444 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. V. No. 115. 



some 246 miles to the southeast, apparently 

 never had any marine connection. It was also 

 a matter of interest that the fauna of Tangan- 

 yika was not only marine, but of a very pecu- 

 liar and primitive type, and it was quite rea- 

 sonable to suppose that the characteristics of 

 the fauna were connected with the remote geo- 

 logical connection of the lake with the sea. 



The first census of the Russian Empire was 

 completed on February 9th. The work has 

 been in preparation for several years past, being 

 carried out with the aid of the statistical com- 

 mittees and the Imperial Geographical Society. 

 The inevitable difficulties, due to the vastness 

 of the Empire and the diversified character of 

 the people, have been increased by their igno- 

 rance and superstition. They are said to fear 

 not only fresh taxes, but also a re-introduction 

 of serfdom. 



Under the title ' Magnetic Declination in the 

 United States,' the United States Geological 

 Survey has just published a compilation and 

 discussion of magnetic declination, by Mr. Henry 

 Gannett, which will be of value to surveyors 

 throughout the country. The compilation is 

 based upon magnetic observations made at 

 about 22,000 stations. All data obtainable for 

 the discussion of the secular variation in declina- 

 tion have been used, and the results are pre- 

 sented in the form of tables, showing the ap- 

 proximate reduction to a selected epoch — 

 namely, the year 1900 — at each tenth year 

 prior to that time for the period during which 

 it may be required. Finally, the declination 

 data have been reduced to this epoch, 1900, 

 and are presented in the table by counties, 

 cities and towns. The calculated distribution 

 of the magnetic declination for the United 

 States in 1900 is graphically exhibited upon a 

 map in a pocket in the cover. W. F. M. 



We have received from Dr. J. Milne an ad- 

 vance copy of a circular to be issued by the 

 Seismological Investigation Committee of the 

 British Association, asking cooperation in an 

 endeavor to extend and systematize the obser- 

 vation of disturbances resulting from large 

 earthquakes. The Committee recommend that 

 similar instruments be used at all stations and 

 are prepared to supply, for about £50, an in- 



strument to those willing to forward to them 

 notes of disturbances having an earthquake 

 character, for analysis and comparisom with 

 the records from other stations. From time to 

 time the results of these examinations would be 

 forwarded to each observatory. The first object 

 in view is to determine the velocity with which 

 motion is propagated round or possibly through 

 our earth. To attain this, all that is required 

 from a given statipn are the times at which va- 

 rious phases of motion are recorded ; for which 

 purpose, for the present at least, an instrument 

 recording a single component of horizontal mo- 

 tion is sufficient. Other results which may be 

 obtained from the proposed observations are 

 numerous. The foci of submarine disturbances, 

 such, for example, as those which from time to 

 time have interfered with telegraph cables, may 

 possibly be determined, and new light thrown 

 upon changes taking place in ocean beds. The 

 records throw light upon certain classes of dis- 

 turbances now and then noted in magnetom- 

 eters and other instruments susceptible to 

 slight movements, whilst local changes of level, 

 some of which may have a diurnal character, 

 may, under certain conditions, become appar- 

 ent. Those willing to cooperate in this important 

 investigation should address The Seismological 

 Committee, British Association, Burlington 

 House, London, W. 



UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL NEWS. 



The faculty of Mt. Holyoke College announce 

 the gift to the College of $40,000 for a dormitory 

 by Mr. John D. Rockefeller, of New York, 

 and the receipt of a check ' from a friend ' for 

 12,250. 



Some months ago it was announced in 

 Science (August 7, 1896) that the University 

 of Texas, through the liberality of Hon. George 

 W. Brackenridge, of San Antonio, a member of 

 the Board of Segents, had come into the pos- 

 session of the finest collection of recent shells 

 west of the Mississippi. We now have the 

 pleasure of recording a supplementary gift from 

 the same generous donor consisting of the Gal- 

 veston Deep Well Collection, numbering 102 

 species ; a collection of Eocene, Miocene and 

 Pliocene fossils from California, Texas and 

 other Southern States, 106 species ; a collection 



