Septembee 16, 1904.] 



SCIENCE. 



383 



lating to the history, nature and possibilities 

 of radium. Its mode of occurrence, the meth- 

 ods used in separating it from its ores, the 

 concentration of activities from low to high, 

 and the manifold uses to which these remark- 

 able radio-active substances may be put are 

 described. Cinematograph Hall can be dark- 

 ened, and different highly active specimens of 

 radium compounds are exhibited as affecting 

 the diamond, willemite, kunzite and other 

 radio-responsive substances. 



At the last monthly general meeting of the 

 Zoological Society of London the report of 

 the council for July was read by the secretary. 

 Dr. P. Chalmers Mitchell. It was stated that 

 during the month 180 additions had been made 

 to the society's menagerie. The total number 

 of visitors to the society's gardens during the 

 year up to the end of July was 417,170, an 

 increase of 48,738 on the numbers for the 

 corresponding period of last year. The num- 

 ber of fellows elected and readmitted during 

 the year up to the end of July was 165, an in- 

 crease of 31 as compared with the correspond- 

 ing period of 1903. 



Nature states that with the view to obtain 

 further information on the growth and migra- 

 tions of salmon (including sea-trout, salmon- 

 trout, peal, sewin, etc.), the British Board of 

 Agriculture and Fisheries had had a number 

 of such fish ' marked ' by attaching a small 

 oblong silver label (oxidized, or blackened, 

 and bearing distinctive letters and numbers) 

 to the dorsal or large back fin. Small rewards 

 will be paid for the recovery of fish bearing 

 such labels or other ' marks,' or for informa- 

 tion respecting them. The Board has pre- 

 pared lists of persons in the south and west 

 of England, in Wales and Monmouthshire, 

 and in the north of England, who will receive 

 marked fish. The experiments will be con- 

 tinued during a series of years, and the co- 

 operation of net-fishermen, anglers, fish- 

 mongers, and all interested in the improve- 

 ment of the salmon fisheries, is invited in order 

 that the fullest possible results may be secured. 



The London Times says that the first in- 

 stalment of specimens and a number of scien- 

 tific instruments have arrived in Edinburgh 



from the Scotia. Many of the instruments 

 were of so delicate a character that they had 

 to be carried unpacked in the hands of those 

 assisting in the transfer. Of specimens there 

 were transshipped about 200 barrels, cases and 

 packages. It is calculated that several years 

 will be occupied in the classification of the 

 immense amount of animal and oceanographic 

 specimens which Dr. Bruce has brought home 

 with him, and the contents of the great casks 

 which contain the larger specimens will, even 

 in rough sorting, take up some considerable 

 amount of time. The larger specimens of 

 oceanic life, upon being taken from the casks 

 in which they have traveled so far, are placed 

 in a specially designed zinc tub filled with 

 methylated spirits and fitted with a rubber- 

 rimmed lid, forming an excellent method of 

 preservation. It is officially stated that a re- 

 port which has been published regarding the 

 sale of the Scotia is inaccurate. 



The U. S. Geological Survey has recently 

 perfected plans for the systematic collection 

 and preservation of well records and samples. 

 The demand for information regarding wells 

 has become so great that the survey has de- 

 cided to issue an annual publication contain- 

 ing a brief account of the wells bored each 

 year. This report will be published as near 

 the beginning of the year as practicable, and 

 will be sent to all those who apply for it. It 

 will contain the names and addresses of per- 

 sons doing well work and will summarize the 

 work done by them in the preceding year. In 

 order to obtain data for such a year book, the 

 survey wishes to make arrangements with well 

 drillers and well owners to send samples and 

 records to the survey's headquarters in Wash- 

 ington, D. C. On receipt of names of persons 

 willing to save samples of well borings the 

 Survey will at once send them supplies of 

 canvas bags in which they may transmit them 

 through the mails without paying postage. 

 As these samples may be sent as often as the 

 drillers visit the postofiice, there is no danger 

 that they will accumulate and become burden- 

 some. For the keeping of a log a convenient 

 pocket memorandum book will also be pro- 

 vided. It is hoped that the drillers and well 



