254 
NATURE 
: ye a 
s 
or shorter prominent algze should be kept and noted, and 
crusts on such examined and preserved, with notes of the vessel’s 
course. 
33. Various instances have been mentioned by travellers of 
the coloration of the sea by minute alge: as in the Straits of 
Malacca by Harvey; any case of this kind would be worth 
especial attention. . 
34. The calcareous algee (Me/obesia, Kc.) are comparatively 
little known, and are apt to be overlooked. 
35. Fresh-water algze should be collected as occasion presents. 
Prot. Dickie states that they may be either dried like the marine 
kinds, or preserved in a fluid composed of 3 parts alcohol, 2 
parts water, 1 part glycerine, well mixed. . 
36. Cases are recorded of the presence of algze in hot springs. 
If such are met with, the temperature should be noted and 
specimens preserved, 
IV. Zoological Observations 
As the scientific director of the expedition is an accomplished 
zoologist, and has already had much experience in marine ex- 
ploration, it will suffice to offer a few suggestions under this 
head, 
The quadrant-like zone of the Pacific, which separates the 
northern and eastern boundaries of the Polynesian Archipelago 
(using ‘‘ Polynesia” in its broadest sense as inclusive of ‘* Micro- 
nesia””) from the coasts of N. Asia and America, is as little 
explored from the point of view of the physical geographer 
as from that of the biologist. It would be a matter of great 
importance to examine the depth, and the nature of the deep-sea 
fauna, of this zone by taking a line of soundings and dredgings 
in its northern half (say between Japan and Vancouver) and in 
its eastern half (say between Vancouver and Valparaiso). If 
practicable, it would further be very desirable to explore the 
littoral fauna of Waihou, Easter Island, or Sala y Gomez, with 
the view of comparing it critically with that of the west coast of 
South America. 
If H.M.S. Challenger passes through Torres Straits, it will be 
very desirable to examine the littoral fauna of the Papuan shore 
of the straits in order to compare it with that of the Australian 
shore. The late Professor Jukes, in his ‘‘ Voyage of the Aly” 
many years ago, directed attention to this point and to its theo- 
retical bearings. 
The hydrographic examination of ‘* Wallace’s line” in the 
Malay archipelago, and of the littoral faunas on the opposite 
sides of that line, is of great importance, considering the signifi- 
cance of that line as a boundary between two distributional pro- 
vinces. An additional interest has been given to the explora- 
tion of this region by Capt. Chimmo’s recently obtained sounding 
of 2,800 fathoms in the Celebes Sea, the mud brought up being 
almost devoid of calcareous organisms, but containing abundant 
spicula of sponges and vadiolaria. 
The light from any self-luminous objects met with should be 
examined with a prism as to its composition. The colours of 
animals captured should also be examined with a prism, or by 
aid of the microscopic spectroscope, 
V. Concluding Observations 
Attention should be paid to the Geology of districts which 
have not hitherto been examined, and collections of minerals, 
rocks, and fossils should be made. Detailed suggestions as to 
the duties of the geologist accompanying the expedition are 
unnecessary ; but it seems desirable that at all shores visited, 
evidence of recent elevation or subsidence of land should be 
sought for, and the exact nature of these evidences carefully re- 
corded. 
Every opportunity should be taken of obtaining photographs 
of native races to one scale; and of making such observations 
as are practicable with regard to their physical characteristics, 
language, habits, implements, and antiquities. It would be 
advisable that specimens of hair of unmixed races should in all 
cases be obtained. 
Each station should have a special number associated with it 
in the regular journal of the day’s proceedings, and that number 
should be noted prominently on everything connected with that 
station; so that in case of labels being lost or becoming in- 
distinct, or other references failing, the conditions of the dredging 
or other observations may at once be forthcoming on reference 
to the number in the journal. All specimens procured should be 
carefully preserved in spirit or otherwise, and packed in cases. 
with the contents noted to be dealt with in the way which 
[Fan. 30, 1873 
ok 
yas 
seems most likely to conduce to the rapid and accurate deve- 
lopment of the scientific results of the expedition. 
A diary, noting the general proceedings and results of each 
day, should be kept by the scientific director, with the assistance 
of his secretary ; and each of the members of the scientific staff 
should be provided with a note-book in which to enter from day 
to day his observations and proceedings ; and he should submit — 
this diary at certain intervals to the scientific director, who would 
then abstract the results, and incorporate them, along with such 
additional data as may be supplied by the officers of the ship, 
in general scientific reports to be sent home to the hydrographer 
at every available opportunity, ; ; 
The scientific staff should be provided with an adequate set 
en books of reference, especially those bearing on perishable 
objects. 
SCIENTIFIC SERIALS 
A LARGE portion of the American Naturalist, for October, is 
occupied by Prof, Asa Gray’s address at the Dubuque meeting 
of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, to 
which we have already alluded. Mr, B. Pickman Mann then con- 
cludes his paper on the white coffee-leaf miner ( Cemeostoma coffee. 
/um), a subject of great importance to coffee-growers, treated in an 
exhaustive manner. Prof. C. F. Hartt, from whom articles on 
the same subject have already appeared in the WVaturalist, con- 
tributes a further paper on the occurrence of Face-urns in 
Brazil; and Prof. N.S. Shaler concludes his article on the, 
Geology of the Island of Aquidneck, illustrated by maps and 
sections ; and Mr, C. V. Riley his important article on the 
cause of Deterioration of Grape-vines.—-The November number 
commences with an article by Mr. J. G. Henderson on some abo- 
riginal relics known as ‘‘ plummets,” which are abundant in 
various parts of the United States from the Atlantic to the 
Pacific, with speculations as to their use. Prof. James Orton 
continues his contributions to the Natural History of the Valley — 
of Quito, the present article being devoted to the Articulata and 
Plants; in the latter department the author notices the simi- 
larity of the features of the flora of the Andes to those recorded 
by Kerner in the Tyrolese Alps. Mr. R. Ridgway commences 
some Notes on the Vegetation of the Lower Wabash Valley, with 
an account of the Forests of the Bottom-lands. Mr. Samuel H, 
Scudder, in an article on Fossil Insects from the Rocky Moun- 
tains, records nearly 40 species, belonging to nearly all the 
principal groups, found in Tertiary deposits. Prof. Cope, ina 
paper read at Dubuque, discusses the geological age of the Coal 
of Wyoming, which he refers without doubt to the Cretaceous 
period. Prof. Shaler has a short note on the effects of extra- 
ordinary seasons on the distribution of Animals and Plants.—In 
the number for December:we find a short article by the Rey. 
Samuel Lockwood on the Baltimore Oriole and Carpenter-bee, 
followed by a continuation of Mr. Ridgways’s notes on the Vege- 
tation of the Lower Wabash Valley, treating of the Peculiar 
Features of the Bottom-lands. This is followed by an in- 
teresting account of the Alpine Flora of Colorado, by the Rey. E. 
L. Greene ; and Dr. J. W. Foster then contributes an abstract of 
a paper read at Dubuque on certain peculiarities in the Crania 
of the Mound-builders, illustrated with drawings. Another 
Dubuque paper of a speculative character is by Dr, H. Harts- 
horne, on the relation between organic vigour and sex; and 
Prof. Shaler then gives a further instalment of his paper on the 
Geology of Aquidneck. In all these three numbers is the usual 
amount of Reviews, and interesting short paragraphs and notes. 
ee ——— — 
SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES 
LONDON 
Royal Society, Jan. 23.—Dr. Stenhouse read a paper, 
‘* Contributions to the History of the Orcins.—No. III. Amido- 
derivatives of Orcin.” He has confined his investigations to an 
examination of the products obtained from Trinitro-orcinic acid. 
A mido-diimido-orcin, Cz H5(N H)(NH).0..—This compound, 
which has the properties of a base, is formed by the oxidation of 
triamido-orcin, and is most conveniently obtained ina pure state 
by decomposing a solution of the acetate with a slight excess of 
ammonia, . The most advantageous method of preparing the 
base is to reduce trinitro-orcin with sodium-amalgam, and to 
& 
