84 NE WS [JANUARY 



The Government of Natal lias decided to undertake a complete Geological 

 Survey of the Colony, mainly for the purpose of developing coal and other 

 mineral resources of the country. The services of Mr. W. Anderson have been 

 engaged as Government Geologist to superintend the Survey. Mr. Anderson 

 has for some years been employed on the Indian Geological Survey, and 

 previously served in a similar capacity in New South Wales. 



The biological laboratory of the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences, at 

 Coldspring Harbor, Long Island, has now been established for nine years, and 

 has recently begun a systematic biological survey of the locality. The general 

 outlines of the fauna and flora are sketched by Prof. C. B. Davenport in Science 

 for November 18, 1898 (vol. viii. pp. 685-089). 



Since her return from Cuba, the U.S. Fish Commission steamer "Fish Hawk" 

 has been working under the command of Lieut. -Commander R. G. Davenport, 

 U.S.N., and the scientific direction of Prof. H. C. Bumpus, in Narragansett 

 Bay and around Block Island. Various problems presented by the marine fauna 

 have been studied, especially those connected with the breeding and distribution 

 of star-fi.-h. 



The Swedish Government has approached Her Majesty's Government in 

 connection with a hydrographical conference, for the purpose of considering 

 questions affecting the fishing interest. The Swedish Government is understood 

 to be negotiating also with other powers. 



Mr. Alfred L. Jones, says the British Medical Journal, has offered £350 a 

 year to found and maintain in Liverpool a laboratory for the study of tropical 

 diseases. This will be associated with the Royal Southern Hospital and Uni- 

 versity College, Liverpool. 



Hyderabad is to have a Pasteur Institute adjoining its hospital and medical 

 school. It is expected to be open for patients before June. 



Nature learns from the Trinidad Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information that 

 Dr. Morris, whose appointment as superintendent of the Botanical Department for 

 the Lesser Antilles we recently announced, will have the control of the follow- 

 ing stations : Barbadoes, Grenada, St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Dominica, Montserrat, 

 Antigua, and St. Kitts. The Jamaica, Demerara, and Trinidad stations will at 

 present remain independent, and a new station, under the control of Trinidad, 

 is to be founded at Tobago. 



o 



At a meeting in Edinburgh on November 8th, a committee was appointed 

 to consider the feasibility of establishing a Scottish Zoological Garden. The 

 idea of a " Zoological Society " was mooted, but did not, we are pleased to 

 learn, find support. There are already three or four societies in Edinburgh 

 which have to do with Zoology, and any attempt to insinuate another would 

 simply alienate the sympathies of those who would be glad to see a well-con- 

 sidered Zoological Garden instituted. A committee, including Prof. Cossar 

 Ewart, Dr. Ramsay Traquair, Prof. A. E. Mettam, Mr. Fairgrieve, Mr. W. S. 

 Bruce, Mr. Hope Findlay, and others, was appointed ; and we wish them 

 success. We venture to predict that a successful site is to be found in the 

 direction where holidayers do most resort. Proximity to the sea would also lie 

 a great advantage. We hope the enthusiasts and the capitalists may come to 

 terms, and that more may soon be heard of this excellent scheme. 



The Brighton Ac]uarium, which has long failed in promoting its original 

 objects, is now in liquidation. We understand that negotiations are in 

 progress for the purchase of the property by a Winter Garden syndicate. At 

 the same time, some energetic citizens of Brighton are promoting a scheme 

 for the establishment of a Zoological Garden on one of the hills behind the 

 town. 



