374 NEWS [NOVEMBER 
We learn from Science that Dr. R. Burckhardt, professor of palaeontology at 
Basle, and Dr. V. Uhlig, professor of geology in the German Technical Institute 
of Prag, have been elected members of the Academy of Sciences of Halle. 
Professors D. J. Cunningham and W. C. M'‘Intosh have been appointed 
as scientific members of a commission to inquire into inland fisheries in Ireland. 
Ernst Ebermayer resigns his professorship of forestry in the University of 
Miinchen. 
W. von Ahles resigns his professorship of botany in the Technical Institute 
in Stuttgart. 
A bacteriologist is wanted for the Glamorgan County Council and Cardiff 
Corporation, who shall also lecture on bacteriology in the University College, 
Cardiff. The salary is £300. Applications have to be sent before 6th 
November to Mr. W. E. R. Allen, County Offices, Cardiff. 
During October the Swiney Lectures on Geology in connection with the 
British Museum (Nat. Hist.) were delivered by Dr. R. H. Traquair, who chose 
for his subject the “ Pleistocene Mammalia.” Since the Natural History 
Museum is still without a lecture-theatre, the course was given at the Museum 
of Practical Geology. After next year, when Dr. Traquair’s appointment 
terminates, the post will be open to any doctor of medicine or science of the 
University of Edinburgh. 
A curious thing about this lecturing at Jermyn Street is that the audience 
is far smaller than it used to be at South Kensington. However convenient 
Jermyn Street may be for the agriculturist in search of water, or the mining 
speculator who wants an analysis of a new sample of ore, it is, in the opinion 
of the Swiney lecturer, more remote from the ordinary student of natural 
science than is South Kensington. This tells against those who wish to keep 
all the Survey collections in their present confined quarters. 
A circular from an influential committee formed at the Dover meeting of the 
British Association is headed with the words: “It is at least probable that the 
closing year of the nineteenth century, in which science has played so great a 
part, may, at Paris, during the great World’s Fair—which every friend, not of 
science only, but of humanity, trusts may not be put aside or even injured 
through any untoward event, and which promises to be an occasion not of 
pleasurable sight-seeing only, but also, by its International Congresses, of 
international communing in the search for truth—witness the first select Witen- 
agemote of the Science of the world.” 
It proceeds to say that, ‘‘ Following upon the hopes and counsels of Sir 
Michael Foster’s Presidential Address and upon the reunions of the British and 
French Associations, it is felt that the time is now ripe for some more permanent 
organisation which should maintain, develop, and utilise the good relations thus 
so fully initiated. It is therefore proposed to form a General and Advisory 
Committee consisting of members of the British Association, the Association 
Frane¢aise, and of other representatives of Pure and Applied Science, Education, 
Art, ete., with the object of promoting arrangements for an International 
Meeting or Assembly in connection with the Paris Exposition of 1900.” 
“Tt is widely felt that there is not only room but need for some organisation 
which would bring together, for each of the leading Departments and Con- 
gresses of the Exposition, the specialist, the educationalist, and the intelligent 
public; and this on all grounds, from those of personal convenience, and 
economy of time, money, and effort, to the highest considerations of scientific 
progress and international amity.” 
Names of those willing to join the General Committee of this proposed 
Paris International Assembly, which, we learn, has been warmly welcomed in 
France, and has received a munificent beginning to a guarantee fund in Britain, 

