614 Scientific News. [ August, 
Microscopists’ ANNuAL.—The first number (for 1879) of this 
little manual, has just been issued by the publishers of the 
American Journal of Microscopy. In addition to lists of Micro- 
scopical Societies, manufacturers, dealers, &c., it contains much 
miscellaneous information of interest to microscopists, in regard 
to weights, measures, postal regulations, magnifying powers, etc. 
Being unable to obtain recent information in all cases, the lists are 
partly based upon old data with the hope of correcting them in 
subsequent editions. jil 
SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 
— Caleb Cooke died in Salem, Mass., June 5, 1880, aged 42 
years and 4 months, of typhoid malarial, the result of disease 
contracted at. Zanzibar. Mr. Cooke was for some time a pupil of 
gassiz. In 1859 he went to Para, South America, and afterwards 
to Zanzibar and Madagascar, remaining for about two years,on 
the eastern coast of Africa, sending important collections to 
Agassiz’s museum. The insects collected by him in Zanzibar, 
largely formed the materials for Gerstaecker’s volume on the in- 
sects of Zanzibar. He was onc of the curators of the Essex Insti- 
tute, and at the time of his death the curator of Mollusca in the Pea- 
body Academy, and was one of the most zealous of its officers 
from the date of its foundation. Mr. Cooke was an excellent and 
indefatigable collector and rendered most valuable assistance to 
investigations. He did much in local zodlogy. Though he was 
not a productive student of nature, he was, however, one of those 
useful, unselfish naturalists, with an ardent love of nature, who 
are careless of their own reputation, and aid in building up the 
fame of others. Mr. Cooke rendered important services to the 
U. S. Fish Commission for several seasons, when dredging. 1m 
deep water was carried on in the Gulf of Maine, aboard the U.S. 
Coast Survey Steamer Bache ; he explored Mammoth cave, and 
one of the most interesting of the insects inhabiting that grotto 
was dedicated to him, as were other insects discovered elsewhere 
by him. He also, in 1875, was an assistant of the Geological 
Survey of Indiana. 
Mr. Cooke wrote but little; he contributed several notes to the 
NATURALIST, and in the early years of its history was a most en- 
thusiastic and laborious assistant in the office work of this maga- 
zine. The writer of this notice mourns his loss, as the faithful 
friend of many years, who was unwearied in well doing, amiable, 
f sometimes with a grain of eccentricity, philanthropical, and un- 
i ) 
failing in all the minor courtesies and kindnesses that render 
one’s everyday life worth living. 
-- The School Board of Newton, Mass., have engaged Mr. d 
Walter Fewkes to deliver a course of lectures on natural history 
to the public schools. So far as we are aware this is the first 
course of lectures on zoölogy to teachers, as well as students, > 
