of an individual by an examination of the cadaver and of the successive generations of insects which are found inhabiting it. The author has established the important fact that these successive inhabitants always arrive in the same order from the time of death to that of complete disintegration of the body. . . . The importance of this work from a medico-legal point of view can not be overestimated, and that it is capable of practical application the author shows by a number of interesting cases."
The presidents of sections of the British Association, nominated for the coming meeting at Toronto, are: Section A, Mathematical and Physical Science, Prof. A. R. Forsyth, F. R. S.; B, Chemistry, Prof. W. Ramsay, F. R. S; 0, Geology, Dr. G. M. Dawson, C. M. G. F. R. S.; D, Zoology, Prof. L C. Miall, F. R. S.; E, Geography, Mr. J. Scott Keltic; F. Economic Science and Statistics, Prof. E. C. K. Gonner; G, Mechanical Science, Mr. G. F. Deacon; H, Anthropology, Prof. Sir W. Turner, F. R. S.; I, Physiology, Prof. M. Foster, Sec. R. S.; K, Botany, Prof. H. Marshall Ward, F. R. S. The evening discourses will be delivered by Prof. Roberts-Austen, C. B., F. R. S., and Prof. John Milne, F. R. S.
A banquet was recently given by scientific men of France to Mme. Clémence Rover in celebration of her seventieth birthday. She is eminent in the study of the mental traits of animals; translated Darwin's work into French; is an advocate of evolution; and is the author of articles on the Mental Faculties of Monkeys, and Animal Arithmetic, which were published in the Popular Science Monthly several years ago.
Mr. Herbert Spencer was offered the honorary degree of Doctor of Science by the authorities of the University of Cambridge, but, adhering to his uniform practice, from which he says he can not depart, has declined it.
The Emperor of Germany has just decorated Dr. Roux, the discoverer, with Dr. Behring, of the vaccine against diphtheria. Two years ago Pasteur refused a similar honor, for reasons of his own. Dr. Roux, although the intimate friend and successor of the great scientist, did not allow his loyalty toward his master to stand in the way of accepting this mark of recognition from the foreign potentate.
The Paris Academy of Sciences has awarded an Arago medal to Lord Kelvin, on the occasion of the jubilee of his professorship in Glasgow University. In conferring it, M. Cornu. the president, touching on the testimonies coming from all parts of the world, said: "Nothing is more consoling for the future than the spectacle of these honors rendered by delegates of all nations to great men of science like Kelvin and Pasteur, who so worthily represent science in its loftiest and at the same time most beneficent aspect."
According to the Times, the Government intends to introduce next session a bill to promote free vaccination throughout England, following continental methods. A small committee, headed by Dr. Thorne Thome, of the Local Government Board, has investigated these methods in Paris at the Institut Vaccinal and the Académie de Médecine, and in Brussels at the École de Médecine, and at Dr. Janssen's vaccination department under the municipality of the city. They intend also to investigate the modes of procedure in Germany.
Edward D. Cope, Professor of Zoölogy and Comparative Anatomy in the School of Biology at the University of Pennsylvania, died in his museum in Philadelphia, April 12th, aged about fifty-seven years. The illness which took him away was one from which he had been a sufferer for many years. He delivered his last lecture at the university two weeks before his death, had been able to attend to some scientific work the Wednesday previous, and his condition had been alarming only for four days. A sketch of his life and work to that time, and a portrait, were given in the Popular Science Monthly for May, 1881. He was presiding officer of the Biological Section of the American Association in 1884, and was president of the Buffalo meeting of the association in 1896. His later publications since our sketch have been: Origin of Man and other Vertebrates, 1885; Tertiary Vertebrates, 1885; The Energy of Life Evolution, and how it has Acted, 1885; The Origin of the Fittest, 1886; and The Primary Factors of Organic Evolution, 1896. Prof. Cope was most eminent in paleontology, but was distinguished in many other branches of biology.
Prof. James Joseph Sylvester, of the University of Oxford, died in London, March 15th, in the eighty-third year of his age. He was born in London, September 3, 1814, was graduated from St. John's College, Cambridge, in 1837, as second wrangler, was appointed Professor of Natural Philosophy in the University of London, and in 1841 became a professor in the University of Virginia. He did not, however, remain there quite a year, but returned to London, found employment as an actuary and conveyancer, and was called to the bar in 1850. He was appointed Professor of Mathematics in the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich, retired from this position in 1862, and was appointed Professor of Mathematics in Johns Hopkins
