Scientific Gleanings, 75 



for it a place among the institutions which shall contribute largely 

 to the real advancement of science. Let me add, with respect to 

 the lectures to be delivered by the curators, that, while they 

 would be a means of progress for themselves in their studies, they 

 would also learn the difficult art of teaching, and prepare them- 

 selves to occupy higher situations in this or other Universities. 



" While we must wait until the means are secured for founding 

 professorships in the different departments of zoology, I believe 

 that it will be easy to enlist the sympathy and co-operation of all 

 the men in the country, who have acquired for themselves a high 

 position as original investigators in the various departments of 

 Zoology. Honorary degrees are conferred, all the world over, by 

 learned institutions on men distinguished for their attainments. 

 It would be equally honorable to our university, and to the distin- 

 guished naturalists of the country, if it should please the corpora- 

 tion to grant to such men the title of honorary professors of this 

 university. Until we can have a faculty of resident professors, 

 we can at least have one of honorary professors ; and I know 

 those who, gratified by such an honorable distinction, would not 

 hesitate to come to Cambridge annually for a short time, and 

 give to our students the benefit of their knowledge, by delivering 

 short courses of lectures in their respective departments." 



Twenty-eighth Meeting op the British Association for the advance- 

 ment of Science. — Geological Section. 



The Ossiferous Cavern at Brixham. — A paper on this subject 

 was read by Mr. W. Pengelly, but not published in the Athenaeum 

 fiom which our extracts are made. Fortunately W. A. Bovey 

 Esq., Advocate of this city, has a letter from his father, who lives 

 upon the spot in which the following passage occurs, which he 

 has kindly permitted us to copy. 



" I must not forget to mention a discovery recently made in 

 our town, resulting from the Commons Inolosure Acts. We sold 

 a portion of Windmill Rea Common, immediately over Mrs. 

 Francis to a Mr. Philp for building purposes. On blowing out 

 the rock for a foun l.ttion, they came in upon a cavern ; the floor 

 of which consisted principally of calcareous stalagmite, very solid 

 and compact. On exploring it, a very large stag's antler was 

 found imbedded in it, and several bones of the elk, fox, cY/c. (fee. 



A party of scientific gentlemen from Torquay subsequently ex- 

 plored it, and obtaining a grant of money from the Geological 



