1897] Scientific News. 925 
An expedition started from Sydney, Australia on June 2d, to bore 
into the coral reef of Funafuti. The expedition is supported by the 
mining department of the New South Wales government and by 
private subscriptions. In the light of the recent similar expedition of 
the Royal Society we cannot but think that they would have done well 
to have put the practical work of boring in the hands of an American 
familiar with the boring of gas and oil wells. 
We would call the attention of those purists in terminology who 
would replace such names as Ellobius, Gymnura, Gyge, etc., because 
of similarity to Ellobium, Gymnurus, Gyges and the like to the advis- 
ability of changing Raja, Iza and similar names because of possible 
confusion with words like Rana, Ixa, ete. This seems to have been 
neglected by them in their attempts to introduce confusion into nomen- 
clature. 
Plans have been drawn for two additions to the American Museum 
of Natural History in New York City. One addition is for a lecture 
hall at the north end of the present structure to cost $150.000; the 
pee a Penn addition to the west wing at an estimated cost of 
$400 
On J Ane 6th Professor Albert von Kölliker celebrated his eightieth 
birthday and his fifty year jubilee as ordinary professor of anatomy. 
He was presented with an album with carved ivory and ebony covers 
containing the photographs of hundreds of scientific men. 
The tenth annual winter meeting of the Geological Society of 
America will be held at McGill University, in the city of Montreal, on 
December 29, 30 and 31,1897. Details of the meeting will be announced 
in a circular to be issued about November 1. 
Dulau and Co. of London, have issued an album of half tone portraits 
of the Collaborators of the Scientific Reports of the Challenger Expedi- 
tion arranged on nineteen plates. The edition is limited to 200 copies 
and is sold at 12s. 6d. 
The Geological Survey of India, is engaged in investigating the 
recent earthquake near Calcutta in the most thorough manner, every 
available assistant being detailed to study some aspect or some locality. 
The Vienna Academy of Sciences recently celebrated the fiftieth 
anniversary of its foundation. The government grant tothe Academy 
has been increased from $16,000 to $20,000 yearly. 
Mr. Alexander White has received the silver medal of the Zoological 
Society of London in recognition of his zeal in making large botanical 
and zoological collections in Nyassaland. 
