ON THE PROGRESS OF SCIENCE. 11 



The Palfieontographical Society of London, which distributes among 

 its subscribers a larger quantity of matter than any other publishing 

 society, has issued a report, in which it announces an increase in its 

 number of members to 762, and purposes to deliver the following 

 works in the ensuing spring for the subscriptions of the last year : 

 " The Fossil Reptilia of Great Britain," Part VI., by Professor Owen, 

 containing ID plates ; " Fossil Shells of the Chalk Formation," Part 

 III., by Mr. Sharpe, containing 10 plates ; u The Mollusca of the 

 Crag," Part IV., by Mr. S. Wood, containing 11 plates, and complet- 

 ing that work ; " The Fossil Crustacea of the London Clay," by Pro- 

 fessor Bell, containing about 10 plates ; " The Entomostraca of the 

 Tertiary Formations,'' by Mr. Rupert Jones, containing 6*plates ; 

 "The Radiaria of the Oolitic Formations," by Dr. Wright, Part I., 

 containing 10 plates ; " The Eocene Mollusca," by Mr. F. Edwards, 

 Part IV., containing 10 plates. 



Notwithstanding the terrible war in which Russia is at present en- 

 gaged, matters of scientific interest are by no means neglected. Six 

 large and thoroughly equipped geographical expeditions have left St. 

 Petersburg during the past season. A chronometric expedition has 

 also been made for determining the longitude between Moscow and 

 Astracan ; and the great measurement of the meridian arc which has 

 been carried from Finland southward, is still going on at the latitude 

 of 45. The corresponding geodetic observations in Southern Russia 

 are being vigorously prosecuted under the superintendence of General 

 Wroutchekow. 



A valuable donation to the Public Library of Boston has recently 

 been made by the Superintendent of the London Patent Office, viz. : 

 a complete set of all the publications relative to patents made by the 

 commissioners of that office. This donation amounts to nearly two 

 hundred volumes, imperial octavo ; each volume of specifications 

 being accompanied by a sheet imperial volume of lithographic illus- 

 trations. 



The French Geographical Society have recently awarded a gold 

 medal to each of the following English navigators and explorers : To 

 Captain M'Clure, R. N., for his discovery of the North-west Passage ; 

 to Captain Inglefield, R. N., for his discoveries in the Arctic regions ; 

 and to Mr. Francis Galton, for his explorations in the Namaqua, 

 Damara, and Ovampo countries, northward of the Orange River in 

 South-west Africa. 



The English Parliament have also voted a reward of 10,000 pounds 

 to Captain M'Clure, his officers, and crew, for the discovery of the 

 North-west Passage. Of this sum, 5,000 pounds is given to Captain 

 M'Clure, who has also received the honor of knighthood. 



Through the munificence of Mr. James Brown, the late eminent 



