1897.] The Oeological Congress in Russia. 959 



The Congress endorsed strongly a proposition by Androus- 

 sofF, Dorpat, for the establishment of an International Floating 

 Institute, or laboratory, for the study of Oceanography, to be 

 supported by various Governments in place of the isolated ex- 

 peditions sent out for this purpose from time to time by differ- 

 ent ones. 



The invitation of the French geologists to hold the next ses- 

 sion of the Congress in Paris in 1900 was accepted. A bulle- 

 tin was distributed showing the proposed excursions to Brit- 

 tany, to Normandy, and, after the session, to the Central Pla- 

 teau and the French Alps. 



A sad incident of the Congress was the sudden death in St. 

 Petersburg of one of its members, SpendiarofF, Dorpat, who 

 had taken part in the Ural excursion and was to have been a 

 leader during a part of the Caucasus excursion. At the clos- 

 ing session of the Congress it was announced that the father of 

 the deceased had presented a sum of money to commemorate his 

 son, the interest to be awarded as a prize for the best paper on 

 a stated subject at successive meetings of the Congress. 



Numerous festivities and excursions were a part of the 

 week's program at St. Petersburg. The Tsar received in 

 audience at his palace of Peterhof, a small number of the more 

 distinguished representatives of each country. At a later day, 

 but in his absence, the whole Congress visited the palace and 

 beautiful grounds, journejang down the harbor by steamer 

 and enjoying a luncheon in the magnificient imperial dining 

 hall. 



Another day was devoted to a visit to the cataract of Imatra 

 in Finland, a hundred miles north of St. Petersburg, where a 

 sumptuous banquet was served in a pavilion erected for the 

 purpose on the edge of the thundering torrent. 



Among the entertainments in St. Petersburg, the most nota- 

 ble were the reception by the Grand Duke Constantine at his 

 palace and that by the Mayor and city officials at the City 

 Hall. Many pleasant reunions took place at the German Club 

 which was placed at the disposal of the members during the 

 session. The museums and collections of the city were made 

 easy of access through special open hours, and their manifold 



