1884.] Geology and Paleontology. 177 
coni, sent out by the Milan Geographical Society, was mur- 
dered by the Somalis on August 5th. The Sultan of Ogaden 
had warned him not to proceed on account of the state of war 
that prevailed, but S™ Sacconi continued onward until he was 
surrounded by 5000 men. In the course of the night five Somalis 
suddenly attacked the traveler’s tent while the guards were asleep 
and killed S* Sacconi with their knives. All his notes are lost, 
and his diary burned. Captain Dawson and party, of the 
British Circumpolar Expedition, which wintered at-Fort Rae, 
arrived safe and well at Winnepeg on Nov. 2.——Lieut. Hovgaard, 
in reply to an inquiry from Baron Nordenskjöld, states that he 
could have navigated the Kara sea and reached the Yenisei last year 
had he not, by signals of distress fromthe Varna, been compelled to 
leave the lead along the shore of Waigatz island. The lead was 
open as far as the eye could reach——lIn the vicinity of Bona, 
Algeria, the Naiba, an isolated mountain 800 meters high, is 
gradually descending into the earth, forming a deep excavation 
round the sinking mass. 
GEOLOGY AND PALAIONTOLOGY. 
RESULTS oF THE DEEP-SEA WORK OF THE “ TALISMAN.” —M. 
Alphonse Milne-Edwards has communicated to the French Acad- 
emy some preliminary reports of the results of the work of the 
eep-sea explorations conducted by the French government 
during the past season. The work was carried on from the Gulf 
of zascony to the Cape Verde islands, and then north-westward 
See Sargassum sea, north-eastward to the Azores, and back to 
rance, As far south as the exploration extended, the great 
depths were found to be occupied by an arctic fauna, totally dis- 
tinct in character from that inhabiting the lesser depths. The 
be Fence, says M. Milne-Edwards, is like that distinguishing the 
næ of distinct geological horizons. Between the Azores and 
ne 
bg lr = eigenen eee ae es Pa EN 
axe the bottom is covered with deep white slime composed of 
oe ae of Globigerina. Fragments of pumice and other rocks 
Amon, some of the latter containing fossils, among others 
e 
. e 
Polished and striated pebbles of glacial origin, which M. 
ba 2 i - 2 a 
~ SOlonies, may take place. Oscillations of the ocean 
on a sufficient scale are all that is necessary. Ele- 
_ = ocean bottom sufficient to connect New Guinea with 
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