356 NATURAL SCIENCE. May, 



The Kew Bulletin announces that the Queen has ceded to Kew Gardens the 

 tract of land known as the Palace Meadow. This gracious act will allow the public 

 easy access to the arboretum. 



Dr. Ferdinand Lataste has several communications in Actes Soc. Sci. Chili, 

 iv., part 4, one of which is illustrated by a plate, on the abnormal development of 

 the horns in ruminants, which will be of interest to those who followed Mr. Holding's 

 remarks on the same subject before the Zoological Society on February 5 last. 



We learn that Mr. Sinel has taken charge of an oyster culture establishment in 

 Jersey, and that Mr. Hornell is therefore in entire charge of the Jersey Biological 

 Station at present. The first instalment of the second series of Studies in Marine 

 Zoology is to hand, the high standard of the preparations being fully kept up. The 

 new slides are a colony of Spharozoum, the larva of Antedon, and an entire Pteropod 

 Cresis. We have also received the Journal containing the descriptions and plates ; 

 the latter are a great improvement, and leave scarcely anything to be desired. Mr. 

 Hornell announces a new series of microscopical studies in botany at the absurd 

 price of 21s. for 20 slides, with letterpress and descriptions, for which there should 

 be no lack of subscribers. 



The American Geologist informs us that the Legislature of Michigan is considering 

 the advisability of entering upon a complete topographical survey of the state, in 

 co-operation with the United States Geological Survey. Maine is also making 

 efforts to found a geological survey of the state. 



The first instalment of the International Geological Map of Europe, which 

 was promoted at the Geological Congress held at Bologna in 1881, has just been 

 issued. It consists of six sheets, and embraces Iceland, a small part of the coast of 

 Greenland, Northern and Central Germany, Belgium, Holland, and portions of 

 Eastern France, Southern Denmark, and Northern Austria. The second part, 

 which will consist of ten sheets, will be issued during the current year, and will 

 contain Great Britain, France, Portugal, Southern Germany, Switzerland, the 

 greater part of Italy, and the western portion of Austria-Hungary. There will be 

 forty-nine sheets altogether, on a scale of 1 : 1,500,000, or nearly twenty-four miles 

 to the inch. Dr. Hauchecorne and Professor Beyrich are superintending the work, 

 while the topographical details are being laid down by Professor H. Kiepert. The 

 subscription price for this map, from Mr. Edward Stanford, is ninety shillings, if 

 subscribed for before June 25, but after this date the price will be raised to six 

 pounds. 



The promoters of the Macleay " Memorial " volume state that it is not a financial 

 success. We are not in the least surprised to hear it, and have already remarked on 

 the inconvenience of this method of publication (Natural Science, vol. iv., p. 242). 



The Birmingham Post states that Mr. Cecil Rhodes, as chairman of the British 

 South Africa Company, has offered a tract of land of 200,000 acres in Mashonaland 

 as a game preserve, conditionally on those promoting this preserve-scheme under- 

 taking to provide the funds necessary to enclose, stock, and maintain such an area. 

 It is suggested that a society thus started could hope to become self-supporting and 

 possibly remunerative by the export of animals to menageries and museums. Mr. 

 Selous, Mr. F. J. Jackson, and Mr. J. E. Harting are among those specially 

 interested in the scheme. 



By the kindness of Dr. Henry Woodward we are informed that a letter has been 

 received from Dr. Forsyth Major, dated Central Madagascar, February 22. 

 Dr. Major landed at Mananzari and proceeded to Fianarantsoa, afterwards 



