402 NATURAL SCIENCE. December. 



collection of living animals, and that those present form a committee, with power to 

 add to their number, for the purpose of advancing this object." This was carried 

 unanimously, and a sub-committee was appointed to make enquiries for a suitable 

 site. The site that it is now desired to acquire is in Sefton Park, and for this 

 purpose a sum of at least /zo.ooo is needed. Liverpool certainly seems an excellent 

 place in which to start a zoological garden, since it is in such direct communication 

 by means of its trade with all parts of the world. It appears, moreover, to be a 

 healthy place for exotic animals, so far as one can judge from those which live well 

 enough in Mr. Crosse's well-known collection. We hope, therefore, that the money 

 will soon be subscribed. 



The report of the trustees of the Australian Museum, Sydney, is chiefly 

 remarkable for the record of 2,231 MoUusca added to the collections in 1895. Among 

 the donors, the chief is Mr. W. A. Horn. A large collection of fossil Bryozoa was 

 presented by Mr. R. Etheridge, jun. The usual want of funds has prevented the 

 trustees from acquiring many specimens of great value, and this same want has 

 seriously stopped collecting work, from which alone one can acquire duplicates to 

 exchange with other institutions. One of the most important acquisitions during 

 the year was one of Captain Cook's original MS. journals, the Log of the "Endeavour," 

 presented by Mr. F. H. Dangar. A curious and unfortunate event was the 

 destruction of the entire roof over the central part of the main building by white 

 ants. This had to be shored up immediately on discovery, and the erection of a new 

 roof will at once be proceeded with. The literature received by the library is 

 printed in full catalogue manner, and thus admits of the cutting up of two copies, 

 so as to form a card catalogue. This is an excellent arrangement and worthy the 

 attention of other museums. The printing of the author's name in full to each entry, 

 instead of using the repeat dash, would facilitate the arrangements considerably, 

 and in but a few instances would extend the entry over another line. We are glad 

 to note that, despite reductions in other directions, an official photographer is still 

 attached to the staff, and a proper printing press with all plant necessary for the 

 printing of labels will be in full working order next year. 



The Institute of Jamaica, to judge from its Report for the year ending March, 

 1896, is in a flourishing condition. The museum has been removed from the lower 

 floor of Date Tree Hall to adjoining new premises. These consist of two floors, 

 the lower devoted to the collections of the Government Geological Survey, the 

 Jamaica woods, and most of the natural history collections ; the upper floor filled 

 with the anthropological and the rock and mineral collections. By reason of these 

 changes the library accommodation has been greatly increased, and the art depart- 

 ment given room to develop. An attempt has been made to increase the public 

 interest in the museum and natural history generally by the publication of museum 

 notes in the Kingston newspapers. There has been an increase of 28 per cent, in 

 the attendance of visitors to the museum. 



A Museum of Arts and Sciences is being built by the Brooklyn Institute. 



A Museum of natural history has recently been established at Providence, R.I. 

 Mr. James M. Southwick has been appointed Curator, and his object is to obtain 

 collections representative of the local fauna, after which he hopes to form small 

 loan collections for educational purposes. 



The Geo. H. Cook Museum of Geology in Rutger's College Museum, New 

 Jersey, U.S., is described by its assistant curator, W. S. Valiant, in Science for 

 October 16th. Several collections, including over 12,000 specimens of minerals. 

 occupy part of the museum, which also contains large collections of recent molluscs, 



