358 NATURAL SCIENCE [November 1898 
WE learn from the Times that Dr A. G. Nathorst’s Swedish Arctic expedition 
has returned safely to Troms6. The expedition was most successful, the natural 
history of King Charles Land is now completely known, and some important 
hints between the geology of Franz Josef Land and Spitzbergen have been estab- 
lished. Bear Island was surveyed and mapped by Lieut. Kjellstron and Dr 
Hamberg, as also was King Charles Land, the former on a scale of 1:50,000, and 
the latter of 1:100,000. Bell Sound was also mapped and the Greenland ice-pack 
was touched at 78° 1’ N. lat., 4° 9’ W. long. The geology of White Island was 
ascertained, and the island was found to be covered by an ice-cap from which 
table bergs are constantly given off. Passing on to Charles XII. Island the 
expedition visited Freuenberg Bay, Grey Hook, and Danes Island, after which a 
circumnavigation of Spitzbergen and its surrounding islands was completed. 
Large collections have been brought back. 
WE learn from the Athenaewm that a new scientific expedition to Central Asia 
is being furnished by the Imperial Russian Geographical Society in Kasan. The 
leadership of the expedition is entrusted to Prof. Sorolin, and all the other 
members of the expedition are professors of the Kasan University. A prepara- 
tory sum of 20,000 roubles has been granted towards the cost. The expedition 
will shortly set out towards Nora, in Central Asia, where the members will 
pursue geographical, ethnographical, and geological studies. 
Auso that a Dutch deep-sea expedition, under the conduct of Prof. M. Weber, 
of Amsterdam, is also to start from Holland during the present autumn. Its 
range will be less extensive than that of the German deep-sea expedition, as it 
will be limited to zoology, botany, and oceanography within the eastern part of 
the East Indian Archipelago. 
MesILLA PARK has started a science club, under the presidency of Mr C. M. 
Barber. 
BARNARD CouuEce, U.S.A., will shortly equip a botanical laboratory to be 
named in memory of Prof. Emily L. Gregory. The Botanical Club have sub- 
scribed 500 dollars as a nucleus to the fund. 
Ir is proposed to erect a Biological Station in the Bermudas. Prof. C. L. 
Bristol of New York University has gone there with a party of students. 
AccorDINnG to the Times of Oct. 1, a specimen of the ‘takahe,’ the large rail 
of New Zealand, Notornis mantelli, has recently been found, This bird was first 
recognised by Owen in 1847 in a collection of bones sent home by Walter 
Mantell, the types of which are in the British Museum. <A second specimen was 
obtained from Middle Island by some sealers in 1849, and this was also acquired 
by Mantell. In 1852 a third individual was killed on Secretary Island, the skin 
of which was preserved. The remains of these two are preserved at the British 
Museum. No further trace of the bird was seen till 1879, when one was caught 
alive near Lake Te Anau by a hunter who killed it ; it was secured by a Mr 
Connor, who sold the specimen in London in 1882 by auction for £110, and it is 
now in Dresden. Fragments of a fifth specimen were found in 1884 also near 
Lake Te Anau, and these went to Dunedin. The new find makes the sixth 
recorded specimen of a species evidently rapidly approaching extinction. 
Another and later letter to the Times stated that the writer could furnish 
as many specimens as wanted, 
AN interesting balloon ascent was made on Thursday, September 14, by Mr 
Stanley Spencer and Dr Berson, who reached the altitude of 27,500 feet, only 
some 1500 less than Coxwell and Glaisher’s record of 1862, They descended near 
Romford after being up some four hours. At 25,000 feet the aeronauts had to 
breathe compressed oxygen. Numerous observations were made, the results of 
which are awaited with considerable interest. 
