284 NATURAL SCIENCE. April, 



In his presidential address to the Geological Society, Dr. Henry Woodward 

 referred to the desirability of extending the library and the inutility of any longer 

 maintaining a museum, the space occupied by which was needed for books. Dr. 

 Woodward has struck the right note, for the museum was for many years neglected 

 by the Society, and has become a white elephant. The president also referred to 

 the desirability of admitting women to the meeting — we presume he means 

 geologists, not mere visitors as one may see at the Geographical Society — a con- 

 cession we hope to see carried out at an early date. But the museum question is by 

 far the most important one at present, and is, on the whole, likely to be well received, 

 whereas the woman question is bound to raise considerable difference of opinion. 



The Royal Academy of Barcelona has just published a history of the Academy 

 under the title of " Historia de la Real Academia de Ciencias y Artes." This 

 formed the inaugural address, for the academic year 1893-94, °f Don Jose Balari y 

 Jovany, Professor of Greek in that Academy. Professor Balari traces the general 

 conditions leading up to the foundation of the Academy, its history, its members, 

 its privileges, and professors, publications, library, collections and natural history 

 museum, and, finally, its reforms. 



The Journal of Geology informs us that the Wisconsin Academy of Science is 

 making a systematic and vigorous effort to establish a geological and natural history 

 survey of the State. The last survey was closed about 1880. A Bill has been drawn 

 carrying an annual appropriation of 15,000 dollars, to be expended under the direc- 

 tion of a commission. 



A movement is also being made to secure the establishment of a geological 

 survey of the State of Washington, and an appropriation will be sought from the 

 Legislature for the purpose. A proposal has been made to connect the survey with 

 a mining department of the State University. 



In a letter to Nature, Professor W. H. Hale states that the reason the American 

 Association is to meet at Springfield, Mass., this year, and not in San Francisco, is 

 due to the shortsightedness of the railway authorities, who refused to give any 

 concessions in the matter of fares. The meeting will take place from August 29 

 to September 4. The Association met at Springfield once before, in 1859. 



Sir Charles Tupper's anniversary address to the Royal Scottish Geographical 

 Society appeared in the January number of their magazine. It deals with " The 

 Economic Development of Canada," and is illustrated by six maps showing the 

 land elevation, geology, agriculture, rainfall, and temperature in January and July. 

 There are other two maps, one showing the routes between Canada and the mother 

 country, and the other the political areas. 



The lecture delivered by Professor Sir William Flower on "Whales, and 

 British and Colonial Whale Fisheries," before the Royal Colonial Institute, on 

 January 5, has already been published. A perusal of Sir W. Flower's lecture leads 

 one to the conclusion that the hunting of whales will shortly be so unprofitable that 

 it will cease altogether, and in view of the threatened extinction of these huge 

 animals that is a prospect much to be desired. The only real profit now derived 

 seems to be from the "whalebone," for the competition of mineral oils, and the 

 growth of other methods of lighting, have reduced the value of both sperm and 

 train oils. 



The Standard and Digger's News, for February 9, gives an account of the 

 formation of a new society, to be called " The Geological Society of South Africa." 



