1892.] Scientific Hews. 535 



influence of the phloroglucine. In this solution the pieces of well 

 fixed and washed material are placed. The decalcification is very 

 rapid. Foetal or young bones as well as those of the lower verte- 

 brates are decalcified in half an hour. Older and harder bones require 

 only a few hours. A 35% solution may be used for teeth, yet it is 

 rarely found necessary to use stronger than 20%. If less rapid decal- 

 cification be desired the f< •. be used: 



Phloroglucine 1 part. 



Nitric acid 5 parts. 



Alcohol, 95% 70 parts. 



Distilled water 30 parts. 



When decalcified the bones are washed in running water for about 

 two days. The sections stain well and do not fade. 



SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 



A Grand Honorary Prize placed at the disposal of the Boston 

 Society of Natural History by the late Dr. William J. Walker "for 

 Igation or discovery as may seem to deserve it, provided 

 such investigation or discovery shall have been made known or pub- 

 lished in the United States at least one year previous to the time of 

 award," has been unanimously awarded to Prof. James D. Dana. 



In recognition of the value of the scientific work of Prof. Dana and 

 in testimony of the Society's high appreciation of his services to sci- 

 ence the maximum sum of one thousand dollars has been awarded. 



For the annual Walker Prizes a first prize of one hundred dollars 

 has been awarded to Baron Gerard de Geer, of Stockholm, for an 

 essay entitled " On Pleistocene Changes of Level in Eastern North 

 America," and a second prize of fifty dollars to Prof. William M. 

 Davis, of Cambridge, for an essay on " The Suhglacial Origin of Cer- 

 tain Eskers." 



The newly organized I is called bodily the whole 



Biological Department of Clarke University. The following persons 

 from Clark have already accepted positions as professors, assistants, 

 fellows, etc., at Chicago : C. O. Whitman, H. H. Donaldson, F. Mall, 

 F. Boas, G. Baur, S. Watase, W. M. Wheeler, E. O. Jordan, C. L. 

 Bristol, H. P. Johnson, F. R. Lillie, A. D. Mead. 



The results of the great Japanese earthquake in Gifu-ken, where 

 the damage was greatest, are thus summarized: 4889 deaths, 12, 311 



