that it does not secure the men whom it is most desirable to honor." We read also, "During the school-boy period the distinction between different individuals is a distinction of learning, and an examination is not unfitted to discover the boy who deserves reward. But learning is not the quality which a state needs to make it great. Casaubons are not the kind of men who have built up English science. The qualities which ought to be encouraged, and which it should be a nation's delight to honor, are qualities too subtle to be detected by a competitive examination."

For the benefit of our transatlantic brethren, we may as well state the facts as we know them. For reasons into which we need not enter here, as they do not affect the question at issue, nearly forty years ago the Royal society determined to limit the yearly admissions to fifteen; and to throw upon the council the responsibility of selecting the fifteen who are to be nominated for election, a general meeting of the society reserving to itself the right of confirming or rejecting such nomination. It may be instructive to remark that for thirty years that right has not been exercised.

The way in which the matter is worked is as follows: The friends of a man, who are already in the society, and who think he is entitled to the coveted distinction, prepare a statement of his services to science, in many cases without consulting him in any way. This paper, thus prepared, is sent round to other fellows of the society, who are acquainted with the work of the candidate, and who sign it as a testimony that they think he is worthy of election. In this way, when the proper time arrives, some fifty or sixty papers are sent in to the council for their consideration. In the council itself we may assume that the selection of the fifteen is made as carefully as possible, in view not merely of individual claims, but of the due representation of the different branches of science. It is not for us to state the safeguards or mode of procedure adopted, but we think we may say that the slightest action or appeal to any member by the candidate himself would be absolutely fatal to his election. Finally, we may say that, years back, when a heavy entrance-fee had to be paid, there were cases in which the question had to be put to one whose friends were anxious to see him elected, whether he would accept election. The small yearly subscription of £3, now the only sum payable, makes even this question unnecessary at the present time.

[How does it happen that our English contemporary makes no allusion whatever to Professor Chrystal's address to the British association, which, as printed in Nature, gave rise to all our animadversions? - ED.]

HISTORY OF ANGLO-SAXON.

PROFESSOR WUELKER, although literary executor of Grein, and editor of the new 'Bibliothek,' has nevertheless found time to prepare a most useful book for all students of English literature and English philology. Ten Brink's excellent history was purely literary; something of the same kind, though less able, was Earle's 'Anglo-Saxon literature,' published last year. Quite otherwise with Wülker: he furnishes a supplement, not a rival, to Ten Brink's book, paying little attention to actual contents, but giving the fullest account of the new literature which has grown up by way of comment on the old. Ten Brink gave us a description: Wülker gives us a guide-book, · much-needed help for the student, and a basis for all new work. Wülker's tone is judicial and dignified; his decisions are as impartial as one could expect; while the enormous labor involved in sifting so many dust-heaps-dissertations, programmes, etc.- cannot be praised too highly for, though it is true that for one man who is able to write literature there are a thousand who can judge and classify facts, it is equally true that the thousand are sure to scorn facts, and rush into original work.

a

The first section of the book contains an account of Anglo-Saxon philology in different countries. From the first steps under Elizabeth and Archbishop Parker, from the worthies who thought that Anglo-Saxon was the speech of Adam in Paradise, the growth of this study, at first under legal and theological shelter, is carefully traced to our own time. Wulker's criticism of the earliest efforts is properly indulgent; otherwise with modern failures, as where Loth's Grammar' (1870) is neatly despatched with the remark, "What is right in the book is old, and what is new is wrong." We have pleasant glimpses of a woman, Elizabeth Elstob, editing and translating Aelfric's 'Homilies,' having audience of Queen Anne in the interests of Anglo-Saxon, and afterwards (1745) publishing the first Anglo-Saxon grammar written in English. A century later Miss Gurney makes the first English translation of the Chronicle.' For American scholarship Wülker has encouraging words, and remarks that Anglo-Saxon is much more studied here than in England.

The second section gives a list of all books which aid in the study of Anglo-Saxon philology and literature; and here one feels afresh the enormous preponderance of German scholarship. Aside from living scholars, what would our philology be

Grundriss zur geschichte der angelsächsischen litteratur, mit einer übersicht der angelsächsischen sprachwissenschaft. Von Dr.RICHARD WUELKER, ord. professor an der Universität Leipzig. Leipzig, Veit & Co., 1885.

without the labors of Grimm, of Grein, and of Koch? Wülker's lists seem here and there somewhat meagre. Under Metrik' (p. 108) we miss Schmeller's Ueber den versbau der allitirierenden poesie' (München, 1839), although this is mainly concerned with Old Saxon; and Lanier's 'Science of English verse' (New York, 1880), which sets forth at length a theory of Anglo-Saxon versification. That the theory is untenable does not matter; for Wülker includes in his various lists quite worthless books (cf. p. 175). Further, we fail to find mention of Ellis's Early English pronunciation,' in which pp. 510-537 treat the pronunciation of Anglo-Saxon.

The third section, which takes up four-fifths of the book, considers Anglo-Saxon literature, and whatever has been written about it. The arrangement is arbitrary, ‘Cædmon' and Cynewulf taking precedence of the heathen poetry. As regards the famous hymn in Northumbrian dialect written at the end of the Cambridge manuscript of Beda (Hist. eccl. gent. Angl.), Wulker recedes from his sceptical position of eight years ago, and joins Zupitza and Ten Brink in believing this text to be Cadmon's own, or at least to have passed as such so early as the eighth century. Wülker admits the personality of Cædmon, but accepts as his work nothing save the hymn; whereas Ten Brink was inclined to credit Cædmon with a part of the Genesis.' Cynewulf is treated at length. While the Phoenix' is assigned to him, and the end of Guthlac,' Wülker brings forward fresh arguments against the Northumbrian origin of the poet, and discourages the tendency to ascribe poems to Cynewulf on no better basis than general resemblance to his undoubted works. Proceeding to the smaller and lyrical pieces, Wülker concludes with Leo that The ruin' refers, not to a castle, but to the city of Bath.

For the heroic and heathen poetry, we find, besides much other matter, sixty pages of well-sifted information about 'Beowulf.' Wülker thinks the original heroic poetry was in the shape of ballads ; and he decides for the theory that Beowulf' was composed about the middle of the seventh century, by a poet-monk, on the basis of these old songs. The summary is very thorough; but Garnett's translation is wrongly stated to be in prose; on p. 268, Ten Brink ought to be named as agreeing with Müllenhoff in regard to the mythology in 'Beowulf;' and Wülker might have added, as usual, his own decision. So rich a display of poetic talent brings the author to the question whether there are any dramatic elements in Anglo-Saxon literature. We have always regarded Ward's denial of any such elements (Hist. Eng. dram. lit., vol. i. p. 6) as an ungrounded statement. Wülker more justly shows that not only

in the Seafarer,' but also in Christ,' there is a strong dramatic element; while, on the other hand, he proves that these elements were never developed, and never came to a regular representation.

At last we reach Anglo-Saxon prose. With regard to Aelfred, Wulker puts the 'Cura pastoralis' first among the royal translations, the Boethius' and the Soliloquies' last; while he leaves undecided the authorship of the Metra.' With Aelfric, and the review of various prose fragments in theological and quasi-scientific fields, the book comes to an end. An index is added which might be much more exhaustive. Several names are omitted; e.g., Professor Johnson, whose work is mentioned with praise (pp. 438-440). Some misprints occur here and there, and a few harmless mistakes, such as Siebenzeiligen (p. 308) for Siebenfüssigen.

We

Wülker's book leaves one full of respect for the author's patience, accuracy, and diligence. may and do disagree with some of his conclusions; but that matters little, since the opposite conclusion, and the arguments for it, are carefully given. Another impression is a renewed sense of the small part played by Englishmen and Americans in the study of their own tongue. One cannot resist the conviction that we in America should do well to abandon in part the mediaeval discussions which so often fill our teachers' 'institutes' and conventions, and to encourage the modern and scientific spirit which devotes its energies to the patient investigation of facts. The field is open : an immense amount of work is to be done before the history of our literature can be written. Let teachers of English in academies and schools throw themselves into the actual study of the language rather than into discussions about system and method, - discussions sometimes useful, but often mere rhetoric, theorizing, and waste of time for all concerned.

GEOGRAPHICAL NOTES.

HEINRICH ENTZ and August Mer have recently independently studied the voyage of Hanno, the Carthaginian. Both agree that its termination was at the Island of Fernando Po, in the Bight of Biafra, called by Hanno the Isle of Gorillas. The colony of Thymaterion is identified by them, as by most authors, with the town of Mazaghan, and the promontory of Soloé with Cape Cantin. The river Lixus is regarded by Mer as the Senegal for weighty reasons, though Entz and others have favored the Wadi Draa, much farther north.

Hanno's Island of Cerné was probably Goree, and his Western Horn (or bay) was the Bight of

Benin. Much weight attaches to the opinion of M. Mer, who is a retired naval officer of forty years' experience, including three years of cruising between the equator and Gibraltar on the west coast of Africa.

The journey of Messrs. Capello and Ivens in central Africa during the past two years was beset with exceptional hardships. The explorers proceeded from the limits of the Portuguese territory in the direction of Cubango, as far as the lower part of the Mucussu, where they found themselves in a barren region intersected by watercourses and marshes, which obliged them to turn northward through an unknown region infested with tsetse, and affording little food. Sixteen of their party died from tsetse-bites, without counting cattle and hunting-dogs. After travelling 4200 geographical miles, they reached Feté almost exhausted, having lost sixty-two men during the fifteen months. The explorers reached Lisbon on the 17th of September, where they were received by the king, and welcomed by an enthusiastic demonstration of their countrymen.

Paulitschke has studied the relations of the western branches of the Somali. and the north-eastern tribes of the Gallas, near the Gulf of Aden. His results, with a good map showing their distribution and the route of the author and his companion, Hardegger, are to be found in the September number of the Proceedings of the Geographical society of Vienna.

The Bulletin of the Italian geographical society for September contains extracts from the unpublished journals of Pellegrino Matteucci, the African traveller. These have been edited by Dalla Vedova, and are illustrated by a map showing the itinerary and also the routes of Nachtigal and Rohlfs. Matteucci's journey, one of the most remarkable on record, extending from the Red Sea at Suakin to Lake Chad, and thence to the Niger and the sea, has hardly attracted the attention it deserves; chiefly, perhaps, on account of the early death of this promising and brilliant explorer.

The third part of the Isvestia of the Russian geographical society, for 1885, recently received, contains an important map by General Tillo, showing the lines of equal horizontal and total intensity of terrestrial magnetism in European Russia for the epoch 1880. It is accompanied by two smaller charts for the middle of the nineteenth century, showing the secular variation of the same elements. The same number contains an abstract of the report of the work done by the topographical corps of the general staff during 1884, the important details of which have been already noticed in Science.

ASTRONOMICAL NOTES.

Occultations of a Tauri. The occultations of this bright star and of a few of the other nakedeye stars of the Hyades will be visible again over a considerable portion of this country on the night of Dec. 19; but as the phenomena occur well on toward morning, they are not likely to be extensively observed. A most favorable opportunity, however, will occur on the night of 1886, Feb. 12, when a larger number of the stars will be occulted, and most of them early in the evening. Our observatories are so widely scattered that prediction for one place is of very little use for another (so rapidly does the parallax of the moon vary with hour-angle and zenith-distance), and each intending observer must predict them for himself with the data given in the American ephemeris. These recurring occultations of so many of the bright stars of the Hyades, which will continue for several years, afford pretty fair opportunities for a good determination of the semi-diameter of the moon, especially if the fainter stars (to the 8 mag.) can be filled in on a chart, and their occultations be predicted and observed at the dark limb of the moon. They also offer, to those who have the means of determining accurately their local time, but have never made a telegraphic determination of their longitude, the next best method of determining this, if they are willing to go through the somewhat tedious reduction of the observed occultations.

The shower of Biela meteors. - The earth received a visit, on the night of Nov. 27, from a part of the ghost of the lost comet of Biela, in the shape of a widely observed meteor-shower, a repetition of that of 1872, Nov. 27, and no doubt both of them parts of the meteor-stream which was once Biela's comet. It will be remembered that this comet separated into two during perihelion passage in 1845-46, came round in 1852 as two comets 1.5 million miles apart, with most extraordinary alternate fluctuations in brightness, and has been wholly invisible as a comet since then. But at its descending node, which the earth passes about Nov. 27, the comet's orbit closely approaches that of the earth, and an extraordinary meteor-shower from a radiant in Andromeda on 1872, Nov. 27, in which some single observers counted them at the rate of 4,000 or 5,000 per hour, has always been attributed to a meteor-stream into which Biela's comet is resolving itself. The present shower, so far as reports are at hand, does not seem to have equalled that of 1872, but it was a very decided one. At Georgetown, D.C., two of Professor Hall's sons and Mrs. Hall (the latter watching only a short time) counted 213 meteors between 6h 30m and 7h 50m. Angelo Hall, who

At 9 o'clock it became hazy and clouded over. Mr. Horigan describes them as occasionally as bright as the 3d mag., with short trains; color, white or violet; but most of them faint, and some scarcely visible. He fixes the radiant near y Andromedae. From Syracuse, N.Y., are reported a shower at 7h, in which 120 were counted, and another about 9h, furnishing a count of 130, with no statement as to clearness of sky. Professor Pickering telegraphs from the Harvard college observatory, "Great shower, radiant, y Andromedae, observed at Geneva last night." The telegram is dated Nov. 28, and no doubt refers to Geneva, Switzerland. x Andromedae is very near y. Newspaper telegrams also report brilliant showers at Elizabeth, N.J., at Teheran (Persia), and at Naples and London. It is evident that this meteor-stream, with a period of about 6 years round the sun, is going to furnish an exceedingly favorable opportunity for studying the dispersion and distribution of comet material along its orbit.

χ

NOTES AND NEWS.

DURING the past year the council of the New England meteorological society has engaged in the following branches of work: 1°. The securing of a corps of reliable observers of meteorological phenomena, with special attention to precipitation and temperature; 2°. The publication of the monthly bulletin; 3. The dissemination of the daily indications of the U. S. signal service, and the local display of weather flags; 4°. The special investigation of thunder-storms. The work of securing reliable observations was so far advanced in November, 1884, as to warrant the issue of the first bulletin for that month, and its regular publication thereafter. The first bulletin contained reports from forty-five observers; that for September, 1885, from one hundred and twenty-three observers. As a result of the society's efforts, local weather flags are daily displayed in more than one hundred cities and towns of New England. The special investigation of thunder storms was made under the supervision of the secretary. More than four

hundred observers co-operated, the largest number of reports for any single storm having been two hundred and three. The preliminary study of the reports thus far made indicates that some interesting results have been obtained, which will be reported upon subsequently. The original membership of the society was 9; the number at the close of the year, 95. The expenses of the society have been kept within its income, but this has been done through the generous co-operation of friends who have from time to time contributed liberally to its resources. In looking forward to the work of another year, the council suggests that special efforts be made to add to the membership of the society, as well as to the list of observers. It must be remembered that the financial prosperity of the society depends on the number of members. It is desired to include in the membership all who are interested in meteorological studies in New England, whether they make observations or not. A member need not be an observer, nor is it required that an observer shall be a member.

- The preliminary circular proposing the formation of a State academy of science in Indiana, issued by authority of the Brookville society of natural history, has elicited such a general response in favor of the movement, that the same society has issued a circular calling a meeting of all the people of Indiana interested, to be held at Indianapolis on December 29. In order that an understanding may be had of the present state of scientific study in Indiana, the following persons have kindly consented to present papers upon the several subjects mentioned: Richard Owen, M.D., Sketch of the work accomplished for natural and physical science in Indiana; David S. Jordan, M.D., Ichthyology; Prof. John M. Coulter, Botany; Prof. J. P. Naylor, Physics; R. T. Brown, M.D., Geology; Prof. O. P. Jenkins, Lower invertebrates; E. R. Quick, Mammalogy; Prof. Robert B. Warder, Chemistry; Prof. O. P. Hay, Herpetology; Daniel Kirkwood, LL.D., Astronomy; P. S. Baker, M.D., Entomology; Maurice Thompson, Mineralogy; Rev. D. R. Moore, Conchology; Sergeant Orin Parker, Meteorology; J. B. Connor, Statistics; A. W. Butler, Ornithology.

more entertaining to a 'sporting man' than to one of scientific pursuits. In the Contemporary review there is a very interesting article, by Sir John Lubbock, on 'Some habits of ants, bees, and wasps,' in which the author tries to show that the instincts of flight in a bee line,' of cell-making, and of storing food for the young, really lie within very narrow lines, and are not inconsistent with the theory of natural selection. Some observations on the instinct and longevity of ants are added. There is an anonymous article on 'Fish out of water' in the Cornhill magazine, which is not worth reading, and another in the Leisure hour, by Mr. A. H. Molam, on 'Cornish coughs,' which is but little better. In this connection may perhaps be noticed a very readable paper by Ernest Ingersoll, in Lippincott's magazine, on 'The Peabody museum of archeology,' giving concisely the history and aims of this institution, with some account of the collections.

-The next meeting of the Society of naturalists of the eastern United States will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 29 and 30, at Boston. The executive committee has voted to recommend that the name of the society be changed to the American society of naturalists.

At the last teacher's institute, held in Humboldt county, Cal., the Humboldt society of natural history was organized. Prof. J. B. Brown, principal of the schools at Eureka, was elected president, and Prof. Carl C. Marshall of Arcata, secretary. The secretary would be pleased to learn of names of works in various departments of natural history that are specially adapted to that region.

WASHINGTON LETTER.

THE museum of hygiene, in connection with the office of the surgeon-general of the navy, is not so generally or widely known as is the army medical museum. It has undertaken some investigations, however, which, if brought to a successful issue, will be of great value to the general public, and will not fail to bring it into a deserved prominence. The interest of a naval surgeon in hygienic matters arises primarily, no doubt, out of the fact that he has to do with the health conditions of men necessarily crowded into a small space. Whatever may have been the origin of this hygienic museum, it will be everywhere admitted that much can be accomplished by it if its management be wise and liberal. An important step has been announced by the surgeon-general in the statement that a complete system of iron and lead pipes, with fixtures, is being erected on the outside of the museum building for the purpose of making an exhaustive series of experi

ments, covering all disputed points in reference to trap siphonage and the utility of the mechanism of water-closets, traps, water-basins, baths, sinks, etc. Observing stations have been established at each of the three stories, and the investigation is to include microscopical and chemical tests of the action of sewer air and different waters on pipes and tanks. When completed, the results are to be at the service of the public.

In connection with this it is interesting to note a few statements contained in the report of the health officer of the district. The year ending June 30, 1885, shows a slightly increased mortality, this increase having occurred in classes of disease not dependent on hygiene.' The most notable feature is the marked difference in the rates of mortality among the white and the colored population, the latter being, as everybody knows, relatively larger than in most large cities. Among white people the rate has not, during the past decade, reached as high a figure as 20, while among the colored people it has been more than 40, and never less than 30. The mean rate for ten years is, for the whites, 19.02; and for colored people, 34.99; and on the whole population, 24.38.

An item of interest relative to both the above, is the existence in the city of a training-school for nurses. It was established in 1877 by members of the medical society, assisted by benevolent people of the city. At present its students number about thirty, and it is stated that thus far no men have applied for admission. Fourteen have been graduated, of whom ten are now in practice. Lectures are given twice a week by members of the medical profession. These are free to the nurses, and persons who do not intend to enter the profession are admitted on the payment of a small fee.

Readers of Science are aware of the fact that a little more than a year ago the director of the geological survey determined to undertake actively the study of seismology in this country. A conference of those most interested in the work, including representatives from the signal service and the naval observatory, was held, which resulted in an agreement upon certain plans for the investigation. Another meeting of this conference was held a few days ago, those present being Captain Dutton and Mr. Hayden of the geological survey, Professors Rockwood of Princeton, Davis of Cambridge, Paul of the naval observatory, and Marvin and Mendenhall of the signal service. It was generally agreed that the most important and decided advance in the study of seismic phenomena was to be reached through a tolerably close distribution of seismoscopes, with sufficiently accurate clocks, over certain areas which have proved to be