Miscellaneous Intelligence. 431 



will, for the first time, provide for continuous and systematic 

 observations of all volcanic phenomena, both physical and 

 chemical. How important results may be looked for from this 

 enterprise may be fairly estimated from the value of what has 

 already been done by the small and meagerly supported observa- 

 tory on Vesuvius. It is proposed to raise before January, 1912, a 

 building fund of 1,500,000 lire, while promises of annual con- 

 tributions aggregating 50,000 lire are also needed. Di-. Fried- 

 laender leads the list of contributions with the sura of 100,000 1. 

 for the fund and 10,000 1. as an annual contribution for ten years; 

 it is to be hoped that his appeal may have generous support. 

 His address is Villa Hertha, Vomero, Naples. 



4. Studies in Spiritism ; by Amy E. Tanner. With an 

 introduction by G. Stanley Hall. Pp. xxxix, 408. New 

 York, 1910 (D. Appleton & Co.). — This is a thoroughly sane 

 and fair-minded presentation of a subject in which great 

 interest is felt, and about which there is a wide divergence 

 of opinion. The statements of the author and her observations 

 based upon repeated sittings with Mrs. Piper will appeal all the 

 more strongly, at least to those who tend to be sceptical in regard 

 to matters connected with telepathy and spiritism, in that she 

 entered upon her work not "with any spirit of antagonism, but 

 rather in a spirit of doubt that inclined towards belief." The 

 conclusion to which her investigations have led her are expressed 

 as follows : "I was inclined to think that I should finish the work 

 a believer at least in telepathy. So far is this from being the 

 case that the more I have read and seen of such experiences, the 

 more amazing has it come to seem that two theories like tele- 

 pathy and spirit communication, which are unsupported by any 

 valid evidence, should have obtained credence to-day ; and the 

 more incomprehensible has it come to be that men should be will- 

 ing to stake their professional reputations upon the inaccuracies 

 and rubbish that pass for 'scientific' facts in these matters . . ." 

 The volume was undertaken at the suggestion of Dr. G. Stanley 

 Hall and has been prepared under his supervision ; the introduc- 

 tion is from his hand. 



Psychism ; by Mr. Hume. Pp. 157. London and Felling -on-Tyne (The 

 Walter Scott Publishing Co.). 



Obituary. 



"William Henry Brewer, Professor emeritus of Agriculture 

 in the Sheffield Scientific School of Yale University, died at New 

 Haven on November 2 at the age of eighty-two years. A notice 

 will be given in a later number. 



David P. Penhallow, Professor of Botany in McGill Univer- 

 sity, Montreal, died on October 26 at the age of fifty-six years. 



Dr. Otto Luedeoke, Professor of Mineralogy at the University 

 of Halle, died in October at the age of sixty-six years. 



