JULY 21, 1899.] 
(4) Volta’s paper of March 29, 1800, announc- 
ing his discovery of the electric pile to Sir 
Joseph Banks, President of the Royal Society. 
(5) Volta’s monograph on the formation of hail, 
published about 1806. The apparatus exhibited 
illustrates Volta’s inventions of the electropho- 
rus and the ‘electric pistol’; his application 
of gas to lamps, combined with an electric gas- 
lighting apparatus ; his invention of the eudi- 
ometer ; his researches on the capacity of con- 
densers ; his condensing electroscope; his inves- 
tigations; on the law of electrostatic force 
involving the use of the electric balances and 
the electrometer ; his researches on atmospheric 
electricity ; “his studies on the expansion of 
gases ; his first forms of voltaic pile, including 
the columnar pile represented by several exam- 
ples ; also the ‘ crown of cups,’ and his early ex- 
periments on electrolysis. A number of batter- 
ies of Leyden jars, electrostatic machines and 
other apparatus used by Volta in his experi- 
ments, while not referring to any special ad- 
vancements in science, go far towards giving us 
an insight into the thoughts and pursuits of a 
physicist of a century ago of whom the people 
of Como feel justly proud. 
ACCORDING to Reuter’s agency the Governor 
of Algeria has received very favorable news 
regarding the Coppolani mission. After cross- 
ing the Niger bend and traversing the Arub- 
ruda the mission proceeded in a northeasterly 
direction as far as Baddab, receiving on the way 
the submission of several rebel tribes and enter- 
ing into relations with the chief of the Awelim- 
miden. On returning to Timbuktu, M. Coppo- 
lani again set out with an escort composed of 
natives and Moors. This time he followed a 
northerly route. Telegrams received via 
Timbuktu during the last few days from him 
and his companion, Robert Aricand, state that 
they are the first two Frenchmen since René 
aillie to explore that part of the country, and 
that they have reached Aruan, which serves as 
entrepot for the salt mines of Tauden. Thejour- 
ney through the country peopled by Moors was 
peacefully carried out and gave the best results. 
THE Director of the Mint has issued the fol- 
lowing figures regarding the production of gold 
in the United States during the year 1899: 
SCIENCE. 
95 
Silver in 
Gold fine ounces. 
Alabama ........... press 5,000 100 
INES repodeoadsboEseOaeo 2,525,800 92,400 
IATIZONAHea A eielerlte alcsteretece 2,465,100 2,246,800 
California ............... 15,637,900 642,300 
COMACO secccasdcon6acde 23,195,300 22,815,600 
Geormianeieicercioier\ericleicl- 128,600 500 
GENO sovanbooaoeeoadeacd 1,716,900 5,073,800 
WOMBocoobsocgoo00oGaGaKpC 100 oon 
Manylan diteecrereteteistetiicretcis 600 see 
INGORE So SooooanooKode 100 32,400 
Minnesota..............-. 100 S600 
Montanari sss 5,126,900 14,807,200 
INGE ESS Gacehbecoonodand 2,994,500 805,000 
ING Waellex1 Omit rerchetete 539,000 425,000 
North Carolina..... ..... 84,000 700 
OnGHOM codoccoebogsddooos 1,177,600 130,000 
South Carolina. .......... 104,200 300 
South Dakota............ 5,699,700 152,300 
RENT SSE ieilereteishsierisreiciave 900 boo 
INES «donbieoodsoaonoUOSe 300 472,900 
Wits ogeo ool boasooodda 2,285,400 6,485,900 
Wittttteht oo Googdooodousobe 4,500 5O8 
Washington.............. 766,200 254,400 
WAOMIS5 5 boooetceooconG 5,300 100 
ANNs aocoduaoosdouce $64,463,000 54,438,000 
Totals for 1897....... 57,363,000 53,860,000 
THE annual general meeting of the Marine 
Biological Association was held, says Nature, 
in the rooms of the Royal Society on June 28th. 
The Council reported that the laboratory at 
Plymouth continued in a state of efficiency, 
and was adequately equipped with the most 
modern requirements for marine biological re- 
search. The investigation of the natural his- 
tory of the mackerel, commenced last year by 
Mr. Garstang, had been continued, and a re- 
port on the variations, races and migrations of 
this fish had been published. A systematic 
study of the physical and biological conditions 
prevailing in the waters at the mouth of the 
English Channel had also been commenced, 
which it was hoped would throw light on the 
causes which determine the movements of mi- 
gratory fishes. The examination of the fauna 
and bottom deposits between the Eddystone 
and Start Point had been concluded by Mr. 
Allen, the director of the laboratory. Seven- 
teen naturalists and eleven students had worked 
in the laboratory, in addition to the members 
of the regular staff. 
