PROF. DANIEL WILSON, of Toronto, publishes in the anadian Journal an essay on "The Huron Race and its Headnin," illustrated with a lithograph and many outline drawings. rof. Wilson's investigations lead him to believe that the comehensive generalisations of earlier American ethnologists, uner the guidance of Dr. Morton, which led to the doctrine of a omogeneous cranial type for the American aborigines, have verywhere failed when subjected to the crucial tests of detailed bservation, and that we everywhere find transitions from one to nother and essentially distinct ethnical group. There is, he oncludes, no longer an assumed American man, as distinct from very type in the Eastern Hemisphere as the Catarhine Simiadæ of the Old World from the Platyrhine group of New World nonkeys.

ON Monday, August 21, between three and four o'clock in the morning, a large waterspout burst over the village of Ollon and the adjacent mountains in Switzerland. Great damage was done to the roads and vineyards, but no loss of life is reported.

A VIOLENT hurricane and some earthquake shocks are reported from the Island of St. Thomas, in the West Indies, on the 21st of August. Hundreds of houses were destroyed, and over 150 persons killed or wounded.

FROM Indian sources we learn that the rainfall in Bombay this season is generally less than half the average of former years. A VIOLENT typhoon raged at Kobe in Japan, on the 4th of July. Many vessels were wrecked, and about 400 lives were lost.

Great damage was done to property on sea and on land. THE news of most terrible earthquake shocks and volcanic disturbances comes to us from the Philippine Islands. In the small island named Camiguin, near to Misamis, for some months past a succession of most violent earthquakes has been experienced, 1 causing crevices, &c., in the open country. On the 1st of May, about five o'clock in the evening, the earth burst asunder, and an opening was formed 1,500 feet long. Smoke and ashes, earth and stones, were thrown up and covered the ground far and near. At about seven o'clock, as darkness was coming on, this crater burst into activity with a loud explosion, followed by a shower of lava and ashes. About 150 persons were destroyed. The eruption of the new volcano has since been so tremendous that the inhabitants have forsaken the island, and of the 26,000 previously there, not 300 are left. Camiguin is only about thirtysix miles in circumference, and was very productive in abacá (the Manilla hemp) yielding annually from 30,000 to 40,000 piculs, or more than a tenth of the produce of the world. There is little hope of the island ever being again reoccupied or cultivated.

THE American Journal of Microscopy recommends, as the best plan of collecting diatoms in large quantities, to tie a thin, fine piece of linen over the faucet of the hydrant in the evening, and allow a small stream of water to pass through it all night. In the morning take off the cloth and rinse it in a little water in a goblet. When ready to examine, take a drop of water from the bottom of the goblet with a small pipette, or glass rod, and place it on a flat slide, or a slide with a concave depression, holding a few drops. Then, with a power of 100 or 350, sweep the field, and you will be rewarded with the sight of a wondrous collection of beautiful and unique forms.

THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION MEETING AT EDINBURGH

SECTION A,

Report of the Tidal Committee, by Sir W. Thomson.

A

He stated that the work performed for the Tidal Committee since the last meeting of the British Association had consisted chiefly in the evaluation of tide components in a similar manner to that described in the previous reports. Mr. Parkes having again placed the tracings of the curves of the Kurrachee (Manora) self-regulating tide gauge at the disposal of the committee, a second year's observations had been read off and completely reduced. In addition to the tide components evaluated for Liverpool and Ramsgate, others had been introduced to correct the lunar diurnal (declinational) tides for parallax. Those components had been found to have sensible values for Kurrachee, where the diurnal tides are comparatively large. The solar elliptic semidiurnal components had also been included, now that two complete years' observations were available. The comparison between the calculated and recorded heights from Liverpool not being considered as good as might have been expected from the labour bestowed on them, it was determined to continue the analysis of the Liverpool tides, with the view, if possible, of detecting the cause of the largeness of some of the differences. It would be seen on comparing the results contained in the previous report with the results arrived at, that the chief tides (the lunar and solar semi-diurnal) are now more retarded by about 4° than during the year previously analysed. The calculated heights in the comparison should therefore more nearly represent the heights about eight minutes after the hours assigned to them. An examination of the differences would show this to be the case. fresh calculation and due allowance made for atmospheric pressure would doubtless very considerably reduce the discrepancies. The gradual increase in the height of the mean level of the water, probably arising from the filling in of the bed of the river, and consequent increase of friction, would account for some portion of this increased retardation. There was a very violent rise in the mean level for the year 1868-69, amounting to four-tenths of a foot. It, however, in the following year, had again subsided to almost its anticipated height. The uncertainty in the mean level of the water is an element which must at times seriously affect the differences between calculated and recorded heights, in any method of computation of heights from a fixed datum. It was very much to be regretted that the authorities at Liverpool had chosen the George's Landing-Stage for a tide float, affected as it must be (sometimes to a considerable extent) by the evervarying weight it has to bear. This would affect the whole of the tide components evaluated, but more especially the solar components, and will account for the different values of the solar semi-diurnal tide, which, judging from the corresponding_lunar component, should agree within much narrower limits. It was therefore thought that, should it be determined to again discuss the Liverpool tides, it would be better to take the tide curves as self-registered at Helbie Island, at the mouth of the Dee, in preference to those of the George's Pier. The Helbie Island tide curves, it was considered, would give much superior results. Through the kindness of the United States Coast Survey Office, two years' tide observations, taken at Port Point, San Francisco Bay, California, had been received. Here again there was an abrupt diminution in the height of mean level for the first two years. It having come to the knowledge of the Tide Committee that the United States Coast Survey Office were in possession of a series of hourly tidal observations, taken at Cat Island, in the Gulf of Mexico, and which were of a very remarkable and interesting character, it was thought a favourable opportunity of testing the value of the harmonic analysis for the evaluation of the components of the tides of this place, which appeared very complicated and peculiar. Application having been made, a series of about thirteen months had been received, and were now in course of reduction. It was extremely interesting to find that, although the lunar and solar semi-diurnal tides were very small in value, the series of means from which they were obtained were extremely regular and good, and the consequent determination of the phase of spring tides from their respective epochs was probably correct within a few minutes. The proportion between the amplitudes of the lunar and solar semi-diurnal tides was the nearest to equality yet obtained, being in the ratio of 11 to 6. The proportion between the lunar and solar diurnal (declinational)

tides was about 4 to 1. After reading the report, Sir William said that one chief object which the originators of this investigation had in view was the detern ination of long period tides, and particularly the lunar declinational fortnightly tide, and the solar declinational semi-annual tide. The reason for desiring the determination of such tides with great accuracy was that this would give a means of estimating with absolute certainty the degree of el stic yielding which the solid earth experienced under the tide-generating influences of sun and moon. It was quite certain that the solid earth did yield to some degree, as it must do so unless they were infinitely rigid. It had long been a favourite assumption of geologists that the earth consisted of a thin shell of solid rock twenty to fifty miles thick, according to various estimates, inclosing an interior filled with melted material, lava, metals, &c. This hypothesis was, however, absolutely untenable, be cause, were i' true, the solid crust would yield with almost as perfect freedom (on account of its thinness and great area) as if it were perfectly liquid. Thus the boundary of the solid earth would rise and fall under the tide-generaung influences so much as to leave no sensible difference to be shown by the water rising and falling relatively to the solid, showing that if the earth, as a whole, had an average degree of rapidity, equal to that of glas, the tides would be very much diminished from the magnitude corresponding to a perfectly rigid globe with water like that of our seas upon it. This consideration, he had shown, rendered it probable that the earth had considerably more average rigidity than a globe of glass of the same size. The mathematical calculation showed a somewhat startling result, to the effect that a globe of glass of the same size as the earth, if through ut of exactly the same rigidity as glass on a similar scale, would yield, like an indiarubber ball, with remark ble freedom to the tidegenerating influences thus leaving a very much smaller difference to be shown by water if placed on the surface of such a globe, and estimated in its rise and fall relatively to the solid bottom on which it rested. The precise agreement of precession and nutation with dynamical estimates, founded on the supposition of the earth being perfectly rigid, made it probable that the earth was in reality vastly more rigid as a whole than any specimen of surface rock in the condition in which it was when experimented on in our laboratories. In speaking on this subject about ten years ago to Dr. Joule, that gentieman suggested that probably the great pressure in the interior produces in the materialwhich might be of the same substance as surfacer cks-a greatlyincreased rigidity in its actual position at any great depth below the surface; but the proposed tidal observation and calculation was the only method which gave directly, and without any possibly doubtful suppositions regarding interior arrangement of density on the earth, a measurement of its elastic yielding to the tide generating influences. Now that observations from so low a latitude as that of Cat Island were available for comparison with those of the tides on our own coast, the committee might advance hopefully to this part of their inquiry, which, accordingly, they proposed to make a primary object in the calculations to be next

THE papers to be read on Tuesday numbered twenty-th that but little time could be allowed to each author, there was time for no more than half the papers to be forward A report by Prof. Duncan, M B., F. R.S., onFossil Corals was read, wherein he pointed out the "= between the neozoic and paleozoic corals. Then Prof.co read his report on the Progress of the Geological Se Scotland, a notice of which appeared in NATURE of AgeMr. Henry Woodward described a new and nearly pertec d The f nide from the Ironstone of the Dudley coal-field. stone Ironstone nodules of the coal measures have celebrated for their fossil contents, having yielded K (rabs wings of Orthopterous insects, a supposed beetle, and XS plant remains, both ferns and fruits of Lycopodiace specimen described by Mr. Woodward is perhaps the mal pe form hitherto described. It is identical with one figure ask described by Buckland as a Diamond beetle (Curca) named by him Curculioides Prestvici. By means, howeve the specimen now obtained, the author clearly showed th was not a Coleopterous insect, but a true Arachnide, cibe related to the recent genus Fhrynus. Mr. Woodward propose therefore, to name it Eophrynus Prestvicii, the genus Carabeing retained for C. Ansti ii, another specimen also figure Buckland, which may be a true Rhynchophorous insect. D Bryce called attention to some fossils from the Durine Limete of Sutherland, Prof. Harkness exhibited one of the earliest for 9 of Trilobites, and Mr. John Miller furnished some remarks the so-called Hyoid Plate of Asterolepis, and pointed out that was really the dorsal plate.

Mr. Milne Home brought forward a notice of a scheme for the Conservation of Remarkable Boulders in Scotland, and for the Indication of their Position on Maps. Mr. Moggridge mentis that in Switzerland a right of property in some of the boule had been acquired by natural history societies and museums a view to their preservation, and that on these a brass plate ha been fixed with the word Investable" marked upon it.

Prof. Traquair noticed some additions to the Fossil Vertebrat Fauna of Burdiehouse, near Edinburgh, and also called attent to a Labrynthodont skull, seven inches long, from the samt limestone quarries (of Lower Carboniferous age), probably be longing to Huxley's genus Pholidogaster; this was the lowest geological horizon from which the remains of Labyrinthodont Amphibia had been as yet described.

At the meeting of the British Association at Liverpool, the Rev. John Gunn, F.G. S., &c., expressed the opinion that

lder Clays ought rather to be regarded as an evidence of a perate climate in the districts where they are found, than of acial epoch; and in a communication now made he mained that there is no occasion to invoke any additional causes change of climature over and above those which are known to it. He made some remarks on the agency of the sea in scoopout valleys and bays while clearing off or gathering over the face of any area.

Mr. J. E. Taylor read an interesting paper On the later Crag posits of Norfolk and Suffolk. Mr. Prestwich remarked that belief was gradually gaining ground, that the Red Crag was temporaneous with the Norwich Crag. In regard to the fossil atents, he pointed out the difficulty there was in distinguishing e extraneous species.

Mr. P. W. Stuart Menteath read a very important paper the Origin of Volcanoes, which, unfortunately, had to be irried through in such a manner that but little could be gained om the hearing of it.

L'Abbé Richard read a paper (in French) On Hydrogeology. Mr. W. S. Mitchell reported On the Leaf-beds of the Lower Bagshot Series.

Mr. C. W. Peach made some additions to the list of Fossils nd Localities of the Carboniferous Formation in and around Edinburgh, and mentioned the occurrence of Lituites giganteus. The Rev. W. S. Symonds exhibited a new Onchus spine from he Lower Old Red sandstone of Hay, Brecon.

A number of papers were held over until Wednesday, when it was arranged to read them; but as none of the authors of papers put in an appearance, Prof. Geikie adjourned the reading of the papers until the next meeting of the Association.

SECTION D

SUB-SECTION.-ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY

PROF. WYVILLE THOMSON made some observations on the paleontological relations of the fauna of the North Atlantic, as brought to light in his recent dredging explorations in the North Atlantic. In introducing his observations on these fauna, the professor called attention to the fact that, great as the results of ibe expedition in Her Majesty's ship Porcupine might fairly be held to be considered as an addition to scientific knowledge, still, the actual ground got over by dredging at any very considerable depth was of very small extent comparatively with what yet remained to be done. The field for these investigations, therefore, might be called in a sense unlimited.

Prof. Van Beneden read a paper, On the Bats of the "Mammoth epoch as contrasted with those of the present day.

MISCELLANEOUS

Among these we may particularly mention a paper by Mr. W. A. Lewis entitled A Proposal to modify the strict Law of Priority in Zoological Nomenclature in certain cases. The author insisted that it was perfect infatuation to serve blindly under word of the code drawn up under the sanction of the British Association now thirty years ago, and proposed that where there was now (August 1871) a universal agreement about a specific name, that name shall not be displaced on account of any prior name being

discovered.

Dr. Sclater made some remarks on what he held to be an appropriate opportunity of establishing zoological observatories in connection with certain astronomical observatories which were to be established for the purpose of taking observations of the transit of Venus in 1874. On the occasion of the approaching transit, the Astronomer-Royal proposed to organise bserving expeditions to the following five stations :-(1) Oohu, Sandwich Islands; (2) Kerguelen's Island; (3) Rodrigues; (4) Auckland, New Zealand; (5) Alexandria. At the first three of these stations it would be necessary to have a corps of scientific observers resident for twelve months previous to the transit, in order that the absolute longitude of these places, which was not now correctly known, might be obtained.

Dr. Sclater pointed

out how little was yet known of the terrestrial and marine zoology of these three islands, and specified various particulars in the case of each of their faunas, which it would be especially desirable to investigate. He then urged that the addition of one or more zoological collectors or observing naturalists to the corps of astronomical observers in each of these stations would occasion very slight additional expense, and suggested that application

should be made to the Government to allow such naturalists to accompany the expedition, and to undertake the necessary explorations. He stated that there was a precedent for this course in what had been done in the case of the Abyssinian expedition.

The department unanimously concurred in the suggestion, and the desirability of such an application to Government being made.

Dr. Grierson read a paper On the Importance of forming Provincial Museums, in which the Products of Districts might be Exhibited. These museums could be connected with consulting and lending libraries, and from a central source there could be sent articles for exhibition at different times, and also persons who could give instructions on such subjects. Such institutions would not only tend to spread knowledge amongst the people, but they would be a means of preventing intemperance and improving their moral habits.

Miss Lydia Becker said she took an interest in this subject as one of those to whom a small share of responsibility had been given in enforcing the Education Act, being a member of the School Board of Manchester. That Board was now about to issue a scheme for a general course of instruction, and had appointed a committee for that purpose, of which she was a member. It had always seemed to her to be a matter of extreme importance to introduce such habits of observation as would follow from the introduction of natural science into elementary schools. She believed there was no portion of the population who were more likely to be interested in the matter than the children who attended these schools. They came there with their minds fresh and open to receive those impressions which were given in childhood, and they were very apt scholars. It had been said that the difficulty was in teaching boys; but she thought it was of as much consequence to teach girls natural science as boys. With regard to the principles of physiology and the laws of health, she thought that if any difference was to be made between the sexes, the girls should be first considered in the matter, as so much of the health of the population depended on the intelligence of women in these matters.

It

Sir Walter Elliot read a paper On the Advantage of Systematic Co-operation among Provincial Natural History Societies. stated that a comparatively hurried inquiry had disclosed the existence of 115 such societies in Great Britain and Ireland. With reference to their publications, although the volumes of a few of the more important were found in several public libraries, the transactions of by far the greater number did not extend beyond their own localities. In this way not only were the great body of naturalists shut out from much useful information, but the isolation which existed must be detrimental to the societies themselves. Two modes of remedying the evil suggested themselves to his mind. One was, to have a central committee or single editor to collect and condense the most useful materials in all the local transactions; and the other, to form groups of societies, and publish the more original and valuable papers in each group under a joint editorship.

Mr. Symonds, who had been connected with the Cotswold Field Club for many years, said one of the great difficulties connected with these societies had been condensing the reports and publishing the papers that were worth publishing in one general volume of transactions. In Gloucester, paper after paper was published of the most valuable kind that would have done honour to the Royal Society if they had been read there, but which it was impossible for persons to obtain unless they were members of the club, or had friends who were members of it. He thought the difficulty could be met by having a council composed of the presidents, vice-presidents, and secretaries of field clubs throughout the length and breadth of the land, by whom the papers which were worth publishing could be selected. The paper which Sir Walter had now read would, he hoped, have the effect of producing some organisation among these clubs such as he had suggested.

A short discussion took place on the desirableness of some effort being made to utilise the information which was contained in many of the papers read before these clubs, and Sir Walter Eliot said he believed that before these meetings had closed a meeting would be held of those interested in this inatter, to con

sider what should be done.

Three papers on Spontaneous Generation were read; the first of which, by Dr. Ferrier and Dr. Burdon Sanderson, F.R.S., was On the Origin and Distribution of Bacteria in Water,