tinct statements of the cosmical (i.e. universal) theory of creations and extinctions. For instance, "all beings are subject to external conditions, favourable and unfavourable, which assist in the production of an average longevity." "Extinction of life is commonly slow, continuous, individual, and sometimes is more rapid than replacement from without, or than by acts of creation. Sudden acts of extermination are exceptional, brief in time, and limited in space." Again, the author divides the causes of extinction into two classes, (1) mechanical and (2) physiological. The former includes oscillation of level, climate, &c.; and the latter, such matters as supply of food, overcrowding, epidemics, &c.

With all this most students of the modern school will agree; but we imagine that our readers will be as surprised as ourselves to find amidst so much of the "uniformity" philosophy the following sentence:-"The causes of extinction are in universal operation. They are cosmical. Silurian life was discontinued everywhere at the same time, proximately." Surely, if this statement includes the actual fact, mechanical and physiological causes of extinction may as well be neglected, for their operation must have been too restricted to leave any impress on the geological record.

As a corollary of his cosmical theory, Dr. Bigsby states that "There is no example, as far as I know, of a Silurian community rising, by migration or otherwise, into Devonian or Carboniferous strata; but single species do, and somewhat largely, just as we see in every epoch up to the present.' Our knowledge is not yet sufficiently advanced to enable us to make many definite statements on this subject; but we may remind Dr. Bigsby that his favourite (and deservedly great) authority, M. Barrande, has shown that the two highest members of his Third Fauna (stages G and H) present less strong connections with the Devonian system than do the still older deposits E and F. Again, the author himself admits that "whole communities have been known to return together to the country they had long abandoned," and he quotes Mr. GodwinAusten's description of "this kind of repossession in the Paleozoic rocks near Boulogne."

From these considerations the author passes naturally to the question of recurrence, which he defines to be "the reappearance of a plant or animal in a zone of rocks higher than that in which it was first observed. It implies progress upwards, either on the same spot or on another by migration." Used in this sense, it is remarkable how many species may be termed recurrent,-what a large number occur on more than one horizon.

In illustration of the subject, Dr. Bigsby has constructed a table showing a synoptical view of Silurian life in this relation as far as was known in 1865. This table shows us that out of the 5968 Silurian species (exclusive of the Primordial) whose places are

well known), 784, or 13 per cent., are recurrents, leaving 5184 faithful to one horizon. But this statement does not describe the scope and value of the table, which may be epitomized as follows:In the Lower Silurian rocks 354 species occur on two horizons-98 on three, 44 on four, and 5 on five. In the Middle Silurian 95 species occur on two horizons-29 on three, and 3 on four. In the Upper Silurian 138 species occur in two divisions, 15 in three, and 3 in four.

There are many curious facts connected with recurrence, several of which are not yet properly understood. In one region a species may be restricted to one horizon, being there truly typical, while in another region the same species may pass through nearly the whole of the subdivisions of the Silurian series. Speaking generally, recurrence is common in Sweden and Canada, and still more so in Wales. It is rare both in Russia and Bohemia. In the last-named country we have seen that species of short duration and belonging to a small number of genera are extremely abundant. Surely this contrast is another fact in favour of the views we have already advocated.

After reading through the "Facts and Observations," we at first felt somewhat uncertain as to the author's views on the important subject of Contemporaneity of Strata. He does not say much about it; and, with the exception of the first and last sentences which we quote below, his statements do not help us very powerfully to a conclusion.

(1.) "We already have materials from almost all parts of the Silurian scale of rocks to show, with some force (M. Barrande), that life began earlier and more abundantly in the valleys of the St. Lawrence and Mississippi than in Europe."

(2.) "It would appear that the Silurian system of rocks is universal in extent, and that its component parts were laid down at a proximate time, and in like manner ceased to be laid down, statements approved by M. Barrande."†

(3.) "It is a very striking fact that the great majority of the Silurian fauna made their first appearance on the same horizonthat is, everywhere on, proximately, the same stage or subdivision of the epoch." +

(4.) "Silurian life was discontinued everywhere at the same time, proximately." §

(5.) "The Upper Silurian fossils which people the Prague colonies in fauna D.d, except as they come from another area, are not recurrents, are not the posterity of Bohemian mollusks. They are the precursors of an identical and larger coming fauna. Signs are not wanting that they come from a country where the Silurian + P. xxxiii.

* P. xi.

+ P. xxxvii.

§ P. xl.

*

epoch was more advanced than in Bohemia; and they become of great value by indicating local inequality of progress in the act of deposition during this epoch-suggesting, moreover, that any of the Silurian stages may be in process of formation about the same time with another in different parts of the world."

Now there can be no doubt that our quotations No. 1 and No. 5 show that the author's mind is fairly imbued with the theory of homotaxis in a legitimate and moderate degree; but the only word in the remaining quotations which can possibly receive a "homotaxeous" construction is proximate or proximately; and it is extremely remarkable that this qualification of otherwise rigorous statements occurs in each of the three remaining sentences (Nos. 2, 3, and 4). In a postscript Dr. Bigsby gives a list of "additional subjects," and amongst them we find the following: "The greater or less synchronism of strata far apart; measured, where possible. Was America inhabited before Europe, &c. ?-as seems probable. On the whole, therefore, we must regard our author, veteran though he be, as a geologist of the advanced modern school, and possessing an elasticity of mind not at all common amongst scientific men of his generation.

V. ON NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS FOR PRACTICAL

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.

By Lieutenant-Colonel STRANGE, F.R.S., Government Inspector of Scientific Instruments, India Department, and Dr. MANN, F.R.A.S., F.R.G.S., &c., Superintendent of Education, and Special Commissioner of the Government of Natal. ‡

Ar the recent Meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, held in the city of Norwich in the month of August last (1868), the Inspector of Scientific Instruments for the India Department brought a subject before the Mathematical and Physical Section of the Congress which had obviously been engaging his attention and thoughts very seriously for some considerable time. In a somewhat lengthened experience in one special department of hard scientific work, Colonel Strange has been led to the important conclusion that unquestionable and vast as has been the service pure and practical science has received from the hands of British contributors, this service has not been commensurate with the proud and

*These and the following italics are ours.

+ P. xlvii.

The authors are the Chairman and Secretary of a Committee appointed by the British Association for the Advancement of Science, at its Session in Norwich, August, 1868, for the investigation of this subject.

deserved position Great Britain has taken up among the advanced nations of the world on other grounds, and that there is one very clear and obvious reason for this undesirable fact which cannot be too soon looked fairly in the face by the best friends and advocates of scientific movement. The Colonel pointed emphatically to the official declaration, that "The objects of the British Association are to give a stronger impulse and more systematic direction to scientific inquiry, and to remove any disadvantages of a public kind which impede its progress," and upon that manifesto based an argument that there is now an imperative call and claim upon the enlightened Association of British Philosophers to take action upon this avowed principle, and use its powerful influence to lead the public mind to a recognition of one great need from which the highest interests of the general community are suffering at the present day. In this appeal Colonel Strange urged the Association to bear well in mind. the importance of pressing upon public attention the comparatively backward condition of scientific research in the British Islands and dependencies at the present time, and of insisting upon the inexpressible and unassessible value of the mighty engine of human advancement that is thus allowed to remain in relative idleness and disuse, while so many other engines are worked at their utmost speed, and often with a reckless profusion of expenditure, that only makes the contrast so much the more startling and humiliating for a people aiming at a forward position and high excellence. If the views entertained by the originator of this movement be substantiated by facts, there can be no doubt that an association of philosophers which professes to engage itself with "giving a stronger impulse and a more systematic direction to scientific inquiry, and with removing disadvantages that impede its progress," will be bound by its own profession to do all that may be done to indicate how "the intellectual glories and material riches which a bountiful Providence has created for man's use may be best placed, promptly and systematically, at man's disposal."

The plea which was offered at the Norwich Meeting of the British Association by Colonel Strange was at any rate so far admitted by the court before which he elected to urge the appeal that a committee, comprising the names of Thomson, Tyndall, Frankland, Williamson, Stokes, Fleeming Jenkin, Hirst, Huxley, Balfour Stewart, Stenhouse, Glaisher, and Huggins, besides those of the chairman and secretary, was appointed to consider and report upon the general questions, whether there exist in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland sufficient provision for the vigorous prosecution of physical research, and whether, if it be held that sufficient provision does not exist, it can be shown what further provision is needed, and what measures can be taken to supply the want.

It will be observed that in this proceeding the action of the

British Association has been purposely and carefully limited to the altogether unexceptionable object of inquiring whether sufficient facilities for the prosecution of scientific research, properly so called, do exist in the kingdom of Great Britain; and of suggesting in what direction it seems most advisable to seek increased facilities, if such are deemed to be required. Whatever scientific men may think of other branches and bearings of this subject, there can be no doubt that there will be at any rate an unanimous consent to enter fairly and fully upon the underlying question of need, and to face, in the most open and unreserved way, the first count of Colonel Strange's indictment. It will be apparent, from the mere title of the paper which was read at the Meeting of the Association by Colonel Strange, namely, "On the necessity for State Intervention to secure the Progress of Physical Science," that he has quite made up his own mind that it will be abundantly apparent there is the need, and that there is but one way in which that need can be promptly and efficiently supplied. But from the discussion which followed upon the reading of the paper, it was obvious there are men of high purpose and clear thought in the ranks of British Philosophy who are conscious of the need, but who do not now feel that there is but one way in which the defect can be remedied, and the deficiency supplied. It is therefore imperative that in the first instance the investigation shall be entered upon in the broadest and most cosmopolitan spirit, and that the evidence sought shall be of the freest and most exhaustive character.

In the face of the course that has been determined upon by the Committee of the Mathematical and Physical Section, and by the Council of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, it would be both presumptuous and premature to venture any decided opinion as to either of the questions that are to be made the subject of consideration. But there are certain views of the matter that rise to the surface, out of the arguments that have been already advanced in the preliminary handling of the question, which it will be found advantageous at once to fix as clearly and definitely as possible in the public mind, in order that there may be no unnecessary confusion and misapprehension in regard to the main issue.

In the first instance it must be distinctly understood that even in the extremest form and scope of Colonel Strange's plea there is really nothing that is "revolutionary," or even fundamentally new. In practice, mankind has been already constrained to admit that there is absolute need for "state intervention" in carrying forward the work of scientific investigation. It is out of this absolute need, and of mankind's all but universal recognition of it, that have arisen state observatories for astronomical research. All such astronomical investigations as require sustained and continuous