JnncT, 1877] 



NA TURE 



several other bank-sections may also be extended to tWs depth. 

 While working in this region it will be proper to call at Bodoe. 

 A series of observations of temperature made in West Fiord 

 with the newest deep-water thermometers will be carried out 

 both during the voyage northwards in June and during the 

 return voyage in August, in order to examine the abnormal state 

 of things found there in the summer of 1S75, the minimum tem- 

 perature being at a depth of seventy fathoms. As the zoological 

 surveys in West Fiord have hitherto only embraced the fauna of 

 the coast, the opportunity will be sought to be utilised for zoolo- 

 gical work in this fiord at a greater distance from land. 



Magnetic absolute observations will be carried out at Rcest, 

 where circumstances, from Lieut. Petersen's observations in 

 1S75, appear favourable, and where the most projecting point is 

 found for comparison witli the proposed observations on the 

 Greenland ice. 



In the course of June it is supposed, with average weather, 

 and with the experience gained last year, that the survey of the 

 barks and of the Umbellularia Region according to this plan 

 will have reached the latitude of Tromsce. 



The expedition will in the end of June or beginning of July, 

 be equipped for a cruise to the westward, going first along the 

 line Ando?, Jan Mayen, surveying it and its neighbourhood on 

 both sides. Round the north-east end of Jan Mayen as a centre, 

 several short series of soundings are taken towards the north-east, 

 the north, and the north-west. For in that neighbourhood 

 where the outermost mountain of the Iceland volcanic region 

 is supposed to be, the bottom appears to sink very rapidly 

 towards the deep sea in the directions named. 



Provided Jan Mayen can be reached, it is proposed to land on 

 it for the purpose of undertaking an examination of its geo- 

 graphy, geology, hydrography, zojlogy, botany, &c. It is also 

 mtended to make a survey of the sea on the west and south sides 

 of Jan Mayen, for there is ground f )r supposing that Jan 

 Mayen is connected with Iceland by a sub-oceanic ridge. 



In order to examine the phenomena at the boundary between 

 the warm surface current from the Atlantic and the coid polar 

 current in the Greenland sea, the Greenland ice north-west of Jan 

 Mayen will be visited. When the examination of a part of the 

 Greenland ice is completed the course will be taken to a point 

 about midway between Iceland and Jan Mayen, and the cross- 

 section is to be examined from this point in the direction of 

 Ranen with the view of discovering and exploring the supposed 

 sub-oceanic ridge. When this cross-section is worked out to the 

 Norwegian Umbellularia region, previously examined, the expe- 

 dition will sail to Tromsce to carry on work to the northward, 

 if time permit. 



As July is supposed to be devoted to the Jan Mayen cruise, 

 the fir.-t half of August will be employed in a survey of the 

 banks, the " Havbro," and part of the Polar Sea between Nor- 

 way and South Spitzbergen. The eastern limit will be the line 

 North Cape, Bear Island, South Cape. The latter half of 

 August will be devoted to the return voyage to Bergen and 

 dismantling. The scientific work will be carried out mainly in 

 the s.ame way as in 1S76. In the zoological work, along with 

 the use of the dredge, the trawl, and the swab, special weight 

 is laid on the use of nets in the intermediate depths and fishing 

 on the banks. On Jan Mayen the capture of birds ought to 

 be an object of importance, and on the Greenland ice possibly 

 seal and bear-hunting, &c. 



In taking soundings the form and extent of the banks is to be 

 determined, and the way in which the bottom falls off from 

 these to the greatest depths of the polar sea. It is of funda- 

 mental importance for understanding the orography and geology 

 of this sea and the neighbouring land and for the distribution of 

 animal life, whether the bottom falls off towards the deep sea 

 with an even slope or in terraces and escarpments with plateaus 

 lying between. The position and number of the soundings is 

 therelore to be determined with this view. 



The measurements of the temperature in the deep sea are to 

 be carried out to the extent necessary for a certain determination 

 of the isotherms in the deep water of the cross-sections. It is 

 also to be kept in view that the points in the cross-sections 

 may be used for longitudinal sections. The newest deep-sea 

 thermometers are to be used as frequently as possible, along with 

 those employed last year. 



At every sounding a specimen of water is to be taken from the 

 bottom, and at chosen places at intermediate depths. The 

 specific gravity of all specimens is to be ascertained. At 

 every sounding, also, specimens 'of the bottom are to be taken 

 and preserved for future examination, which is also to be done 



with the material of the bottom brought up by the dredge and 

 trawl. 



The chemical work is to be carried on mainly as last year. 

 Th? specific gravity of the surface-water is to be determined 

 once or twice a day, and oftener at places where the state of the 

 curreii'sor other circumstances render it .desirable. Observa- 

 tions of the currents in the sea are to be carried out where cir- 

 cumstances make it desirable, and the weather permits. 



Magnetic observations are to be carried out on board at sea, 

 special weight being laid on obtaining deviation observations. 

 Absolute determinations are to be carried out at Roest, and on 

 the Greenland ice, besides the determination of the ship's mag- 

 netic constants at Husce, and elsewhere where possible. 



A geological survey is to be made of Jan Mayen, if a landing 

 there is possible, to the extent circumstances may permit. It 

 would be of great interest to carry out astronomical deter- 

 minations of geographical position, topographical and hydro- 

 graphical surveys on Jan Mayen. A determination of geo- 

 graphical position at Roest, in connection with the magnetic 

 observations, is also desirable, as the place is not connected with 

 the trigonometrical net. 



Botanical observations and collections are to be carrried out 

 on Jan Mayen to the greatest possible extent. 



The meteorological observations on board are to be carried 

 out in all essential points as in 1876. H, MoHN. 



NOTES 



Among those on whom honours were conferred on the occa 

 sion of Her Majesty's birthday, was Dr. J. D. Hooker, Presi 

 dent of the Royal Society and Director of the Royal Gardens, 

 Kew. Dr. Hooker has been made a K. C.S.I. 



The twenty-sixth annual meeting of the 'American Associa- 

 tion for the Advancement of Science commences at Nashville on 

 August 29. Our own association meets at Plymouth this year 

 on August 15, under the presidency of Prof. Allen Thomson, of 

 Glasgow. 



We have received the programme of an Anthropological Ex- 

 hibition to be held in connection with the Paris International 

 Exhibition of 1S78, under the superintendence of the Paris 

 Anthropological Society. That Society has nominated a large 

 Commission to organise the exhibition, with Prof de Cluatrefages 

 as president. M. Krantz has placed at the disposal of the Society 

 a spacious and fine position in the central pavilion of the 

 Trocadero Palace. The Commission makes a warm appeal to 

 all interested in the progress of the anthropological sciences, both 

 in France and abroad. It wishes to prepare a complete in- 

 ventory of the present state of these sciences. The following are 

 the classes under which the exhibition will be arranged : — i. 

 Crania and bones, mummies, and specimens relating to the com- 

 parative anatomy of the human races ; 2. Instruments, methods 

 of education ; 3. Prehistoric and ethnological collections ; 4. 

 Photographs, paintings and drawings, sculpture, and modelling ; 

 5. Geographical maps and tables relating to ethnology, prehis- 

 toric archaeology, linguistic, demography, medical geography, 

 &c. ; 6. Books, journals, brochures. In order to facilitate the 

 work of collection and arrangement, the Commission has ap- 

 pointed the following members to superintend the special depart 

 ments named ; — Dr. Broca, i, rue des Saints-Peres, for what 

 concerns Anthropological Societies ; Dr. de Ranse, 4, place St. 

 Michel, Anthropological Instruction ; Dr. Topinard, 97, rue 

 Rennes; General Anthropology and Craniology ; M. Gabriel de 

 Mortillet, Ch.ateau de St. Germain-en-Laye (Seine-et-Oise), Pre- 

 historic Archaeology and .\nthropology ; M. Girard de Rialle, 

 64, rue de Clichy, Ethnography of Europe; M. Abel Hove- 

 lacque, 35, rue de I'Universite, Linguistic Anthropology; Dr. 

 Dureau, 16, rue de la Tour-d'Auvergne, Bibliography ; Dr. 

 Bertillon, 20, rue Jlonsieur-le-Prince, Demography, or the 

 Statistical Study of PopuKation, and Medical Geography; M. 

 Louis Leguay, 3, rue de la Sainte-Chapelle, for all concerning 

 the gener^ management and arrangements. Each of the gentle- 



