i897. NEWS OF UNIVERSITIES, ETC. 143. 



hills of Douglas Co. are, in part, covered with a flow of basaltic lava, and form the 

 water-bearing rock of Eastern Washington, known as the John Day bed. This 

 contains many mammalian bones, large collections of which, as well as of insects 

 and Indian relics were obtained, and are now placed in the museum of the 

 University. 



The Daily Chronicle of January i8 announces that on January 14, Zurbriggen, 

 the famous Swiss guide attached to Fitzgerald's Andes expedition, reached the 

 summit of Aconcagua, over 24,000 feet above sea-level. Fitzgerald reached the 

 arete at 23,000 feet. 



According to the Daily Chronicle, preparations for the Austro-German Antarctic 

 Expedition have begun. Julius von Payer is taking a leading part. A preparatory 

 expedition will start from Melbourne next summer with the object of wintering at 

 Victoria Land, and making preliminary investigations. Dr. Meves (Stuttgart) is 

 entrusted with the geological and geographical researches, and Dr. Schoner with 

 those relating to botany and zoology. The final expedition is to be fitted out with two 

 ships, which will sail as far as the meridian of Kerguelen Islands. One is to winter 

 there to serve as a refuge for the crew if the principal ship founders. The latter is 

 to advance as far as the Antarctic magnetic pole, which has hitherto been fixed only 

 by means of a calculation. 



King Leopold of Belgium offers a prize of ;^i,ooo for the best essay sent in 

 before the ist of July next on the meteorological, hydrological, and geological con- 

 ditions of Equatorial Africa, from a sanitary point of view. The chief points to be 

 discussed are the mode of life, work, food, clothing, dwelling, most favourable to 

 health, the conditions affecting the life of Europeans in the Congo basin, and 

 tropical diseases and their treatment. 



Mr. Alfred Sharpe, the Acting Commissioner in British Central Africa, has 

 issued regulations with regard to the new game preserve on the Shire River. A 

 written permission must be obtained before shooting or trapping animals within a 

 prescribed area, licences may be refused, and breaches of the regulations punished. 



On Monday, December 28, a large bog near Rathmore, about twelve miles from 

 Killarney, situated on a table-land about 776 feet above sea-level, burst its bonds, 

 and flowed, in the form of black, liquid mud, over a large part of the surrounding 

 country, destroying several habitations and lives. The course followed that of the 

 Ownacree river. The escape of the bog had no connection with any earthquake 

 shock, but seems to have been due to recent heavy rains, which loosened the lower 

 layers of the bog, and caused rifts in the upper layers. 



With reference to the plague now raging in Bombay, the Bombay Gazette states 

 that the medical officer, Mr. Hankin, ascribes its diffusion chiefly to rats and ants. 

 Infected rats deposit the disease-germs on floors over which they pass. When they 

 die their bodies are eaten by ants, which absorb the bacilli and deposit them in 

 cracks, and especially near water. It is therefore not enough to remove patients 

 from their homes : it is the healthy that should be removed and carefully 

 segregated. 



From a letter in the Shooting Times of January 9 we learn that anthrax has 

 broken out among the elks in the forest of Ibenhorst, near the Kurisches Haff, in 

 the north of Germany. This, says the correspondent, R. Zeitler, is a heavy blow 

 for the stock of elk in Germany, since about forty elks perished in Lithuania last 

 spring in consequence of the high water and of frost. More than usual, also, were 

 shot in the autumn. To preserve at least a small stock in East Prussia, it has been 

 proposed that no elk should be killed during the next two years, that in future no 

 cow or calf should be shot at any time, and that the male elk should be shot only 

 during a four week's season. 



