1896. NEWS OF UNIVERSITIES, ETC. 215 



Dr. Emil Goeldi continues his practical instructions to collectors in the June 

 number of the Boletim do Miiseu Paraense, contributing also a long biography of 

 Johannes von Natterer, which includes an account of his several voyages, and a 

 portrait. He mentions the great accessions to the collections during the year 1894, 

 especially among the vertebrates and insects. The Geology of Para, by Professor 

 C. F. Hartt, finds a place in the Boletim, and Dr. Erich Wasmann prints a paper on 

 the insects commensal with the ants and termites of Brazil. 



In the Daily Chronicle for Saturday, August 8, there appeared an interesting 

 account of " The Club " which was founded by Dr. Johnson and Sir Joshua Reynolds 

 in 1764. The literary naturalists who have been members of this exclusive body are 

 Oliver Goldsmith (for his "Animated Nature," a translation of Buffon), Sir Joseph 

 Banks, Sir H. C. Englefield, Dean Buckland, Davies Gilbert, Professor Owen, the 

 Duke of Argyll, Sir R. I. Murchison, and Professor Huxley. 



Dr. Forsyth Major is expected to reach London before September. 



Andree, after a successful landing on the Danskoar, building of the balloon- 

 house, and filling of his balloon, has been obliged, by a continuous northerly wind, 

 to postpone his ascent, probably till next year. He has however succeeded, we 

 learn, in making a trial trip. The Conway Expedition arrived safely at Hammerfest 

 on August 20. Conway, Gregory, and Garwood succeeded in crossing Spitzbergen. 

 The " Windward," which picked up "Nansen, brings favourable news of the Jackson 

 party. 



The State College, Centre County, Pennsylvania, is constructing a truncated 

 pyramid of 220 representative building stones, according to the Engineering and 

 Mining Journal. This is to be called a geological polylith, and it is intendtd to be 

 not only an instructive object lesson, but a notice that the Pennsylvania State 

 College is founding a bureau of information concerning the distribution and qualities 

 of building stones. The pyramid will represent in its construction the strati- 

 graphical position of the rocks. 



Science gives some statistics obtained from physicians as to the results of anti- 

 oxin, which on the whole are very favourable, the mortality being decidedly lower 

 than formerly. 



Brighton is degnerating. The scheme for altering and extending the Museum, 

 the Library, and the Art Gallery has been shelved indefinitely. 



The first reading of the Bill to introduce the use of the metric system into this 

 country took place in the House of Commons on July 30. 



The British Association, which meets at Liverpool, on Wednesday, September 16, 

 has arranged for a series of excursions to suit the archaeological, geological, zoologi- 

 cal, and botanical visitors. The geologists will be led by Boyd-Dawkins and 

 Lamplugh, and will visit the Isle of Man. The zoologists, under the guidance of 

 Herdman and Thompson, will dredge between Port Erin and Ramsey. The 

 botanists, under Weiss and Kermode, will also visit the Isle of Man. A scientific 

 handbook to Liverpool and the neighbourhood is in course of preparation, and the 

 usual facilities will be offered to visitors by the owners of manufacturing and engi- 

 neering works for an inspection of their buildings. The reception room will be at 

 St. George's Hall. 



