Miscellaneous Intelligence. 433 



has been undertaken by his successor Director Thorne. The maps 

 are much more crowded with stars as Mr. Thorne observed stars 

 down to the 10th magnitude. Vol. xvi was distributed some 

 months ago, and now comes vol. xvii completing the catalogue of 

 the zone. H. A. n. 



V. Miscellaneous Scientific Intelligence. 



1. Popular lectures and addresses, by Sir William Thomson 

 (Baron Kelvin), in three volumes, Vol. II, Geology and general 

 Physics, pp. 1-599 (Macmillan & Co.) 1894.— This is the final 

 (published) volume of the valuable series of opinions, publically 

 expressed on numerous cases of general interest involving the 

 laws of pure science iu the realms of physics, astronomy, geology 

 and kindred branches, by this clear and calm judge of modern 

 science. Some of the more important subjects upon which 

 decisions are given in the present volume are : The doctrine of 

 Uniformity in Geology ; the Annual loss of Heat from the Earth ; 

 Geological time ; the Origin and amount of Plutonic Energy ; 

 the Meteoric theory of the Sun's heat ; on the Physical Condition 

 of the Earth ; the internal condition of the Earth, as to tempera- 

 ture, fluidity, and rigidity; Polar ice-caps and their influence in 

 changing sea levels; on the origin of motive power, and natural 

 sources of energy, the dissipation of energy, etc. There are 

 also numerous addresses, resumes of opinions of others and of 

 progress of science. The articles have been published in various 

 places, and were originally delivered at various times ranging 

 from ]856 to 1893, but lose nothing of their value by republica- 

 tion. In their present form they become accessible to the general 

 student of science as a body of valuable scientific decisions which 

 will stand until a more exhaustive analysis of the facts shall be 

 made. 



2. The International Geological Congress held its sixth meet- 

 ing at Zurich from August 29th to September 3d, under the presi- 

 dency of Professor Renevier, with an attendance of over 220 

 members. A large number of valuable papers were read of both 

 general and local importance. A report on the state of progress 

 of the geological map of Europe was made by Dr. Hauchecorne 

 of Berlin. Six of the forty-nine projected sheets are now ready, 

 including those for the northwest part of Europe, northern Ger- 

 many, parts of France, Belgium, Poland, etc. The map is being 

 published by Dietrich Reimer, Berlin. 



Michel Levy, in an address before the Congress, proposed that 

 some general system of classification of rocks be adopted by 

 petrographers and suggested that it be founded primarily upon 

 texture and secondarily upon the essential constituent minerals. 

 A commission was appointed to consider the proposition and to 

 revise the present classification and nomenclature of rocks. 



M. E. de Margerie, Secretary of the Commission on Bibliog- 

 raphy announced that the "Catalogue of Geological Bibliogra- 

 phies " prepared by the Commission and now in press will be sent 



