PROCEEDINGS OP THE PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. 
187 
took as his subject “ Pending Problems in Astrono¬ 
my,” for a report of which I must refer you to Nature 
for September 18th, vol. 30, p. 501. Dr Ball, whom 
we all know, proposed a vote of thanks in a charac¬ 
teristic speech, and after this the meeting resolved itself 
into a conversazione, and there was much promenading, 
introducing, hand-shaking, and general good fellowship. 
The next day being Saturday was devoted to excursions, 
the most important being to the wonderful anthracite coal¬ 
fields of Pennsylvania, but your representatives were so 
overcome by the excessively hot weather that they were 
glad to leave the pursuit of science for a day, and 
joined one of the minor excursions to the sea-shore. 
Sunday was of course a dies non with the scientists. On 
Monday, at the usual general meeting, which I ought to 
explain it is the custom of the American Association to 
hold every morning in order to consider matters of general 
interest before the sections meet, Professor Young stated 
that be had no formal report to make from the Committee 
on Interchange of Courtesies between the American and 
British Associations for the Advancement of Science. 
The result of the Committee’s work was to be seen in the 
presence of the British Association at the Convention. 
He therefore moved that the Committee be discharged. 
Professor Lewis suggested that the Committee be con¬ 
tinued, and make some arrangement by which the Asso¬ 
ciations could be more closely united, and the present 
pleasant relations between them be sustained. It was 
then agreed for the Committee to continue its work. This 
subject was again brought up at the concluding meeting 
of the Convention, when Captain Bedford Pym, in offering 
a resolution expressing the thanks of the British Associa¬ 
tion to the citizens of Philadelphia, stated he had set his 
heart on the American Association meeting in London, and 
promised we would give them a reception second only to 
the one they had given us. 
Later in the day, the directors of the Zoological Gar¬ 
dens invited members to witness some experiments 
by Mr Muybridge in photographing animals in motion, 
which he is carrying on in their garden for the Uni¬ 
versity of Pennsylvania. These experiments have al¬ 
ready been noticed in our newspapers and photographic 
journals. The Zoological Society buildings and grounds 
are probably unexcelled for comfort and convenience. 
Great care is taken of the animals, the collection of which 
is large, and comprises many rare and valuable specimens. 
The garden forms part of the famous Fairmount Park. 
This is probably the largest improved public pleasure- 
ground in the world, extending as it does to close upon 
3000 acres. For miles on both sides of the winding 
Schuylkill River, stretching far back into the country, 
are hill, forest, and dale, forming a park free to all, 
and unrivalled for natural scenery by any in the world. 
The authorities of Pennsylvania University received 
members in their hall, and the professors and graduates 
acted as guides in showing us over the buildings. The 
College is divided into departments of Arts (including 
philosophy, music, finance and economy), Medicine (includ¬ 
ing dentistry and veterinary surgery), Science, and Law. 
The College buildings are among the largest of the kind 
in America. Externally they present an attractive 
appearance, and the laboratories and lecture-rooms devoted 
to scientific subjects, of which I took more special cognis¬ 
ance, are well fitted up, and contain a good collection of 
scientific apparatus. 
A reception was also given to members by the 
authorities of the Women’s Medical College. This 
was originally formed in 1849, and was the first dis¬ 
tinctive medical school for women in the world. The 
present building contains ample laboratories and lecture- 
rooms. The majority of the professors are women, and 
many of the graduates are now in successful practice. 
On Tuesday, 9th Sept., there was a discussion in the 
Chemical Section on “ Educational Methods in Laboratory 
Practice, and in the Illustration of Chemical Lectures.” 
The speakers generally advocated the early introduction 
of quantitative experiments capable of yielding approxi¬ 
mately accurate results, in place of the usual qualitative 
work, which induces careless methods of working, and 
methods which havh to be unlearnt when higher work 
comes to be undertaken. This is a subject well worthy 
the attention of teachers of chemistry and examining 
boards. There have been some letters on the subject in 
Nature lately, to which I would refer those interested. 
(Nov. 6, 13, and 20. Vol. 31, pages 19, 28, and 52.) In 
the evening Dr Ball lectured to a large audience on “ The 
Distance of the Starsafter which there were receptions 
given in the Academy of Fine Arts and in the Academy 
of Natural Sciences. The Academy of Fine Arts is a 
splendid building devoted entirely to the cultivation of 
artistic talent. Entrance to the school is only obtainable 
by applicants who can show drawings indicating sufficient 
capacity. The primary object of the Academy of Natural 
Sciences is the promotion of original investigation by 
means of the varied facilities offered within its walls, but 
it has also four professorships giving regular instruction in 
archaeology, ethnology, zoology, paleontology, mineralogy, 
and geology. The library contains 30,000 scientific books. 
The collections are extensive. Thebirdsnumber some 35,000 
specimens, and reptiles and fishes are abundantly repre- 
