FEBRUARY 26, 1914] 
hybrids between the common pheasant and Reeves’s 
pheasant, according as to whether the first or second 
species was the male parent, and vice versd, is re- 
corded by Mr. J. C. Phillips, in The American 
Naturalist for November, 1913. So different, indeed, 
are these two types of hybrids, that they might well be 
regarded as distinct species. In the cross with the 
Reeves as male parent that species impressed its char- 
acters much more strongly on the hybrids than was 
the case with. the opposite cross: As-the- progeny of 
such a cross are generally sterile, the crossing could 
not be further continued. 
The biological survey division of the U.S. De 
partment of Agriculture has issued, as Bulletin 
No. 43, a useful list of literature relating to the food 
of birds published by the members of the survey 
between the years 1885 and 1g11. Also, as Circulars 
Nos. 92 and 93, proposed regulations for the protection 
of migratory birds, with a popular explanation of 
their scope and probable effect. The scheme includes 
uniformity in protection of migratory game and in- 
sectivorous birds in the several States; protection of 
birds in spring, while en route to their nesting 
_ grounds and while mating; uniformity in protection 
of migratory birds at night; establishment of pro- 
_ tected migration routes along three great rivers in the 
central United States; complete protection for five 
years for the smaller shore-birds and species which 
have been greatly reduced in numbers; and reduction 
of the open season on migratory game-birds, to the 
extent, in most cases, of not more than from 25 to 50 
per cent. 
In Nos. 2 and 3 (issued together) of the Austral 
Avian Record, Mr. G. M. Mathews proposes no fewer 
than twenty-one new generic names for Australasian 
birds, in addition to certain others to replace in- 
admissible ones. In this “splitting” are included the 
genera Sula, hitherto taken to comprise all the 
gannets, and Phzthon, the accepted term for all the 
tropic-birds. Other species and races are named in 
No. 4 of the same volume. 
Under the somewhat too generalised title of “ Notes 
upon Some Rare New Zealand Birds,”’ Mr. Syming- 
ton Grieve communicates to vol. xix., No. 4, of the 
Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society of Edin- 
burgh, an important article on the history, habits, 
distribution, and distinctive characters of the various 
species of Apteryx. Most of these birds are now very 
Scarce, and it is believed that A. haasti has either 
been already exterminated, or is on the verge of 
extinction. The author alludes to all the species 
under the name of “kiwi,” but, we believe, the 
Maoris restrict that title to certain species, designat- 
ing the others ‘“rowa.” 
To the number of The Emu for October, 1913,,Mr. 
A. J. Campbell communicates an account, illustrated by 
three beautifully coloured plates, of an unrivalled col- 
lection of Australian birds’-eggs, brought together 
by Mr. H. L. White, of Beltrees, near the upper part 
of the Hunter River. Out of a total of between 800 
and goo species and subspecies recognised in the 
*“ Official Check-list of the Birds of Australia,” Mr. 
White possesses the eggs of no fewer than 800, thus 
lacking only about 8 per cent. of the whole. It may 
be added that the Beltrees Estate, comprising about 
200,000 acres, is a close sanctuary for birds, where 
many species are increasing in number. 
In a paper on fossil feathers, published in No. 7 of 
vol. xxi. of The Journal of Geology, Dr. R. W. 
Shufeldt states that several specimens described as 
such have subsequently proved to be ferns. The 
authors figure a number of specimens or more or less 
well-marked impressions of feathers, from those of 
Archeopteryx upwards. ee 
NO. 2313, VOL. 92] 
NATURE 
727 
THE INDIAN MUSEUM 
CONGRESS. 
ALCUTTA was the scene last month of a cele- 
bration of considerable importance to all who are 
interested in the progress of science in the East. The 
trustees of the Indian Museum resolved to com- 
memorate in a fitting manner the centenary of the 
premier museum in Asia, and a short account of its 
proceedings will no doubt be of interest to those who 
were not privileged to take part in them. 
The celebrations happily coincided in time with the 
first Indian Science Congress, the meetings of which 
were appropriately held in the rooms of the Asiatic 
Society on January 15-17. 
At the opening meeting of the congress, the Hon. 
Justice Sir Asutosh Mukerji presided. Sir A. Mukerji, 
in his opening address, said that more than two years 
ago Prof. MacMahon, of Canning College, Lucknow, 
and Prof. Simonsen, of the Presidency College, 
Madras, brought forward a proposal for the founda- 
tion of an Indian Association for the Advancement of 
Science. The object and scope of the proposed insti- 
tution were stated to be similar to those of the British 
Association, namely, to give a stronger impulse and 
a more systematic direction to scientific inquiry, to 
promote the intercourse of societies and individuals 
interested in science in different parts of the country, 
to obtain a more general attention to the objects of 
pure and applied science, and the removal of any 
disadvantages of a public kind which may impede its 
progress. The proposal was widely circulated, and 
met with a favourable reception. It was felt by many 
men of experience that the pressure of heavy official 
duties, the climatic conditions which prevail in the 
country, and the long distances which have to be 
traversed, constitute practical difficulties in the imme- 
diate formation of a peripatetic association designed 
to meet periodically in turn in all the different centres 
of scientific activity. The call to scientific workers 
met with a generous response, as was amply indicated 
by the presence at the congress of many notable in- 
vestigators from all parts of the Indian Empire. 
The reading of papers commenced at the conclusion 
of the address, and in the course of the congress a 
number of important communications were made in 
various departments of science. The chairmen of the 
various sections were :—Chemistry, Prof. P. S. Mac- 
Mahon; Physics, Prof. V. H. Jackson; Zoology, Dr. 
J. R. Henderson; Geology, Dr. H. H. Hayden; 
Botany, Mr. C. C. Calder; Ethnography, Mr. L. K. 
Anantha Krishna Iyer. Mr. D. Hooper, of the 
Indian Museum, was honorary secretary and treasurer 
of the congress. 
The centenary celebrations of the Indian Museum 
commenced on the afternoon of January 15, by a 
reception of delegates at the rooms of the Asiatic 
Society. His Excellency Lord Carmichael, Governor 
of Bengal, who took a keen interest both in the 
museum celebrations and in the congress, was present 
as chairman of the centenary committee, and took the 
chief part in receiving the delegates. 
The Indian Museum owes its inception to the Asiatic 
Society of Bengal, which was founded by Sir William 
Jones in 1784. Donations of various kinds having 
gradually accumulated in the society’s premises, Dr. 
N. Wallich, the Danish botanist of Serampore, wrote, 
on February 2, 1814, a letter to the society strongly 
advocating the formation of a museum. This proposal 
was forthwith accepted. The scope of the museum 
was defined in the widest terms, and contributions 
throwing light on the history or science of the East 
were solicited. The museum thus inaugurated made 
rapid progress, and the specimens brought  to- 
AND SCIENCE 
