76 NATURAL SCIENCE. Jan., 
UNDER the direction of Professor Osborn, a series of lectures on the results of 
current researches in Biology is being delivered this session at the Columbia 
College, New York. The course is arranged to meet the requirements of advanced 
students and biologists engaged in research. 
AccoRDING to the American Naturalist the new Natural History Institute of the 
University of Illinois, at Champaign, was opened on November 16 last. The cost 
of the building was about 78,000 dollars, and it will contain the Natural History 
library (of 20,000 volumes), museum, laboratories, and lecture rooms. 
THE Town Council of Ipswich has decided to open the Museum and Public 
Library on Sunday afternoons. 
WE are glad to learn that the Yorkshire Philosophical Society has reduced the 
admission fee for the York Museum on Saturday afternoons to the small sum of one 
penny. This generous concession to the public is much appreciated. 
Tue shareholders of the Bristol Museum and Library have nowconfirmed their 
resolution, to offer their property as a gift to the City of Bristol. The discussion of 
the subject seems to have been chiefly confined to the library, but we hope that 
some naturalist of influence will be found to watch the interests of the museum. 
Fortunately, the valuable collections are safeguarded by the endowment fund, which 
necessitates the interference of the trustees of the British Museum, and their 
sanction to whatever arrangements may be made. 
A FuND for the benefit of the widow and daughter of the late Mr. T. J. Moore, 
formerly curator uf the Liverpool Museum, is being collected by a local committee, 
of which the Rev. H. H. Higgins is treasurer, and Mr. Richard Paden secretary. 
Contributions addressed to either of these gentlemen at the Liverpool Museum will 
be gladly received. 
THE plans of the Sedgwick Geological Museum were under discussioa at Cam- 
bridge last month, and there now seems to be a prospect of the early realisation of 
the long-projected scheme for a new Memorial Museum. The staff of the Geological 
Department of the University is also to be increased by the addition of a Demon- 
strator in Palzeozoology. 
A Hanopsook for the Department of Geology in the United States National 
Museum is in course of publication. Part i., by Mr. George P. Merrill, deals with 
the Materials of the Earth’s Crust, and forms not only a useful guide to the Rock- 
collection, but also a concise introduction to Petrology. It is illustrated with photo- 
graphic plates that clearly show various kinds of rock-structure, as seen both in mass 
and under the microscope. 
Tue Right Hon. John Morley was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of 
London on December 15. 
THE Royal Geographical Society's monthly Proceedings appear this month and 
henceforth under the title of The Geographical Fournal. 
THE section of Medicine aad Surgery of the French Academy of Sciences some 
time ago formed a committee to arrange for an address. of congratulation, to be 
