47° NEWS [DECEMBER 1899 



thology and mammalogy, and his examination will include a practical test in the 

 identification of specimens of birds and mammals. In fact, these two subjects 

 count 70 per cent in the examination to be held. The person who succeeds in 

 passing will be placed on the eligible list, and if selected will receive the 

 munificent salary of $660 per annum. 



The American Naturalist notes that an Entomological Society has been 

 founded, with Dr. E. F. Felt, State Entomologist, as president. 



The Scientific American notes that the executors of the late Prof. O. C. 

 Marsh have sold his valuable collection of orchids, but the prices were extremely 

 low. It seems a pity that a collection of this size and importance was not pro- 

 cured intact for some botanical garden. 



Prof. A. L. Herrera has been kind enough to send us a small sample of 

 calcareous soap mixed with albumen and peptone, which when warmed on the 

 slide with water will move and fill with vacuoles, without, however, giving off 

 any pseudopodia. 



We learn from the Scientific American that for several years attempts have 

 been made at Omaha and Los Angeles to hatch the eggs of the ostrich arti- 

 ficially, but so far we believe their attempts have been unsuccessful, the diffi- 

 culty being the application of moisture. Now, however, an ostrich farm in 

 Florida can boast of the first incubator-hatched ostrich in the United States. 

 The incubation required forty-one days of careful watching, the thermometer 

 was kept at 110° and the moisture was applied at intervals. 



On November 21 the Edinburgh Town Council gave a favourable reception 

 to an influential deputation who appeared in order to urge the Corporation to 

 give their influence towards the promotion of the movement for the establish- 

 ment of a zoological garden in Edinburgh. 



The Mortimer Museum of Antiquities at Driffield, Yorkshire, contains a very 

 good local collection. Its owner has offered it to the East Riding County 

 Council for half its value, the value to be decided by two referees, one to be 

 appointed by the Council and the other by Mr. Mortimer. We understand that 

 the Council has, on legal grounds, some hesitation in accepting this generous 

 offer ; but we hope that it will be bold enough to follow the example of other 

 County Councils, as otherwise, on Mr. Mortimer's death, the collections will be 

 sold and scattered. 



