NovEMBER 3, 1899.] 
Russian imperial authorities, the scientific ex- 
ploration of the coast-line of the Pacific in the 
Far East is to be undertaken. It has been ar- 
ranged that a distinguished zoologist and mem- 
ber of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society 
shall undertake the exploration at the cost of 
the Society, in conjunction with the Ministry of 
Agriculture. The expedition intends to make 
investigations with a view to classifying the ma- 
rine fauna and flora on the coast of the Russian 
territory, and the conditions of zoological life 
will also be investigated upon the Liao-Tong 
peninsula, and in the adjacent regions of Man- 
churia and Korea. The period for these investi- 
gations has been fixed at two years, and the 
the cost of the expedition is estimated at 12,000 
roubles. The Geographical Society has prom- 
ised to make a grant of 7,500 roubles towards 
this sum, and the Ministry of Agriculture and 
Imperial Domains will contribute the remaining 
4,500 roubles. The Ministry of Agriculture has 
been led to take a part in this expedition in the 
expectation that its results will be of great 
service in developing the coast industries of the 
Amur and the Island of Saghalien, and also in 
the districts which have been acquired lately by 
the Russian government. The Geographical 
Society also entertains great hopes of the suc- 
cessful results of this expedition, in view of the 
fact that the previous expeditions sent by it to 
investigate the Black, Azov and Marmora seas 
were particularly successful. The expedition 
to the Far East will work in conjunction with 
the Society for Exploring the Amur Territory, 
and intends to establish at Vladivostock a 
zoological station for studying the marine fauna 
of the district. 
PRoFEssOR J. MILNE writes to Nature that 
unusually large seismograms were obtained in 
the Isle of Wight on September 3d, 10th, 17th, 
20th and 23d. ‘The first three refer to disturb- 
ances originating in Alaska. The fourth refers 
to disasters in Asia Minor, and the last to an 
earthquake having an origin as distant as 
Japan. Since the 23d, in the Isle of Wight, 
and also at Kew, not the slightest move- 
ment has been recorded. The inference is 
that the great earthquakes reported as hav- 
ing taken place at Darjeeling on the night of 
September 25-26th are at the most small and 
SCIENCE. 
663 
local, and are not likely to have been recorded 
outside the Indian Peninsula. It is extremely 
likely that the tremors noticed in Darjeeling 
were due to landslides, and seismic phenomena 
were entirely absent. 
UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL NEWS. 
Dr. BENJAMIN IDE WHEELER, recently pro- 
fessor of Greek in Cornell University, was in- 
augurated President of the University of Cali- 
fornia on October 25th. Addresses were made 
by President Jordan, of Stanford University ; 
President Gilman of the Johns Hopkins Uni- 
versity, and President Wheeler. 
By the will of the late Cornelius Vanderbilt, 
of New York, Yale University receives $100,- 
000 and Vanderbilt University $50,000. 
Mr. CHARLES HoucrortT has given £20,000 
for the new Birmingham University. Other 
smaller gifts have also been announced, bring- 
ing the total endowment to £315,400. The 
endowment of Mason College of £200,000 will 
be transferred to the University, giving it a 
total endowment of over £500,000. 
Ir is proposed to enlarge the Durham Uni- 
versity College of Science at a cost of £50,000. 
About £10,000 for this purpose was recently 
subscribed at a preliminary meeting. 
THE attendance at Harvard University , not 
including Radcliffe College and the Summer 
School, is this year in all 4,067 students, an in- 
crease of 155 over last year. The numbers in 
the different classes and schools are as follows : 
1898-99. 1899-’00. 
Sentorsietecacecon cence cc ceceiecs sions 369 31L 
Uma OE SccsoocasepoosnsHcsaasoCe" 335 351 
Sophomores..........-..ssseeeee 508 507 
Hneshimanvecrmesseeee eee teeccsscts 471 497 
Specials ieecssredseesscosemascets 168 190 
Motalsiacceentecuceecscess 1,851 1,896 
Science School.............-+:0+5 415 494 
Graduate School................ 322 315 
Divinity School 26 27 
Law School...... 551 604 
Medical School. aes 060 550 
Dental School..................5+ 139 132 
Veterinary School.............. 25 24 
Bussey Institution............ 23 25 
Totals 4,067 
