592 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. XI. No. 276. 



a compact epitome of the physiography of the 

 lands, ia which the German equivalents for a 

 number of English terms may be found. The 

 cycle of denudation (Umbildungscyklus) opens 

 with initial forms (Urformen) produced in the 

 large way by deformation (Grossformen, Struk- 

 turformen), such as masses of vertical move- 

 ment (Sohollenlander) with raised blocks and 

 rift valleys (Horste, Graben), or folded zones 

 ( Stauungszone) with arches and troughs 

 (Riicken, Thalungen). Destructive agencies 

 carve the details (Klein formen, Skulpturfor- 

 men) of consequent and subsequent features 

 (Folgeformen, Unterfolgeformen) such as are 

 seen in regions of young and mature valleys 

 (jugendliche, ausgereifte Thallandschaften). 

 The diversion (Ablenkung) of one stream by 

 another causes a migration of divides (Wander- 

 xing der Wasserscheiden) and results in an ad- 

 justment (Anpassung) of streams to structures; 

 initial, consequent, and subsequent divides 

 (Ur-, Folge-, TJnterfolgescheiden) may therefore 

 be recognized. As the valleys widen and con- 

 sume the hills, old age (Alter der Landschaflen) 

 is reached, ending in a peneplain (Rumpfland- 

 schaft). It is possible to combine cycles of dif- 

 ferent stages (Stadien), the sequential forms 

 (Skulpturformen) of the first cycle having served 

 as the initial forms (Urformen) of the next. 

 Some of Penck's terms, such as Schichtstufen, 

 Schichtkammlandschaft, Durchbruchthal, have 

 no simple equivalents in English. 



LAKES OF THE BOHMERWALD. 



Eight small lakes occupy corrie-basins in the 

 Bohmerwald. Their physical features are de- 

 scribed and their origin is discussed by P. Wag- 

 ner (Die Seen des Bohmerwaldes, Wiss. Verof- 

 fentlichungen, Verein f. Erdkunde, Leipzig, 

 iv. , 1899, 1-90, maps, sections and views). 

 After a general consideration of the various 

 theories as to the origin of corries (Karen, Cir- 

 ques, Botner) through erosion by water, ob- 

 struction by rockfalls, and excavation by neve 

 and ice, the author concludes that the best de- 

 veloped corries, with background of cliffs and 

 rounded basin of clean-scoured rock, are valleys 

 of preglacial erosion modified by snow and ice 

 action during the glacial period. 



W. M. Davis. 



CURRENT NOTES ON METEOROLOGY. 



DEATH OF MR. G. J. BYMONS. 



Mr. George Jambs Symons, who died in 

 London on March 10th, was well known through- 

 out the 'meteorological world as the founder 

 and head of the British Rainfall Service. In 

 1857 he started an organization for observing 

 and recording thunderstorms, and soon after- 

 wards began his life work on British Rainfall, 

 which he continued till his death. The ob- 

 servers co-operating in this undertaking now 

 number between 3000 and 4000, and the results 

 of the observations have been published an- 

 nually in successive volumes, bearing the title 

 British Rainfall. The first volume contained 

 the records for the year 1860, and the fortieth 

 is shortly to be issued. Mr. Symons occupied 

 a unique position, that of a private individual 

 in charge of a great meteorological service, 

 which he himself built up and administered. 

 In 1866 Mr. Symons began the publication of 

 his Monthly Meteorological Magazine, to which 

 reference has from time to time been made in 

 these Notes. His name is further well known 

 in connection with the meteorological section 

 of the Royal Society's Report on the Krakatoa 

 eruption, and with his valuable contributions 

 to meteorological bibliography. He rendered 

 important assistance in the preparation of the 

 Bibliography of Meteorology, published by the 

 U. S. Signal Service. Mr. Symons was a Fellow 

 of the Royal Societj'-, a member of the General 

 Committee of the British Association, President 

 of the Royal Meteorological Society, and for 

 27 years the Honorary Secretary of that 

 Society. He was created a Chevalier of the 

 Legion d'Honneur in 1891, and was selected by 

 the Prince of Wales to receive the Albert Medal 

 of the Society of Arts for 1897, '' for services he 

 rendered to the United Kingdom by affording 

 to engineers engaged in the water supply and 

 sewerage of towns a trustworthy basis for their 

 work by establishing and carrying on during 

 nearly 40 years systematic observations (now 

 at over 3000 stations) of the rainfall of the 

 British Isles, and by recording, tabulating, and 

 graphically indicating the results of these ob- 

 servations in the annual volumes published by 

 himself." Meteorology can ill afford to lose 

 so unselfish a worker as Mr. George J. Symons. 



