352 REPORT— 1897. 



Browne as Belemnitella lanceolata (Schloth). This belemnite is not 

 recorded from the Yorkshire Chalk, but B. qicadrata, which is exceedingly 

 plentiful in the Upper Chalk of Yorkshire, I have not seen in the clays. 



Isle of Man. 



Re-poTted by Rev. S. N. Harrison. 



Kirk Bride shore — 



1 Shap granite, subangular, striated. 



Port Leivaigue shore — 

 1 Shap granite. 



The Necessity for the Immedicfe Investigation of the Biology of Oceanic 

 Islands. — Refort of the Committee, consisting of Sir W. H. 

 Flower (Chairman), Professor A. C. HaddOxV {Secretary), Mr. 

 Gr. C. Bourne, Dr. H. O. Forbes, Professor W. A. Herdman, Dr. 

 John Murray, Professor Newton, Mr. A. E. Shipley, and 

 Professor W. F. P. Weldon. {Drawn up by the Secretary.) 



The Committee are not able to report any practical results from their 

 appeal of last year, but they hope, by keeping the matter before the 

 public, to eventually arouse an interest in the important objects which 

 the Committee have in view. 



Although nothing definite has been accomplished this year, the Secre- 

 tary, acting in co-operation with a committee in Cambridge, is organising 

 an expedition, which will start next February, for the purpose of con- 

 tinuing his researches on the Anthropology of the Torres Straits Islanders. 

 These peoj^le occupy an area between that held by the Papuans on the 

 one hand and by the Australians on the other ; and, although it is well 

 known that they belong essentially to the Melanesian race, it is important 

 to finally establish their ethnic affinities. The natives are rapidly dis- 

 appearing, or are becoming modified by mixture with other races, and 

 thus there is an immediate need that they should be thoroughly studied 

 before it is too late to make accurate anthropological observations. 



Mr. Sidney H. Ray, the recognised expert on the languages of 

 Oceania, will accompany the expedition. He has already published 

 studies on the two languages of Torres Straits and on that of the 

 neighbouring coast of New Guinea.' The other members of the ex- 

 pedition will consist of men trained in various branches of biology, 

 particularly in anthropology and physiology. So far as opportunity 

 offers, various branches of the anthropology of the natives will be studied 

 iind numerous photographs taken. All the collections of objects illustrat- 

 ing the anthropography and ethnography of the Torres Straits Islanders 

 will be presented to appropriate museums. 



The zoology and botany of the islands will not be neglected, but the 

 services of a naturalist have net yet been secured. 



^ Proc. Royal Irish Acad., 3rd scr. vol. ii. (1893). pp. 463-G16; vol. iv. (189G), 

 pp. 119-373. 



