May 24, 1858.] 
AUSTRIA. 
281 
great tract which Humboldt termed “ Aralo-Caspian ” once stood at 
the high levels of much of the steppe limestone, which is filled with 
Caspian shells ; but will rather agree with myself and associates, 
that the great areas of land which surround the present Caspian, 
and which now separate that sea from the Aral, have been elevated 
into their present position from a former great interior depression 
on the earth’s surface. 
Lastly I may mention a fact, brought to my notice by Professor 
Katchenofsky of the University of Kharkoff, and now in London, 
that each University in Eussia contributes more or less to geographi- 
cal science. For example, the professors of natural history under- 
take every year the explorations of the adjacent districts, and 
publish their accounts and memoirs. Again, in the University of 
Kiev there was established some years ago a permanent commission 
for the description of Western Eussia : its publications now form 
many volumes, and contain the most important materials for the 
geography, geology, statistics, and history of the governments of 
Kiev, and the adjacent provinces of ancient Poland. 
Germany — Austria . — The Imperial Geographical Society of Vienna 
is steadily pursuing its useful career in bringing together informa- 
tion from other countries, and in stimulating and encouraging 
detailed researches which open out a knowledge of the interior of 
the empire or its coasts. 
M. Haidinger has furnished me with good news respecting the 
successful voyage of the Novara , and has also sent to me the 
copy of a letter from Lieut. Maury to Dr. Scherzer, of that 
Austrian frigate, which contains so much of real interest to phy- 
sical geographers, by throwing light on the currents and tempera- 
ture of the sea, with good suggestions for nautical and physical 
inquiries, that I hope it will be published in the Proceedings of our 
Society. 
The maps published and the geodetical operations executed in the 
last year by the Imperial Geographical Institute of Austria, under 
the direction of General A. von Fligely, are as follows : — Special 
Map of Bohemia, scale TTT ! o oo> sheets 2 and 14; Maps of various 
districts of Hungary, without the relief of the ground, scale fI1 '»o 5 ; 
Map of the environs of Gloggnitz, including the railroad over the 
Semmering, the Schneeberg, and the Eax-Alpe, scale -^g-Ao u > a general 
Map of Hungary in 16A sheets, scale o o> of which 4 sheets are 
published ; whilst a general map of Wallachia is preparing in 6 
sheets on the same scale. 
