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80 NEWS [NOVEMBER 1899 



Dr. Howard, in his paper on " Gad-Flies " at the meeting of the American 

 Association for the Advancement of Science, noted that before the Russian 

 entomologist Porchinki he had tried and advocated the method of destroying 

 these insects by means of a kerosene film spread over the pools. 



Three cities contended for the distinction of entertaining the meeting of the 

 American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1900, namely, Denver, 

 Philadelphia, and New York. The latter was decided upon. The date was 

 fixed for June, from the 25th to the 30th, in order to suit members who may 

 wish to attend the Paris Exposition. The president for 1900 is Prof. R. S. 

 Woodward, of Columbia University, distinguished for his services in astronomy, 

 geodesy, and mathematics. 



The Scientific American notes that the director of the U.S. Geological Survey 

 has just issued a pamplet entitled " Maps and Descriptions of Routes of Explora- 

 tions in Alaska in 1898, with General Information concerning the Territory." There 

 are ten maps, and special reports on various expeditions, general information 

 concerning the Territory, and tabulated information, including the gold pro- 

 duction of Alaska. The various routes and means of transportation are clearly 

 shown. The publication is intended for widespread distribution, and copies 

 can be obtained by the aid of Congressmen. 



We learn from Science, that in addition to $300,000 subscribed from various 

 sources for the endowment of Brown University, on condition that $2,000,000 

 be collected, Mr. John D. Rockfeller, already famous for his munificence, has 

 offered quarter of a million dollars on condition that a million be raised before 

 the commencement of next year. 



The Scientific American notes that the New York Zoological Society has 

 secured from express companies a concession in rates on live animals. Formerly 

 the cost of transporting live animals was very high, and the reduction will be a 

 great boon to zoological gardens and the like throughout the States. 



The renowned botanist and philologist, Stephan Ladislaus Endlicher, who 

 died in 1849, was buried along with his wife Cecilia in the Matzlemsdorfer 

 Cemetery in Vienna. On the 21st of June 1899 the bodies were removed to a 

 worthier resting-place near the main entrance to the central Friedhof. The 

 Rector of the University, Prof. J. Wiesner, and the Director of the Botanical 

 Gardens, delivered short orations in praise of Endlicher's genius and the services 

 which he rendered to botany, philology, and science in general. (See Verh. 

 Zool. Hot. Ges. Wien. xlix. 1899, pp. 359-361.) 



