February 14. 1902.] 



SCIENCE. 



279 



to simplify and regulate some of our existing 

 standards; and, 



Whereas, The Metric System is commendable 

 not only as a suitable International Standard, but 

 also for facility of computation, convenience in 

 memorizing and simplicity of enumeration; 



Resolved, That the Franklin Institute approves 

 of any movement which will promote the universal 

 introduction of the Metric System with the least 

 confusion and expense. 



Resolved, That the National Government should 

 enact such laws as will ensure the adoption of the 

 Metric System of Weights and Measures as the 

 sole standard in its various departments as rapid- 

 ly as may be consistent with the public service. 



At a recent meeting of the convocation of 

 the University of London the following resolu- 

 tion was passed: "That thisHouse isof opinion 

 that, in the interests of commerce, science and 

 education, legislation should be promptly un- 

 dertaken to make compulsory in this kingdom, 

 after a proper interval, the use of the metric 

 system of weights and measures for all pur- 

 poses." 



We take the following items from the cur- 

 rent issue of The Botanical Gazette: Dr. E. 

 B. Copeland, formerly of the University of 

 West Virginia, is engaged in research work 

 at the University of Chicago. — Dr. Bradley 

 M. Davis, of the University of Chicago, has 

 returned to his work from a stay in Paris. 

 — Miss Josephine E. Tilden, of the University 

 of Minnesota, has returned from an exploring 

 trip on the Vancouver coast. — Dr. John M. 

 Coulter, formerly of Syracuse University, has 

 been appointed professor of botany in the Ma- 

 nila Normal School, Philippine Islands. 



Me. S. Harbeet Hamilton has started on a 

 scientific exploring and collecting trip in the 

 vicinity of Santiago, Cuba. Collections will 

 be made in all branches of natural history, the 

 bulk of which will go to The New York 

 Botanical Gardens, The American Museum of 

 Natural History and The Academy of Natural 

 Sciences of Philadelphia. Specialists or in- 

 stitutions desiring material direct from the 

 locality are invited to correspond with Mr. 

 Hamilton at Santiago, Cuba. 



At a meeting of the Zoological Society of 

 London on December 3, a series of papers on 

 the collections made during the 'Skeat Expe- 



dition' to the Malay Peninsula in 1899-1900 

 was read. Mr. F. G. Sinclair reported on the 

 Myriapoda, and enumerated the forty species 

 of which specimens had been obtained. Of 

 these, nine were described as new to science. 

 Mr. W. F. Lanchester contributed an account 

 of a part of the Crustacea, viz., the Brachyura, 

 Stomatopoda and Macrura, collected during 

 the Expedition, and described six new forms. 

 Mr. F. F. Laidlaw enumerated the Snakes, 

 Crocodiles and Chelonians which had been 

 obtained, and described two new species based 

 on specimens in the collection. An appendix 

 to these papers, drawn up by Mr. W. W. Skeat, 

 contained a list of names of the places visited 

 by the members of the 'Skeat Expedition.' 



Our consul general at St. Petersburg writes 

 to the Department of State that the gradual 

 deforestation of Russia is attracting increased 

 attention throughout the Empire, and the For- 

 estry Society, as well as the forestry depart- 

 ment of the Ministry of Agriculture and Do- 

 mains, are discussing means for regulating the 

 consumption of timber and for propagation. 

 'Wooden Russia,' as it is familiarly called, 

 does not appear to be in any immediate dan- 

 ger, as a recent of&cial report states that for- 

 ests in this country now cover a gross area of 

 188,000,000 hectares (464,548,000 acres). 

 Among European countries, Sweden comes 

 next; with 18,000,000 hectares (44,478,000 

 acres) of forest. In Russia, the forests cover 

 36 per cent, of the whole imperial area. The 

 Swedish forests occupy 44 per cent, of the 

 total area, and the Austro-Hungarian 32 per 

 cent, of the territory of the Dual Monarchy. 

 Reckoned by the population, there are 2 hec- 

 tares (4.9 acres) of forest to each inhabitant 

 in Russia, 3.85 hectares (9.5 acres) in Sweden, 

 4.22 hectares (10.4 acres) in Norway, and 0.28 

 hectare (0.69 acre) per head in Germany. The 

 forests have a greater importance for Russians 

 than for people of West European countries, 

 as villages and country houses are largely built 

 of wood, stone and brick houses being almost 

 unknown, and the forests furnish the main 

 sources of fuel supply. While the imperial 

 committee complains that it is private owners 

 who are recklessly devastating the forests and 

 urges that adequate laws and regulations be 



