66 NATURAL SCIENCE. July, 



The Austrian Academy of Sciences has elected as honorary members Professor 

 G. G. Stokes and Mr. C. L. Griesbach, the Director of the Geological Survey 

 of India, who is now home on furlough. 



We have received the programme of the summer course that is to be held in 

 Jena during August. The natural science section, which begins on the 3rd and ends 

 on the 15th, is for teachers who have had an academic training, and is open to 

 foreigners. The following lectures are announced : Principles of Natural Philosophy 

 from the Modern Standpoint, Dr. Auerbach ; the Structure and Life of Plants, 

 illustrated by experiments suitable for schools, Dr. W. Detmer ; Introduction to 

 Microscopic Botany and Experiments in Plant-Physiology, Dr. W. Detmer ; 

 Introduction to Modern Zoology, with practical work, Dr. Romer ; with other 

 lectures on physical, psychological, and philosophical subjects. 



The seventh session of the Biological Laboratory of the Brooklyn Institute of 

 Arts and Sciences, under the direction of Professor H. W. Conn, will be held at Cold 

 Spring Harbour, Long Island, for six weeks, starting on July 3. 



The Geological Survey of Kansas, carried on under the auspices of the 

 University by Professor E. Haworth and his assistants, has published its first 

 volume. This may be had by sending the cost of postage (22 cents) to Chancellor 

 F. H. Snow, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. 



That excellent idea of half covering the skeleton with a papier-mache repre- 

 sentation of the outline of the fleshy parts, of which so fine a specimen is to be 

 seen in the man and the horse in the Central Hall of the British Museum (Natural 

 History), is likely to be applied to the Cetacea. At least, we imagine that this 

 method of exhibition is to be one of Sir William Flower's improvements, for we 

 have noted a beluga treated this way in the old whale room. No doubt when the 

 new whale gallery is opened we shall see for the first time the appearance of these 

 huge animals in the flesh, and Sir William Flower will once more have shown that 

 in his opinion the Museum belongs to the public quite as much as to the curator. 

 It is surprising how much energy is being spent at the Museum, and when we 

 consider the lethargic nature of museums as a rule, it is remarkable to see how 

 rapidly the science changes and improves at the Natural History Museum. 



We saw, a short time ago, that some new museum buildings were projected at 

 Brighton, not before they were wanted. Miss Agnes Crane informs us that the 

 plans are indeed passed, but that the money has not been borrowed ; and we now 

 learn from the Brii^liton Herald that the Town Council has some idea of carrying out 

 an alteration and enlargement of the public library and news-room, leaving the 

 museum and art gallery for some future occasion. Even if the plans are carried out, 

 there will not be so large an extension of the natural history portion of the museum 

 as is desirable, since a large room, already taken from it for pottery exhibits, will not 

 be returned to it, but incorporated in the new art gallery. This is the more to be 

 regretted, as, when the site is once covered, there can be no further extension. A 

 guide to the Brighton Museum will shortly be published, and the new illustrated 

 catalogue of the Booth bird-collection of British birds is now out at the price of is. 



We have received the Report of the Trustees of the South African Museum for 

 1895. Pending the arrival of Mr. W. L, Sclater, the newly-appointed curator, who 

 will superintend the transference of the collections into their new building, 

 L. Peringuey has been acting curator. Constant attention has kept in check the 

 various insect pests, especially the "incredible numbers of that scourge of zoological 

 collections, the Anthrcinus beetle," and Mr. Peringuey naturally looks forward with 

 relief to the air-tight iron and glass cases, on Dr. A. B. Meyer's system, which will 

 form a feature of the new fittings. These cases are to be supplied by Chubb and 



