July, 1895. NEWS OF UNIVERSITIES, ETC. 79 



The collection of birds' skins forwarded to England recently by Dr. Donaldson 

 Smith, as a result of his explorations in Somaliland, has now been examined and 

 described by Dr. R. Bowdler Sharpe, who read a paper on the subject at a meeting 

 of the Zoological Society on May 21. Dr. Sharpe considers the collection to be a 

 most important one, and to contain no less than twenty-two species new to science. 

 One of these, a very handsome goatsucker [Caprimul^us doiialdsoni) was actually pro- 

 cured on board ship before the expedition started on its long journey to Lake 

 Rudolph, and if the young explorer had but known that he had begun with a new 

 species at the outset, he might have taken it as an omen of the good luck, which has 

 undoubtedly followed his expedition. The most striking novelties were obtained by 

 Dr. Smith on the Darro Mountains, and near Sheik Husein and Sheik Mohammed in 

 Western Somaliland. The finest of these new species is a Touracou {Turacus 

 doiialdsoni), and a Hornbill [Lophoceros sibbensis), as well as two new seed-eating 

 Finches [Cn'thagra donaldsoni and C. maculicollis). In the lower country and in the 

 district of the Webi Shebeyli Dr. Smith also met with some very interesting new 

 forms, among them three new species of Larks, and a new Bulbul {Pycnonotus dodsoni). 



A .MOST successful expedition to the Salvage Islands, Canaries, Madeira, and 

 Porto Santo has just been accomplished by Mr. Ogilvie Grant and Mr. Cecil 

 Baring, who were accompanied by Mr. Gronvold, the taxidermist at the British 

 Museum. Three weeks were available for collecting purposes, nine days of which 

 were devoted to the Salvage Islands. A large collection of bird-skins and eggs was 

 secured, and included a fine series of the White-breasted Petrel [Pelagodvoma marina) 

 and the White-rumped Storm Petrel {Thalassidroma cryptoleucura), with many eggs of 

 the former, and one of the latter. Puffinus assimilis, in all stages of growth, was 

 collected, together with eggs, and an egg of Bulwer's Petrel was also obtained. Of 

 Madeira birds, the chief captures included a splendid pair of Columba trocaz, and 

 large series of the Robin, Goldcrest, and Chaffinch peculiar to the island. Of the 

 other vertebrates, the most interesting forms are the peculiar Great Salvage Mouse, 

 and a large series (seventy-two species) of fish preserved in spirit. Four hundred 

 and fifty land and freshwater molluscs, 400 arthropods, 700 insects, and a few 

 echinoderms and worms, besides numerous plants and a small collection of rock 

 specimens, bear striking witness to the value of these small expeditions when 

 conducted by competent and energetic leaders. 



In addition to the support already noted by us as promised to the International 

 Bibliographic Bureau, we learn that the Swiss Government has now made itself 

 financially responsible for the headquarters of the undertaking, which will be at 

 Zurich. A thousand francs is already contributed to the preliminary expenses by 

 French institutions. The Zoologischer Anzeiger, the Anatomischer Anzeigev, and the 

 Bibliographie Anatomique are all making arrangements to co-operate with the new 

 scheme, the success of which must now be held assured. 



We learn from Captain Marshall Hall that Professor Torquato Taramelli, 

 of the University of Pavia, has been nominated to represent Italy on the Inter- 

 national Commission on Glaciers. 



The Bristol Geologists' Association has arranged excursions to Portishead 

 (July 21), Stroud Valley (August 11), and Dundry (September 15). The National 

 Home-Reading Union holds its summer assembly at Leamington Spa, June 29- 

 July 8. Mr. J. E. Marr will deliver four lectures on the geology, and Mr. Scott Elliot 

 four lectures on the botany of the district. The first conference and excursion 

 under the Irish P'ield-Club Union will take place on July 11-17. The programme 

 is briefly as follows : — July 10, evening reception by Dublin Club ; July 11, proceed 

 to Galway and inspect town and neighbourhood ; July 12, excursion to the Twelve 

 Bens, Connemara; July 13, excursion to Ballyvaughan and Burren district; July 

 14, being Sunday, members make their own arrangements ; July 15, excursion to 

 the Aran Islands; July 16, excursion to Oughterard and Lough Corrib. 



