350 Scientific News. { April, 
tagious diseases of domestic animals. It provides for the organi- 
zation of a bureau of animal economy in the Department of Agri- 
culture. It authorizes the Commissioner of Agriculture to ap- 
point a Chief of this Bureau, who is a competent veterinary sur- 
geon, approved by the National Board of Health, and whose duty 
it is to investigate and report the value and condition of domestic 
animals, and also the cause of contagious diseases among them, 
and provide for the prevention and cure of the same. The Com- 
missioner is authorized by the bill to purchase and slaughter dis- 
eased animals, provided the sum paid for them shall not exceed 
two-thirds the market value of healthy animals, and $200,000 is 
appropriated to meet the expenses incurred in carrying out the 
provisions of the act. ' 
— Major J. W. Powell was, a few days ago, confirmed by the 
Senate to fill the position of Director of the United States Geo- 
logical Survey, recently vacated by Mr. King. While our pref 
erences are for Dr. Hayden, the founder of the survey, We will 
ope the new occupant may be sustained by liberal congressional 
appropriations. 
— Dr. James Lewis, the celebrated conchologist, died on the 
23d February last, at his home in Mohawk, N. Y. His malady 
was one of long standing, and during the later years of his life 
caused him much suffering. Well known to most conchologists 
in the United States, the intelligence of his death will be receive 
by them with deep regret. A brief sketch of his life will appear 
in another number.—R. E. C ; 
— On the 3d of February died the well-known English orni- 
thologist, John Gould, F. R. S., aged 76. He was the author 0 
“ A Century of Birds from the Himalaya mountains ;” “ The Birds 
of Europe,” and “ The Birds of Australia,” the latter in agai 
folio volumes and with colored illustrations of 600 species, an 
many other important works. He had been recently engaged on 
an entirely new work, “ The Birds of Great Britain.” 
