582 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



delivered during 1875, upon popular subjects connected with 

 the living animals of the menagerie, principally by Dr. Scla- 

 ter, Mr. J. "W. Clarke, Professor Garrod, Professor Flower, 

 and Professor Mivart. 



Anions the additions to the menagerie during the vear, 

 the most important is that of a rhinoceros from Java, mak- 

 ing the fourth species of the genus now living in the gar- 

 dens. The whole number of additions of all kinds amount- 

 ed to 1202, of which 425 were donations. 



INTEENATIONAL CONGRESS OF SILK-CTTLTUEISTS. 



An International Congress of Silk-culture is to be held at 

 Milan during 1876, and circulars have been distributed in- 

 viting a series of experiments to be made during 1875, and 

 a report on the results. This has reference to various points 

 connected with the keeping of silk-worms, the prevention of 

 injurious diseases, particularly of their "inactivity," a dis- 

 ease which has produced great injury of late years. 12^4, 

 April 6, 1875, 456. 



EEPOET OF EOYAL COMMISSION OF SCIENTIFIC INSTEUCTIONS. 



The final report of the Royal Commission on scientific in- 

 struction and the advancement of science, which has been 

 engaged for a number of years past in investigating the 

 question of high scientific education and the relations of 

 science to the state, has just been published, being the eighth 

 of the series. The conclusions to which it has attained are, 

 in brief, as follows : 



First. It finds that the assistance given by the state in 

 Great Britain for the promotion of scientific research is in- 

 adequate, and that the concession or refusal of assistance does 

 not take place on any definite principle. 



Second. That more complete means are urgently required 

 for scientific investigations in connection with certain gov- 

 ernment departments, and that physical as well as other 

 laboratories and apparatus should be provided. 



Third. Certain classes of phenomena, such as those relat- 

 ing to physical meteorology and terrestrial and astronomical 

 physics, require observations of such a character that they 

 can not be advantageously carried on otherwise than under 

 the direction of the government. Institutions for the study 



