208 



NATURE 



[Dec. 27, 1888 



in any measure achieved success in the graphic arts. As soon 

 as it can be properly classified, the collection intended for the 

 National Museum will be exhibited in the section of graphic 

 arts. Mr. Osborne's contribution, the Museum authorities 

 assert, has laid a substantial foundation for an exhaustive col- 

 lection of kindred productions under Government auspices at 

 Washington. 



M. BiALOVESKr, of Oostnamenogorsk, Western Siberia, 

 writes to us to suggest that an international journal of geology 

 is greatly needed. Geology, as he points out, is making con- 

 tinual progress, and the number of investigators steadily in- 

 creases. It is difficult for students to keep up with the advance 

 of the science, since many important communications are con- 

 tributed to periodicals which are not generally accessible. An 

 international journal, our correspondent thinks, would supply 

 exactly what is wanted. He suggests that it should be edited 

 in some great centre, such as London or Paris, and that the 

 language adopted should be either L^tin or English. The 

 question might perhaps be discussed with advantage at the next 

 meeting of the International Geological Congress. 



The geological history of the Caspian depression is the 

 subject of a remarkable article, by N. Andrusoff, in the Novem- 

 ber number of the Izvestia of the Russian Geographical Society. 

 All that is known about the geological structure of the Caspian 

 depression and the surrounding highlands has been turned to 

 account by the author, and he carefully distinguishes between fact 

 and hypothesis. He gives, first, a condensed but well-conceived 

 description of the Caspian Sea ; then he analyzes the geological 

 structure of the Great Balkhans in the Transcaspian region, the 

 two parts of the Caucasus — Western and Ea-tern — and the 

 mountains of the Crimea. He comes to the conclusion that the 

 upheaval of the Crimea-Caucasus-Balkhan system began after 

 the Jurassic period in the Crimea, and was continued through the 

 Chalk period. A considerable raising took place during the 

 earlier parts of the Tertiary period, and the Miocene epoch was 

 characterized by subsidences, especially in the south. Great 

 changes in the relative altitudes of the region followed after the 

 Sarmathian period. Then he sharply separates the two parts of 

 the Caspian Sea — the shallow northern part, and the deep 

 southern part — which originated in different ways, and at different 

 epochs. The history of the basin during the Tertiary period is 

 treated in detail. The want of data for reconstituting it in 

 full is indicated with great precision, but a map is given to 

 show approximately the extensions of the sea during the 

 periods after the middle Pliocene period. Finally, the fauna 

 of the Caspian (a full list of which, including 187 species, is 

 given), and its bearing upon the question, as well as its probable 

 origin, are discussed. The paper is so important that we hope 

 it may soon be translated into English. 



The same number of the Izvestia contains a paper on the 

 earthquake of May 27, 1887, at Vyernyi (already described 

 in Nature) ; a note on the geodetical connection of Spain with 

 Algeria, by General Stebnitzky (with a map) ; and a note, by A. 

 Zolotareff, on the surface and population of Persia. , Measured on 

 Petermann's map, the surfacfe of Persia appears to be 29,986 

 square geographical miles, while the probable population is taken 

 at 6,000,000. Two instructions, one for observations on shifting 

 sands, and another for meteorological observations by travellers, 

 are issued in the same number by the Council of the Society. 



In his Annual Report, lately issued, the President of the 

 Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, presents a very interesting 

 account of the work done at that admirable institution during 

 the past year. The instruction given has never, Dr. Gilman 

 thinks, been more quickening and successful, nor has the progress 

 of literary and scientific undertakings, in charge of the principal 

 teachers, ever been more satisfactory. During the year there 



has been a noteworthy advance in the facilities for the study of 

 astronomy, theoretical and practical. There has also been a con- 

 siderable increase in the number of students attending astro- 

 nomical lectures. In the department of physics the new physical 

 laboratory justifies the expectations which led to its construction ; 

 it not only affords increased facilities for instruction, but enables 

 investigations to be carried on with greater efficiency. The only 

 cause for anxiety with regard to this University is the loss of 

 income from the stocks which were given to it by its founder. 

 Strenuous efforts are about to be made to provide new sources of 

 revenue, and there ought to be no doubt as to their success. 



The peninsula of Florida contains innumerable isolated 

 ponds varying from a few square rods to many square miles in 

 area. Many of these are simple hollows filled with rain-water, 

 without any connection with other waters. Some of them are on 

 high ground, where no flood can establish temporary connection 

 with other waters, through which fish might be admitted. The 

 smaller ones often dry up entirely in seasons of drought, yet 

 when filled with water they do not seem to be behind their 

 neighbours in population. They all swarm with fish. For 

 instance, at Orange Heights, in Eastern Alachua County, 

 which is one of the most elevated regions of the State, as is 

 plainly shown by the radiating streams which rise in that 

 vicinity, there is a small pond on the top of the highest eleva- 

 tion in all that region. .Mr. Charles B. Palmer, who records 

 these facts in Science, says he has twice known this pond to be 

 dry, yet it now contains an abundance of small fish. "How 

 have they been preserved from destruction," asks Mr. Palmer, 

 "and whence came the original stock ? " 



The Times says that the collection of Salmonidce ova has 

 been made on a large scale this season at the Midland Counties 

 Fish Culture Establishment, Malvern Wells, and Mr. William 

 Burgess, its founder and proprietor, has laid down for incuba- 

 tion large quantities of eggs. Arrangements have been made 

 for rearing such an extraordinary number of fish that the 

 hatcheries are being taxed to their uttermost. Eggs will 

 be received and hatched out, free of charge, for public 

 bodies. The acclimatization of the American whitefish, 

 Coregoniis albus, is to be attempted by Mr. Burgess, with the 

 co-operation of the United States Fish Commissioners, who have 

 expressed their willingness to forward consignments of the ova of 

 this valuable food-fish, which is held in high favour in America. 

 In order to carry their naturalization to a successful issue, special 

 habitats have been provided of great size and depth, while all 

 that is necessary to their existence has been furnished. The 

 operations of last season have resulted in an extensive distribu- 

 tion of fish in various lakes and other waters in this country. 

 Coarse fish, such as perch, tench, carp, and roach, have been 

 propagated artificially by Mr. Burgess with a success that has 

 induced him to increase his labours in this direction by enlarging 

 his establishm ent. 



The Minister for Agriculture in Victoria announces that the 

 Government will probably select some land on which to build 

 an institution where attention will be paid to vine-growing 

 solely, under the control of the Central Board of Viticulture. 



The northern limits of the culture of the silkworm are being 

 steadily extended. Experiments made last summer at Astrakhan 

 showed that it could easily be carried on at the mouth of the 

 Volga. Notwithstanding the age of the mulberry-trees, which 

 were planted at Astrakhan thirty-five years since, the results of 

 the experiments proved satisfactory, and 20,000 cocoons were 

 received this year. 



We have on several occasions drawn attention to the progress 

 of the meteorological service in Queensland since Mr. C. L. 



