214 NATURAL SCIENCE [September 1898 
THE expedition of Mr C. E. Borchgrewink to the Antarctic is to sail early 
in October on board the ‘Southern Cross,’ built by Mr Colin Archer, architect 
of the ‘Fram. The scientific staff includes Sub-Lieutenant William Colbeck, 
R.N.R., and Mr Louis Bernacchi of the Melbourne Observatory, as magnetic 
officers; Dr Herlof Klévstad of Christiania Observatory, as medical officer ; 
Messrs Nicolai Hansen and Hugh Evans, as zoologists and collectors. 
THE Egyptian -Geological Survey proposes to attack the Peninsula of Sinai 
during the coming winter. From Dr W. F. Hume, who, with Mr Skill as 
topographer, will survey regions as yet little explored, we look for some in- 
teresting results. 
THE Congo Independent State intends to make a thorough scientific survey of 
Tanganyika. Twenty observation and experiment stations have already been 
built, and collections will be made of the flora, fauna, and geological specimens. 
The results have to be published at Brussels in a new periodical, the Scientific 
Annals, which will appear every six weeks. 
AN expedition is being fitted out in Amsterdam for the zoological, botanical, 
and oceanographic exploration of the waters of the East Indian Archipelago. The 
leader will be Dr Max Weber, professor of zoology at Amsterdam University. He 
will be accompanied by Mrs Weber, who will have charge of the botanical section 
of the researches, and by Dr J. Versluys and Mr H. F. Nierstrasz, who will 
assist in zoology. 
THE German deep-sea expedition, on the s.s. ‘Valdivia,’ of the Hamburg- 
American Line, Captain Krech, left Cuxhaven at 8 p.m. on August 1st, and crossed 
to Granton. Some successful trials of the apparatus were made on the way. The 
scientific staff consists of Prof. Chun of Leipzig, director ; Prof. Schimper of Bonn 
as botanist, Drs Apstein and Vanhoffen of Kiel, and Dr Braem of Breslau, as 
zoologists ; Dr G. Schott of Hamburg as oceanographer ; Dr P. Schmidt of Leip- 
zig as chemist. Navigating officer Sachae, Dr Bachmann of Breslau as bacteriolo- 
gist and medical officer. Non-ofticial members are the zoologists, Dr Brauer of 
Marburg a/L., and Dr zur Strassen of Leipzig; and Mr F. Winter of Frankfort, 
as draughtsman and photographer. The laboratories and cabins are spacious and 
admirably fitted up, and the ship is supplied with a fine scientific library. On 
the evening of August 4 the ‘ Valdivia’ again sailed for the Faroe Channel ; she will 
pass round the north of Scotland, and then go down to Cape Town, where she is 
due towards the end of November. 
