May 3, 1900] 



NA TURE 



13 



Snow was absent from the summit, and several species 

 t brilliantly coloured lichen were collected there. Ever- 

 lasting flowers grew in the rock chinks up to 16,500 feet. 

 In the upper Alpine zone were two distinct species of 

 giant groundsel and two of giant lobelia, seeds of which 

 have been brought home. The greater part of our dried 

 plants was lost, but the mosses and lichens were saved. 

 A series of photographs of the Alpine vegetation in 

 various stages of growth was taken by my colleague, 

 Mr. C. B. Hausburg. 



Mr. Oldfield Thomas has described, before the Zoo- 

 logical Society, the skulls and skins of the mammals 

 collected by us. The most interesting is a new species 

 of Rock Dassy {Procavia Mackinderi), whose nearest 

 relative has recently been sent home from the Eldoma 

 Ravine by Mr. F. J. Jackson {P. Jacksoni). Apart from 

 these two species, no Rock Dassies have been found in 

 any part of East Africa, nor are they known further south. 

 P. Mackinderi appears to be isolated above the forest- 

 zone (7000-10,000 feet) on Mount Kenya. Anew Forest 

 Dassy was obtained from a lower level. 



This mountain block and the Rift Valley may be the 

 necessary complements of one another. 



Only a small collection of insects was obtained, chiefly 

 in Kikuyu, but Prof. Poulton informs me that it in- 

 cludes new species of Coleoptera, Forficulid^e and 

 Hymenoptera. H. J. Mackinder. 



THE DUKE OF ARGYLL. 



A MONG the losses which science is from time to time 

 ■^^ called upon to deplore, not the least serious arise 

 from the death of men of promment public position who 

 have taken an active personal interest in the advance of 

 natural knowledge, and have done their best to promote 

 it. The late Duke of Argyll was an eminent example of 

 this type of man. Heir of a long line of illustrious 

 ancestors, who for many generations have played a lead- 

 ing part in the stormy annals of their native country, 

 called early in life to the legislature where he mingled 

 conspicuously in the political conflicts of his time, full of 



Kenya Peak, from the south-west. 



The collection of birds has been described by Dr. 

 Bowdler Sharpe. It includes a new eagle owl, as large 

 as the European species, which feeds on the rats of the 

 Alpine zone of Kenya, and there are three other new ! 

 species. Generally the birds are similar to those of 

 Mount Elgon, and in a lesser degree to those of Kili- 

 manjaro. This is strikingly indicated by the fact that 

 if Mr. Jackson had not explored Mount Elgon in 1890, j 

 nearly every bird we obtained would have been new. ' 



The few human inhabitants of Kenya are Wandorobo, 

 elephant hunters, who live in the forest up to its higher i 

 limit. On one occasion a party of them was seen at I 

 over 12,000 feet. 



To west of Mount Kenya is the so-called Aberdare I 

 Range, traversed for the first time by the members of our I 

 expedition. It consists of two much denuded volcanic ( 

 stumps, Nandarua and Sattima, rising to 12,900 and 

 13,200 feet respectively, and of a raised block, 9000 feet 

 high, defined by parallel fault scarps, which strike in 

 the same direction as the scarps of the Great Rift Valley. 



NO. 1592, VOL. 62] 



wide and generous sympathies which prompted him to 

 speak or to write on most of the great questions that 

 agitated the public mind during his long and brilliant 

 career, the Duke yet found time to read much and widely 

 in science, and to keep himself acquainted with the pro- 

 gress of scientific discussion and achievement. He was 

 happily gifted with a marvellous versatility, so that he 

 could turn rapidly from one sphere of thought and activity 

 to another far removed. Hence, amid the cares of State 

 and of the administration of a great domain, as well as in 

 the sorrow of domestic bereavement, he was often to be 

 found immersed in the perusal of some recent treatise, or 

 carrying on a research of his own in those parts of the 

 scientific field which more specially interested him. 

 Whether as an acute critic of the labours of others, or as 

 an observer of nature himself, his devotion to these pur- 

 suits remained a characteristic feature of his life from the 

 beginning to the end. It is difficult at present to define 

 with precision the extent and value of the services of such 

 a man in the progress of the science of his time. His 



