1 lO 



SCIENCE. 



[Vol. XIII. No. 314 



The observatory of ihe Urania will be furnished with a number 

 of small instruments ; but, in addition to these, it will have the 

 most powerful telescope of Berlin. The lens of the great refractor 

 will be twelve inches in diameter, while the length of the telescope 

 is to be five metres. The dome is eight metres in diameter. 



The establishment of this grand institute marks a new departure 

 in the methods of popularizing the natural sciences, and its in- 

 fluence cannot fail to be wholesome. It will educate the masses to 

 an intelligent observation of natural phenomena. 



SCIENTIFIC NEWS IN WASHINGTON. 



Irrigation in California. — The Nucleus of a "Zoo." — Mounds of 

 Ohio. — Triple Births in the Human Race. — The Talking-Ma- 

 chine in Use. — Where Will It Go Next ? 



Irrigation in California. 



Mr. William Hammond Hall, State engineer of California, 

 addressed the National Geographic Society on Friday evening last, 

 on irrigation, particularly irrigation operations in California. It 

 appears that the first work of this kind within the State, subsequent 

 to that of the early mission fathers, was undertaken by a band of 

 Mormons in the San Bernardino valley, in 1852. 



Of the total area of California perhaps one-third "is susceptible 

 of sufficient cultivation to sustain a moderately dense population 

 without the aid of irrigation, while one-third will not sustain a 

 sparse population without the aid of irrigation. The principal 

 regions of irrigation in the State are the great interior valley, the 

 southern valley, and the coast plain of the south. By a comparison 

 of the relative amount of rainfall in the older countries of Europe 

 with that of California, and from the peculiar character of the soil, 

 Mr. Hall showed that the relative necessity for the artificial appli- 

 cation of water is far greater in California than in these countries, 

 the annual rainfall being much less, and the character of the soil 

 and rate of evaporation quite as unfavorable. 



There are in California about 750,000 to 800,000 acres actually 

 irrigated each year, representing what would ordinarily be called 

 an irrigation area of 1,200,000 acres, and there are reasonably 

 within reach of e.xisting canals 2,500,000 acres. The methods of 

 applying water differ very widely with the differing conditions in 

 the various irrigable areas. Much has been done by individual 

 effort in regions where the problem of diverting water from the 

 streams is comparatively easy; but there remain a large number of 

 streams presenting difficult problems, the waters of which can only 

 be utilized by the expenditure of immense capital and the operation 

 of extensive works. Land values in the valley have increased from 

 $1.25 per acre, prior to the introduction of irrigation, up to §250 

 and even higher values, merely by having water rights attached. 

 *Much is expected from the investigations on this subject which 

 Congress has receritly authorized to be prosecuted. 



The Nucleus of a "Zoo." 



The Department of Living Animals at the National Museum 

 attracts greater crowds of visitors than can find comfortable stand- 

 ing-room in the animal building, and furnishes one of the strongest 

 arguments that could be made on the necessity of a great national 

 zoological garden. Gifts and deposits have been coming in in such 

 number, that the museum authorities have found it necessary to 

 decline a number of valuable objects, such as a lioness, aoudad, 

 black leopard, camel, and ostrich, because the institution is posi- 

 tively unable to provide for their accommodation. The total num- 

 ber of live animals, birds, and reptiles received up to date is 281. 

 One of the latest arrivals is a great rarity, a Rocky Mountain sheep 

 from north-western Montana, the gift of Mr. George Bird Grinnell, 

 editor of Foi'est and Stream. It has attracted thousands of visitors, 

 and IS at present in fine condition. So far as known, it is the only 

 specimen of the species now alive in captivily. 



Mounds of Ohio. 



At the instance of Dr. Cyrus Thomas, Mr. Reynolds of the 

 Bureau of Ethnology has recently conducted an exploration of one 

 of the most interesting mounds in Ohio ; namely, the truncated 

 pyramid associated with the system of enclosures opposite Bourne- 



ville, in the Point Creek valley. These enclo.sures belong to the 

 type comprising true circles and equilateral squares. It proved to 

 be a burial-mound in which two series of circular upright palings, 

 thirty-six feet in diameter, constituted a pre-eminent feature. 

 These indicated successive erection and use, as the mound was 

 from time to time enlarged. The skeletons found were all iiiterred 

 systematically within these wooden palings upon the different sand- 

 seams at different depths. The burials were evidently successive 

 or periodical. None of them could have been intrusive, since the 

 stratification above them was not disturbed. Many interesting 

 specimens, comprising pottery, stone pipes, shell beads, and 

 grooved bone implements, were found deposited with the various 

 skeletons. These and other features that were observed, will, it is 

 said, prove eminently helpful in the solution of the questions relative 

 to the age and builders of these interesting works. 



Triple Births in the Human Race. 



Some interesting data respecting the frequency of triplets in the 

 the human race are being collected and elaborated by Dr. B. Orn- 

 stein, late surgeon-general of the Greek army. While on an in- 

 spection tour through western Greece, he discovered the fact that 

 triplets are more frequently found there than in any other portion of 

 that kingdom. Great difficulty is experienced, however, respect- 

 ing information as to the age reached by either or all of the children. 



It is desirable therefore, for the purpose of careful study of this 

 subject, to gather information based upon the following : viz., (i ) 

 all well-authenticated instances of triple births, and in how many 

 of them the three children reached the age of two (or more) years ; 

 (2) the number of cases in which two of the triplets survive one 

 year, or longer, or in which one of them reached the age of one year 

 or more. 



Any information pertaining to this subject will be gratefully re- 

 ceived by Dr. Ornstein, Athens, Gfeece ; or communications will be 

 forwarded if sent to Ur. W. J. Hoffman, Bureau of Ethnology, 

 Washington, D.C. 



The Talking-Machine in Use. 



The Geological Survey is the first of the government offices to 

 adopt the graphophone for service. Major Powell is supplied with 

 one of these wonderful little listening and talking machines, and he 

 takes it home with him, and talks to it as the necessity arises or an 

 idea strikes him. In his absence an intelligent boy or girl can evoke 

 a repetition of his monologue, and commit it to paper. 



Where Will It Go Next? 



The apparatus of the Life-Saving Service which has attracted 

 such deep interest in the Cincinnati Exposition is home again, and 

 safely under shelter. Mr. S. I. Kimball, in charge of the bureau, 

 does not wish to return it to the bare and distant loft of the Treas- 

 ury Department, where for many years it has been an object of 

 curiosity to visitors, but will await the assignment to it of conven- 

 ient quarters, where the property can be properly protected. 



BOOK-REVIEWS. 

 The Teachers Psychology. By A. S. WELCH. New York, E. L. 

 Kellogg & Co. 12°. $1.25. 



This work consists of two distinct parts, the first being a trea- 

 tise on the intellectual faculties, and the second an essay on the 

 proper method of educating them. The author begins with a gen- 

 eral view of the mind as a whole, with its three functions of thought, 

 feeling, and action, but afterwards confines himself to the opera- 

 tions of the intellect. This psychological part of the book cannot 

 be pronounced very successful. Mr. Welch's philosophical stand- 

 point seems to be that of the Scottish school; but he cannot be 

 compared with the standard authors of that school in his method 

 of treatinent. He takes a surface view of his subject, and, besides, 

 is often lacking in accuracy. Thus, the term " concept." which 

 has always been used to denote a general idea, is employed in this 

 work for both general and particular ideas. Mr. Welch's view of 

 memory is also peculiar, for he includes in it the act of acquiring 

 knowledge as well as the acts of retaining and recalling it. The 

 second part of the work is of a better character, and lays down 



