Apkil 14, 1899.] 



SCIENCE. 



559 



pedition shall confine itself chiefly to the Pacific 

 side of the Antarctic, while the German expe- 

 dition explores the side facing the Atlantic and 

 Indian Oceans. 



News has been received from the Belgica, of 

 the Belgian Antarctic expedition. The extreme 

 latitude reached was 71 degrees, 36 minutes 

 south, longitude 92 degrees west. Maps were 

 prepared of Hughes Bay and Palmer's Land, 

 south of the South Shetland Islands. 



The expedition of Mr. H. O. Forbes and 

 Mr. Ogilvie Grant to the Island of Socotra has 

 returned, after successful explorations. The 

 island has been mapped and its geological fea- 

 tures and its fauna thoroughly studied. 



It is stated in Nature that the Russian expe- 

 dition for taking meridian measurements in 

 Spitsbergen will leave St. Petersburg on May 

 1st. Two steamers have been placed at the 

 disposal of the expedition by the Russian Min- 

 istries of Marine and Ways and Communica- 

 tions, and the Minister of Finance has granted 

 50,000 roubles for two years. M. Bjalinizki, 

 the zoologist, and Dr. Bunge, the Polar ex- 

 plorer, will accompany the expedition, which 

 will be under the leadership of Staff-Captain 

 Sergievski. 



An international congress against the abuse 

 of alcoholic liquors was held in Paris from April 

 4th to 9th. The subjects considered included 

 medical science and hygiene, political and social 

 economy, legislation, instruction, education and 

 propaganda. 



The Autumn Congress and Exhibition of the 

 British Sanitary Institution will be held afSouth- 

 ampton on August 29th and following days. 



The extensive and valuable library of works 

 in natural history collected by the late Profes- 

 sor Mariano de la Paz Graells, as also the botan- 

 ical library of the late Professor Axel Blyt, is 

 offered for sale by Felix M. Dames, of Berlin, 

 from whom catalogues can be obtained. 



The annual dinner of the British Institution 

 of Civil Engineers took place on March 15th. 

 Speeches were made by the President, Mr. W. 

 H. Preece ; Lord Wolseley, Lord Claude Hamil- 

 ton and Mr. W. L. Jackson. 



We called attention recently to the recommen- 



dation of the Select Comnjittee of the House of 

 Commons on the Museums of the Science and 

 Art Department that the Frank Buckland Fish 

 Museum should be abolished. The London 

 Times states that on March 15th a memorial 

 with a large number of signatures, including 

 those of representatives of many piscatorial so- 

 cieties and the chairmen of various provincial 

 fishery boards, was presented to the Duke of 

 Devonshire and Mr. Ritchie, praying that this de- 

 cision be withdrawn. The memorialists point 

 out that the Select Committee consisted of 15 

 members, of whom seven only approved there- 

 port ; three, including Sir John Gorst, voted 

 against it, and five abstained. Against the 

 opinion of Sir John Donnelly and Major-General 

 Festing is cited that of Sir Richard Owen, who 

 considered that the collection would be a most 

 valuable appendage to the Salmon Fisheries 

 Commission and Office. The memorial relates 

 the history of the museum, and submits sug- 

 gestions for extending its usefulness as sug- 

 gested on different occasions by the Prince of 

 of Wales and by Professor Huxley. For this 

 the cooperation of the Board of Trade is con- 

 sidered essential. It should, it is submitted, 

 be made a part of the duties of the Inspectors 

 of Fisheries to preserve and deposit in the Mu- 

 seum of Economic Fish Culture any objects of 

 permanent interest which may come under their 

 notice, together with photographs or models of 

 improvements in fish-passes, fish culture appa- 

 ratus and appliances, and other matters useful 

 for reference or record ; while the Inspectors' 

 knowledge and varied experience may perhaps 

 be further utilized for the public benefit, by lec- 

 tures in connection with the museum. The 

 Secretary and Inspectors of the Fisheries Depart- 

 ment, together, perhaps, with representatives 

 of the Fishmongers' Company, or other im- 

 portant bodies connected with the sea and river 

 fisheries, should, it is suggested, be appointed 

 visitors to advise on and aid in the management 

 of the museum. 



UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL NEWS. 



Sir William Macdonald has made another 

 munificent gift to McGill University. The gift is 

 for the School of Mining and provides for a lec- 

 turer, a demonstrator, an assistant and a com- 



