232 
THE MEDITERRANEAN NATURALIST 
These are the more salient features revealed by 
soundings taken in the western portion of the 
Mediterranean. Scientific research, however, has 
added much to our knowledge of the eastern sec- 
tion during the past few years, and it is chiefly to 
Austria that progress in the study of the oceano- 
graphy of this part of the Mediterranean is due. 
Before the Pola expedition the generally received 
greatest depths obtained in the Mediterranean 
were 2040 fathoms in the western section and 2150 
in the eastern. The latest results, however, show 
that deeper soundings are obtainable. On the 
28th July, 1891, the Pola found the depth of 2406 
fathoms, and a few miles further to the eastward 
2236 fathoms, both of which depths exceeds those 
mentioned above. The exact position of this, the 
deepest spot yet discovered, is 35° 44' 20" north 
lat., and 21° 44' 50" east long., or, roughly speak- 
ing, about 50 nautical miles south-west of 
Matapan. Very properly the Austrian Hydro- 
graphical Board have determined to perpetuate 
the record of their nautical find by assigning to 
this deep-water spot the name of Pola Deep. This 
discovery will necessitate the removal of the 
deepest part of the Mediterranean considerably 
eastwards from its present position on our maps. 
Another deep-water area explored by the Pola 
was that lying between Candia and Alexandria, 
the depths ranging from 1810 fathoms, some 20 
miles south-east of Grandes Bay, to 1322 fathoms 
within a short distance of Alexandria. The serial 
temperatures taken by this expedition coincide in 
the main with those obtained during previous 
researches. 
( to he contin ued.) 
NOTES AND NEWS. 
The Reale Accademia delle Scienze di 
Torino has suffered a great loss by the 
death its Vice-President Prof. G. Flechia. 
A commission has been appointed by His 
Excellency the Governor of Malta for the 
purpose of inquiring into the causes of, and 
the remedies for the diseases of the Maltese 
vines to which we drew attention in our 
last issue. 
A sharp shock of earthquake was felt on 
the 21st. ultimo in Valletta and the sur- 
rounding casals at 3. 10 p. m. 
During a lecture at the Roj-al Institu- 
tion, Prof. Dewar caused both liquid oxygen 
and liquid air to be drawn to a magnet. 
He created a sensation by handing the 
chairman a wine-glass of liquid air — a 
clear transparent substance, condensed at a 
temperature of 187°C below zero, but capa- 
ble of burning the flesh like red hot iron. 
We learn from Nature that Mr. Thomas 
Hanbury has presented the Botanical So- 
ciety of Genova with a rich collection of 
vascular plants which was made by the 
late Prof. Wilkomm of Prague. It compri- 
ses as many as 14,472 species the greater 
number being European or from the adja- 
cent districts of Asia and Africa. It is espe- 
cially rich in plants of the Spanish penin- 
sula and includes most of Willkomms type 
specimens. 
The July number of Natural Science 
contains among other matter the folio wincr 
articles: — The Story of Olenellus by Prof. 
G. A. J. Coles, f.g.s. The Physical Features 
of the Norfolk Broads by- J. W. Gregory, 
B.Sc., F.G.S. The Evolution of the Flat 
Fish by Prof. A. Giard. Agricultural Mu- 
seums by J.H. Crawford, f.l.s. Amber and 
Fossil Plants by A. C. Seaward, M.A., f.g.s. 
We are in receipt of the 1892 edition of 
the Scientists’ International Directory con- 
taining the names, addresses, special depart- 
ment of study etc., of professional and ama- 
teur naturalists, chemists, physicists, astro- 
nomers, etc. in all parts of this world. To 
those who are anxious to increase their col- 
lections, or compare notes with other natu- 
ralists it is an indispensable publication. 
It is edited by S. E. Cassino, Exchange 
Buildings, Boston. 
In an article contributed to the “Comptes 
Rendus” describing an excursion to the 
