May II, 1888.] 



SCIENTIFIC NE\VS. 



453 



can hardly cover. For instance, the var. plwnbea of Arion 

 ■ater was described by Mr. Roebuck, himself the recorder for 

 the Conchological Society, than whom, probably, no one has 

 examined a greater number of living slugs. It is imagined 

 that the remark, " var. plumbca is but a pale, and perhaps a 

 young, type," is made without a sufficient knowledge of 

 variation. Full descriptions of varieties, named evidently 

 without sufficient study, are omitted not unwisely ; but, un- 

 fortunately, that which has once been published cannot be 

 altogether ignored, and, therefore, varieties considered 

 worthless, should, it is thought, have had a passing mention. 

 It is surprising that the scoop should be regarded by Dr. 

 Williams as " new fangled," for it has been in use now for 

 many years. It is recommended in Rimmer and other shell- 

 books. Your Reviewer. 



University ok London. — The following gentlemen have 

 been elected Examiners for l888-8g: — 



Latin.— Prof. R. Y. Tyrrell, D.Lit., LL.D., M.A., and Prof. 

 A. S. Wilkins, Litt.D., LL.D., M.A. 



Greek.— Rev. H. A. Holden, LL.D., M.A., and Rev. William 

 Wayte, M.A. 



The English Language, Literature, and History. — Prof 

 Edward Arber, F.S.A., and Mr. Henry Craik, -C.B., LL.D., 

 M.A. 



The French Language and Literature. — Rev. P. H. E. 

 Brette, B.D., B.A., and Mr. Amedee Esclangon. 



The German Language and Literature. — Prof C. A. Buch- 

 heim, Ph.D., and Mr. Herman Hager, Ph.D. 



The Hebrew Text of the Old Testament, the Greek Text of 

 the New Testament, the Evidences of the Christian Religion, 

 and Scripture History. — Mr. G. J. Spurrell, M.A., and Rev. 

 C. H. H. Wright, D.D., Ph.D., M.A. 



Mental and Moral Science — Prof Robert Adamson, LL.D., 

 M.A., and Rev. Prof. William Knight, LL.D. 



Political Economy.— Prof C. F. Bastable, M.A., and Prof 

 J. S. Nicholson, D.Sc, M.A. 



Mathematics and Natural Philosophy. — Prof M. J. M. Hill, 

 M.A., and Mr. Joseph Larmor, D.Sc, M.A. 



Experimental Philosophy. — Prof G. F. FitzGerald, M.A., 

 F.R.S., and Mr. R. T. Glazebrook, M.A., F.R.S. 



Chemistry. — Prof J. Emerson Reynolds, M.D., F.R.S., and 

 Prof W. A. Tilden. D.Sc, F.R.S. 



Botany and Vegetable Physiology. — Prof F. Orpen Bower, 

 D.Sc, M.A., and Prof H. M. Ward, M.A. 



Comparative Anatomy and Zoology. — Prof E. Ray Lan- 

 kester, M.A., F.R.S., and Mr. Adam Sedgwick, M.A., F.R.S. 



Geology and Palaeontology. — Rev. Prof T. G. Bonney, 

 D.Sc, F.R.S., and Prof W. Boyd Dawkins, M.A., F.R.S. 



Jurisprudence, Roman Law, Principles of Legislation and 

 International Law. — Prof E. C. Clark, LL.D., M.A., and Mr. 

 J. B. Moyle, M.A., B.C.L. 



Equity and Real and Personal Property. — Mr. Leonard 

 Field, B.A., and Mr. R. Horton Smith, M.A., Q.C. 



Common Law and Law and Principles of Evidence. — Mr. 

 Lindsey M. Aspland, LL.D., M.A., Q.C, and Mr. Lumley 

 Smith, M.A., Q.C. 



Constitutional History of England. — Mr. Henry E. Maiden, 

 M.A., and Prof T. E. Scrutton, M.A., LL B. 



Practice of Medicine. — Mr. William Cayley, M.D., and 

 Prof F. T. Roberts, M.D., B.Sc. 



Surgery. — Mr. W. Morrant Baker and Prof Christopher 

 Heath. 



Anatomy. — Prof John Curnow, M.D., and Prof Alexander 

 Macalister, M.D., M.A., F.R.S. 



Physiology.— Mr. J. N. Langley, M.A., F.R.S., and Prof E. 

 A. Schiifer, F.R.S. 



Obstetric Medicine.— Mr. F. H. Champneys, M.A., M.B., 

 and Prof John Williams, M.D. 



Materia Medica and Pharmaceutical Chemistry. — Mr. J. 

 Mitchell Bruce, M.D., M.A., and Mr. Frederick Taylor, M.D. 



Forensic Medicine.— Prof G. V. Poore, M.D., B.S., and Mr. 

 Thomas Stevenson, M.D. 



Music— Mr. William Pole, Mus.Doc, F.R.S., and Mr. John 

 Stainer, Mus.Doc, M.A. 



RECENT INVENTIONS. 



The foil wing list has been compiled especially for ^^^ SCIENTIFIC 

 News by Messrs. W. P. Thompson and Boult, Patent Agents, of 

 VI, High Holborn, London, W.C- ; Newcastle Chambers, Angel 

 Row, Nottingham ; Ducie Buildings, Bank Street, Manchester; 

 and 6, Lord Street, Liverpool. 



Weeding Tool. — A tool for weeding purpose has been 

 patented by Mr. W. G. Thompson, on behalf of A. G. 

 Compton, United States. This tool is specially intended 

 for use on lawns, etc. A spike is placed upon the weed, 

 and a pivotted knife is then made to undercut the roots 

 by pressure applied by the foot to a lever, the knife is 

 brought back to its original position by a spring. 



Telephone.— Messrs. D. H. Smith, of Glasgow, and 

 H. F. Jackson, of London, have patented an improve- 

 ment in telephones. This consists essentially in the 

 combination with telephonic instruments of a counting 

 device operated by the calling-button or equivalent 

 device, and an arrangement by which when the calling- 

 button is moved an indication is given to the operator at 

 the exchange that the instruments have been used, simul- 

 taneously with the making by the counter of a record of 

 such use for future reference. 



Lifeboat. — Mr. J. A. Aniello, United States, has 

 patented a lifeboat. The object of this invention is to 

 construct a lifeboat which cannot be capsized, cannot sink, 

 and out of which the passengers cannot be washed by the 

 waves. The boat consists of two air and water-tight side 

 chambers or compartments, and a similar central com- 

 partment, a grated flooring being arranged above the 

 central compartment and between the side compartments, 

 while compartments adapted to receive the passengers 

 are provided in the bow and stern ends of the boat. 



Telephone. — Mr. W. J. Morton has patented a tele- 

 phone. A steel diaphragm is employed with a coil held 

 in a recess of the frame, a mouthpiece, and binding 

 screws. No core is used, but the diaphragm is per- 

 manently magnetized, preferably to the so-called 

 "neutral " state; so that its molecular vibrations, pro- 

 duced by the impact of sound waves, set up currents in 

 the coil held in the recess in the frame. In some cases 

 the magnetized diaphragm is held within an annular 

 steel magnet. 



Drying Damp Boots — Mr. E. W. Stead has patented 

 an apparatus for drying damp boots. The invention 

 consists of a hollow stoneware last of a shape corres- 

 ponding to the inside of ordinary boots and shoes. At 

 the top it extends a few inches higher than ordinary 

 walking boots for convenience of inserting and with- 

 drawing the last from the boot. The cavity at the top ot 

 the last is of a conical shape and leads to the central inlet 

 hole. To dry the boot the last is filled with hot water, 

 and then stoppered up tightly. The heat given off by 

 the last dries the boot within which it is placed without 

 damaging the leather, as would be done by drying in front 

 of a stove. 



Electric Lamp.— Mr. M. Wheeler, of Canada, has 



patented an incandescent electric lamp. Its object is to 



obtain a greater degree of heat, and consequently a 



greater incandescence at a given point The invention 



