358 NATURAL SCIENCE [November 1898 



We learn from the Times that Dr A. G. Nathorst's Swedish Arctic expedition 

 has returned safely to Tromso. The expedition was most successful, the natural 

 history of King Charles Land is now completely known, and some important 

 hints between the geology of Franz Josef Land and Spitzbergen have been estab- 

 lished. Bear Island was surveyed and mapped by Lieut. Kjellstron and Dr 

 Hamberg, as also was King Charles Land, the former on a scale of 1 '50,000, and 

 the latter of 1-100,000. Bell Sound was also mapped and the Greenland ice-pack 

 was touched at 78° 1' N. lat., 4° 9' W. long. The geology of White Island was 

 ascertained, and the island was found to be covered by an ice-cap from which 

 table bergs are constantly given off. Passing on to Charles XII. Island the 

 expedition visited Freuenberg Bay, Grey Hook, and Danes Island, after which a 

 circumnavigation of Spitzbergen and its surrounding islands was completed. 

 Large collections have been brought back. 



We learn from the Athenaeum that a new scientific expedition to Central Asia 

 is being furnished by the Imperial Russian Geographical Society in Kasan. The 

 leadership of the expedition is entrusted to Prof. Sorolin, and all the other 

 members of the expedition are professors of the Kasan University. A prepara- 

 tory sum of 20,000 roubles has been granted towards the cost. The expedition 

 will shortly set out towards Nora, in Central Asia, where the members will 

 pursue geographical, ethnographical, and geological studies. 



Also that a Dutch deep-sea expedition, under the conduct of Prof. M. Weber, 

 of Amsterdam, is also to start from Holland during the present autumn. Its 

 range will be less extensive than that of the German deep-sea expedition, as it 

 will be limited to zoology, botany, and oceanography within the eastern part of 

 the East Indian Archipelago. 



Mesilla Park has started a science club, under the presidency of Mr C. M. 

 Barber. 



Barnard College, U.S.A., will shortly ecpiip a botanical laboratory to be 

 named in memory of Prof. Emily L. Gregory. The Botanical Club have sub- 

 scribed 500 dollars as a nucleus to the fund. 



It is proposed to erect a Biological Station in the Bermudas. Prof. C. L. 

 Bristol of New York University has gone there with a party of students. 



According to the Times of Oct. 1, a specimen of the 'takahe,' the large rail 

 of New Zealand, Notornis mantelli, has recently been found. This bird was first 

 recognised by Owen in 1847 in a collection of bones sent home by Walter 

 Mantell, the types of which are in the British Museum. A second specimen was 

 obtained from Middle Island by some sealers in 1849, and this was also acquh-ed 

 by Mantell. In 1852 a third individual was killed on Secretary Island, the skin 

 of which was preserved. The remains of these two are preserved at the British 

 Museum. No further trace of the bird was seen till 1879, when one was caught 

 alive near Lake Te Anau by a hunter who killed it ; it was secured by a Mr 

 Connor, who sold the specimen in London in 1882 by auction for £110, and it is 

 now in Dresden. Fragments of a fifth specimen were found in 1884 also near 

 Lake Te Anau, and these went to Dunedin. The new find makes the sixth 

 recorded specimen of a species evidently rapidly ajnproaching extinction. 

 Another and later letter to the Times stated that the writer could furnish 

 as many specimens as wanted. 



An interesting balloon ascent was made on Thursday, September 14, by Mr 

 Stanley Spencer and Dr Bei'son, who reached the altitude of 27,500 feet, only 

 some 1500 less than Coxwell and Glaisher's record of 1862. They descended near 

 Romford after being up some four hours. At 25,000 feet the aeronauts had to 

 breathe compressed oxygen. Numerous observations were made, the results of 

 which are awaited with considerable interest. 



