ON PHOTOGRAPHIC RECORDS OF PEDIGREE STOCK. 603 



to introduce the system. Later on, when they had become common, the 

 absence of an asterisk would excite suspicion and require explanation. 

 Lastly, the printing of the photographs would be self-supporting. I have 

 already expressed a belief that the custom would arise of printing a 

 separate pamphlet for every important stallion or bull, containing its 

 photograph and those of its nearer ancestors, together with other appropriate 

 information. Larger publications of a more costly kind would doubtless 

 be issued under the auspices of each Society, to correspond with an awakened 

 demand for fuller information on the antecedents of pedigree stock. 



Printed Records. — As regards useful additions to the printed matter 

 in stud and herd books, I would now merely allude to the need for them, 

 and to the propriety of carefully reconsidering how much of real utility 

 could be asked for from breeders that they would supply willingly and 

 truthfully. The measurements of adult animals, of which I spoke, would 

 be appropriate entries. An accumulation even of these during two or 

 three generations would be exceedingly valuable, considering how many 

 coherent results in the science of heredity have been derived from obser- 

 vations of human stature, though limited to comparatively small numbers 

 of parents and their offspring. 



Conclusion. — The amount of money annually spent in rearing pedigree 

 stock is enormous ; so is the care and thought bestowed upon it, and so 

 also is its national importance. The non-preservation of adequate records 

 of pedigree stock is a cruel waste of opportunity, and has been most preju- 

 dicial to the acquirement of a sound knowledge of the art of breeding. 

 If the scheme I have sketched be found feasible, it will cause much to 

 be noted that has hitherto been overlooked, and much that is commonly 

 observed to be placed permanently on record, instead of being ill remem- 

 bered and soon wholly forgotten. 



The Climatology of Africa. — Seventh Beport of a Committee consisting- 

 of Mr. E. Gr. Ravensteix (Chairman), Sir John Kirk, Mr. G. J. 

 Symons, Dr. H. R. Mill, aiul Mr. H. N. Dickson (Secretary). 

 (Drawn up by the Chairman.) 



Meteorological returns have reached your Committee, in the course of 

 last year, from twenty-six stations in Tropical Africa. 



Niger Territories. — No returns have been received from Wari since the 

 hostile operations against Benin, and there is reason to believe that the 

 instruments at that station have been destroyed. Mr. E. G. Fenton has 

 forwarded three months' observations from Old Calabar. These will be 

 published as soon as a full year's record is to hand. The promised 

 abstracts of observations from several stations in the territories of the 

 Royal Niger Company have not hitherto been received. 



Lamharene (Ogoivai). — The set of instruments lent to the late M. 

 Bonzon of the ' Missions Evangeliques ' has been returned to Paris. The 

 Rev. M. Coillard, well known for his excellent work in the Baxotse 

 country, and a trustworthy observer, having expressed a desire to purchase 

 these instruments for 6^., the Committee have gladly accepted this offer, 

 as a station in that part of Africa is much wanted. The set has been 



