50 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXXIV. No. 863 



be unsafe for occupancy. The shock was the 

 most severe that has been felt at the observa- 

 tory. 



A TELEGRAM received at the Harvard Col- 

 lege Observatory from Professor R. G. Aitken, 

 of the Lick Observatory, states that a comet 

 discovered by Kiess was observed by Kiess 

 July 6.9794 Greenwich mean time in 



K.A. 4''51">51=.8 



Dec. + 35° 15' 02" 



The comet can be seen with an opera glass. 

 It is moving southwest, and has a visible tail. 

 The United States Weather Bureau is 

 forming in its library, at Washington, a col- 

 lection of meteorological photographs, and 

 will welcome additions thereto from all parts 

 of the world. The following classes of pic- 

 tures are among those desired: (1) views of 

 meteorological oiSces, observatories and sta- 

 tions; (2) pictures of meteorological appa- 

 ratus; (3) portraits of meteorologists, views 

 of their homes and birthplaces; (4) views 

 showing the effects of storms, inundations, 

 freezes, heavy snowfall, etc.; (5) cloud photo- 

 graphs; (6) photographs of optical phenom- 

 ena (rainbows, halos, Brocken specter, mirage, 

 etc.) ; (T) photographs of lightning and its 

 effects; (8) photographs of meteorologically 

 interesting pictures in old books, or of early 

 prints and paintings (e. g., contemporary pic- 

 tures of the damage wrought by the great 

 storm of 1Y03, in England). Persons who 

 are willing to present such pictures to the 

 Weather Bureau, or who will furnish them in 

 exchange for Weather Bureau publications, 

 are requested to address : Chief U. S. Weather 

 Bureau (Library), Washington, D. C. It will 

 add much to the value of these pictures if the 

 sender will kindly note on the back of each 

 as much pertinent information as practicable. 

 On pictures of classes 4-7, inclusive, should 

 be stated at least the date, hour and place at 

 which each picture was taken, and the direc- 

 tion toward which the camera was pointed. 



The interest manifested in recent develop- 

 ments in the study of heredity and evolution 

 and the application of this new knowledge to 

 plant, animal and human life has led to the 



presentation of a series of public lectures on 

 these topics at the University of Chicago this 

 summer. The lectures are open not only to 

 students, but also to the general public. Three 

 lectures were given in June. The first was a 

 survey of general advances in science by 

 Professor John M. Coulter, of the University 

 of Chicago; another on "Variation, the Basic 

 Factor in Evolution," by Associate Professor 

 William L. Tower, of the University, and a 

 third on " Variation, Heredity and their Re- 

 lation in the Production and Perfection of 

 New Races," by Dr. Tower. During July, the 

 following lectures are being given in Kent 

 theater : 



July 5 — "Mendel's Law of Heredity," William 

 Ernest Castle, Ph.D., professor of zoology, Bussej 

 Institution, Harvard University. 



July 6 — ' ' Heredity, Selection and Sex, ' ' Pro- 

 fessor Castle. 



July 12 — ' ' Inheritance and Evolution in Higher 

 Plants," Edward Murray East, Ph.D., assistant 

 professor of experimental plant morphology, Har- 

 vard University. 



July 19 — "The Cytological Evidences of Germ 

 Cell Constitution and Modification," Professor 

 Coulter. 



July 20 — ' ' Experimental Evidences of the Phys- 

 ical Constitution and Changes in Germ Cells," 

 Associate Professor Tower. 



July 26 — "Inheritance of Physical and Mental 

 Traits in Man, and their Application to Eugen- 

 ics," Charles Benedict Davenport, Ph.D., director 

 of the Station for Experimental Evolution, Car- 

 negie Institution. 



July 27 — ' ' The Eugenic Significance of the 

 Geography of Man," The Eugenics Movement, 

 Professor Davenport. 



UNIVEBSITY AND EDUCATIONAL NEWS 

 The Nevada State University has received 

 $250,000 from Mr. Clarence Mackay, of New 

 York City, and several of his friends, for the 

 construction of a library and administration 

 building. 



Me. Robert Christison has offered to con- 

 tribute a further £1,000 (having already given 

 £1,000) for the foundation of a chair for 

 tropical and sub-tropical agriculture in the 

 University of Brisbane. 



