8 



SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 



[July 6, li 



and, with the exception of those in the smashed cars, 

 not a single lamp glass was broken in either train. 



The University of Bologna. — On June 12th began 

 the festivities in commemoration of the eighth centenary 

 of the University of this name. La Nature, whilst admit- 

 ting the impossibility of summing up all the illus- 

 trious men who have been connected with its history, 

 makes an exception in favour of Galvani. The inaugura- 

 tion of a statute to his memory formed an interesting 

 part of the festivities. On the proclamation of the 

 '■ Cisalpine Republic " Galvani refused to take the oath 

 of fealty to the new Constitution, and was deprived of 

 his professorship. He died in 1798, without having 

 been reinstated. It was at Bologna that the Ptolemean 

 astronomy fought its last battle. Its most celebrated and 

 most obstinate champion, the Jesuit Riccioli, occupied 

 the mathematical chair at the University, and had pub- 

 lished in 165 1 a complete course of anti-Copernican 

 astronomy in two bulky quartos. He had made some 

 experiments on the fall of bodies from the top of the 

 tower of Bologna, and believed that he had demonstrated 

 the immobility of the earth. 



The Life and Genius of Lavoisier. — By occasion of 

 a new biography of Lavoisier, compiled by M. Edouard 

 Grimaux, Le Temps pays an eloquent tribute to the 

 memory of this illustrious savant, whose merits, we fear, 

 are in these days not sufficiently estimated, even by a 

 multitude of scientific men. The fact that he rendered 

 chemistry quantitative by introducing the use of the 

 balance should of itself be sufficient to cover his name with 

 glory. We read here that when he became one of the 

 " Fermiers Generaux," an occupation which cost him his 

 life under the Reign of Terror, one of his colleagues in the 

 Academy of Science exclaimed : " All the better ! He 

 will give us better dinners." It is to be regretted, how- 

 ever, that in the eloge in Le Temps there is no mention 

 of Priestley as the first and true discoverer of oxygen, 

 though he is duly credited with the discovery of other 

 gases. It would have been both true and sufficient to 

 have said that Lavoisier was the first to recognise the 

 importance of oxygen, which Priestley utterly failed to 

 do, and continued to advocate the phlogistic theory. 



Observations on Saturn and Mars.— M. Perrotin 

 informs the Academy of Sciences that he has examined 

 the rings of Saturn at Nice with a magnifying power 

 of 1,250 diameters. He has measured the distance from 

 the margin of the ring to the body of the planet, and fixed 

 the place, not merely of Cassini's division, but of the line 

 which separates the bright rings from the dark enclosed 

 ring. He finds that this dark ring, the existence of 

 which has not been known for more than thirty years, 

 presented an inner margin, not diffused, but perfectly 

 distinct. M. Perrotin is continuing his studies on the 

 planets which are at present in opposition, that is, in 

 the most favourable position for observation. In Mars 

 he has observed canals more vast than any of those pre- 

 viously mentioned. There are four which commence 

 quite near the equator, and which extend to the white 

 cap of the north pole. The region which recently seemed 

 to have been inundated by the sea, judging from the 

 greenish colour by which it had been overspread, seems 

 about to resume its former continental condition, recogni- 

 sable from the reddish colour which is gradually re- 

 appearing. 



Liverpool Science Students' Association. — A large 

 party of members and friends left on June 23rd for a 

 field meeting at West Kirby and Hilbre Island. On 

 arrival three sections were formed — a botanical party 

 under the direction of Miss E. M. Wood and Mr. 

 James MacKarell proceeding to Caldy ; the biological 

 and geological sections, under the guidance respectively 

 of Messrs. William Narramore and I. E. George, making 

 their way across the sands, first to the Little Eye, thence 

 to Hilbre Island, for the study of the sandstone forma- 

 tions and interesting fauna of the happy hunting ground 

 of local naturalists. The fine weather experienced 

 proved highly favourable to the botanists, upwards of 

 ninety-two plants in flower being obtained. Among the 

 more interesting specimens found were Thalictrum minus, 

 Sedum Anglicum, Armeria maritima, and Ornithopus 

 perpusillus. The prize for the day was offered for the 

 best-named collection of plants in flower belonging to 

 the orders Compositae and Rosacea?, and after a keen 

 competition was awarded to Miss M. E. Clementson, 

 who obtained twenty-two species. The geological fea- 

 tures of the island were explained by Mr. Isaac E. 

 George, who, in the course of his remarks on the pecu- 

 liar " weathering " of the rocks, alluded to the great 

 denudation that had taken place during the last 

 century. 



Aerial Voyages. — M. Faye writes to La Paix with re- 

 ference to the projected expedition of M. Jovis (captain 

 of the balloon Horla) from America to Europe. His re- 

 marks are suggested by a study of the more elevated 

 atmospheric currents, in the midst of which tempests 

 take their rise. " It is quite true that on setting out from 

 a point like Caracas, situate in io° north latitude on the 

 northern coast of South America, and on rising very high 

 into the air (about the region of the cirrus) there is the 

 chance of meeting with a current flowing towards 

 Europe. But these currents move at first very slowly, 

 and only acquire a great speed more to the north, about 

 lat. 20 or 25 . The voyage, in place of three days and 

 three nights, will last at least ten or twelve days. Be- 

 sides, these currents do not tend directly towards the 

 northern coasts of Europe. From the parallel of to 

 they move slowly westwards,, declining more and more 

 to the north. About 30° or 35 , according to the season, 

 they move due northwards, then incline to the east, and 

 finally take a north-easterly direction. Thus one of these 

 currents, taken above Caracas will move first towards 

 the Gulf of Mexico, enter upon the territory of the 

 United States in Texas, leave the western continent at 

 some point between Philadelphia and Newfoundland, 

 cross the Atlantic obliquely, and arrive at the Bay of 

 Biscay, the coasts of Ireland or of Norway. It is in these 

 upper currents that cyclones are formed, a circumstance 

 evidently dangerous for such a voyage. It would be 

 better to select a starting point near New York, to enter 

 into daily communication with the " signal service " and 

 with the meteorological department of the New York 

 Herald, and select, for, ascending, the moment when a de- 

 pression, not dangerous, and well studied beforehand, was 

 passing above the station. The voyage might then be com- 

 pleted in three or four days, and there would be at least 

 the advantage that the departure of the Horla would be 

 immediately telegraphed to all the European coasts. M. 

 Faye, however, considers the undertaking rash, and ad- 

 vises its authors to weigh well the terrible risks to 

 which they are exposed. 



