June 11, 1886.] 



SCIENCE. 



519 



this station, in artificially hatching the mackerel 

 and tautog, indicate that the application of the 

 methods of artificial propagation are capable of 

 still further extension. At present the propaga- 

 tion of the lobster is of the greatest practical 

 importance ; and the possibility of feeding and 

 caring for the young in large quantities till they 

 have attained the length of one inch, when they 

 practically abandon their pelagic habits and are 

 able to take care of themselves, seems to be as- 

 sured. John A. Ryder. 



ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY. 



The anniversary meeting of this society was 

 held on Monday, May 24, with the president, the 

 Marquis of Lome, in the chair. The report of the 

 council showed that 173 fellows had been elected 

 during the year, besides three honorary corre- 

 sponding members. The losses had been, by 

 death 63 (besides one honorary corresponding 

 member), by resignation 75, and by removal 21, 

 making the net increase for the year 16. The 

 total number of fellows on the list, exclusive of 

 honorary members, on Mav 1, was 3,407. 



The president said he considered himself most 

 fortunate in that it was his duty to present to Mr. 

 Phelps, as the representative of America and of 

 his distinguished countryman, Major Greely, the 

 queen's medal for this year. It was the sixth 

 occasion on which a president of that society had 

 greeted the achievements of a citizen of the United 

 States with that honor. In the year 1855 it was 

 accorded to Dr. Kane, who had charge of the ex- 

 pedition generously fitted out by the republic to 

 search for Sir John Franklin. Again, in the year 

 1867, Sir Roderick Murchison, then president, was 

 able to place in the hands of the American minis- 

 ter the gola medal given to another of his country- 

 men, namely, Dr. Hayes, who had reached a more 

 northern point of land than any before attained. 

 Dr. Hayes had himself been the companion of 

 Kane, and was the discoverer of that very land, 

 named after Henry Grinnell of New York, which 

 had been the scene of the explorations of Major 

 Greely. 



The president then presented the patron's medal 

 to Signor Guido Cora (Science, May 28). 



The Murchison grant for 1886 was awarded to 

 the brothers F. and A. Jardine, for their remark- 

 able journey overland to the settlement of Somer- 

 set at Cape York (Queensland) from May, 1864, to 

 March, 1865, during which they solved the ques- 

 tion of the courses of the northern rivers empty- 

 ing into the Gulf of Carpentaria, and definitely 

 ascertained the area of the York Peninsula adapted 

 for pastoral occupation. 



The Back grant for 1886 was then awarded to 

 Sergeant David L. Brainard, in recognition of the 

 effective services rendered by him during the 

 various explorations carried out by the American 

 Arctic expedition of 1881-84. 



The president remarked that the active work of 

 the society during the past year had been largely 

 directed towards initiating improvement in geo- 

 graphical education. 



The report of the society's inspector, Mr. Keltie, 

 describes the results of Mr. Keltie's visits to uni- 

 versities and schools at home and abroad for the 

 purpose of inquiring into the position of geography 

 in education : it had attracted much attention at 

 home and abroad, and, it was believed, had been 

 productive of good results. The interest excited 

 by the society's recent action had been so great, 

 and the expectation that they should continue it 

 by taking some positive steps towards encouraging- 

 improvements in the position of geography in 

 schools and universities was so general, that the 

 council had felt encouraged, and indeed bound, 

 to carry the scheme further. The educational 

 committee of the society therefore made certain 

 suggestions to the council, which were now under 

 consideration, and would probably be adopted. 

 The principal of these suggestions related to the 

 appointment of a lecturer in geography, to deliver 

 courses where the council might direct. 



In order still further to encourage the scientific 

 study of geography at the universities, the com- 

 mittee suggested that a prize or travelling scholar- 

 ship should be given every alternate year to a 

 student who had shown marked ability in geo- 

 graphical subjects, and who might desire to visit 

 one of the less-known districts of Europe, or the 

 Mediterranean or Black Sea shores, and any re- 

 sults to be communicated to the society. One or 

 other of the annual grants which were at the 

 society's disposal might be devoted to this pur- 

 pose. 



Another suggestion was aimed at reaching the 

 intelligent middle and working classes through 

 the medium of the university extension scheme. 

 For this purpose a small annual grant was pro- 

 posed. Another was that a medal be given by the 

 society to the student reported by the examiners 

 to have done best in physical geography in the first 

 part of the natural sciences tripos (honors exami- 

 nation). 



And finally, in order that all classes of schools 

 might be reached, it was proposed that prizes be 

 offered for competence in geography to the stu- 

 dents at the various training-colleges. Here they 

 reached the fountain-head of education ; and, if 

 they could secure adequate attention to geography 

 in the institutions which sent forth yearly troops 



