470 NEWS [DECEMBER 1899 
thology and mammalogy, and his examination will include a practical test in the 
identification of specimens of birds and mammals. In fact, these two subjects 
count 70 per cent in the examination to be held. The person who succeeds in 
passing will be placed on the eligible list, and if selected will receive the 
munificent salary of $660 per annum. 
The American Naturalist notes that an Entomological Society has been 
founded, with Dr. E. F. Felt, State Entomologist, as president. 
The Sctentific American notes that the executors of the late Prof. O. C. 
Marsh have sold his valuable collection of orchids, but the prices were extremely 
low. It seems a pity that a collection of this size and importance was not pro- 
cured intact for some botanical garden. 
Prof. A. L. Herrera has been kind enough to send us a small sample of 
calcareous soap mixed with albumen and peptone, which when warmed on the 
slide with water will move and fill with vacuoles, without, however, giving off 
any pseudopodia. 
We learn from the Scientific American that for several years attempts have 
been made at Omaha and Los Angeles to hatch the eggs of the ostrich arti- 
ficially, but so far we believe their attempts have been unsuccessful, the diffi- 
culty being the application of moisture. Now, however, an ostrich farm in 
Florida can boast of the first incubator-hatched ostrich in the United States. 
The incubation required forty-one days of careful watching, the thermometer 
was kept at 110° and the moisture was applied at intervals. 
On November 21 the Edinburgh Town Council gave a favourable reception 
to an influential deputation who appeared in order to urge the Corporation to 
give their influence towards the promotion of the movement for the establish- 
ment of a zoological garden in Edinburgh. 
The Mortimer Museum of Antiquities at Driffield, Yorkshire, contains a very 
good local collection. Its owner has offered it to the East Riding County 
Council for half its value, the value to be decided by two referees, one to be 
appointed by the Council and the other by Mr. Mortimer. We understand that 
the Council has, on legal grounds, some hesitation in accepting this generous 
offer ; but we hope that it will be bold enough to follow the example of other 
County Councils, as otherwise, on Mr. Mortimer’s death, the collections will be 
sold and scattered. 
