72 Imperial Society of Natural History of Moscow* 



years. This sketch is arranged under the following heads : 

 I. Labours and Undertakings of the Society. II. Mis- 

 cellanies. ] II. Promotions and Rewards. IV. Necrology. 

 V. Literary Novelties. VT. Minutes of the Society, and 

 Report of the Presents made to the Society and to the Mu- 

 seum of the Imperial University. The following are the 

 contents of the first branch of their labours. 



Journey to Siberia undertaken at the expense of the Society, 

 — This expedition set out on the 9th of February 1SOQ. and 

 is to last three years. It is composed of Professor Tauber, 

 who is known from his description of the valley of Flatten 

 in Saxony; M.James Mohr, known from his travels in 

 Germany, France, England, and Sweden; and M, Helm, 

 botanist and chemist, known by his description of several 

 new plants, and by several analyses : this is his second visit 

 to Siberia. These gentlemen are accompanied by two pu- 

 pils, Messrs. KotororFand Leslivsky, and they are provided 

 with every necessary, such as books, charts, instruments, 

 and a chemical laboratory. They were to be occupied the 

 iirst year with the Ouxal chain of mountains; the second, 

 with that of the Altai ; the third, with the mountains of 

 the Daourie; and, if circumstances will permit them, they 

 will also visit Kamschatka. The profound erudition and 

 zeal of the above gentlemen afford reason to hope for- 

 some important discoveries. They are also accompanied 

 by a draftsman, and by a person who is acquainted with 

 the art of stuffing and preserving animals. 



Decription of the Government of Moscow. — His Im- 

 perial Majesty having given five thousand roubles to be 

 expended in examining the immense district which goes 

 by this name, the professors of Moscow have recently 

 visited several parts of the country with this view. The 

 following is an account of what has been already done: 

 Some astronomical and trigonometrical observations have 

 been repeated at Moscow, and in some districts of the go- 

 vernment, such as Svenigorod berea, Moja ; sk, Riotisa, by 

 professors Goldbach and Panthner, attached to the reposi- 

 tory for charts at St. Petersburgh. The latter has also 

 established, at the expense of the society, barometers and 

 thermometers at the above places, in order t© obtain some 

 useful observations. 



M. Fischer undertook the natural history department : 

 he was accompanied in his excursion by M. Droucinine, 

 seerclary to the society; and by M. Gorke, one. of the 

 pupils at the university of Moscow. From the lateness 



of 



