260 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



PHYSICAL CONDITION OF THE LIBYAN DESERT. 



Dr. Zittel, of Rohlfs' Libyan expedition, describes tbe re- 

 sults of the undertaking as of much scientific interest, even 

 though their practical value is not so great as was hoped. 

 One conclusion arrived at is that the Libvan Desert is the 



at 



most sterile and barren part of the entire Sahara; as also 

 that the irrigation and colonization of the true desert are 

 alike impossible, and that the permanent occupation of the 

 oases is not practicable, on account of their isolated position. 

 Determinations of the degree of humidity and the quantity 

 of ozone in the atmosphere were made with great regularity. 

 Minute researches were prosecuted in regard to the flora and 

 fauna and the geology of the region. In the last branch it 

 was ascertained that the desert, instead of having one uniform 

 cover of nummulites, lime, and sand, was found to consist of 

 cretaceous, eocene, and miocene formations, with an abun- 

 dance of well-preserved fossil remains. Numerous photo- 

 graphs of the scenery, animals, etc., were taken on the expe- 

 dition. 13 A, May 3, 1874, 603. 



RUSSIAN EXPLORATION IN LAPLAND. 



The Academy finds in the correspondence of a Russian 

 traveler the announcement of the intention of the Russian 

 government to dispatch two scientific expeditions : one to 

 the Kerne district and to Russian Lapland, with the object 

 of making a study of the geology of the region and examin- 

 ing the traces of ancient glaciers; and the other to the shores 

 of the White Sea, for the purpose of prosecuting zoological 

 researches. Much interest attaches to these operations, for 

 Dr. Yazkinsky, who for the last two years has been at work 

 in these parts, has discovered a great many specimens offish 

 and crustaceans of an entirely new character. 13 A,May 3, 

 1S74, 604. 



EXPLORATIONS OF MR. J. B. STEERE IN CHINA. 



According to the China Mail, as quoted by the Academy, 

 Mr. J. B. Steere, an American, who has been traveling in the 

 East for the purpose of collecting specimens for the Michi- 

 gan University, has just returned to Hong-Kong from a trip 

 through Formosa. He spent six months in the interior of 



