498 The American Naturalist. [May, 
C. W. McClure presented a paper on “ The Ox Worble,’’ with es- 
pecial reference to the damage it does by spoiling the hides of cattle 
in this vicinity. E. R. Quick read a paper on ‘‘ Rats.” He gave the 
date of the appearance of the common rat, as near as could be ascer- 
tained, in this vicinity, noted some of their habits, and gave special at- 
tention to the appearance of these animals within the past winter in. 
unusual numbers at many points in the Ohio Valley. The following 
subjects were also presented by C. W. McClure, ‘* The Early Bloom- 
ing of Flowers,’’ and “The Hibernation of Water Snakes (Trop. 
sipedon). By Edw. Hughes, “On the Occurrence of Lyla pickeringii 
and Chorophilus triseriatus in Franklin County, Indiana.” By E. R. 
Quick, *‘ Notes on the Breeding Habits of Hyla versicolor.” 


SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 
Edmond Hébert.—Died April 4th, 1890, Edmond Hébert, Pro- 
fessor of Geology in the Sorbonne, Dean of the Scientific Faculty of 
Paris, and member of the Institute of France. Prof. Hébert was three 
times President of the Geological Society of France, and was the first 
President of the International Congress of Geologists. He was born at 
Villefargeau, near Auxerre, and his father was a soldier of the republic 
and of the empire. Hébert was the most accomplished stratigraphic 
geologist of France, and perhaps of Europe, especially in the Cænozoic 
and Mesozoic departments. He was the author of many important 
papers and memoirs. He was aman of much energy and also ami- 
ability of character, traits which were exhibited in his personal appear- 
ance and manners. 
Sir Richard Owen was recently attacked by paralysis, a circumstance 
which gave rise to premature reports of his death. At last accounts he 
was slowly recovering, but at his advanced age his situation is regarded 
as serious. 
During this the third season the Marine Biological Laboratory will 
have the following corps of instructors: Dr. C. O. Whitman, Director, 
Howard Ayers, H. C. Bumpus, E. G. Gardiner, J. S. Kingsley, J. 
Playfair McMurrich, W. M. Rankin, W. A. Setchell. 
The laboratory is located on the coast at Wood’s Holl, near the 
laboratories of the United States Fish Commission. It has added to 
it this year a library, a lecture-room, and six more private laboratories. 



