288 Miscellaneous. 



investigations that are needed. At the recent International Geological 

 Congress in Stockholm, the founding of the above-named Institute 

 was proposed by Monsignore Immanuel Priedlaender, and approved 

 by the Congress. 



The scope of the International Volcanological Institute is to render 

 possible for the first time a continuous and systematic investigation of 

 volcanic phenomena. For this purpose the necessary laboratories and 

 instruments are to be provided, and measurements of temperatures to 

 be regularly made on Vesuvius at different places. The gases are 

 to be periodically collected and analysed, for which purpose a self- 

 contained gas-analytical laboratory will be required ; and local earth- 

 quakes of volcanic character are to be continuously registered not 

 only during the eruptive phases of the volcano but also throughout 

 its periods of comparative repose. 



The volcanic outbreaks of the last decades, the eruption of Krakatoa, 

 of Pelee, of Vesuvius in 1906, and others, have occasioned large 

 economic losses apart from the sacrifice of many human lives. Our 

 present knowledge of volcanic action depends on individual observations 

 and by no means suffices for the foretelling of coming occurrences ; 

 nevertheless the fact can be already recognized that in most volcanoes 

 there occurs a regular sequence of events, and it is within the bounds 

 of possibility, and even of probability, that a careful and exact 

 registration of all the phenomena of a given volcano will enable us to 

 foresee approximately the time and magnitude of an eruption. 



The pi'actical importance of this is obvious, but the economic results 

 of this form of investigation would also be manifested in another 

 direction. When we can observe more closely the fumarolic activity 

 and the transformation of the rocks we shall be able to form a clearer 

 conception of the origin of ore beds. There are several volcanoes 

 which within their fumarolic districts disclose the presence of small 

 ore bodies which are still in the act of formation. These conditions 

 have not been investigated closely. 



The legal form of the International Volcanological Institute will 

 be, at first, that of a Society in which only those members who have 

 subscribed more than 10,000 lire to the capital, or more than 1,000 lire 

 yearly, shall be entitled to voting privileges. Members contributing 

 smaller sums, down to the minimum of 25 lire annually, will be 

 entitled only to the printed matter and publications of the Institute. 



The project is supported by Dr. Tempest Anderson, Professor S. 

 Arrhenius, Professor A. Baltzer, Professor H. L. Bowman, Professor 

 G. de Lorenzo, Professor P. Prech, Sir A. Geikie, Professor A. Heim, 

 Professor AV. H. Hobbs, Dr. H. J. Johnston- Lavis, Professor P. 

 Lcewinson-Lessing, Professor G. Stefanescu, Professor E. Suess, and 

 many others. 



A fund has been opened for the purpose of presenting a testimonial 

 to Mr. Henry Keeping, who has been for fifty years curator of the 

 Geological Museum, Cambridge, and is now retiring from active work. 

 There are probably many who will welcome this opportunity for 

 expressing their appreciation of Mr. Keeping's long service in the 

 cause of geology. Subscriptions should be sent to Mr. P. P. Cowper 

 Peed, Sedgwick Museum, Cambridge. — Nature, April 27, 1911. 



