242 ISIISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 



Norway, the Faroes, Iceland and Spitzbergen. Finally, Professor 

 Nordenskjold has successfully prosecuted his bold researches in 

 the seas to the north of Siberia, effecting for the first time the 

 north-east passage. 



The American Geological Surveys. — Our readers will 

 learn with surprise that the Legislatures both of the United States 

 and of some of the States have begun to display illiberal feelings 

 with respect to the admirable geological surveys of the various 

 States and Territories. The Legislatures of Georgia and North 

 Carolina have actually suspended their surveys, and that of 

 Pennsylvania very nearly followed in their track; while the Federal 

 Congress, failing to appreciate the value of Hayden's well-known 

 Geological and Geographical Survey of the Territories, have dis- 

 continued the appropriations for that and two other surveys, 

 replacing them by a single survey under the charge of Mr. Clarence 

 King. This virtual dismissal of Prof Hayden places a stigma on 

 the Congress which failed to appreciate his labors which will not 

 be easy to remove. The excellent nature of the zoological work 

 performed by these surveys gives us a claim to express our opinion 

 on the subject. 



Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College. 

 — The report for 1877-78 is prepared by Mr. Chas. E. Hamlin, 

 whose own special work was the identification of the marine 

 Lamellibranchiata. The lamented death of Mr. Anthony, who 

 had for some years paid special attention to the land and fresh- 

 water shells, necessitated the reporting upon his work by Mr. 

 Hamlin. A large amount of labor has apparently been expended 

 upon the various malacological collections. 



J.C. ii. August, lS7f) 



