Burbidge
determination
in the scales of salmonoids, with
read a paper on 'The Observation by means of special reference to Wye salmon.
read a paper on 'The Observation by means of special reference to Wye salmon.
Athenaeum - London - 1912a
pp.
197–
of all the distinguished experts who wholesome that my apprehensions as to its 203 fn. ) an excellent note about the
have helped Dr. Štein, but a few may results on one long accustomed to simple diet locality of the lake usually called by
be given: Prof. A. Foucher of Paris proved wholly unjustified. . . . . At his table English geographers Lob-nor will be
assisted in Græco - Buddhist art; . Sir Chinese official class in the New Dominion
I first realized how much the attitude of the found. From Abdal Dr. Stein went west-
Arthur
Church in analyzing materials; towards Western, in this case specially ward to Tun-huang, otherwise Sha-chou,
M. E. Chavannes and Dr. Hoernle in the Russian, customs and imports had changed and on the way there first saw the remains
investigation of ancient Chinese and during the few years since my previous of the Great Wall, with its watch-towers,
Indian Brahmi records ; and Dr. Francke visit. There were clean well-ironed napkins, and the site of the Jade Gate," the barrier
in Tibetan matters.
instead of the damp hot towels, for use of the pleasant valley,” where dwelt the
Examination of the scientific results of during the meal. My conservative feelings officer in command of the fortifications.
Dr. Stein's discoveries must be deferred received a shock when I was asked to seat
Returning from the desert, he ex-
till details are published ; for the present colour of mourning formerly tabooed on all plored the cave temples of the “ Thou-
some account of his journeys must suffice. festive occasions. Knife and fork were sand Buddhas. ” They are still a place of
To make this clear without a map is' handled with perfect familiarity by our pilgrimage, so that archeological activity
## p. 259 (#205) ############################################
No. 4401, MARCH 2, 1912
THE ATHENÆUM
259
as
man
on
has to be restrained, and near them is
wind and wave, but holds that land com.
the sanctuary of the crescent lake, with
OUR LIBRARY TABLE.
munication is generally essential for the
the famous rumbling sandhill.
In one
transmission of terrestrial and freshwater
Men and Measures : a History of Weights forms of life. If certain
of the temples a library, in rolls of and Measures, Ancient and Modern, by originated in a particular area, and are now
groups have
manuscripts, mostly Chinese, was dis- Edward Nicholson (Smith & Elder), is a found scattered in isolated colonies far
covered, and how Dr. Stein overcame the perfect monument of industry, and teems distant from their original centre, it seems
scruples of the priest in charge and became with information on out-of-the-way points fair to argue from their present discon-
possessed of many beautiful paintings on connected with the history of weights and tinuous distribution as to the former position
silk showing scenes from the life-story of
measures of all kinds and in all countries. of land over which they must have migrated.
Buddha, figures of Bodhisattvas, &c. , is The author holds that there are no arbitrary This is what the author has done, in many
well described. The manuscripts have that all have a directly scientific basis, or a
cases with great ability and not without
some boldness.
not yet been, nor will they soon be, trans- lineage reaching, perhaps far back, to
lated, as they filled twenty-four cases, such a basis.
It must not, however, be overlooked
Proceeding on these lines,
which, with five more of paintings and Co! . Nicholson goes on to unfold the history that in the reconstruction of ancient geo-
graphy many authorities will demand
art relics, are now in the British Museum. of measures of length-the story of the
and the history of measures of physical as well as biological or distribu-
Some of the paintings are reproduced in cubits; and the history of measures of
colour, Plates vii. and IX deserving capacity and of weight the story of the glacial times there was probably land
special commendation.
Egyptian times, through their transforma- through what are now Scotland, Iceland,
communication between Europe and America
At Yárkand Dr. Stein reduced his camp, tions in Greek and Roman times, down to Greenland, and Labrador ; but the author,
sold his camels, and went on to Khotan, their modifications introduced into
arriving on June 9th, 1908. There he Britain, and the modern
world generally: another land-bridge across the Atlantic,
while recognizing this connexion, throws
packed his collections, but had not been the earliest measures werd undoubtedly, stretching from Lapland to North Greenland
ſong in the place when Naik Ram Singh, those of length, but Col.
Nicholson has a by way of Spitzbergen. Whilst the Atlantic
the
was thus shut off from the Arctic Sea, the
work, returned hopelessly blind. This with which measures of a definite length on
the earth's surface (the meridian mile, as
Pacific was also closed northwards by land
Sikh, with the courage of his race, after he calls it) could have been made sixty southern shores of these great land-bridges
across Bering Strait. It is held that the
losing the sight of one eye, persevered centuries ago. Not until the time of
would be under the influence of comparatively
with his work; the other eye soon failed, Eratosthenes, in the third century B. C. ,
warm ocean-currents, thus supporting Dr.
but still he remained at his post in hope would it have been possible to determine Scharff's contention' that, from biological
of recovery. That proving desperate, he such a length with any approach to modern evidence, the Glacial period was not one of
rejoined at Khotan, but still believed he accuracy, and a very little experience in extreme cold. Such a view has been occa-
would regain his sight, and for reasons of the unsoundness of the view held on this writers, but it can hardly stand against the
sionally held by certain other scientific
caste he insisted on cooking his own food, point by the author.
in spite of burns and other accidents.
strong body of opposing evidence which the
The chapters on measures of valueglacial geologist can bring forward.
But his case was hopeless, and he was
the
history of currency and
taken to his native village, near Firozpur. measures of time are full and interesting.
He lived for a short time on a pension, There is an obvious misprint on p. 195,
ALREADY known as an enthusiastic student
which, in part, has been continued to his where the date of full moon in November, of evolution by his epic entitled 'Nebula
widow and daughter.
1912, should be November 25, not“ 17” as to Man, Mr. Henry R. Knipe now sends
A final expedition to the sources of the printed; and we are amazed at the statement forth Évolution in the Past (Herbert &
Kara Kash and
Yurung Kash was under- find the Epact useful in reckoning the moon's
same page) that agriculturists Daniel), which is planned on practically the
same lines as its predecessor, but this time
taken, and Dr. Stein had the misfortune
age. We should rather expect the farmer in sober prose. It is a comprehensive work,
to get frostbitten ; he had to be carried to to exclaim with Bottom the weaver,
“A giving a popular yet accurate account of the
Leh, some 300 miles distant, where an calendar, a calendar!
look in the long procession of living forms which have
operation was performed. It has, happily, almanac. ” We note another misprint on appeared upon the earth throughout the
proved successful, and he hopes
p. 198, in the chapter on 'Measures of ages of the Past, and seeking to show the
Heat and of Density,' where, in the directions relationship between the successive forms
as that the gate will open for work in those for converting Fahrenheit
degrees into and their forerunners.
centigrade, “ double the degrees should The subject is one of much fascination
calling me ever since my youth, and which read halve' the degrees. The final chapters for the inquirer, but obviously needs
still remain unexplored. '
(on the metric system) are of such a
for its successful treatment a wealth of
Such is the story, greatly condensed, of character as to detract from the value of the palæontological knowledge. Fortunately the
some two and three-quarters years' work, work as an impartial and scientific survey author has shown himself not ill-equipped
The
of the entire field of its subject.
.
and on the whole it is well told. There
book itself, which demonstrates in would perhaps not have been lessened by the
are, however, defects, some rather annoy- / full and able manner the complexity and omission of the tabular Chronology of the
ing, such as the introduction of foreign multiplicity of existing systems of weights Earth, which stands at the beginning of
words when English equivalents are avail- and measures, might surely be used as an
the volume. It needed a bold pen to write
Surface
able and references in one volume to maps argument in favour of simplification and such words and figures as these :
of the Earth so far solidified as to support
and plates or figures in another, and to unification in these matters.
vast seas, 100,000,000 B. C. ”; or the following
ruins by letters and numbers nowhere to be
item : “ Foundational Ages extending over
found on the maps, while the maps them- IN 1908 Dr. Robert Francis Scharff 70,000,000 years. ” Where so much is pure
selves are on easily torn paper, and bound delivered in London a course of Swiney speculation and the opinions of the highest
into volumes which weigh four pounds Lectures on 'The Geological History of the authorities are subject to serious modifica-
apiece. The spelling of Oriental words American Fauna. ' These lectures, rewritten tion as science advances, it seems rather
seems in cases to be odd, but a note in an expanded form, and including brief dangerous, notwithstanding safeguards, to
references to the American flora, constitute make any attempt at numerical precision
pared) intimates that the system adopted Distribution and Origin of Life in Amrica in a work intended for the layman. The
pared) intimates that
the system adopted (Constable). The title is, perhaps, rather physical side of the volume is, however, but
by the International Congress of Oriental- | misleading, inasmuch as the work does not slight; its strength lies in its palæontology
ists has been followed. The illustrations, discuss the profound problem of the “Origin To any one who desires to read the story of
333 in number, are admirable, well chosen, of Life,” nor among the living things that are life upon our planet as revealed by the
and well reproduced ; besides these, there described is any place found for Man. But record of the rocks, and interpreted in the
are coloured plates, panoramas, and the
even with this limitation the work is suffi- light of evolution, it would be difficult
maps. Dr. Stein's work is a valuable ciently extensive : it evidently represents to recommend a safer or more pleasant
contribution to our limited knowledge of
a great amount of research in the literature guide than Mr. Knipe. His story is illus-
of zoology, palæontology, and zoogeography, trated by many excellent plates, mainly by
a country abounding in interest, in which
and it is rich in interest to the geologist. Dr. Miss Alice Woodward, who happily unites
extremes of rigour are met alike on the Scharff is not a great believer in the acci- much scientific knowledge with artistic
hills and glaciers and in the sandy desert. dental dispersal of organisms by means of ability,
a
66
## p. 260 (#206) ############################################
260
No. 4401, MARCH 2, 1912
THE ATHENÆUM
are
whitish at the top, which is attributed to dog infested at the same time with tapeworms
SOCIETIES.
the action of the weather in dissolving the iron and mange.
The author then discussed the
and depositing it lower down. Implements from systematic position of these cestode larvæ.
ROYAL. -Feb. 22. - Sir Archibald Geikie, Presi-
this
horizon
whitish, while those at Le claimed that he had found Tylocephalum
dent, in the chair. —The Bakerian Lecture was a lower depth are yellowish or brown, according ludificans in specimens of the Ceylon pearl-
delivered by Prof. H. L. Callendar, 'On the to the colour of the gravel. At the base the oyster in Dr. Kellart's collection in the British
Variation of the Specific Heat of Water, investi- implements usually have a double patination, Museum, and had considered the possibility
gated by the Continuous Mixture Method. '
caused by ferruginous matter being deposited of their being concerned with pearl production,
The experiments of Callendar and Barnes 'On more on one side than the other. Implements and dismissed the theory as untenable, pre-
the Variation of the Specific Heat of Water of various forms occur at all depths. At the viously to Prof. Herdman's original departure
between 0 and 100° C. by the Continuous Electric Kimbridge Pit there is a preponderance of the for Ceylon.
Method' (Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. , A, 1902), with rough ovate implements to which the name of
The second part of the paper dealt with the
platinum thermometers, agreed with those of “ Chelles " has been given, while at the Dunbridge structure and formation of the shell and of pearls.
Lüdin by the method of mixture with mercury Pit there are found remarkably fine pointed The various repair-substances, which replace the
thermometers more closely than with those of implements,
not water - worn, and with a white ordinary shell - substances under abnormal or
any previous observers, but gave results nearly patina. Photographs of the sections were shown, pathological conditions, were described, their
1 per cent lower than Lüdin's over the range 60° and it was suggested that at Dunbridge, where relations to the normal substances of the shell
to 90° C. Within the last year the results of the gravel rests on Bagshot sands and clays, the discussed, and their occurrence in the pseudonuclei
Lüdin have been very closely reproduced by gravel may have been deposited under sub-glacial of pearls dealt with. The “ calcospherules " which
W. R. and W. E. Bousfield (Phil. Trans. , A, conditions. Some of the implements seem to have Prof. Herdman regarded as free concretions, and
1911), employing a Dewar calorimeter electrically been made on the spot, while others must have as the cause of “muscle pearls," were considered
heated by a mercury resistance, the rise of travelled far.
to be in fact minute pearls, composed of the hypo-
temperature being observed by means of mercury
thermometers standardized to . 01° C. every 5º.
Mr. L. Salzmann read a paper on 'Excavations stracum, or special shell - substance to which
The present investigation was designed to verify
at Selsey in 1911. ' The earthwork at Selsey is the muscles are attached. This conclusion had
a roughly circular work about 250 ft. in diameter, been reached independently by Rubbel, in Marburg:
the results of Callendar and Barnes by a new and consisting of ditch and vallum, evidently thrown The author said that his observations on the real
Mixture Method.
up to protect the entrance of the harbour. Exca- cause and mechanism which led to the formation
vations undertaken last year showed that the
Dr C. Chree read a paper on a 'Short Index vallum rests on a deposit of black earth 2 ft. in
of pearls in the Ceylon pearl-oyster were still too
incomplete to communicate ; but he maintained
to Reports of Physical Observations-Electric, thickness. As this black earth contains pottery, that, as he had already laid down in his 1902
Magnetic, Meteorological, Seismological-made not only of the Roman period, but also of the paper, the real cause of pearl production would
at Kew Observatory. '
type usually ascribed to the fourteenth century, have to be sought, not in the nuclei or pseudo-
Messrs. R. T. Lattey and H. T. Tizard read a and in the case of one small fragment possibly as nuclei of pearls, but rather in the pathological
paper · On the Velocities of Ions in Dried Gases. ' late as the sixteenth century, it is clear that the conditions under which the tissues of the mollusc
The authors have determined the velocities of vallum is of comparatively late construction. gave rise to the pearl-sac. It was only in a few
positive and negative ions in dried hydrogen and The whole evidence points to the truth of the cases, like the trematode pearls in the common
carbon dioxide. The results obtained are com- local tradition that the mound was thrown up mussel, that the cause of the pearl-sac-i. e. , in
pletely parallel to those already obtained in a at the time of the threatened Spanish invasion this case the trematode-remained to form the
previous investigation on air "(R. T. Lattey, in 1588. Within the enclosed area were found “ nucleus” of the pearl and tell the tale of
Proc. Roy. Soc. , vol. lxxxiv. p. 173). The two fragments of walls and quantities of building its origin. The author had found that, as
velocity of positive ions is but little affected by materials, of which the few worked stones are observed by Prof. Herdman, a minority of Ceylon
the presence of moisture in the gas, and is pro- chisel-tooled. Of the smaller finds, the most pearls may have foreign bodies, such as sand-
portional to the force (x), and inversely propor interesting was a small bronze belt' tag of the grains, in their centres.
tional to the pressure (p). The same relation tenth century, ornamented with human figures, Mr. R. Shelford communicated & paper on
approximately holds good for the velocity of apparently unique.
'Mimicry amongst the Blattidæ, with a Revision
negative ions in moist gases. When the gas is
of the Genus Frosoplecta Sauss. ,' in which he
extremely dry, however, the negative ions are
dealt with a number of exceptions to this usually
apparently very easily deprived of their cus- Zoological. - Feb. 20. —Dr. A. Smith Wood-cryptically coloured type of cockroach, and in
tomary envelope. Their velocity, therefore, does ward, V. -P. , in the chair. -Dr. A. T. Masterman
greater detail with the Prosoplecta, nearly all
not increase proportionately to s/p, but at a very gave a demonstration, illustrated by a large number the members of which present a remarkably
much greater rate.
of lantern-slides, of recent investigations on age- close and detailed resemblance to other insects.
Prof. T. H. Laby and Mr. P. W.
Burbidge determination in the scales of salmonoids, with
read a paper on 'The Observation by means of special reference to Wye salmon.
A paper entitled ' A Contribution to the Know-
a String Electrometer of Fluctuations in the
ledge of the Spiders and Other Arachnids of
Dr. H. Lyster Jameson read a paper. On the Switzerland' was contributed by the Rev. 0.
Ionization produced by 7-rays. The authors Structure of the Shell and Pearls of the Ceylon Pickard-Cambridge.
claim to have demonstrated that there are fluctua-
It was based on a number
Pearl-Oyster (Margaritifera vulgaris, Schum. ),
tios in the ionization produced by y-rays, and
of specimens collected for the author by various
with an Examination of the Cestode Theory of
have worked out the technique for future experi- Pearl Production. The author began by review- description of one new species.
persons at different times, and contained the
ments, where the absolute amount of the fluctua-
ing the work on the subject of pearl production
tion is very small. Further experiments are carried out in Ceylon by Prof. Herdman and his
necessary before the experiments can be said to
successors. He examined the theory, enunciated
support either a corpuscular or pulse theory of by Prof. Herdman, that most Ceylon “fine
Y-rays.
pearls had for their nuclei the remains of cestode MICROSCOPICAL. -Feb. 21. -Mr. H. G. Plimmer,
Mr. F. B. Pidduck read a paper on “ The Wave- larvæ, and that these larvæ, which are abundant President, in the chair. — Mr. E. J. Spitta,
Problem of Cauchy and Poisson for Finite Depth in the liver and connective tissues of the pearl- with the help of the projection lantern, demon.
and Slightly Compressible Fluid. ' The paper is oyster in Ceylon, were the
” of the most strated the principles which should influence the
in some respects a completion of a former one on valuable pearls. Dr. Jameson maintained that photographer in the preparation of negatives
the propagation of a disturbance in a fluid under the evidence adduced in support of this theory
from which coloured lantern - slides were sub-
gravity. The solution of the two-dimensional by Prof. Herdman and Mr. Hornell was insuffi- sequently to be made.
Cauchy-Poisson problem for finite depth is worked cient, and that the only drawings in Prof. Herd- Mr. Rousselet communicated the Fourth List of
out numerically, the effect of limiting the depth man's 'Report on the Ceylon Pearl-Oyster New Rotifera since 1889' (i. e. , the date when
being very considerable. The fact is brought to Fisheries, published by the Royal Society, that Hudson and Gosse's ‘Monograph of the Rotifera'
light that up to a certain point a limitation of the purported to show the remains of cestodes in the was completed by the issue of the supplement,
depth causes an increase in the elevation at a given centres of pearls, were capable of other interpreta- recording altogether 400 species at that time).
point for a short interval of time after the begin- tion. Moreover, he could not find in any of the
ning of the motion. The wider question presents sections of pearls by Prof. Herdman, numbering
itself as to the sense in which the initial disturb- some twenty-five or more, which the Professor
ance can be said to be confined to a definite por- had kindly allowed him to examine, a single
tion of the fluid. Difficulties connected with the instance of a cestode larva forming the nucleus.
METEOROLOGICAL. -Feb. 21. -Dr. H. N. Dick-
assumption of incompressibility are avoided by This observation was borne out by the results of
son, President, in the chair.
considering a heavy compressible fluid. The the examination of between 300 and 400 pearls Mr. J. Fairgrieve read a paper on 'The Thunder-
application of an extension of Fourier's theorems, from Margaritifera vulgaris, mostly from Ceylon, storms of May 31, 1911. '. He dealt with the
due to Orr, gives the solution of the problem of but also comprising examples from the Persian thunderstorm which visited the London district
such a fluid held with every part in a given state Gulf, the Gulf of Cutch, the Mediterranean, Mada- on the Derby Day, and especially with the move-
of compression and then released, the free surface gascar, New Caledonia, &c. , none of which, on ment of the rain which accompanied the storm.
being maintained at constant pressure. The decalcification, showed cestode or other platy. Having obtained information from nearly 700
known formulæ for incompressible fluid for both helminthian larvæ as nuclei. The centre of such observers as to the time of rainfall or absence
finite and infinite depth follow as limiting expres- a pearl was (where it consisted of material other of rain, he has been able to prepare an interesting
sions, and it is possible to detect the existence of than the nacre or other normal constituents of series of maps for each quarter of an hour from
an advancing wave-front when the compressi- the shell) nearly always composed of an abnormal 12. 30 to 8. 45 P. M. , showing the areas over which
bility is different from zero.
form of shell-substance, analogous to that formed rain was actually falling.
Some papers originally announced for the to repair an injury to the shell, which, owing to Mr. R. G. K. Lempfert read a paper on 'The
meeting of February 15th, which was adjourned its opacity, might easily be mistaken for a foreign Thunderstorms of July 29, 1911. ' This storm was
on account of the death of Lord Lister, were taken body. These repair-substances were sometimes of the line-squall type. The author has been
as read.
associated with granular matter, the origin of able to trace the spread of the phenomenon
which was obscure ; this matter might perhaps across the British Isles, and he showed by a map
be derived from the tissues, or might possibly be of isochronous lines that it first struck the extreme
SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES. -Feb. 22. -Mr. W. of parasitic origin, but Dr. Jameson saw no end of Cornwall about 2 P. M. on July 29th, and
Dale read a paper on “The Implement-bearing reason for regarding it derived from a passed across Shetland at 3 P. M. the next day.
Gravel Beds of the Valley of the Lower Test,' in cestode larva. He considered the presence of He pointed out that the disturbance may be
which he described the gravel pits which occur these cestodes as a disease parallel to, but inde- regarded as the displacement of an easterly by a
near Ramsey and Dunbridge, and showed a large pendent of, margarosis and compared the southerly current, but the process of displace-
quantity of palæolithic implements from them.
case of a pearl-oyster containing both cestodes ment was unusually complicated. The general
Îhese implements are diverse in form and in the and pearls to that of a man suffering simul- sequence of events seems to have been somewhat
condition of their patination. The gravel is usually 'taneously from echinococci and scabies, or of a as follows. A moderate east wind was interrupted
cause
as
## p. 261 (#207) ############################################
No. 4401, MARCH 2, 1912
261
THE ATHENÆUM
6
suddenly by a squall from the south. After the
squall had passed, the wind returned temporarily
to an easterly direction, to be again interrupted
Science Gossip
by another squall from the south. A period of
FINE ARTS
several hours of light and variable wind, during THE problems of genetics are coming
which easterly directions predominated, super-
very rapidly to the front, and seem likely
vened, and finally the wind settled down to a steady
southerly or south-westerly wind of moderate
to receive a great deal of attention in the
force. In many cases the squalls were not accom-
present year. M. Blaringhem, in his in Greece and Babylon : a Comparative
panied by rainfall. What appears to have augural address at the Sorbonne published Sketch of Mesopotamian, Anatolian,
struck observers most forcibly was the way in last Saturday, summed up recent discus-
which huge quantities of dust were whirled up
and Hellenic Religions. By Lewis R.
by the wind. Accounts from Cardiff state that
sions on the subject by declaring that sudden Farnell. (Edinburgh, T. & T. Clark. )
dust was brought from the south side of the
and transmissible changes in pure stocks
Bristol Channel by the squall winds, which did are the way in which the characteristics THESE very interesting and suggestive
much structural damage.
of species and varieties make their appear. lectures are the work of a master who
Mr. S. Skinner read a paper on 'The Drosometer,' ance; and that the cause of these must
an instrument for measuring the amount of dew. be looked for in differences of the chemical has devoted years to the study of ancient
constitution of the protoplasm. We are religions, and published standard books
therefore brought back to chemistry to on the subject. His style is easy and
BRITISH NUMISMATIC. -Feb. 21. -Mr. Carlyon- discover the ultimate cause of the differen- correct, though he does use the word
Laughlin and Messrs. H. J. Farrow, J. H. Searey, tiation of species, which, as M. Blaringhem phenomenal loosely when he speaks
and L. A. Woodward were elected Members. reminded his audience, is what M. Armand
of the keeping of sacred prostitutes about
Mr. H. A. Parsons read a paper on
The Dun- Gautier predicted twenty-three years ago.
a temple as a “phenomenal practice. ”
wich Mint,' in which, after reviewing the history
of the city in Saxon times, when, after attaining “Institute” nowadays; and the foundation
EVERY new science seems to demand an It seems to have been a very real one,
the height of its prosperity in the closing years
"Institute" nowadays; and the foundation and widely spread through Semitic lands.
of Ethelred II. , its decline gradually set in owing at Brussels is announced of one for what is
He rightly distinguishes it from the
to the denudation by the sea, he attributed four magniloquently called Universal Plasmology
coins to the mint, namely, one of each of the and Bio-mechanics. Its committee claims
sacrifice of virginity,
of which Herodotus
last two types of Ethelred II. , and one of each of to be international, and the names upon it tells us among the Babylonians, and he
the first two types of Canute. The author
explained that the coins thus synchronized with
which should be most familiar to readers of is much perplexed concerning its meaning.
its history, for only at that particular period The Athenæum are those of M. Raphael Quite apart from mystical explanations,
would Dunwich be likely to have exercised its Dubois (of Lyons), Dr. Stéphane Leduc (of there is an obvious, but probably too
privilege of a mint.
Nantes), Dr. von Schrön (of Naples), and
Mr. B. Roth exhibited the contents of a remark. Prof. Jacques Loeb (of New York). To
vulgar solution. Such a class was un-
able archæological hoard found at Peterborough
doubtedly a perennial source of income
in 1886. It comprised Roman coins and other judge by the recent work of these distin.
relics, a bronze torque, and three ancient British guished scholars, the Institute will chiefly to the temple. A city like Corinth was
coins. One of these was a gold stater similar to concern itself with researches into the origin exactly the place where these people would
Evans, Plate B, No. 8, and the other two were of life, as illustrated by the experiments in be most profitable. It is, indeed, among
silver money of the Iceni. . Amongst other exhi. the production of artificial cells by M.
tions were a copper siege-piece issued at Cork in Dubois and Dr. Leduc, in the formation of that in some highly civilized societies
the curious vagaries of the human mind
for the obverse of William Moesop's medal to Dr. crystals by Dr. von Schrön, and in partheno-
sexual asceticism was not in high esteem,
Henry Quin, by Mr. F. W. Yeates. Mr. Henry genesis by Dr. Loeb. It will issue a periodical
Symonds presented a series of numismatic works review, and the Secretary is Prof. Léon
and the opposite was practised as a reli-
to the Society's library.
Guinet of Brussels.
gious rite, while in others the latter was
THE BRITISH ASTRONOMICAL ASSOCIATION
regarded as the lowest degradation, and
has just published a memoir of original
the repression of all such animal instincts
observations of variable stars made by as the ideal of purity and piety.
Victoria and Albert Museum, 5. - The Later English Renais.
twenty-five of its members in the five years On the other hand, the likenesses
sance : Inigo Jones and his Works, Mr. B. Fletcher,
1905–9 inclusive. This particular branch
Society of Engineers, 7. 30. - The Trolley Vebicle System of
between the religious beliefs and practices
of astronomy, which is likely to prove of
Aristoteliaa, 8. -Å Theory of Material Fallaciet,' Mr. H. S. much value in the study of stellar physics, primitive conditions at least, so great
of widely separate nations are often, in
-
Royal Academy, 8. –Vils, Varnishes, and Mediums,' Prof. A. P.
hypotheses, is not practised at the national that it requires all Dr. Farnell's authority
Society of Arts, 8. -'The Loom and Spludle: Past, Present, and
observatories, that at Harvard College being to prevent us from assuming that there
Tres. Royal Institution, 3. - Optical Determination of Stress, and
some Applications to Engineering Probleins,' Lecture II. ,
the only large observatory where it is fol. must be a common origin. Take, for
British Museum, 4. 80. - Early Christian Architecture,' Mr.
of all the distinguished experts who wholesome that my apprehensions as to its 203 fn. ) an excellent note about the
have helped Dr. Štein, but a few may results on one long accustomed to simple diet locality of the lake usually called by
be given: Prof. A. Foucher of Paris proved wholly unjustified. . . . . At his table English geographers Lob-nor will be
assisted in Græco - Buddhist art; . Sir Chinese official class in the New Dominion
I first realized how much the attitude of the found. From Abdal Dr. Stein went west-
Arthur
Church in analyzing materials; towards Western, in this case specially ward to Tun-huang, otherwise Sha-chou,
M. E. Chavannes and Dr. Hoernle in the Russian, customs and imports had changed and on the way there first saw the remains
investigation of ancient Chinese and during the few years since my previous of the Great Wall, with its watch-towers,
Indian Brahmi records ; and Dr. Francke visit. There were clean well-ironed napkins, and the site of the Jade Gate," the barrier
in Tibetan matters.
instead of the damp hot towels, for use of the pleasant valley,” where dwelt the
Examination of the scientific results of during the meal. My conservative feelings officer in command of the fortifications.
Dr. Stein's discoveries must be deferred received a shock when I was asked to seat
Returning from the desert, he ex-
till details are published ; for the present colour of mourning formerly tabooed on all plored the cave temples of the “ Thou-
some account of his journeys must suffice. festive occasions. Knife and fork were sand Buddhas. ” They are still a place of
To make this clear without a map is' handled with perfect familiarity by our pilgrimage, so that archeological activity
## p. 259 (#205) ############################################
No. 4401, MARCH 2, 1912
THE ATHENÆUM
259
as
man
on
has to be restrained, and near them is
wind and wave, but holds that land com.
the sanctuary of the crescent lake, with
OUR LIBRARY TABLE.
munication is generally essential for the
the famous rumbling sandhill.
In one
transmission of terrestrial and freshwater
Men and Measures : a History of Weights forms of life. If certain
of the temples a library, in rolls of and Measures, Ancient and Modern, by originated in a particular area, and are now
groups have
manuscripts, mostly Chinese, was dis- Edward Nicholson (Smith & Elder), is a found scattered in isolated colonies far
covered, and how Dr. Stein overcame the perfect monument of industry, and teems distant from their original centre, it seems
scruples of the priest in charge and became with information on out-of-the-way points fair to argue from their present discon-
possessed of many beautiful paintings on connected with the history of weights and tinuous distribution as to the former position
silk showing scenes from the life-story of
measures of all kinds and in all countries. of land over which they must have migrated.
Buddha, figures of Bodhisattvas, &c. , is The author holds that there are no arbitrary This is what the author has done, in many
well described. The manuscripts have that all have a directly scientific basis, or a
cases with great ability and not without
some boldness.
not yet been, nor will they soon be, trans- lineage reaching, perhaps far back, to
lated, as they filled twenty-four cases, such a basis.
It must not, however, be overlooked
Proceeding on these lines,
which, with five more of paintings and Co! . Nicholson goes on to unfold the history that in the reconstruction of ancient geo-
graphy many authorities will demand
art relics, are now in the British Museum. of measures of length-the story of the
and the history of measures of physical as well as biological or distribu-
Some of the paintings are reproduced in cubits; and the history of measures of
colour, Plates vii. and IX deserving capacity and of weight the story of the glacial times there was probably land
special commendation.
Egyptian times, through their transforma- through what are now Scotland, Iceland,
communication between Europe and America
At Yárkand Dr. Stein reduced his camp, tions in Greek and Roman times, down to Greenland, and Labrador ; but the author,
sold his camels, and went on to Khotan, their modifications introduced into
arriving on June 9th, 1908. There he Britain, and the modern
world generally: another land-bridge across the Atlantic,
while recognizing this connexion, throws
packed his collections, but had not been the earliest measures werd undoubtedly, stretching from Lapland to North Greenland
ſong in the place when Naik Ram Singh, those of length, but Col.
Nicholson has a by way of Spitzbergen. Whilst the Atlantic
the
was thus shut off from the Arctic Sea, the
work, returned hopelessly blind. This with which measures of a definite length on
the earth's surface (the meridian mile, as
Pacific was also closed northwards by land
Sikh, with the courage of his race, after he calls it) could have been made sixty southern shores of these great land-bridges
across Bering Strait. It is held that the
losing the sight of one eye, persevered centuries ago. Not until the time of
would be under the influence of comparatively
with his work; the other eye soon failed, Eratosthenes, in the third century B. C. ,
warm ocean-currents, thus supporting Dr.
but still he remained at his post in hope would it have been possible to determine Scharff's contention' that, from biological
of recovery. That proving desperate, he such a length with any approach to modern evidence, the Glacial period was not one of
rejoined at Khotan, but still believed he accuracy, and a very little experience in extreme cold. Such a view has been occa-
would regain his sight, and for reasons of the unsoundness of the view held on this writers, but it can hardly stand against the
sionally held by certain other scientific
caste he insisted on cooking his own food, point by the author.
in spite of burns and other accidents.
strong body of opposing evidence which the
The chapters on measures of valueglacial geologist can bring forward.
But his case was hopeless, and he was
the
history of currency and
taken to his native village, near Firozpur. measures of time are full and interesting.
He lived for a short time on a pension, There is an obvious misprint on p. 195,
ALREADY known as an enthusiastic student
which, in part, has been continued to his where the date of full moon in November, of evolution by his epic entitled 'Nebula
widow and daughter.
1912, should be November 25, not“ 17” as to Man, Mr. Henry R. Knipe now sends
A final expedition to the sources of the printed; and we are amazed at the statement forth Évolution in the Past (Herbert &
Kara Kash and
Yurung Kash was under- find the Epact useful in reckoning the moon's
same page) that agriculturists Daniel), which is planned on practically the
same lines as its predecessor, but this time
taken, and Dr. Stein had the misfortune
age. We should rather expect the farmer in sober prose. It is a comprehensive work,
to get frostbitten ; he had to be carried to to exclaim with Bottom the weaver,
“A giving a popular yet accurate account of the
Leh, some 300 miles distant, where an calendar, a calendar!
look in the long procession of living forms which have
operation was performed. It has, happily, almanac. ” We note another misprint on appeared upon the earth throughout the
proved successful, and he hopes
p. 198, in the chapter on 'Measures of ages of the Past, and seeking to show the
Heat and of Density,' where, in the directions relationship between the successive forms
as that the gate will open for work in those for converting Fahrenheit
degrees into and their forerunners.
centigrade, “ double the degrees should The subject is one of much fascination
calling me ever since my youth, and which read halve' the degrees. The final chapters for the inquirer, but obviously needs
still remain unexplored. '
(on the metric system) are of such a
for its successful treatment a wealth of
Such is the story, greatly condensed, of character as to detract from the value of the palæontological knowledge. Fortunately the
some two and three-quarters years' work, work as an impartial and scientific survey author has shown himself not ill-equipped
The
of the entire field of its subject.
.
and on the whole it is well told. There
book itself, which demonstrates in would perhaps not have been lessened by the
are, however, defects, some rather annoy- / full and able manner the complexity and omission of the tabular Chronology of the
ing, such as the introduction of foreign multiplicity of existing systems of weights Earth, which stands at the beginning of
words when English equivalents are avail- and measures, might surely be used as an
the volume. It needed a bold pen to write
Surface
able and references in one volume to maps argument in favour of simplification and such words and figures as these :
of the Earth so far solidified as to support
and plates or figures in another, and to unification in these matters.
vast seas, 100,000,000 B. C. ”; or the following
ruins by letters and numbers nowhere to be
item : “ Foundational Ages extending over
found on the maps, while the maps them- IN 1908 Dr. Robert Francis Scharff 70,000,000 years. ” Where so much is pure
selves are on easily torn paper, and bound delivered in London a course of Swiney speculation and the opinions of the highest
into volumes which weigh four pounds Lectures on 'The Geological History of the authorities are subject to serious modifica-
apiece. The spelling of Oriental words American Fauna. ' These lectures, rewritten tion as science advances, it seems rather
seems in cases to be odd, but a note in an expanded form, and including brief dangerous, notwithstanding safeguards, to
references to the American flora, constitute make any attempt at numerical precision
pared) intimates that the system adopted Distribution and Origin of Life in Amrica in a work intended for the layman. The
pared) intimates that
the system adopted (Constable). The title is, perhaps, rather physical side of the volume is, however, but
by the International Congress of Oriental- | misleading, inasmuch as the work does not slight; its strength lies in its palæontology
ists has been followed. The illustrations, discuss the profound problem of the “Origin To any one who desires to read the story of
333 in number, are admirable, well chosen, of Life,” nor among the living things that are life upon our planet as revealed by the
and well reproduced ; besides these, there described is any place found for Man. But record of the rocks, and interpreted in the
are coloured plates, panoramas, and the
even with this limitation the work is suffi- light of evolution, it would be difficult
maps. Dr. Stein's work is a valuable ciently extensive : it evidently represents to recommend a safer or more pleasant
contribution to our limited knowledge of
a great amount of research in the literature guide than Mr. Knipe. His story is illus-
of zoology, palæontology, and zoogeography, trated by many excellent plates, mainly by
a country abounding in interest, in which
and it is rich in interest to the geologist. Dr. Miss Alice Woodward, who happily unites
extremes of rigour are met alike on the Scharff is not a great believer in the acci- much scientific knowledge with artistic
hills and glaciers and in the sandy desert. dental dispersal of organisms by means of ability,
a
66
## p. 260 (#206) ############################################
260
No. 4401, MARCH 2, 1912
THE ATHENÆUM
are
whitish at the top, which is attributed to dog infested at the same time with tapeworms
SOCIETIES.
the action of the weather in dissolving the iron and mange.
The author then discussed the
and depositing it lower down. Implements from systematic position of these cestode larvæ.
ROYAL. -Feb. 22. - Sir Archibald Geikie, Presi-
this
horizon
whitish, while those at Le claimed that he had found Tylocephalum
dent, in the chair. —The Bakerian Lecture was a lower depth are yellowish or brown, according ludificans in specimens of the Ceylon pearl-
delivered by Prof. H. L. Callendar, 'On the to the colour of the gravel. At the base the oyster in Dr. Kellart's collection in the British
Variation of the Specific Heat of Water, investi- implements usually have a double patination, Museum, and had considered the possibility
gated by the Continuous Mixture Method. '
caused by ferruginous matter being deposited of their being concerned with pearl production,
The experiments of Callendar and Barnes 'On more on one side than the other. Implements and dismissed the theory as untenable, pre-
the Variation of the Specific Heat of Water of various forms occur at all depths. At the viously to Prof. Herdman's original departure
between 0 and 100° C. by the Continuous Electric Kimbridge Pit there is a preponderance of the for Ceylon.
Method' (Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. , A, 1902), with rough ovate implements to which the name of
The second part of the paper dealt with the
platinum thermometers, agreed with those of “ Chelles " has been given, while at the Dunbridge structure and formation of the shell and of pearls.
Lüdin by the method of mixture with mercury Pit there are found remarkably fine pointed The various repair-substances, which replace the
thermometers more closely than with those of implements,
not water - worn, and with a white ordinary shell - substances under abnormal or
any previous observers, but gave results nearly patina. Photographs of the sections were shown, pathological conditions, were described, their
1 per cent lower than Lüdin's over the range 60° and it was suggested that at Dunbridge, where relations to the normal substances of the shell
to 90° C. Within the last year the results of the gravel rests on Bagshot sands and clays, the discussed, and their occurrence in the pseudonuclei
Lüdin have been very closely reproduced by gravel may have been deposited under sub-glacial of pearls dealt with. The “ calcospherules " which
W. R. and W. E. Bousfield (Phil. Trans. , A, conditions. Some of the implements seem to have Prof. Herdman regarded as free concretions, and
1911), employing a Dewar calorimeter electrically been made on the spot, while others must have as the cause of “muscle pearls," were considered
heated by a mercury resistance, the rise of travelled far.
to be in fact minute pearls, composed of the hypo-
temperature being observed by means of mercury
thermometers standardized to . 01° C. every 5º.
Mr. L. Salzmann read a paper on 'Excavations stracum, or special shell - substance to which
The present investigation was designed to verify
at Selsey in 1911. ' The earthwork at Selsey is the muscles are attached. This conclusion had
a roughly circular work about 250 ft. in diameter, been reached independently by Rubbel, in Marburg:
the results of Callendar and Barnes by a new and consisting of ditch and vallum, evidently thrown The author said that his observations on the real
Mixture Method.
up to protect the entrance of the harbour. Exca- cause and mechanism which led to the formation
vations undertaken last year showed that the
Dr C. Chree read a paper on a 'Short Index vallum rests on a deposit of black earth 2 ft. in
of pearls in the Ceylon pearl-oyster were still too
incomplete to communicate ; but he maintained
to Reports of Physical Observations-Electric, thickness. As this black earth contains pottery, that, as he had already laid down in his 1902
Magnetic, Meteorological, Seismological-made not only of the Roman period, but also of the paper, the real cause of pearl production would
at Kew Observatory. '
type usually ascribed to the fourteenth century, have to be sought, not in the nuclei or pseudo-
Messrs. R. T. Lattey and H. T. Tizard read a and in the case of one small fragment possibly as nuclei of pearls, but rather in the pathological
paper · On the Velocities of Ions in Dried Gases. ' late as the sixteenth century, it is clear that the conditions under which the tissues of the mollusc
The authors have determined the velocities of vallum is of comparatively late construction. gave rise to the pearl-sac. It was only in a few
positive and negative ions in dried hydrogen and The whole evidence points to the truth of the cases, like the trematode pearls in the common
carbon dioxide. The results obtained are com- local tradition that the mound was thrown up mussel, that the cause of the pearl-sac-i. e. , in
pletely parallel to those already obtained in a at the time of the threatened Spanish invasion this case the trematode-remained to form the
previous investigation on air "(R. T. Lattey, in 1588. Within the enclosed area were found “ nucleus” of the pearl and tell the tale of
Proc. Roy. Soc. , vol. lxxxiv. p. 173). The two fragments of walls and quantities of building its origin. The author had found that, as
velocity of positive ions is but little affected by materials, of which the few worked stones are observed by Prof. Herdman, a minority of Ceylon
the presence of moisture in the gas, and is pro- chisel-tooled. Of the smaller finds, the most pearls may have foreign bodies, such as sand-
portional to the force (x), and inversely propor interesting was a small bronze belt' tag of the grains, in their centres.
tional to the pressure (p). The same relation tenth century, ornamented with human figures, Mr. R. Shelford communicated & paper on
approximately holds good for the velocity of apparently unique.
'Mimicry amongst the Blattidæ, with a Revision
negative ions in moist gases. When the gas is
of the Genus Frosoplecta Sauss. ,' in which he
extremely dry, however, the negative ions are
dealt with a number of exceptions to this usually
apparently very easily deprived of their cus- Zoological. - Feb. 20. —Dr. A. Smith Wood-cryptically coloured type of cockroach, and in
tomary envelope. Their velocity, therefore, does ward, V. -P. , in the chair. -Dr. A. T. Masterman
greater detail with the Prosoplecta, nearly all
not increase proportionately to s/p, but at a very gave a demonstration, illustrated by a large number the members of which present a remarkably
much greater rate.
of lantern-slides, of recent investigations on age- close and detailed resemblance to other insects.
Prof. T. H. Laby and Mr. P. W.
Burbidge determination in the scales of salmonoids, with
read a paper on 'The Observation by means of special reference to Wye salmon.
A paper entitled ' A Contribution to the Know-
a String Electrometer of Fluctuations in the
ledge of the Spiders and Other Arachnids of
Dr. H. Lyster Jameson read a paper. On the Switzerland' was contributed by the Rev. 0.
Ionization produced by 7-rays. The authors Structure of the Shell and Pearls of the Ceylon Pickard-Cambridge.
claim to have demonstrated that there are fluctua-
It was based on a number
Pearl-Oyster (Margaritifera vulgaris, Schum. ),
tios in the ionization produced by y-rays, and
of specimens collected for the author by various
with an Examination of the Cestode Theory of
have worked out the technique for future experi- Pearl Production. The author began by review- description of one new species.
persons at different times, and contained the
ments, where the absolute amount of the fluctua-
ing the work on the subject of pearl production
tion is very small. Further experiments are carried out in Ceylon by Prof. Herdman and his
necessary before the experiments can be said to
successors. He examined the theory, enunciated
support either a corpuscular or pulse theory of by Prof. Herdman, that most Ceylon “fine
Y-rays.
pearls had for their nuclei the remains of cestode MICROSCOPICAL. -Feb. 21. -Mr. H. G. Plimmer,
Mr. F. B. Pidduck read a paper on “ The Wave- larvæ, and that these larvæ, which are abundant President, in the chair. — Mr. E. J. Spitta,
Problem of Cauchy and Poisson for Finite Depth in the liver and connective tissues of the pearl- with the help of the projection lantern, demon.
and Slightly Compressible Fluid. ' The paper is oyster in Ceylon, were the
” of the most strated the principles which should influence the
in some respects a completion of a former one on valuable pearls. Dr. Jameson maintained that photographer in the preparation of negatives
the propagation of a disturbance in a fluid under the evidence adduced in support of this theory
from which coloured lantern - slides were sub-
gravity. The solution of the two-dimensional by Prof. Herdman and Mr. Hornell was insuffi- sequently to be made.
Cauchy-Poisson problem for finite depth is worked cient, and that the only drawings in Prof. Herd- Mr. Rousselet communicated the Fourth List of
out numerically, the effect of limiting the depth man's 'Report on the Ceylon Pearl-Oyster New Rotifera since 1889' (i. e. , the date when
being very considerable. The fact is brought to Fisheries, published by the Royal Society, that Hudson and Gosse's ‘Monograph of the Rotifera'
light that up to a certain point a limitation of the purported to show the remains of cestodes in the was completed by the issue of the supplement,
depth causes an increase in the elevation at a given centres of pearls, were capable of other interpreta- recording altogether 400 species at that time).
point for a short interval of time after the begin- tion. Moreover, he could not find in any of the
ning of the motion. The wider question presents sections of pearls by Prof. Herdman, numbering
itself as to the sense in which the initial disturb- some twenty-five or more, which the Professor
ance can be said to be confined to a definite por- had kindly allowed him to examine, a single
tion of the fluid. Difficulties connected with the instance of a cestode larva forming the nucleus.
METEOROLOGICAL. -Feb. 21. -Dr. H. N. Dick-
assumption of incompressibility are avoided by This observation was borne out by the results of
son, President, in the chair.
considering a heavy compressible fluid. The the examination of between 300 and 400 pearls Mr. J. Fairgrieve read a paper on 'The Thunder-
application of an extension of Fourier's theorems, from Margaritifera vulgaris, mostly from Ceylon, storms of May 31, 1911. '. He dealt with the
due to Orr, gives the solution of the problem of but also comprising examples from the Persian thunderstorm which visited the London district
such a fluid held with every part in a given state Gulf, the Gulf of Cutch, the Mediterranean, Mada- on the Derby Day, and especially with the move-
of compression and then released, the free surface gascar, New Caledonia, &c. , none of which, on ment of the rain which accompanied the storm.
being maintained at constant pressure. The decalcification, showed cestode or other platy. Having obtained information from nearly 700
known formulæ for incompressible fluid for both helminthian larvæ as nuclei. The centre of such observers as to the time of rainfall or absence
finite and infinite depth follow as limiting expres- a pearl was (where it consisted of material other of rain, he has been able to prepare an interesting
sions, and it is possible to detect the existence of than the nacre or other normal constituents of series of maps for each quarter of an hour from
an advancing wave-front when the compressi- the shell) nearly always composed of an abnormal 12. 30 to 8. 45 P. M. , showing the areas over which
bility is different from zero.
form of shell-substance, analogous to that formed rain was actually falling.
Some papers originally announced for the to repair an injury to the shell, which, owing to Mr. R. G. K. Lempfert read a paper on 'The
meeting of February 15th, which was adjourned its opacity, might easily be mistaken for a foreign Thunderstorms of July 29, 1911. ' This storm was
on account of the death of Lord Lister, were taken body. These repair-substances were sometimes of the line-squall type. The author has been
as read.
associated with granular matter, the origin of able to trace the spread of the phenomenon
which was obscure ; this matter might perhaps across the British Isles, and he showed by a map
be derived from the tissues, or might possibly be of isochronous lines that it first struck the extreme
SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES. -Feb. 22. -Mr. W. of parasitic origin, but Dr. Jameson saw no end of Cornwall about 2 P. M. on July 29th, and
Dale read a paper on “The Implement-bearing reason for regarding it derived from a passed across Shetland at 3 P. M. the next day.
Gravel Beds of the Valley of the Lower Test,' in cestode larva. He considered the presence of He pointed out that the disturbance may be
which he described the gravel pits which occur these cestodes as a disease parallel to, but inde- regarded as the displacement of an easterly by a
near Ramsey and Dunbridge, and showed a large pendent of, margarosis and compared the southerly current, but the process of displace-
quantity of palæolithic implements from them.
case of a pearl-oyster containing both cestodes ment was unusually complicated. The general
Îhese implements are diverse in form and in the and pearls to that of a man suffering simul- sequence of events seems to have been somewhat
condition of their patination. The gravel is usually 'taneously from echinococci and scabies, or of a as follows. A moderate east wind was interrupted
cause
as
## p. 261 (#207) ############################################
No. 4401, MARCH 2, 1912
261
THE ATHENÆUM
6
suddenly by a squall from the south. After the
squall had passed, the wind returned temporarily
to an easterly direction, to be again interrupted
Science Gossip
by another squall from the south. A period of
FINE ARTS
several hours of light and variable wind, during THE problems of genetics are coming
which easterly directions predominated, super-
very rapidly to the front, and seem likely
vened, and finally the wind settled down to a steady
southerly or south-westerly wind of moderate
to receive a great deal of attention in the
force. In many cases the squalls were not accom-
present year. M. Blaringhem, in his in Greece and Babylon : a Comparative
panied by rainfall. What appears to have augural address at the Sorbonne published Sketch of Mesopotamian, Anatolian,
struck observers most forcibly was the way in last Saturday, summed up recent discus-
which huge quantities of dust were whirled up
and Hellenic Religions. By Lewis R.
by the wind. Accounts from Cardiff state that
sions on the subject by declaring that sudden Farnell. (Edinburgh, T. & T. Clark. )
dust was brought from the south side of the
and transmissible changes in pure stocks
Bristol Channel by the squall winds, which did are the way in which the characteristics THESE very interesting and suggestive
much structural damage.
of species and varieties make their appear. lectures are the work of a master who
Mr. S. Skinner read a paper on 'The Drosometer,' ance; and that the cause of these must
an instrument for measuring the amount of dew. be looked for in differences of the chemical has devoted years to the study of ancient
constitution of the protoplasm. We are religions, and published standard books
therefore brought back to chemistry to on the subject. His style is easy and
BRITISH NUMISMATIC. -Feb. 21. -Mr. Carlyon- discover the ultimate cause of the differen- correct, though he does use the word
Laughlin and Messrs. H. J. Farrow, J. H. Searey, tiation of species, which, as M. Blaringhem phenomenal loosely when he speaks
and L. A. Woodward were elected Members. reminded his audience, is what M. Armand
of the keeping of sacred prostitutes about
Mr. H. A. Parsons read a paper on
The Dun- Gautier predicted twenty-three years ago.
a temple as a “phenomenal practice. ”
wich Mint,' in which, after reviewing the history
of the city in Saxon times, when, after attaining “Institute” nowadays; and the foundation
EVERY new science seems to demand an It seems to have been a very real one,
the height of its prosperity in the closing years
"Institute" nowadays; and the foundation and widely spread through Semitic lands.
of Ethelred II. , its decline gradually set in owing at Brussels is announced of one for what is
He rightly distinguishes it from the
to the denudation by the sea, he attributed four magniloquently called Universal Plasmology
coins to the mint, namely, one of each of the and Bio-mechanics. Its committee claims
sacrifice of virginity,
of which Herodotus
last two types of Ethelred II. , and one of each of to be international, and the names upon it tells us among the Babylonians, and he
the first two types of Canute. The author
explained that the coins thus synchronized with
which should be most familiar to readers of is much perplexed concerning its meaning.
its history, for only at that particular period The Athenæum are those of M. Raphael Quite apart from mystical explanations,
would Dunwich be likely to have exercised its Dubois (of Lyons), Dr. Stéphane Leduc (of there is an obvious, but probably too
privilege of a mint.
Nantes), Dr. von Schrön (of Naples), and
Mr. B. Roth exhibited the contents of a remark. Prof. Jacques Loeb (of New York). To
vulgar solution. Such a class was un-
able archæological hoard found at Peterborough
doubtedly a perennial source of income
in 1886. It comprised Roman coins and other judge by the recent work of these distin.
relics, a bronze torque, and three ancient British guished scholars, the Institute will chiefly to the temple. A city like Corinth was
coins. One of these was a gold stater similar to concern itself with researches into the origin exactly the place where these people would
Evans, Plate B, No. 8, and the other two were of life, as illustrated by the experiments in be most profitable. It is, indeed, among
silver money of the Iceni. . Amongst other exhi. the production of artificial cells by M.
tions were a copper siege-piece issued at Cork in Dubois and Dr. Leduc, in the formation of that in some highly civilized societies
the curious vagaries of the human mind
for the obverse of William Moesop's medal to Dr. crystals by Dr. von Schrön, and in partheno-
sexual asceticism was not in high esteem,
Henry Quin, by Mr. F. W. Yeates. Mr. Henry genesis by Dr. Loeb. It will issue a periodical
Symonds presented a series of numismatic works review, and the Secretary is Prof. Léon
and the opposite was practised as a reli-
to the Society's library.
Guinet of Brussels.
gious rite, while in others the latter was
THE BRITISH ASTRONOMICAL ASSOCIATION
regarded as the lowest degradation, and
has just published a memoir of original
the repression of all such animal instincts
observations of variable stars made by as the ideal of purity and piety.
Victoria and Albert Museum, 5. - The Later English Renais.
twenty-five of its members in the five years On the other hand, the likenesses
sance : Inigo Jones and his Works, Mr. B. Fletcher,
1905–9 inclusive. This particular branch
Society of Engineers, 7. 30. - The Trolley Vebicle System of
between the religious beliefs and practices
of astronomy, which is likely to prove of
Aristoteliaa, 8. -Å Theory of Material Fallaciet,' Mr. H. S. much value in the study of stellar physics, primitive conditions at least, so great
of widely separate nations are often, in
-
Royal Academy, 8. –Vils, Varnishes, and Mediums,' Prof. A. P.
hypotheses, is not practised at the national that it requires all Dr. Farnell's authority
Society of Arts, 8. -'The Loom and Spludle: Past, Present, and
observatories, that at Harvard College being to prevent us from assuming that there
Tres. Royal Institution, 3. - Optical Determination of Stress, and
some Applications to Engineering Probleins,' Lecture II. ,
the only large observatory where it is fol. must be a common origin. Take, for
British Museum, 4. 80. - Early Christian Architecture,' Mr.
