i897- NEWS OF UNIVERSITIES, ETC. 427 



Phylogeny of Man." This last should interest readers of Dr. C. Earle's recent 

 paper in Natural Science. During the meeting Sir A. Geikie was formally 

 introduced to the Academy. 



Science states that the physiological library of the late Professor Du Bois- 

 Reymond has been bought by Dr. Nicholas Senn, and presented by him to the 

 Newberry Library, Chicago. On the other hand, according to Die Natur, these 

 same books have been bought by the Prussian Government on behalf of the Physio- 

 logical Society of Berlin. 



The twenty-fifth anniversary of the foundation of the Zoological Station at 

 Naples was celebrated on April 14, when addresses were presented to Dr. Anton 

 Dohrn from learned bodies in all parts of the world, and one signed by some two 

 thousand naturalists of Europe. Dr. Dohrn was admitted to the freedom of the 

 city of Naples, and received the Grand Order of the Crown of Italy. 



The annual report for 1896 of the Millport Marine Biological Station, informs 

 us that the good seed planted by Dr. David Robertson is bearing fruit. The mason 

 work of the main building is completed, and the structure was to be finished and 

 opened in May. Unfortunately, Dr Robertson has not been spared to see the 

 crown of his long and active life. The funds in hand have sufficed for the 

 construction, but another ^"300 will be wanted for fittings, etc. Since 1894, " The 

 Ark," lent by Dr. John Murray, has formed a temporary station, and has proved 

 useful to a small number of investigations, and it is hoped that the completion of the 

 permanent structure will see a large influx of scientific workers, for the possibilities 

 of Cumbrae are perfectly well known to all those who have followed Dr. David 

 Robertson's life-work. 



Notwithstanding rather boisterous weather, the usual Easter expeditions of 

 the Liverpool Marine Biology Committee, were carried on with success, and the 

 Port Erin Biological Station has never been so full of workers as it was during 

 April. During the actual Easter vacation, the rather limited accommodation was 

 more than fully occupied. The Lancashire Sea-Fisheries Steamer, has been at 

 Port Erin during the Easter week, carrying on her trawling investigations of the 

 district ; and several dredging expeditions have been made in her. Spawning fish 

 have been procured to the West of the Isle of Man, and the tanks in the Biological 

 Station now contain developing lemon soles, and witches, and a cross between 

 Myxine and the cod. 



There is to be an " international " fisheries exhibition at Bergen, from May 16 

 to Sept. 30, 1898. And there is to be a " national" fisheries congress at Tampa, 

 Florida, on Jan. 19, 1898. 



Mr. A. GiBB Maitland, late of the Geological Survey of Queensland, has been 

 appointed government geologist of West Australia, and is reorganising the staff 

 with the view of making a proper geological survey of the mining fields of the 

 colony, and publishing maps of the same. As a preliminary to this a topographical 

 survey is being prepared with the assistance of a topographer. An important 

 addition to the staff is Mr. Torrington Blatchford, of the Sydney School of Mines, 

 who has had much practical experience of mining geology. Applications have also 

 been invited by the Government for the position of assistant geologist ; while as 

 mineralogist and assayer there has been appointed Mr. Simpson of the Sydney 

 School of Mines, late chief assistant assayer to the Mount Morgan Co., Queensland. 

 A lithographic draughtsman and a clerk complete the not over-large staff, which has 

 a large and important task before it. 



Prof. W. B. Dwight of Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, has invented a machine 

 for cutting sections of rocks, minerals, and fossils. The object can be held so as to 



