76 NEWS [sULY 
Popular lectures on birds have been delivered in the Museum, illustrated by 
specimens in the cases and books brought in from the Library ; and the notes 
are now printed in the Journal. 
This year no appropriation has been made for the New York State weather 
service. The sum is only $4500 dollars per annum, but with the volunteer aid 
of nearly 2500 persons, it has been enough to maintain a weather signal station 
in conjunction with the Bureau at Washington, to publish weekly ‘ Crop 
Bulletins,” much appreciated by the farmers, and to carry on observations, and 
numerous stations, some of which have continuous records for thirty years. 
“This interruption,” says Science, ‘will make a break in the files which can 
never be repaired.” 
In its fifth session, which will be held in Germany in 1901, the International 
Congress of Zoology will award for the third time the prize founded by His 
Majesty the Tzar Nicolas II. The following subjects are proposed, though the 
whole need not be dealt with :—‘ Influence of light on the development of 
colours in Lepidoptera: the causes determining the differences of colours, form, 
and structure of parts covered during the resting position in insects.” 
The memoirs presented may be in manuscript or printed ; in the latter case 
their date of publication must be subsequent to September 1898. They should 
be written in French, and addressed before the 1st of May 1901 to Prof. A. Milne- 
Edwards, 57 Rue Cuvier, Paris, or to Prof. R. Blanchard, 226 Boulevard Saint 
Germain, Paris. According to rule, naturalists belonging to the country in 
which the Congress is to be held are not eligible. 
The 69th meeting of the British Association will commence, on September 
13, at Dover, under the presidency of Professor Sir Michael Foster, who will 
deliver an address at 8 p.m. At two evening meetings, which will begin at 
8.30 p.M., discourses will be delivered on September 15 by Professor Charles 
Richet, and on September 18 by Professor J. A. Fleming. The concluding 
meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 20, at 2.30 p.m., when the 
association will be adjourned to its next place of meeting. 
The following are the titles of the sections and the names of the members 
who have been nominated by the Council for the office of President of 
Sections :—(A.) Mathematical and Physical Science, Prof. J. H. Poynting ; (B.) 
Chemistry, Mr. Horace T. Brown; (C.) Geology, Sir Archibald Geikie ; (D.) 
Zoology, Mr. Adam Sedgwick ; (E.) Geography, Sir John Murray ; (F.) Eco- 
nomic Science and Statistics, Mr. Henry Higgs; (G.) Mechanical Science, Sir 
W. H. White; (H.) Anthropology, Mr. C. H. Read ; (I.) Physiology, Dr. J. N. 
Langley ; (K.) Botany, Sir George King. 
The meeting will have the special feature of being of an International 
character, as an interchange of visits has been arranged with the French 
Association for the Advancement of Science, which will hold its meeting this 
year at Boulogne. The members of the French Association will visit Dover 
on Saturday, September 16; and it is proposed that a formal reception of 
the visitors shall take place in the morning before the proceedings of the 
Sections begin, which they are invited to attend. The members of the British 
Association are invited to visit Boulogne on the following Thursday. 
The Mayors and Corporations of Dover and Canterbury, the Military 
Authorities of the South-Eastern District, and the leading Scientific and 
Educational Institutions have signified their desire to take part in the enter- 
tainment of the Association. 
The Castle, Docks, and National Harbour Works will be open for inspection 
during the meeting. Excursions will be arranged to places of interest in the 
neighbourhood of Dover, and there will be special Geological excursions in the 
afternoons. Excursions will also be arranged to Calais and Ostend, and a 
longer one to towns of Northern France and Belgium at the conclusion of the 
meeting. 
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