— 884 NOTES. 
University Lecturer on “ The Life of the Primordial Era.” 
Government is continuing the survey of the Great Lakes, and 
it is expected that the survey of Lake St. Clair will be completed — 
this year, and that of Lake Michigan well begun before winter 
stops operations. ee 
The American Journal of Science and Arts for July, has a short E 
article by “ B. S.,” stating how the “ Cardiff Giant” was cut out — 4 
of a block of gypsum quarried near Fort Dodge, Iowa. The block d 
was carried to the workshop of Mr. Burckhardt, a well known 
marble worker in Chicago, who contracted to furnish the origina- 
tors of the scheme with a gigantic recumbent figure of a man. 
The newly made “ antique” was then conveyed to the Newell - 
Farm and buried; after seven months it was “ accidentally” dis- 
covered and thousands of parena were, and still are being hant 
bugged. 
The University of Pennsylvania have just laid the corner stone 
of the new buildings for its scientific school, in a plot of about 
eight acres purchased from the city. Provost Charles J. Stillé, to 
whom this new movement is largely due, gave an historica ad- 
dress, tracing the fortunes of the University from the organiza- 
tion of the College of Philadelphia as the sixth American College, 
just one hundred and sixteen years ago, an event largely due to 
the public spirit of Benjamin Franklin.— Independent. 
A hydrographic party under Mr. W. H. Dall, acting assi 
U. S. Coast Survey, will leave San Francisco in the course of a few 
weeks to undertake a reconnaissance of the Aleutian Islands an 
the adjacent islands. The work is directed by the U. 5. 
Survey, in accordance with a plan submitted a year and a half se 
by Mr. Dall to Prof. Pierce, which was approved by the 
of the Treasury, and for the execution of which an appropriatio 
was made by Congress at its last session. The work will include 
astronomical determinations of position, corrections of the 
charts as far as possible, deep sea soundings and dredgings, ! 
collections of Natural History and geology. Prof. M. W. Har 
rington of Ann Arbor, accompanies the party as astronomical 
server. A 
