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KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE, 



that the vessel remained at the island but a few days, but during that time the Ger- 

 man officers made a considerable collection and copious notes. The results of 

 their preliminary labors have been embraced in a pamphlet, which is reported at 

 the Smithsonian Institution to contain a large amount of valuable information. 

 The German government, it is understood, are making preparations to send an 

 expedition to Easter Island with a corps of scientists and engineers to search the 

 island, survey the ground, and to make plans and sections of the prehistoric 

 buildings and ruins. 



Our own government has also taken steps to secure some of these valuable 

 remains for its large and valuable ethnological collection representing the pre- 

 historic and known races of this hemisphere. Instructions have already been 

 sent to Admiral Upshur, in command of the South Pacific squadron, to send one 

 of his vessels on a cruise in the direction of Easter Island and to make such 

 explorations, collections and reports as he may think important in the interests of 

 the government. It is understood that the government of France is also turning 

 its attention to this island with a view to the establishment of a protectorate. 



It is reported in the accounts by the German vessel that the island, which is 

 small, is strewn with large stone images and sculptured tablets. The Smithsonian 

 has offered $i each for prehistoric skulls with the lower jaw. The few people of 

 Polynesian extraction who inhabited the island, know nothing about the sculptured 

 remains found, and even tradition gives no account of a people living there when 

 their ancestors arrived. 



EDITORIAL NOTES. 



Prof. Kiley, United States entomologist, 

 has just received from George Cadell, Esq., 

 Secretary of the International Forestry Ex- 

 hibition at Edinburgh, the first gold medal 

 awarded to him, it being the only gold medal 

 awarded by the Exhibition managers to an 

 American. The medal is large and hand- 

 some, with the words, "International For- 

 estry Exhibition, Edinburgh, 1884." The 

 reverse side has a wreath on a polished face 

 with the words, " Awarded to Professor 

 -Riley, Washington, for Collection of Insects 

 Injurious to Forest Trees." 



Mrs. Julia Smith, widow of the late Pro- 

 cessor J. Lawrence Smith, of Louisville, Ky , 

 has caused to be prepared for distribution 

 among scientists and friends of the family, a 

 very handsome memorial volume contain- 



ing an account of his life, the honors con- 

 ferred upon him in this and foreign countries, 

 and a number of articles upon chemistry and 

 mineralogy, written by him at different per- 

 iods during his life. Professor Smith was a 

 laborious investigator and an able writer, 

 and the volume is a fitting tribute to his 

 memory from one who knew him best. 



With the mercury from 10° to 50° below 

 zero in different portions of the country, 

 earthquakes in Spain and elsewhere, ava- 

 lanches in the Alps, universal snow storms 

 and tierce winds, January, 1885, made a 

 reputation for itself that will not soon be 

 exceeded or forgotten. The 22d especially, 

 was a notably cold day, the thermometer 

 marking from 8° to 52° below zero in all the 

 Northern States, from Kansas to NewHamp- 



