56 Scientific News. (January, 
— Arthur F. Gray, Danversport, Mass., is desirous of obtaining speci- 
mens of Purpura lapillus, Littorina litorea, L. tenebrosa, L. rudis, L. 
palliata, Tritia trivittata, Ilyanassa obsoleta, and Buccinum undatum 
from all localities where they exist. He would like fifty specimens or 
- more of the commoner species, if convenient, from each locality, to- 
gether with notes in regard to the situations where such specimens were 
gathered. In collecting specimens, select a fair representative of each 
species, both small and large specimens. His object is to study the va- 
riations of mollusks which are either very common or distributed over 
extended areas, and then produce a paper upon their variations. Due 
acknowledgment will be made for any aid rendered. 
— Lieutenant Cameron has been created a Companion of the Order 
of the Bath, and has been promoted to the rank of commander in the 
British Navy. The narrative of his travels, which will form the most 
interesting and important work on African geography that has appeared 
for many years, is now approaching completion. It will be published 
by Messrs. Daldy and Isbester, London. 
— Several sets of plants collected by Dr. Palmer in Arizona and 
Northeastern California, determined by Professor Gray and Mr. S. Wat- 
son, are for sale at ten dollars a hundred. Apply to Dr. C. C. Parry, 
Davenport, Iowa. ; 
r. William LeBaron, late State Entomologist of Illinois, author 
of four edna reports on the injurious insects of that State, died Octo- 
ber 14, 1876, at Elgin, Illinois. He was the son of Dr. Lemuel and 
Martha LeBaron, and was born in North Andover, Mass., October 18, 
1814. He studied medicine with Dr. Joseph Kittredge in North Ando- 
ver, and practiced there. He married Sarah Jarvis Carr, of Ellsworth, 
Maine, and in 1844 removed to Geneva, Illinois, where he also practiced 
medicine. 
— The New York Aquarium was opened October 10th, under excel- 
lent auspices, a large number of friends of science meeting in the fine 
building erected for the purpose, and listening to an inaugural address 
by Hon. R. B. Roosevelt. Our readers will take a personal interest in 
this important enterprise from the liberal and scientific spirit that thus 
far has characterized the management. The manager and projector, Mr. 
W. C. Coup, directs the attention of the public to a feature of the New 
York Aquarium which he announces is “ specially designed to promote 
and encourage original scientific research, and aid in the study of natural 
history in all of its most important branches. This consists in the estab- 
lishment of a free scientific library and reading-room, as an adjunct to 
the Aquarium, together with a naturalist’s workshop, fitted out with 
all the needed modern appliances, including microscopes, experimental 
tanks, dissecting tables, etc. This department is under the immediate 
charge of Mr. W. S. Ward, at whose suggestion it was established, and 
we propose to admit to the privileges of this scientific quarter any and 
