42 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
Some interesting figures concerning the sums paid to the late Rev. J- 
G. Wood, the naturalist, for his popular books, are given by Mr. Newton 
Crosland in his autobiography, ‘ Rambles Round My Life,’ recently issued. 
“Tf I recollect rightly,” says Mr. Crosland, “he got £30 for each of his 
books ‘ The Common Objects of the Country’ and ‘The Common Objects 
of the Seashore.’” Mr. Crosland remonstrated with Mr. Wood on his 
humble opinion of himself, so when he undertook his great publication, 
the ‘ Natural History,’ in three volumes, he asked £2000 for the work, 
and he got it. | 
Tu International Congress of Zoology meets on Aug. 23rd at Cam- 
bridge. The following executive Committee has been formed :— 
President: The Right Hon. Sir John Lubbock. Vice-Presidents : The 
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, Dr. W. T. Blanford, Sir 
W. H. Flower, The President of the Linnean Society (Dr. A. Giinther), 
Prof. E. Ray Lankester, Prof. A. Newton, Dr. P. L. Sclater, The President 
of the Entomological Society (Mr. R. Trimen), Sir William Turner, and 
Lord Walsingham. Treasurers: Prof. S. J. Hickson and Dr. P. L. 
Sclater. Secretaries: Prof. F. Jeffrey Bell, Mr. G. C. Bourne, and Mr. A. 
Sedgwick. Ordinary Members: Dr. Gadow, Mr. F. D. Godman, Lieut.- 
Col. Godwiu-Austen, Sir George F. Hampson, Mr. S. F. Harmer, Prof. 
Howes, the Hon. W. Rothschild, Mr. H. Saunders, Prof. Seeley, Dr. D. 
Sharp, Mr. A. E. Shipley, Prof. C. Stewart, and Dr. H. Woodward. 
Mr. Louis Becks, in the ‘ Pall Mall Gazette,’ has recently contributed 
some particulars of vessels attacked by infuriated Whales :— 
“Only three years ago the writer saw in Sydney Harbour the barquen- 
tine ‘ Handa Isle,’ which, on the passage from New Zealand, had been so 
attacked. She was a fine vessel of three hundred tons, and was sailing 
over a smooth sea with a light breeze when two large Sperm Whales were 
sighted. They were both travelling fast, and, suddenly altering their 
course, made direct for the ship. Then one sounded, but the other con- 
tinued his furious way, and deliberately charged the barquentine. He 
struck her with terrific force just abaft the mainmast and below the water- 
line. Fortunately the barquentine was laden with a cargo of timber, other- 
wise she would have foundered instantly. The blow was fatal to the 
cetacean, for in a few minutes the water around the ship was seen to be 
crimson with blood, and presently the mighty creature rose to the surface 
again, beat the ensanguined water feebly with his monstrous tail, and then 
slowly sank. 
“Some of these onslaughts upon ships were doubtless involuntary; as 
