2IO NATURAL SCIENCE. march. 



Zoological Society and the Stricklandian Code of Nomenclature." No doubt the 

 reason why the rules of the German Zoological Society are specially mentioned 

 rather than the rules formulated by the International Congress of Zoologists, is 

 that the German Society, as we announced some time ago, is preparing a synopsis 

 of all living animals, under the editorship of Professor Schultze. 



A SPECIAL interest attached to the Linnean Society's meeting on February 6, 

 when Sir William Flower presented, on behalf of the subscribers, a portrait of 

 Mr. William Carruthers. In making the presentation, Sir William referred to three 

 aspects of Mr. Carruthers' work — as a botanist, as a curator of the great national 

 collection of plants at South Kensington, and as an active worker in the interests of 

 the Society, especially during his term of office as president. His presidency 

 included an important year in the Society's history, namely its centenary ; and in the 

 successful carrying out of the formalities and festivities connected therewith, 

 Mr. Carruthers displayed his characteristic ability for organisation and capacity for 

 saying the right thing in the right place. As evidence of the keen interest which he 

 took in the Society, reference was made to the perseverance with which he had got 

 together all possible information on the various portraits of Linnseus, visiting 

 Sweden and Holland for the purpose. In accepting the portrait, on behalf of the 

 Society, the president, Mr. C. B. Clarke, mentioned Mr. Carruthers' work in 

 palaeobotany and his services to agriculture. 



A CONGRESS of delegates from the Natural History Societies in the three S.E. 

 counties of England is convened by the Tunbridge Wells Natural History Society 

 for Saturday, April 25, and will be held at Tunbridge Wells under the presidency of 

 the Rev. T. R. R. Stebbing. The subjects for discussion are:— (i) A scheme for 

 the circulation of lantern slides illustrating natural history subjects among the 

 affiliated societies during the winter session. This is already in operation, and fifty 

 slides are being exhibited in different towns ; (2) the interchange of lantern and 

 microscope slides, books, and magazines with affiliated societies and with similar 

 associations in other districts of the United Kingdom ; (3) the re-delivery of lectures 

 before other societies ; (4) the protection of footpaths, commons, etc. ; (5) summer 

 excursions and field-work ; (6) the best kind of programme for the winter session. 

 The congress will also discuss the rules and date and place of meeting of future con- 

 gresses, should such be determined on. Others than delegates from societies are 

 invited, though they will not be entitled to vote. Cards of invitation may be 

 obtained from Mr. George Abbott, 57, The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells. 



The French Association for the Advancement of Science will meet at Tunis 

 from April i to 4. Further information may be obtained from the secretary, 28 rue 

 Serpente, Paris. 



The various American Scientific Societies had their annual meetings at the 

 close of last year. Lists of the papers read are published in the February number 

 of the American Naturalist. 



In view of the attempts that have recently been made to legalise the use of the 

 metric system in Great Britain, it is interesting to notice that it has been introduced 

 into the new edition of the British Pharmacopoeia. 



We regretted to hear a short time ago that a male and female of the Golden 

 Eagle had been shot in Kent, and had passed into the hands of the local taxidermist. 

 A correspondent of Science Gossip states that this was only " an immature white-tailed 

 or sea eagle." A propos of this, Mr. H. S. Salt draws attention to the following sugges- 

 tions offered by the Humanitarian League as to the best use which county councils 

 can make of the powers given them by the Wild Birds Protection Act of 1894 : — 



(i) That all protection which mentions particular species of birds is unsatisfac- 

 tory, because some species are almost sure to be omitted, which, not being common. 



