1864. } Zoology and Physiology. 361 
M. Duthier’s experiments are still in progress on the coast of Algeria, 
where he is endeavouring to determine the rapidity of growth of the 
coral, by immersing at a certain point 150 large jars marked so as to 
be recognizable, which, successively taken out, will furnish information 
on the development of the calcareous axis hitherto unknown. 
The expedition led by the Rev. H. B. Tristiam for the scientific 
exploration of the Holy Land was early in January at Jericho inves- 
tigating the natural products of the valley of the Jordan, which offered 
abundant promises of fruitful results. The preceding month had been 
spent in the more barren field of inquiry between Beyrout and Jerusalem. 
In the Jordan valley a new fauna was found to prevail, essentially 
different from that of the high land, and surpassing all previous 
expectations as regards its abundance, if not as regards its variety. 
The expedition proposes to pass the summer in the highlands of the 
Lebanon and surrounding district, and to return home in the autumn. 
The Government-grant committee of the Royal Society have recom- 
mended a grant of 50/. to Mr. Tristram in aid of the expedition. 
A somewhat singular scientific expedition round the world has been 
organized by Austria. The Marco Polo was to leave Trieste on the 
5th March, taking with her about 60 passengers, who were each to pay 
400]. passage money, and the voyage was expected to extend over 
eight months, The actual voyage was calculated to occupy about 200 
days, and 50 days were to be spent in visiting 30 different ports which 
had been selected as stopping places. The vessel has been fitted out 
with scientific apparatus of all kinds. 
The French, not behindhand, are organizing an expedition to 
Mexico, which will probably be productive of useful results. This will 
be under the auspices of the Minister of Public Instruction, M. Duruy. 
He recommends that a sum of 8,000/. should be set apart to defray the 
expenses of the expedition, and his suggestions have been approved 
by an Imperial decree appointing the members of the commission. 
Among them are Marshal Vaillant, Baron Gros, Michel Chevalier, 
Vice-Admiral Jurien de la Gravitre, Milne-Edwards, Baron Larrey 
and Viollet le Duc, M. de Quatrefages, &c. 
