Angitst 4, 1881] 



XA TURE 



31; 



be seriously explored as to the most important question of 

 the existence of an undercurrent in these straits ? 



As seen from this short sketch, there remains plenty of 

 work for geographers and naturalists on our continent, 

 and we may only express the wish that M. \'enoukolT's 

 idea of publishing a sketch of the " Unknown Lands," 

 with a summary of the most important questions with 

 regard to them, were executed on a larger scale, and that 

 such a compendium were put into the hands of every 

 young geographer. 



NOTES 

 We heartily commend to the attention of our readers the 

 anaounccment of the RoUeston Memorial Committee, to be 

 found in our advertising pages. 



The Scottish Zoological Laboratory, which last year supplied 

 Mr. G. J. Romanes and Prof. Ewart with the material for their 

 researches on Echinodermata, published in the Croonian Lecture, 

 is this year to be placed at Oban. Those who intend to avail 

 themselves of the advantages held out by this institution for the 

 purposes of original work, are requested to communicate with 

 Prof. Ewart, the University, Aberdeen. 



The accommodation for anatomical work at the Prosector's 

 rooms in the Zoological Society's G.ardens, which has hitherto 

 been somewhat limited, has lately been increased by tlie erection 

 of three new working-rooms, intended for the use of students. 

 These rooms are now finished, and are at present tenanted by a 

 small Long-Vacation class from Cambridge, who, under the 

 superintendence of Mr. T. T. Lister, the Demonstrator of Com. 

 parative Anatomy in that Lhiiversity, are studying practically 

 the anatomy of the MainmaHa on the abundant material in that 

 group provided by the Society's Menagerie. The class , it may 

 be remarked, includes two lady students from Newnham College. 

 It is to be hoped that when this class concludes its labours at the 

 end of the month, other students may be found disposed to profit 

 by the new facilities for work afforded them by the Zoological 

 Society, and that thus the expense incurred in the erection of 

 these new rooms may be fully justified by the increased scientific 

 results reaped in the Regent's Park from the superabundant 

 material at the disposal of Mr. Forbes. 



The honour of Knighthood has been conferred upon Mr. 

 F. T. Bramwell, C.E., F.R.S., for his services to technical 

 education. 



The German Emperor has conferred on Dr. Schlienr.ann the 

 Prussian Order of the Crown of the Second Class. 



The death is announced, at the age of seventy-seven, of Mr. 

 Hewett Cottrell Watson, the well known English botanist. 



Dr. Ferdinand Keller, the well-known Swiss archsologist, 

 died at Zurich on July 21, in his eighty-first year. Dr. Keller had 

 a decided taste for science in his youth, and shortly after leaving 

 the University went to Paris, where he spent some time in the 

 study of natural history. In 1832 he discovered a number of 

 Celtic grave-mounds on the Burgholzli, a circumstance that led 

 to the formation of the national Swiss Antiquarian Sociely. Of 

 this Keller was named president, a position that he occupied for 

 many years. The first work of the society was the exploration 

 of the Burgholzli ; and other similar researches, wliich threw 

 much light on the primeval history of Switzerland, wt re under- 

 taken. In 1S37 began the publication of the Society's Com- 

 munications, thirty volumes of which were wholly illustrated, 

 and almost wholly written, by the president. In 1853 he 

 opened the series of researches into the origin of Swiss lake- 

 dwellings which have made his name so widely known, and 

 revealed the way of life, in its minutest details, of a race of 

 men whose mere existence had hardly before been suspected. 



Between :86o and 1864 Dr. Keller gave to the world the results 

 of his investigation of the Roman antiquities of eastern Switzer- 

 land, lie wrote or edited further a history of the Abbey of 

 Zurich, of the arms of Zurich, and sundry miscellaneous papers 

 relating to life and culture in the middle ages. Until past his 

 eighty first year Dr. Keller continued to be an active and ener- 

 getic member of the society which he had founded. 



The thirty-fourth summer meeting of the Institution of 

 Mechanical Engineers was opened on Tuesday in Newcastle-on- 

 Tyne, this being the third visit of the Institution to that town. 

 The chair was occupied by the president, Mr. Edward A. 

 Covvper. The president, after some remarks on foreign competi 

 lion, gave a statement of the result of the progress of mechanical 

 engineering during the past twelve years, and expressed the hope 

 that the latter part of the present century would be marked not 

 only by small improvements, but by many substantial inventions 

 for the good of mankind. Mr. I. Lowthian Bell read an ex- 

 haustive paper on the Tyne as connected with the history of 

 engineering, and a paper by Mr. F. C. Marshall of Newcastle, 

 on the progress and development of the marine engine, was 

 also read. 



The Sydney Mail brings us the welcome news that the Biolo- 

 gical Station has been fairly established at Watson's Bay, under 

 Ve direction of the well-known Russian naturalist. Dr. Miklucho- 

 Maclay. During the last two years Mr. Maclay has been endea- 

 vouring to establish a zoological station in the neighbourhood of 

 Sydney. Being seconded in his efforts by the Royal and Lin- 

 nean Societies of Victoria and by the Royal Society of New 

 South Wales, he has obtained from the Government an eligible 

 site at Watson's Bay, most appropriate for the purpose. The 

 station is situated on the shallow basin of Port Jackson, and 

 close to the deep water of the Pacific, with large freshwater 

 swamps and lagoons in the immediate neighbourhood, and a vast 

 tract of wild forest country to tlie north, which probably will 

 remain for a long time to come in its primitive wildness. The 

 communication between Watson's Bay and Sydney by steamer 

 being frequent and rapid (half an hour), the scientific work at 

 the station will be greatly f.icilitated by the museums, gardens, 

 and libraries of Sydney. The expenses fir the building are 

 estimated at 600/., and will be covered by the sum of 300/. 

 already allowed by Government and by the subscriptions, whilst 

 the yearly expenses will probably be covered by annual grants 

 of the Linnean and Royal Societies of Victoria and of New 

 South Wales. The building, which stands on a slight eminence 

 overlo king Camp Cove, w ith lovely views from the balconies 

 on all the four sides, has been constructed to suit the re- 

 quirements of a biological laboratory. It has five work-rooms, 

 two bed-rooms, a bath-room, and a room for stores, plenty 

 of light being provided for the ivork-rooms, which are fifteen 

 feet by twelve feet each and twelve feet high. The partitions 

 between each set of rooms are constructed of studding and 

 double-lined, the space being filled with sawdust for the preven- 

 tion of noise. The trustees are quite satisfied with the building ; 

 even upon so humble a scale as the present, it promises to 

 give very good results. It may be hoped that the institution 

 will become a bond of union between all those in Australia who 

 are interested in biological research. As to the expected 

 results we can but repeat M. Maclay's words : " Next after the 

 tropics (which are the richest in animal life) the widest field 

 offered to the investigator of nature, and consequently the most 

 suitable region for the establishment of zoological stations, is 

 Australia, w ith a fauna so interesting, so important, and so far 

 from being sufficiently known, especially as regards anatomy and 

 embryology." 



Prof. C. V. Riley, chief of the U.S. Entomological Com- 

 mission, has accepted the position of Entomologist to the 



