memoirs printed in the Proceedings and Transactions of the 
Zoological Society and other scientific journals, the following 
gentlemen have already acquiescced in that opinion, and 
state their belief that Dr. Murie’s career has been a most 
meritorious one, very beneficial to science, and highly honour- 
able to himself. The Viscount Walden, F,R.S., President of 
the Zoological Society of London, Sir Charles Lyell, Bart., 
Charles Darwin, F.R.S., Joseph D. Hooker, C.B., F.R.S., 
Allen Thomson, M.D, F.R.S., G. M. Peary, M.D., 
F.R.S., James Ghsser F.R.S., W. Sharpey, M.D., F.R.S., 
Wm. rarer M.B., J. Lockhart Chee Moar ks, WB, 
Parker, F.R.S., John Young, M.D., F.R. SE, F.GS., oe 
Busk, F.R.S, St. George Mivart, F.R.S., Frank Buckland, 
F.Z.S., Inspector of Salmon Fisheries, William Aitken, M.D., 
J. Bell Pettigrew, M.D., F.R.S. Prof. Turner, of the Uni- 
versity of Edinburgh, and Dr. Bell Pettigrew, of the Royal 
College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, have consented to receive 
subscriptions with a view to furthering the above object. In- 
tending subscribers should communicate with either of these 
gentlemen. 
AT the close of thee winter session of the Class of Physiology 
in Edinburgh University last Friday, Dr. J. G. McKendrick, 
F.R.C. P.E., was presented with an address signed by upwards 
of 400 present and former students of the class, Dr. McKendrick 
has for the last four years held the office of Demonstrator of Prac- 
tical Physiology under Prof. J. Hughes Bennett, and during that 
period the classes in Practical Physiology have increased, from 
small beginnings, till more than 400 students have been enrolled 
in a single session. During the last two sessions Dr. McKen- 
drick has conducted the entire work connected with the Chair, 
in the absence of Prof. Bennett from ill health, 
THE government of New South Wales have generously 
granted 1,000/. for the purpose of observing the transit of Venus, 
and Mr. Russell is taking active measures to provide three 
stations in that colony with all the requisites for observing the 
transit, and obtaining at the same time photographs of the 
planet’s position. The three stations will be at Sydney, at Eden, 
near the south-eastern point of N.S.W., and the third station 
on the Blue mountains, about fifty miles west from Sydney, 
Both stations are on telegraph lines, which will be used to cde- 
termine their longitude. The mountain station has been chosen 
to avoid, if possible, any chance of cloudy weather, and in the 
hope that atmospheric difficulties generally will be less, 
WE hear with great regret of the death of Dr. Torrey, which 
took place from pneumonia on March ro. Since the decease of 
Prof. Darlington ke had been the Nestor of American botanists. 
Torreya, a genus of Taxacea of N. America and N.E. Asia, 
was named after him. He was a foreign member of the Linnean 
Society. 
THE following has been sent us by a correspondent of M. 
Riedel :—‘‘ The Russian man-of-war Tsanvina, Commodore 
Michel Comancy, is steaming from Ternate to Papua the 28th 
of November past in search of the missed Russian naturalist, M. 
Micluha Maclay.—T. G. F. RizpeL, C.M.Z.S.—Gorontalo, 
North Celebes, December 30, 187 2.” 
THE Royal Irish Academy has sanctioned the following grants 
out of the funds entrusted to it by Parliament for assisting scien- 
tific research :—5o/. to W. H. Bailey for additional explorations 
at Kiltorcan for fossil plants; 40/7. to G. H. Kinahan, to 
as-ist him in microscopical examinations into the structure of 
rocks ; and 30/. to Prof. W. R. M‘Nab, M.D.., for researches in 
yegetable physiology. 
WE are informed that the Hippopotamus, born a short time 
ago in the Zoological Gardens at Amsterdam, and which gave 
“NATURE 
431 
some promise of surviving, has, like most fof its predecessors, 
died ; so the young ‘Guy ” in Regent’s Park, which is doing 
as well as can be wished, is the only living specimen born and 
bred in Europe. 
PrRoF. BRUNNoOW, the Astronomer Royal for Ireland, has just 
issued a second part of his astronomical observations and re- 
searches made at Dunsink, the observatory of Trinity College, 
Dublin. This part contains—New Determination of the Parallax 
of the Star Groombridge, 1830; Further Investigation of the 
Parallax of 615 Draconis ; Determination of the Parallax of 85 
Pegasi ; Determination of the Parallax of the * Bradley, 3077 ; 
Further Investigations on the Parallax of a Lyre ; Observations 
of 1830 Groombridge and * (2) ; Observations of 1830 Groom- 
bridge, and * (4) ; Observations of 615 Draconis and * (9'5) pre- 
ceding ; Observations of 85 Pegasi; Observations of Bradley 
3077 and * (10) following ; and Observations of a Lyre and * 
(10) following. 
THE preliminary report of the U.S. explorations and surveys 
during the year 1871, in Nevada and Arizona, conducted by 
Lieut. George M. Wheeler, of the engineer corps, has lately 
been published in quarto form by the government printer. It 
contains an account of the plan of the survey, as initiated by 
Lieut. Wheeler in 1870, and which he has successively continued 
during the year 1872. The work accomplished during 1871 
embraces, among other results, the mapping out of various 
mining districts, and the determination of the areas, direction, 
and condition of the lodes. The topographical features of the 
great Colorado plateau have been developed over the region ex- 
tending from St. George, in Utah, to the White Mountains near 
the border line of Arizona and New Mexico, and much infor- 
mation has been gathered as to the geology of this plateau, and 
of numerous inclosed and interior basins in Nevada. The ex- 
ploration of the Colorado has determined the absolute limit 
beyond which a party of exainination will not be likely to ascend 
that river. It has been ascertained that a railroad can cross 
the Colorado and the mouth of the Virgin River, that it can be 
carried by easy grades, and that the Colorado can be crossed 
by a north and south line near the foot of the Grand Cajion. 
THE Institution of Naval Architects commences its session 
for 1873 to-day. The meetings will be held as follows in the 
hall of the Society of Arts, John Street, Adelphi :—On Thurs- 
day, April 3, morning at 12, and evening at 7 o’clock; on 
Friday, April 4, morning at 12, and evening at 7 o’clock; and 
on Saturday, April 5, morning at 12 0’clock only. The Right 
Hon. Sir J. S. Pakington, Bart., M.P., G.C.B., D.C.L., presi- 
dent, will occupy the chair. Judging from the programme of 
proceedings, this year’s meeting ought to be full of interest, and 
may be productive of important practical results. 
THE first report (for 1872) of Governor N. P. Langford, 
superintendent of the Yellowstone National Park, has just 
made its appearance, and contains an account of what has been 
done during the year to protect and preserve this interesting 
region for the benefit of future visitors. We are informed that 
new natural wonders are continually discovered, and that the 
number of geysers, hot springs, &c., is aimost countless. The 
Park was visited during 1872, in connection with the expedition 
of Prof. Hayden, and new routes determined, by which access 
will be much easier than heretofore. At present the only mode 
of approach is by means of saddle and pack trains, and Governor 
Langford suggests the propriety of constructing several waggon- 
roads for the convenience of the public. When improvements 
are made it is thought that extensive settlements will spring up 
in that region, supported in part by the trayel of tourists, and 
partly by the exportation of lumber made from yaluable timber 
in the district. No mines appear to have been detected, nor 
is there any prospect of them. 
