io4 NOTES AND COMMENTS [February 



by the knowledge that resignation was not intended to mean retirement 

 from active research. On the contrary, as was announced some time 

 ago, Prof. Agassiz has taken this step in order to devote his energies 

 and talents, not to speak of means, to the pursuit of zoological investi- 

 gation in distant and difficult fields. Zoologists must congratulate him 

 on this resolution, deeply as they regret the severance of his official 

 connection with the world-renowed museum which he has been so 

 largely instrumental in creating. For all time the Museum of Com- 

 parative Zoology will be a noble monument to the name of Agassiz. 

 But the parting act and the parting gift ! These, indeed, command 

 our admiration. As we read the deed of gift, its pathos and nobility 

 seems to us indeed worthy of an Agassiz : — " I, Alexander Agassiz, of 

 Cambridge, in consideration of one dollar and other valuable considera- 

 tions to me, paid by the President and Fellows of Harvard College, 

 the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, do hereby give, grant, and 

 convey to the said President and Fellows the following described 

 articles of personal property now belonging to me, and contained in 

 or used in connection with the Museum of Comparative Zoology." 



There then follows in the space of half a page a list of most of the 

 contents of this museum and teaching institution. 



The " valuable considerations " chiefly relate to permission being 

 granted to Prof. Agassiz and his private assistants to use certain rooms 

 of the museum for purposes of research, and as a storing-place for — 

 later on to be made the permanent home of — his future collections. 

 Many of us who have come in contact with Prof. Agassiz have ex- 

 perienced his liberality and self-sacrifice for the cause of science. 

 What greater praise of this, his most recent act, can one give than 

 this, that it is worthy of the man ? 



Mosquitoes. 



The alleged connection between Mosquitoes and Malaria has led to a 

 special interest in the collection of various forms of Culicidae, and in 

 this matter the authorities of the British Museum have printed a seven 

 page tract of instructions how to collect. The chief points in the col- 

 lection of Culicidae to be borne in mind are, not to use spirit, to pin 

 specimens directly they have been killed, and to send specimens home 

 as soon as possible, because they are liable to go mouldy if kept after 

 death in tropical countries. One of the chief objects of this investiga- 

 tion is the determination of the various kinds of Mosquitoes, since the 

 species belonging to the family are at present but little known. The 

 tract, which applies to all species of Diptera, can be obtained by appli- 

 cation to the Director of the British Museum (Natural History), 

 London, S.W. 



