but some sixteen months ago Dr. F. Leydig of Bonn published an excellent account of it in Wiegmann's Archiv, in which he gives a short account of Dr. Joseph Waltl, who first discovered Pleurodeles, and of the gallant Dr. Michahelles, who called it after his friend, its discoverer (1830). Among the specimens sent to Bonn, one was living, and in it could be easily seen the tips of some of the ribs sticking through the skin; and that "this penetration" of the skin of the sides was not in the first instance caused by or through the transport, the accompanying note from the kind sender proved. "You will remark that in the Pleurodeles the ribs

pierce the integuments, and that if this be an accident, it is in some sort a physiological one." The habits of the Pleurodeles seem to be more or less like that of our native Tritons. During the procreative season they remain upright in the water; later they leave it and hide themselves in damp places under stones. Like the Water Newts, they possess a sort of cry; when frightened, as on being suddenly seized, they emit a low, short, almost squeaking sound, generally repeated several times. This seemed to come not so much from the throat as to be caused by a rapid expulsion of air through the openings of the nose-in fact, to be a sort of snort.

:

It had a tendency to crawl vigorously backward when uneasy, by prising the ends of the ribs against the skin this snake-like progression no doubt causing the skin openings. Prof. Leydig's specimen lived on slugs of small size, which it took eagerly as well as worms, indeed preferring these latter. The skin surface was rather dry than clammy. The colour changes through the chromatophores were clearly to be noticed; during cold weather it was of a tolerably uniform dark, when warmer the colour became lighter, numerous dark spots standing out from a light gray ground colour. On very warm days it would lie for hours motionless on the surface of the water.

NOTES

THE Akhbar published a programme of the excursions which have been arranged for the next session of the French Association at Algiers on April 14. The excursions are very numerous, and are classified according to the length of time required for their completion. One of the most attractive in the vicinity of Algiers is the tomb of the Kings of Mauritania; Laghouat and the desert is one of the most protracted, and requires eight days for its completion. The travellers will enjoy unexampled facilities for visiting the country. The seat of the French Association is 76, rue de Rennes, Paris. Applications are to be made to M. Gariel, Professor of Physics to the École de Medicine, permanent secretary. A reduction of 50 per cent. has been granted by the railway companies; the arrangements made for the sea passage will be published in proper time. An influential

It would almost seem worth one's while to pay a visit to those Andalusian tanks, and by their semi-limpid sides and under the shelter of their surrounding fig and olivetrees work out the complete history of this interesting little form.

These woodcuts will show that in point of illustration this volume keeps up with both its predecessors in effect; while we have gently hinted at a few blemishes, the work deserves a very considerable mead of praise, and we heartily recommend it as an excellent volume to be placed in the hands of all interested in the animal kingdom.

local committee has been established in Algiers. M. Chauveau, Professor to the Veterinary School of Lyons, has been appointed president of the session; the vice-president is M. Janssen.

MINERALOGICAL science has suffered a great loss by the early death, on January 27, of Prof. Dr. Emanuel Boricky, who was well known by his microscopical researches in petrography. Boricky was born at Milín, near Príbram (Bohemia) in the year 1840, and he had therefore just completed his fortieth year. In 1865 he became an assistant of the mineralogical section of the Bohemian Museum, and in 1866 he was named Assistant Professor of Mineralogy at the University of Prague. Having attained the degree of a Doctor of Philosophy, he became a teacher of mineralogy at one of the colleges of Prague in 1868, and in 1869 he was promoted to the post of a custos of the mineralogical collections at the museum. Since 1871 he ha

lectured in the Bohemian language on petrography at the University of Prague. He was a diligent and successful worker in science, and his microscopical researches have made his name familiar to mineralogists far beyond the boundaries of his native country. He has left a monograph on the porphyries ready for printing. Science has lost in him a devoted student, and the Bohemian nation regrets the death of one of its best sons.

66

THE Times announces the death of Mr. William White, a wellknown chemist and mining authority. Mr. White was the author of numerous works, including the "History of Chemistry," Economy of Health," "Chemistry of Vegetation," "Chemistry for Students," ," "Hints from a Chemist," "Mineral Resources of Newfoundland," &c., and was for over half a century a constant contributer to scientific literature. He had held at different periods lectureships on metallurgy and chemistry at various educational establishments, and had earned for himself a reputation as a lecturer and writer on agricultural chemistry. He died in London on Sunday last, at the age of seventy-one, from a painful disease contracted while conducting experiments in his laboratory.

THE Prussian Government, according to Berlin papers, intends to purchase the Godeffroy Museum at Hamburg for the Berlin Anthropological Museum. The former is one of the most interesting zoological and anthropological collections, particularly with regard to Eastern Asia and the islands of the Pacific; it was formed by the Hamburg firm of that name by means of special scientific expeditions during the last decades.

THE Senatus of Glasgow University has just been presented with a portrait of the Very Rev. Principal Caird, the esteemed head of the University, and Mrs. Caird with a replica. The portraits are the gift of subscribers belonging to all religious and political parties, and are the works of Mr. Millais, R.A. The Principal is represented in academic dress, and the likeness is very striking. The portrait presented to the Senatus will be placed in the University library, the walls of which are already adorned with likenesses of former principals and professors.

M. MARIETTE, better known as Mariette Bey, the celebrated Egyptologist, has died in Alexandria. M. Maspero, his pupil, Professor of Egyptology to the Collège de France in Paris, has been appointed by the Egyptian Government to fill the place vacated by the death of M. Mariette.

A PROPOSITION has been made by the Operator and other electrical papers of the United States to open at New York an international exhibition of electricity in 1882. It is stated that the United States Congress will vote a sum of money to subsidise the American exhibitors at the exhibition of this year in Paris.

THE Royal Commission appointed in 1879 to inquire into the cause of accidents in mines have concluded the taking of evid

ence.

The attention of the Commission is now directed to a series of experiments as to the explosive nature of coal dust, as to the best kind of safety lamp, and as to other matters designed to elucidate the causes of explosions. It is proposed that some experiments shall take place to test the efficacy of the electric light as an illuminating power in mines.

THE Committee formed for the exploration of the remarkable holes, which have recently appeared on the surface of Blackheath, have been negotiating with an experienced well-sinker, and intend to commence active operations in the course of a few days in the hope of finding a clue to their origin. Contributions in aid of the work, from persons interested in the investigation, will be gladly received by the honorary treasurers of the CommitteeDr. Prior Purvis, Landstown Place, Blackheath, or Mr. E. W. Brabrook, F.S.A., director of the Anthropological Institute, 28, Abingdon Street, Westminster.

ORDINARY MEETINGS of the Sanitary Institute of Great Britain, 9, Conduit Street, W., for the reading of papers and discussion upon sanitary matters, will be held during 1881 on the second Wednesday in the months of February, April, and June, chair to be taken at eight o'clock precisely. At the first meeting, February 9, a paper will be read by W. H. Michael, Q. C., upon "The Law in Relation to Sanitary Progress," to be followed by a discussion.

AN earthquake was felt over a considerable area of Switzerland on January 27. It was felt with varying degrees of intensity at Berne, Muensingen, Thun, Basle, Solothurn, Zurich, Bienne, Oberhofen, and Aarberg. The principal shock occurred at 2. 20 in the afternoon, Berne mean time. A slight shock was observed at three o'clock the same day, and another equally slight at six the following Friday morning. According to a report of the Berne Observatory the first and principal shock was in the direction from east to west, with a slight northerly deviation. The oscillation was both vertical and lateral, and according to some accounts, was preceded by a rumbling subterranean sound. Its intensity may be judged from the facts that the chimes in the church clocks were made to strike and the bells to toll, books were thrown from their shelves, and pictures detached from the walls, while in Berne alone more than 100 chimneys were thrown down. This is the twenty-fourth earthquake that has been recorded in Switzerland since November, 1879, and is probably the most severe.

A SHOCK of an earthquake was felt at 5 p.m. on January 24 at Bologna, Florence, Venice, Padua, Ferrara, &c. At Bologna there were also slighter shocks at midnight, and at 8 and 9.15 a.m. next day; while Florence likewise had a second shock at 7.53 a.m. on the 25th.

IN a recent number of the Journal de Physique, of which the late M. d'Almeida was so long the editor, the following interesting episode is narrated :-During the investment and siege of Paris by the German armies in the winter of 1870-71 M. d'Almeida took a prominent part in certain attempts to re-establish telegraphic communication between Paris and the provinces, using the River Seine as a conductor. This suggestion originated with M. Bourbouze (of galvanometer fame), who was, after the war, created a chevalier for his suggestion. It was proposed to send powerful currents into the River Seine from batteries at the nearest available point outside the German lines, and to receive in Paris, by delicate galvanometers, from the river such a portion of these currents as might not have leaked into the earth. After some preliminary experiments had been made between the Hôtel de Ville and the manufactory of M. Claparède at St. Denis, by Professors Desains, Jamin, and Berthelot, it was decided to make the attempt, and accordingly on December 17, 1870, M. d'Almeida was despatched by balloon to the provinces in order to try to establish this novel mode of telegraphy without wires. The balloon descended after sundry perils in the Arcadian solitudes of Champagne outside the Prussian lines. Thence he proceeded via Lyons and Bordeaux to Havre. Not finding suitable appliances and apparatus, there was again a delay in sending to England for the necessaries, which on arrival were conveyed to Poissy, where M. d'Almeida regained the banks of the Seine on January 14, 1871. Here however the frost proved inimical, the river having been frozen hard since the beginning of December. The attempts at communication were however to have been made on January 24, when the armistice was proclaimed. It was too late; and the world missed a famous scientific exploit from amongst those which made the siege of Paris notable beyond all other sieges of history.

M. JULES FERRY, French Minister of Public Instruction, and M. Tirard, Minister of Agriculture and Commerce, paid an

official visit the other day to the schools of apprenticeship established at the expense of the City of Paris in the rue Herold and the boulevard of La Villette. The time required for the scientific education of the young workmen is three years. During the first year the pupils are trained in working wood as well as iron. The choice of the speciality is only made at the beginning of the second year. No work is executed without a drawing having been made, so that the workman is enabled to understand the use of the object he is manufacturing. Regular courses of lectures are given in the establishment on scientific subjects. Meanwhile experiments are conducted in three different primary schools, to determine whether it is possible to join manual to mental training in all the city schools.

PROF. HULL has published a fourth edition of his "CoalFields of Great Britain" (Stanford). This edition has been largely rewritten, and contains an entirely new chapter on Carboniferous Plants, by Prof. Williamson, F.R.S. The Classifi cation of the Carboniferous Series of Beds has been modified in accordance with the views enunciated in Prof. Hull's paper on this subject read before the Geological Society in 1877. Various other modifications have been made in accordance with the results of recent geological research, and the statistical portions have been brought down to 1878.

MESSRS. LONGMANS AND Co. send us the fourth edition of Prof. Atkinson's "Natural Philosophy for General Readers and Young Persons," translated and edited from Ganot's French work. To this edition have been added twenty-five pages of new matter and sixteen additional illustrations.

MR. E. S. BAKER, photographer of Bristol, sends us a photograph of a jar, which is a fine illustration of the fact that water expands on freezing. During the recent frost the water in the jar froze, and the ice is seen protruding from its mouth to a considerable distance like a well-shaped cork.

MR. C. V. RILEY of 1700, Thirteenth Street, Washington, writes to us that, having been obliged to cease the publication of the American Entomologist, he has a few full sets of vol. iii., just closed, to dispose of, and has concluded to send the full volume to all former subscribers who may want it, or to any Library, Natural History Association, or editor of journal, postage prepaid, at the reduced price of $1.50. The information in the magazine, Mr. Riley states, is of permanent interest, and the volume will be of value to any one interested in entomology in any of its bearings.

M. CH. JOLY has republished as a pamphlet a paper which he lately contributed to the Journal of the National Horticultural Society of France, under the title of "Note sur une Exposition de Géographie botanique et horticole, organisée par la Société Centrale d'Horticulture de Nancy."

NEW SOUTH WALES, Victoria, and South Australia have agreed to jointly bear the expense of exterminating the Phylloxera vastatrix, the alarming extension of which in Victoria has threatened the destruction of the wine industry.

WE have received the three first numbers for this year of the Chicago Field, which seems modelled on a small scale after its well-known English contemporary.

THE Revue Scientifique of January 29 contains a lecture recently given at the Sorbonne by M. Faye, on the Volcanoes of the Moon.

AT Cracow a new Polish review for literature, science, and art is now being published fortnightly. Its title is Museum, and its editor Dr. Thaddaeus Rutowski.

THE works in the Arlberg tunnel are progressing. On the Tyrolese side the lower shaft has been pushed to a distance of

340 metres, by help of the boring machines, and in spite of the hardness of the rock the daily progress is two metres. The upper shaft is some 100 metres behind.

A NUMBER of Roman antiquities were found last year during some military earthwork operations near Metz, close to the Lunette d'Arçon. It appears that the place was one of the most important burial-places of Roman Metz. The Metz Geological and Archæological Society gave the details at its last December meeting. Some thirty-five vases, four metal objects, three coins, and two tombstones with inscriptions are mentioned. Of human remains four skulls were found, one of which was lying upon a square stone plate, besides carbonised (cremated?) bone remains in a round stone urn. The inscriptions were epitaphs; of the three coins, one dated from the year 41 (when Claudius commenced to reign), another from the year 160 (reign of Antoninus Pius). Prof. Schaaffhausen of Bonn states that three of the skulls found belong to three different tribes. One belonged to a German, another to a Frisian, the owner of the third came from so far a country as Lapland.

A REMARKABLE discovery of Russo-byzantine antiquities was made near Kiew some weeks ago, when a canal for the waterworks of the city was being excavated. They consist principally of twenty gold and enamelled lockets, three buttons of the same materials with heads of saints upon them, gold rings, agraffes and studs, all dating from the fifteenth or sixteenth century; they doubtless served as ornaments upon the costumes of the grand princes. Besides these some thirty-four silver coins were found, also a highly original bronze vessel in the shape of a fabulous quadruped. The metal value of all the antiquities is estimated at 1000 roubles (150%.). The Archæological Commission has taken possession of them.

OUR ASTRONOMICAL COLUMN

THE OBSERVATORY OF HARVARD COLLEGE, U.S.-We have received the Annual Report presented to the Visiting Committee of this Observatory by Prof. Pickering on December 6. The year has been one of unusual activity in the establishment, funds which had been liberally forthcoming from its friends having enabled both the equatorial and meridian circle to be regularly employed, and further having allowed of many researches of importance being conducted with the smaller instruments. With the large equatorial Prof. Pickering claims observations for position of the satellites of Mars at the last that he has succeeded in making a more extensive series of opposition than was obtained elsewhere, and states that Deimos was last seen at Harvard Observatory; the number of observed angles of position of Deimos was 825, and of Phobos 278, and that of observed distances 245. In addition to measures for position photometric observations were made, which appear to show that if the satellites possess a capacity for reflecting sunlight equal to that of the planet, Deimos may have a diameter of about six and Phobos of seven miles. It was noted at various observatories that Deimos appeared somewhat brighter in 1879 than at the preceding opposition in 1877, and in both years Prof. Pickering states it seems to have been brighter measured photometrically, and to have been seen more easily when it followed than when it preceded Mars.

Photometrical determinations of the times of eclipses of Jupiter's satellites, commenced in the summer of 1878, have been continued during the year, and it is considered with reasonable hope that these phenomena may be more accurately observed than hitherto by this method. Observations of planetary nebulæ described in the previous Report have been nearly completed.

With regard to spectroscopic observations, Prof. Pickering says the most remarkable discovery is that the spectrum of No. 17681 of Oeltzen's Catalogue, the place of which for 1880 is in R.A. 18h. Im. 17s., N.P.Ď. 111° i', possesses a peculiar character. "The light of this star is principally concentrated in two points of the spectrum, one in the blue, the other in the yellow, a little more refrangible than the D line. A faint continuous spectrum is also seen.'

The variable star of Ceraski, the true period of which was determined at Harvard College, is referred to; systematic observations have been made upon it. The Report describes the progress made in observations with the "meridian photometer," whereby it is intended to determine the light of all stars visible to the naked eye between the North Pole and N.P.D. 120°. The principal want of the Observatory at the present time is stated to be the means of publication of these and other classes of observations, the large number of volumes issued during the last five years having exhausted the funds specially appropriated for defraying expenses of publication.

CERASKI'S VARIABLE STAR T CEPHEI.-Prof. Julius Schmidt, from his own observations of minima of this variable in the last five months of the past year, finds reason to conclude that in that interval each successive period was longer by o'08753m. or 5'25s. than the preceding one, and has calculated the times of minima upon this assumption between June 11, 1880, and February 15, 1881. For elements with this correction to the period to be applied, be adopts for his startingpoint

Minimum ... 1880, December 7, 10h. 6'7m.
Athens M.T. + 2d. 11h. 50·812m. E.

E being the number of periods from December 7. Thus the next minimum is found to occur on February 5, at 6h. 50*3m. Athens time, or at 5h. 15'4m. M.T. at Greenwich. Prof. Schmidt has remarked what we believe was soon detected by Mr. Knott from his observations in October last, that for more than two hours about the minimum there is no perceptible variation of brightness; decrease and increase are very rapid, particularly the latter.

SWIFT'S COMET, 1880 e.—The Superintendent of the Obser vatory at Washington, Admiral Rodgers, communicates to Science of January 10, an orbit of this comet which has been calculated by Prof. Frisby from three meridian observations made there on October 25 and November 7 and 25, and without any assumption as to the periodic time. The revolution resulting from this application of the general method is about 2178 days, or a little less than six years, and thus the conclusion arrived at by MM. Schulhof and Bossert of Paris, and Mr. S. C. Chandler of Boston, U.S., receives confirmation. From the position of the orbit it happens at present that only every second return to perihelion can be made available for observations.

BARON DEMBOWSKI.-Practical astronomy has sustained a severe loss in the death of Baron Ercole Dembowski, which took place on the evening of the 19th ult. at Monte, Frazione di Solbiate, Arno. Few have attained as great skill or exhibited greater industry and patience in that somewhat difficult and tedious branch, the measurement of the double stars, to which the Baron specially devoted himself, and we hope some means may be found of publishing in a collective form the results of his long-continued labours in this direction.

METEOROLOGICAL NOTES

OUR readers will learn with much satisfaction that Sweden has resolved to take part in the international meteorological and magnetical observations in the Polar regions, and arrangements have been made for carrying on the observations from June 1, 1882, till June 1, 1883. The house erected at Masselbay in Spitzbergen by Nordenskjöld's expedition, is still in good condition, and will be fitted up for the observatory. In connection with the Spitzbergen Observatory, Haparanda, at the head of the Gulf of Boothnia, is to be created into a first-class observatory, and furnished with Theorell's self-registering and printing meteorological apparatus; and all other observations will be made which are expected of a first-class observatory. M. Hjeltström is appointed director of the Haparanda Observatory. The funds to meet the expenses of the expedition and the two observatories have been most generously supplied by M. L. O. Smith, Stockholm. Prof. Hildebrandsson, the eminent Swedish meteorologist, has been entrusted with the discussion of the observations made by Prof. Nordenskjöld on the celebrated Vega Expedition, to the publication of which meteorologists will look forward with the liveliest interest.

IN his fourteenth contribution to meteorology Prof. Loomis returns to the discussion of the interesting question of the course and velocity of storm centres in tropical regions. In a previous communication he had shown that in middle latitudes the average

DURING the winter months, storms while crossing the United States frequently advance during a part of their course from north-west to south-east. This course is followed most frequently in the region between the Rocky Mountains and the Mississippi, is seldom continued as far south as lat. 30°, and the storm centre, after reaching its most southerly point, often changes its course towards the north-east. Storms which cross the United States north of lat. 38° generally pursue a course a little to the north of east; while those which come from south of that latitude pursue a course nearly north-east. During the summer months however few storms travel south of lat. 38°, and during this part of the year the average course of storms is almost exactly towards the east.

PROF. LOOMIS next institutes a comparison between the West India hurricanes and those of the Bay of Bengal, China Sea, &c. The average course of the latter is towards the west, ranging from 13° south of west to 86° north of west, which agrees closely in this respect with the general course pursued by West India hurricanes. The velocity of their onward course is however markedly different, being only about eight miles per hour, which is less than half the average velocity of the West India cyclones. The average latitude when the course becomes north is nearly lat. 20°, being 10 more to southward than in the West Indies, and the velocity during this part of the course is only about nine miles an hour. Ultimately the cyclones curve round and pursue a course nearly east-north-east, with a velocity of onward movement scarcely reaching ten miles an hour, or le s than half of the velocity found for West India hurricanes. Lastly, while in the West Indies cyclones or hurricanes have been found no farther south than lat. 10° N., in Southern Asia they have occurred as far south as lat. 6° N.

THE Concluding part of the Contribution is taken up with an examination of those storms of middle latitudes which advance in a westerly direction. In these cases, which may be regarded as abnormal directions, it is found that the wind is generally greatest on the east side of the low centre of the storm. While there are thus on the east side of the low pressure areas, causes tending to increase pressure on that side, there are different conditions on the west side tending to divert the winds westward, and this, Prof. Loomis thinks, is the most important reason why in such cases the storm centres advance to westward. In the United States, over the Atlantic, and in Europe, the influence of one area of low pressure upon another is a very common cause of abnormal movements of storm centres-such, for instance, as the coalescence of two low areas into one, resulting occasionally in an apparent westerly movement of the centre of lowest

pressure.

THE "Results of Meteorological Observations made_at Mauritius during 1877" fully sustains the high reputation of Dr. Meldrum's previous reports for fulness of detail, accuracy, and special observations not usually given in meteorological reports. readings of the barograph for the year, and a valuable table is The hourly monthly values have been calculated from the appended to this part of the report (p. 5), showing the mean monthly diurnal variation of atmospheric pressure for the three years 1875-77. The value of these results will be greatly enhanced when the thermograph which has been received has been got into working order. A comparison, a very satisfactory one, is made of the barograph readings with those of the standard barometer. As in 1876 the wind during 1877 attained its annual maximum velocity in the colder months from June to August, and its minimum in the warmer months, from November to March; and its diurnal maximum velocity from II a.m to 2 p.m., and its minimum from about 2 to 5 a.m. The departures, however, from these times are such as to point to a considerable number of years' observations as required before the true average can be ascertained. Thirty-one stations for recording the rainfall are now in working order, and in each case the annual amounts available from 1862 are printed, and the averages of the years given for each station. Mean temperatures for seven stations appear in the repot, the three highest

stations, with the mean temperatures for 1877, being, Curepipe (1800 feet) 68° 3, Bonne Veine (1500 feet) 69°5, and Midlands (1400 feet) 73°2. The difference in height (400 feet) of the first and last of these, and the difference of their mean annual temperatures, 4°9, call for inquiry, and in connection therewith it may be suggested that a small map showing the physical features of Mauritius and the positions of the various stations would usefully illustrate these reports. As regards thunderstorms, which are carefully recorded, none occurred from May to October during 1876 and 1877, and the daily maximum is from I to 4 p.m., with a tendency to a secondary maximum about sunset, and the daily minimum from 10 p.m. to a little after sunrise.

IN a supplement to No. 366 of the Bulletin International of the Paris Observatory M. Mascart gives an interesting and rapid sketch of the meteorology of Europe for December last, illustrated with two maps showing the storm-tracks over the Continent during the month. During the first half of the month the storm-tracks were all to northward of the British Isles and Denmark, and fine weather prevailed particularly in Scotland, Denmark, and Germany. In France high barometers ruled with light winds, and temperatures high for the season. The contrast afforded with the weather in France during December, 1879, is is most striking; thus on December 10 of both years barometers were unusually high in France, but in 1880 the mean temperature was 50°5, whereas on December 10, 1879, the mean temperature was -14°1. The bearings of the geographical positions of anticyclones, with their high pressures, on the temperature of the regions covered by them a point well worthy of examination. The influence of a high-pressure area resting over the Atlantic and extending on its eastern side over Western Europe, has doubtless a very different influence on the temperature of that part of the Continent than an area of high pressure covering the Continent and terminated on its west side by France and Spain, even though the barometer be equally high over the west of Europe. During the second half of December the storm-tracks took a much more southerly course, several being as far south as the Channel and the north shores of Germany. The result was an extension south of the cold, so that in Orkney and the Hebrides ten peratures were nearly 3°o below the normal, on the Tweed about the normal, rising farther south to 1°'I above the normal in North Wales, 5°0 in the Channel Isles, and 67 in Paris. During December, 1879, temperature in Paris was 21°2 below the normal, the mean for that month being 17°6, or 27°9 colder than that of last December.

GEOGRAPHICAL NOTES

ON Tuesday night, at the Royal Institution, Mr. Edward Wymper described his ascents of Chimborazo and Cotopaxi to a distinguished audience. While purely athletic mountaineers had his sympathy in the practice of mountaineering as a sport, Mr. Whymper confessed that his sympathies were much more with those who en ployed their brains as well as their muscles. His journey to the Andes was to be one of work, and all its arrangements were devised so as to economise time to the uttermost. In observations for altitudes and position, in studying the manners and customs of the country, in photography and sketching, in the collection of objects of interest, from beeties on the summits of mountains to antiquities buried in the ground, he found quite sufficient to occupy his time. From Bodegas the party was composed of two Swiss mountaineers, the cousins Carrel of Val Tournanche, Mr. Perring, some muleteers, and their teams. When they reached the summit of Chimborazo, on the 3rd of January, after a most arduous climb, they found the wind blowing at the rate of 50 miles an hour, from the north-east, and driving the snow before it. With extreme difficulty, a reading of the mercurial barometer was effected. The mercury fell to 14'1 inches with a temperature of 21 deg. Fahr. This being worked out, in comparison with a nearly simultaneous observation at Guayaquil, gave 20,545 feet for the height of Chimborazo. They began the descent at 20 minutes past 5, with scarcely an hour and a quarter of daylight, and reached their camp (about 17,400 feet above the sea-level) about 9p.m., having been out nearly sixteen hours, and on foot the whole time. Passing from an extinct to an active volcano, Mr. Wymper next gave an account of his journey to the crater of Cotopaxi. Observing with the telescope, during an enforced stay

at Machachi, that much less smoke or vapour was given off at night than by day, he resolved, if possible, to pass a night on the summit. On the 18th of February the party got to the edge of the crater, having passed almost the whole way from their camp at a height of 15,000 feet to the foot of the final cone over snow, and then over ash mixed with ice. The final cone was the steepest part of the ascent, and on their side presented an angle of 36 deg. When they reached the crater vast quantities of smoke and vapour were boiling up, and they could only see portions of the opposite side at intervals, and the bottom not at all. Their tent was pitched 250 feet from the edge of the crater, and during a violent squall the india-rubber floor of the tent was found to be on the point of melting, a maximum thermometer showing a temperature of 110 deg. on one side of the tent and of but 50 deg. on the other; in the middle it was 725 deg. Outside it was intensely cold, and a thermometer on the tent cord showed a minimum of 13 deg. At night they had a fine view of the crater, which has a diameter from north to south of 2000 feet, and from east to west of about 1500 feet. In the interior the walls descend to the bottom in a series of steps of precipice, and slope a good thousand feet, and at the bottom there was a nearly circular spot of glowing fire, 200 feet in diameOn the sides of the interior higher up, fissures, from which flickering flames were leaping, showed that the lava was red hot a very short distance below the surface. The height he found to be 19,600 feet. The party remained at the top for twenty-six consecutive hours, sleeping about 130 feet below the loftiest point. At first they had felt the effects of the low pressure of the atmosphere, and again, as at Chimborazo, took chlorate of potash with good effect. All signs of mountain sickness had passed away before they commenced the descent, and did not recur during the journey. Nearly five months later Mr. Whymper returned to Chimborazo, and from a second reading of the barometer at 14'028 inches, with a temperature of 15 deg. Fahrenheit, he made the height 20,489 feet, the mean of the two readings giving 20,517 feet. While on the side of Chimborazo he witnessed a magnificent eruption of Cotopaxi, ashes rising in a column 20,000 feet above the rim of the crater and then spreading over an area of many miles. Prof. Bonney had submitted the ash to microscopic examination, and found that the fineness varied from 4000 to 25,000 particles to the grain in weight, and from observation of the area over which the ash fell Mr. Whymper calculated that at least two million tons must have been ejected in this one eruption.

ter.

A TELEGRAM was read at a recent meeting of the French Academy of Sciences from M. de Brazza, who has been conducting an exploration in the region of the Ogowé and Congo, West Africa. Quite recently a French station has been founded in the upper course of the former river in connection with the International African Association. In July last, M. de Brazza informs the Academy, he reached the Congo from this station on the Ogowé, between the river Inpaka Mpania and the river "Lawson Afrisi." Gaining the favour of King Makoko he pacified the tribes on the right bank of the Congo, and peacefully descended the river in a canoe. On October 3 he founded the station of Ntamo Ncoma on land ceded by King Makoko on the right bank of the Congo. M. de Brazza surveyed the route between the Ogowé and Congo; it is twelve marches in length, over a plateau of an average height of 800 metres. The country is healthy, and the population dense and peaceful. November last M. de Brazza arrived at Mdambi Mbongo, the advanced post of Mr. Stanley, whom he met, and with whom he reached the latter's headquarters at Vivi on November 12. If the new station can be maintained and victualled, it is no doubt well chosen as a starting-point for further discovery, fo. both north and south of it there are large regions of which he knew nothing.

In

AT the meeting of the Geographical Society on Monday last, Mr. E. Delmar Morgan gave some account of his journey last year to Semiretchia and the town of Kulja. Being unable to make use of the more southern line of communications, Mr. Morgan travelled by the northern post-road from Orenburg to Troitsk and Petropaulofsk, and thence to Omsk and Semi palatinsk. He then struck southwards to Sergiopol, where he was detained three weeks owing to the southern road being blocked by snow. He afterwards went to Kulja for a short time, and he also made some excursions to Issyk-kul and other places of interest. In the course of the discussion which foliowed the paper, Mr. Ashton Dilke, the only other Englishman