in physical investigations, actual 
illustrations of its utility are invited. The essays must be sent 
in by December 16, 1886, and any Cambridge graduate may 
compete. The successful candidate will receive 170/. ; he must 
print the essay at his own expense. 
The Mathematical Board recommend that four separate ex- 
aminers be appointed for the final portion of the Mathematical 
Tripos, in the hope of inducing more specially qualified pro- 
fessors and specialists to undertake this advanced work. 
The Annual Report of the Observatory gives a very satisfac- 
tory record of progress. Among the 3253 observations with the 
transit circle were 2442 of zone stars on 100 nights, the greater 
number at five or seven wires, and all read off with four micro- 
scopes. The reductions of observations are in a forward state. 
At the Botanical Gardens during the past year the collection 
of insectivorous plants has been greatly improved. A number 
of new or rare species have flowered—some for the first time in 
this country. A speciality has been made of Salvia, and four 
species from this garden have been figured in the Botanical 
Magazine. 
A grant not exceeding 100/, is to be made to C. S. Sherring- 
ton, M.B,, of Gonville and Caius College, from the Worts 
Travelling Scholars Fund, to enable him to proceed to Valentia 
to investigate the experiments now being made by Dr. Ferrand 
on inoculation as a preventive against cholera. 
SCIENTIFIC SERIALS 
In the Fournal of Botany for May and June Mr. W. B 
Grove continues his paper on ‘‘ new or noteworthy fungi,” which 
is well illustrated. Several new species are described, and one 
new genus, Diplococcium, near to Cladotrichum.—Mr. S. Le 
M. Moore identifies Bacterium fetidum, Thin, found in associa- 
tion with profuse sweating of the soles of the feet, with the 
ordinary micrococcus of surface soil.—Mr. H. N. Dixon adds a 
new species to the British moss flora, Catharinea dixoni, from 
Northampton.—Mr. R. D. Fitzgerald and Mr. H. N. Ridley 
describe new Orchids ; and Rev. B. Scortechini a new genus of 
Myrtaceze, Pseudoerigenia, from the Malay Peninsula.—Dr. H. 
Trimen sends some notes on the flora of Ceylon, and Rev. 
W. H. Purchas contributes notes on Dovedale plants. 
Rivista Screntifico Industriale, May 15.—A new explanation 
of the red after-glows (continued), by Prof. Cario Marangoni.— 
On the diathermicity of fluids, by A. Volta.—Some electric 
phenomena associated with rarefied gases, by Emilio Piazzoli.— 
Variations in the electric resistance of solid and pure metal wires 
according to the temperature (concluded), by Prof. Angelo 
Emo. 
Bulletin de V Académie Royale de Belgique, April 4.—Crystallo- 
graphic note on some specimens of calcite from the Carbonifer- 
ous limestone of Blaton.—Note on the recent appearance of a 
school of whales (Balena biscayensis) on the east coast of the 
United States, by M. P. J. Van Beneden.—Account of the 
discovery of a gigantic Mosasaurian (Hainosaurus) in the chalk 
formation of Mesvin-Ciply near Mons, Belgium, by M. E 
Dupont.—On Riccati’s equation and its double generalisation, 
hy M, J. de Tilly.—State of the vegetation during the month of 
March at Liege and Longchamps-sur-Geer, Belgium, by Baron 
de Selys Longchamps.—On the presence of Condroz graywacke 
in the neighbourhood of Beaumont, Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse, by 
M. Michel Mourlon.—On the porphyries of Bierghes, by M. A. 
Renard.—On the tension of saturated vapours: a modification 
of the atomic law of Dalton, by M. P. de Heen.—The Rouma- 
nians in the Middle Ages: a historical puzzle, by M. A. D. 
Xenophol. 
SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES 
LONDGN 
Royal Society, June 18.—‘‘ The Action of Tidal Streams 
on Metais during Diffusion of Salt and Fresh Water. Experi- 
mental Research, Part II. (Gravimetric).” By Thomas Andrews, 
F.R.S.E. Communicated by Prof. G. G. Stokes, Sec.R.S. 
In a paper last session on ‘‘ The Electromotive Force during 
Diffusion in Tidal Streams” (see Proc. Roy. Soc., No. 232), the 
author recorded the electrical part of this investigation. The 
present communication contains the concluding gravimetric ex- 
periments of the research. The effects attending the diffusion 
of the salt and fresh water in tidal estuaries, on parts of the 
same metal, of known composition and general properties, were 
estimated in each case for a period of oe year, during which 
bright plates of the following metals—viz., wrought iron (com- 
bined carbon, none), ‘‘ soft” Bessemer steel (c.c. 0°15), ‘‘ soft” 
Siemens-Martin steel (c.c. 0°17), ‘‘soft” cast steel (c.c. 0°46), 
“‘hard” Bessemer steel (c.c. 0°51), best cast metal, ‘*No. 1” 
(c.c. 0°39), common cast metal, ‘‘ No. 2” (c.c. 0°67), were con- 
stantly exposed to conditions of galvanic action similar to those 
obtaining in some tidal streams. The results demonstrate that 
electric disintegration of the nature alluded to in this and the 
former paper (viz., the galvanic destructive action on parts of 
even the same metal, arising from difference of electrical poten- 
tial during diffusion between the surface and lower waters in a 
tidal stream) is, on comparison with other investigations by the 
author, apparently of much greater extent than the loss either 
from simple corrosion in sea water alone, or than that which ensues 
from the action on each other of dissimilar metals of this group 
(such as wrought irons, cast metals, and steels) in galvanic con- 
nection in sea water. Compared with simple corrosion in sea 
water only, the increase in loss varied from about 15 up to 50 
per cent., according to the nature of the metals. The results of 
the experiments in this and the former paper indicate, therefore, 
that the tidal action on any vessel or metallic structure, of sea 
and fresh water whilst diffusing is (in the case even of the same 
metal thus exposed to the simultaneous action of top and bottom 
waters) considerably more destructive in its-nature and character 
than the action of sea water alone. Moreover, the author has 
found it (in other experiments) extending over long periods to 
considerably exceed (in some instances varying from about 55 to 
120 per cent.) the loss caused by galvanic action between 
dissimilar metals of the iron and steel group in circuit in sea 
water. 
Geological Society, May 27.—Prof. T. G. Bonney, 
F.R.S., President, in the chair.—George Ormond Kekewich 
was elected a Fellow of the Society.—The following communi- 
cations were read :—On the so-called diorite of Little Knott 
(Cumberland), with further remarks on the occurrence of Picrites 
in Wales, by Prof. T. G. Bonney, F.R.S., Pres.G.S. The 
Little Knott rock and its microscopic structure were briefly 
described by the late Mr. Clifton Ward, who named it a diorite, 
but called attention to its abnormal character. The author gave 
some additional particulars, and showed that, although tke rock 
varies in different parts of the same outcrop, and is not one of 
the most typical representatives of the picrite group, its relations 
on the whole are with this rather than with the true diorites. 
He also called attention to the extraordinary number of boulders 
which have been furnished by this comparatively small outcrop, 
and discussed the relation of their distribution to the former ex- 
tension and effects of ice in the Lake District. He briefly 
noticed the occurrence of additional boulders of picrite in 
Anglesey, and described specimens from two localities (Caemawr 
and Pengorphwysfa) where a similar rock has been discovered 
in situ by Prof. Hughes. Hence it is probable that the Anglesey 
boulders are derived from localities in that island, and not 
from Cumberland. From a re-examination of specimens col- 
lected by the late Prof. Sedgwick and Mr. Tawney, preserved 
in the Woodwardian Museum at Cambridge, the author showed 
that the rock must occur 77 situ in two localities in the Lleyn 
