1893. NEWS OF UNIVERSITIES, ETC. i57 



who discourses on " Geologic time as indicated by the Sedimentary Rocks of North 

 America " ; of the Zoological Section, Professor H. F. Osborn, whose address is to be 

 devoted to " The Rise of the Mammalia " ; of Botany, Professor C. E. Bessey, who 

 speaks on " Evolution and Classification." Dr. J. O. Dorsey, the president of the 

 Anthropological Section, will read a paper on " The Biloxi Indians of Louisiana." 



The next Congress of the French Association for the Advancement of Science 

 will be held at Besan^on from August 3 to 10. M. A. Magnin, professor at the 

 Besangon Faculte des Sciences, will preside over the botanical section, and he 

 suggests as a subject for discussion the question, already touched on, but in an 

 incomplete manner, of the formation and conservation of botanical collections, 

 also the relations of the Jura flora to the vegetation of the Alps. 



The Selborne Society celebrated the centenary of the death of Gilbert White, 

 June 26, by a visit to the Hampshire village, immortalised as the scene of the 

 unassuming naturalist's labours. Gilbert's father was squire of Selborne at the 

 time of his son's birth in 1720. Gilbert, the eldest of several sons, went to Oxford, 

 where he graduated in 1744, gaining a Fellowship at Oriel. He Hved some time at 

 the University, serving for a year as Senior Proctor. In 1753 he took a curacy, 

 but two years later we find him at his father's house at Selborne, where he stayed till 

 1758, when his father died. He then did duty in Faringdon, a neighbouring parish, 

 returning in 1784 to Selborne, where he remained as curate till his death in 1793. 

 The " Natural History of Selborne " appeared in 1789, only four years before his 

 death. 



We have received some circulars from Mr. Joseph Coe, of 33 All Saints' Street, 

 Hull, from which we learn that an excursion was conducted on June 12, 1893, to 

 Mablethorpe, by some of the more energetic naturalists of Lincolnshire, for the 

 double purpose of investigating the natural history and geology of the district, and 

 considering the question of founding a " Lincoln^,hire Naturalists' Union." Professor 

 Miall, Rev. Canon Fowler, Messrs. F. M. Burton, Denison Roebuck, John Cordeaux, 

 and others were present, Professor Miall taking the chair ; a favourable decision was 

 obtained, and those present at the excursion were formed into a temporary com- 

 mittee to draw up rules and elect officers at Lincoln on July i. At the meeting of 

 this committee the necessary formalities were proceeded with, and the first officers 

 elected. Mr. Cordeaux is to be the first President ; Messrs. W. F. Baber and Joseph 

 Coe, Honorary Secretaries ; while the sectional presidents are Mr. G. H. Caton- 

 Haigh (Vertebrate Zoology) ; Rev. C. W. Whistler (Conchology) ; Rev. Canon 

 Fowler (Entomology) ; Rev. W. Fowler (Botany) ; Mr. F. M. Burton (Geology) 

 Mr. R. J. Ward (Micro-zoology and Micro-botany). Field meetings will be held 

 twice a year, once in the northern and once in the southern division of the county ; 

 the subscription is 5s., but those subscribing los. 6d. will receive the proposed 

 publications of the society. 



The Museums' Association, which formed the subject of our first comment last 

 month, met, by permission of the Zoological Society, at 3 Hanover Square on July 3. 

 The retiring President, Professor Boyd Dawkins, was unavoidably absent, and the 

 chair was taken by the new President, Professor Sir William Flower, who delivered 

 an opening address. On Tuesday, July 4, Dr. Jonathan Hutchinson opened the 

 proceedings by a paper on " Educational Museums," which was followed by an 

 interesting discussion. Mr. Ruskin's views on Museums were expounded by Mr. 

 W. White, and Mr. Newstead read some notes " On the use of Boric Acid as a 

 preservative for Bird-skins." Visits were paid in the afternoon to the Natural History 

 Museum, and the South Kensington Museum. On the Wednesday, Dr. Sclater 

 discoursed " On the Typical Forms of Vertebrated Auimals suitable for Exhibition," 



