398 NATURAL SCIENCE. Nov., 



It seems odd to us in England that a well-paid State Geologist should be able 

 to make a private collection of 2,871 fine specimens, to treble its value by selecting 

 752 of these as types for the descriptions by other State officers in the State 

 publications, and as a consequence to finally force on the State the purchase of this 

 collection for a very large sum of money. But in America such a proceeding is not 

 thought in the least odd ; and that is the oddest thing of all. 



The Indiana Academy of Science has, according to Erythca, determined on a 

 biological survey of the State. The promoters intend to publish a complete 

 bibliography of the botany, zoology, and palaeontology of Indiana, to ascertain what 

 has already been done, while the main purpose of the survey will be to make known 

 the extent, distribution, biological relations and economic importance of the entire 

 fauna and flora. L. M. Underwood is at the head of the botanical division, and the 

 special work of this season in botany will be a study of distribution, particularly of 

 the lower cryptogams and of the rarer forms of flowering plants and ferns. We 

 trust the enthusiasm of the Indiana naturalists will endure throughout and carry to 

 a successful issue this worthy project. 



The Transactions of the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists' Society for 1892-93, which 

 has just appeared, form an excellent model for local societies. Of the 170 pages 

 contained in this part, all except four or five relate to the natural history of Norfolk. 

 The address of the President (Mr. H. B. Woodward) deals with the geology of the 

 county. Then follow papers by Mr. Southwell on the Siberian Pectoral Sand- 

 piper, Sowerby's Whale Shooting at Holkham, The Herring Fishery of 1892, and 

 some Additions to the Norwich Museum. Mr. J. H. Gurney writes on the 

 Immigration of the Lapland Bunting; Mr. H. B. Woodward on Caleb B. Rose, 

 the Norfolk Geologist ; Mr. Mayfield on Norfolk Slugs ; Mr. A. W. Preston on 

 Meteorology ; Mr. Clement Reid on Paradoxocarpus carinatus from the Cromer 

 Forest-bed ; and last, Mr. James Edwards contributes an account of the Coleoptera_ 

 forming Part XII. of the Fauna and Flora of Norfolk. Sir P. Eade's note upon 

 Tortoises is the only contribution not of local interest ; and even it relates to 

 tortoises that have lived ten years in the county, and may therefore be considered 

 almost to belong to it. 



The first number of the Proceedings of the Malacological Society of London has just 

 made its appearance, edited, under the direction of a publication committee, by Mr. 

 B. B. Woodward. In addition to the proceedings of the inaugural and subsequent 

 meetings of the first session, it contains eight of the papers read by members. One- 

 half of these are systematic, while of the remainder two are anatomical, so that the 

 ground covered is fairly representative of the aims of the Society, as set forth on the 

 second page of the wrapper. The number, which runs to 30 pp., is illustrated by 

 two full page plates and several illustrations in the text. A footnote to page 11 

 makes us aware that conchologists cannot, alas ! more than any other section of 

 humanity, implicitly trust their fellow man, some smart American seemingly having 

 robbed Mr. E. A. Smith of one of his new species, a proceeding which the publication 

 committee " greatly regret," and reflect upon. 



The fifteenth annual meeting of the Greenock Natural History Society was held 

 on September 28, and the secretary, Mr. G. W. Niven, presented a satisfactory 

 report. Only one paper embodying local research seems to have been read during 

 the last session, that by Mr. M. F. Dunlop, on some rare Rotifers. The meetings 

 are chiefly occupied with papers of a general character, and sometimes relate to 

 physical science. 



The fifty-fifth annual meeting of the Manchester Geological Society was held 

 on October 10. Notwithstanding unusual losses by death and other causes, the 

 membership is still well maintained, and many important communications, especially 



