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should be simple in its formula and mode of application; should do its work well in a reasonable space of time ; and last, though not the least important, it should do its work in such a manner that the operator shall without difficulty estimate the density. Totes. To-morrow witnesses the beginning of the fourth decade of the Parent Society. On the 20th January, 1853, a meeting was held at the Society of Arts, John Street, Adelphi, to inaugurate the Society, when Sir Charles Eastlake, the President of the Royal Academy, was chosen its first president. Mr. Fox Talbot was in the first place invited to fill the chair—for obvious reasons, as Sir C. Eastlake observed— but the English pioneer in photography could not be induced to come forward. Indeed, it was not until the year 1871 that Fox Talbot joined the Society, when he accepted honorary membership. There are few living at the present day who were nominated on the Council of the Society, on that day in January thirty years ago, but among the number were Dr. Diamond, Robert Hunt, H. Owen, and Dr. Percy, all of whom are still enjoying good health. It may also be mentioned that the first exhibition of photographs in this country was held likewise during January thirty years ago. The gathering took place under the auspices of the Society of Arts, where the photographs were shown. Mr. Tamkin’s paper on development will be read with some interest. The chief point is the recommendation, under certain conditions, of the use of ammonia and pyro gallol without any restraining bromide. Mr. Tamkin tells us that most plates will stand a large amount of ammonia, if applied in the first instance. The Photographers' Benevolent Association is growing rich, so that we may expect a rapid increase in the number of members. By a notice in another column, it will be seen that the Annual Meeting takes place on the 24th inst., when, among other good news, the Secretary will announce that a balance of between one and two hundred pounds is in the hands of the Committee. The new system of teaching the deaf and dumb by directing them to look at a person speaking, and to note the position of his lips in giving utterance to different sounds, has now been in practice for several years on the Continent; and as our readers are probably aware, has also been adopted in this country with some success. A Continental teacher has now hit upon a plan of furthering the instruction by having recourse to photography. A model has been chosen whose lips are particularly expres sive in their action, and a series of photographs taken of him while pronouncing the different sounds that go to make up a language. Such a “ speaking likeness ” has been obtained, that, in many cases, even an untrained observer has little difficulty in guessing the letter on the lips of the model, as the photographs are displayed one after another. Mr. Warnerke exhibited several of the pictures at the last meeting of the Photographic Society. General Pitt Rivers, who has been appointed Inspector of Ancient Monuments, is engaged in studying the races and crosses of Great Britain, and with this view is collecting series of portraits from various parts of the kingdom. The British Association has awarded a small money grant to the general to meet the expense of his photographic labours. We spoke a good word the other day for the “ Cherry ” fabric recently brought into the English market. We are glad to see that both Dr. Eder and Dr. Vogel, who have tested the material, are equally pleased with it. Dr. Vogel says the “ Cherry ’’ fabric absorbs blue rays most com pletely, and hence its adaptability to dark rooms ; whereas the crimson generally contained in the ruby material per mits blue light to pass. Fortunately, a practical trial of dark-room material can be undertaken by any photographer, and, after all, an experiment of one’s own is most satis factory in matters of this sort. Caroline Island, a tiny islet in the South Pacific, not very far from Pitcairn Island, is shortly to have greatness thrust upon it. It is apparently the only bit of land on the face of the earth where the total eclipse of the sun in May next can be observed in its entirety. There will be a duration of total eclipse at this little spot amounting to no less than six minutes, and such a phenomenon, we are told, will not occur again for a century to come. Six minutes, as exposures now go, will suffice to take some hundreds of pictures of the corona, while it will be possible to watch the changing behaviour of those wonderful flames and jets of burning vapour which, for want of a better name, we call protuberances, for an altogether unparalleled period. Caroline Island, a green little spot not two miles broad, lies lonesome in the broad waste of the Pacific, out of the path of all commerce and travel; still, four months hence, will see a great change in the tiny island. Photographers and astronomers from Europe and America will overrun the verdure-clad shores, and for a few weeks at least there will be a busy and learned population. Many nationalities will be present, for most civilized countries are to send representatives. Fortunately, men of science are men of peace; otherwise, as the island belongs to nobody in particular, what with the flags of all nations cheek by jowl, we might well fear some disturbance at such an international gathering. Honours to Austrian photographers. Major Volkmer, the chief of the photographic atelier at the Austrian Geographical Institute, has just been decorated by the Russian and Servian Governments; while Herr Fink,