238 Scientific Intelligence. 



was borne by Messrs. Jackson and Armitage and Dr. Koettlitz ; 

 some few were collected by Mr. Child and myself, my own task 

 being a light one, consisting of cutting suitable pieces for exami- 

 nation and for specimens, etc., chiefly from the heaps which three 

 of us made on Capes Gertrude and Flora. On Cape Mary 

 Harmsworth Dr, Koettlitz collected woods, and Mr. E. Else 

 brought a fine piece also. These are now in Prof. Carr's hands. 

 A fine section was made on ("Tween") Cook's rocks by Mr. 

 Child ; this is with the others. 



There are certain plants in Franz Josef Archipelago which give 

 a color to the landscape, occurring as they do in patches or car- 

 pets up to an altitude of 500 feet. The poppy is the most showy, 

 but several mosses rival this flower in brilliancy. I have previ- 

 ously mentioned in this Journal the bright color of these plants, 

 but I did not specify them. There are four species which I ought 

 to particularize : Splachnitm Wormskiolclii Hornem., brilliant 

 green; Aulacomnium turgidum Schwgr., pale yellow-green; 

 JBryum obtusifolium Lindb., red to crimson and purple; Ortho- 

 thecium chrysewn Lorenz, golden yellow. It is interesting to find 

 that these mosses flourish in the neighborhood of loomeries, and 

 that in their absence they become quite scarce. This is particu- 

 larly the case as regards Splachnitm. "The Splachnum family 

 are remarkable among mosses for the preference they exhibit for 

 growing in bogs, on the droppings of animals such as sheep, 

 cattle, or foxes, sometimes occurring also on the bones of dead 

 animals." — Geographical Journal, February, 1898. 



III. Miscellaneous Scientific Intelligence. 



1. International Congress of Zoology, 1898. — The Fourth 

 Congress of Zoologists is to be held at Cambridge, England, on 

 the 23d of August, 1898. Sir John Lubbock has been appointed 

 President, in the place of Sir W. Flower, who was elected to this 

 position at Leyden, but was compelled to resign in consequence 

 of ill-health. The Secretaries are F. Jeffrey Bell (3 Hanover 

 Square, London, W.), G. C. Bourne and A. Sedgwick. 



Circulars have been widely distributed making preliminary 

 announcements in regard to the meeting and extending to British, 

 Foreign and Colonial zoologists an invitation to be present. For 

 the benefit, particularly, of those who may have failed to receive 

 these documents, the following paragraphs are quoted from the 

 circular issued by the Reception Committee : 



"The seat of an ancient University, which counts among its alumni distin- 

 guished Zoologists, from the days of Ray and Willughby to those of Charles 

 Darwin and Francis Balfour, seems to offer a peculiarly fit meeting-place for the 

 Congress on its first visit to the British Islands, and the Reception Committee, 

 including the present representatives of Zoological Science in Cambridge, hereby 

 offer a cordial welcome to their brethren at home and abroad who may accept this 

 invitation. 



The Reception Committee hope to avail themselves largely of the facilities 

 offered by the several Colleges of Cambridge for the accommodation and enter- 



