^^6 The American Geologist. June, looi 
coaches over the Urals and Caucasus. The benefits to be en- 
joyed by such excursions appealed to many persons who knew 
little of Russia and nothing of geology, but who could easily 
spare five dollars to become a "member" of the Congress, and 
the necessary traveling expenses to bring them within the 
vortex of Russian hospitality. One gentleman of general but 
not geological attainments expressed to the writer his ability 
to "hand a grand duchess into the supper room as well as the 
best geologist." In consequence of the extreme good nature 
of the Russians, and the selfishness of the non-geological trav- 
elers who desired to take "everything in" the great Ural expe- 
dition occupying about a month and employing about thirty 
sleeping and dining cars carried 253 passengers of which it 
was said fully one-third were not geologists, nor capable of 
profiting geologically by what they saw ; but kept fully seventy 
or eighty deserving geologists from taking part. 
Unfortunately the United States had a larger misrepre- 
sentation, both male and female, in this fraudulent practice 
of ride stealing than any other country. The debates upon the 
subject were warm, but without result. The method of M. 
Barrois, which might be compared to a lightning arrester, 
solves the the difficulty with least friction. 
The following reports of committees were presented : 
1. On geological nomenclature by ]\I. Tschernyschew. 
2. On the map of Europe by G. Capellini on behalf of the 
directors. 
3. On petrography by M. Zirkel. 
4. On glaciers by M. Richter. 
5. Proposition of Sir Archibald Geikie on international co- 
operation in geological investigations. 
6. Proposition of M. Oehlert on the reproduction of types. 
The jury on the Spendiaroff prize was as follows. Gaudry 
(President), Marcel P)ertrand, Sir Archibald Geikie, Kar- 
pinsky, Tschernyschew, Zirkel and v. Zittel. 
The committee on Spendiaroft' award was also happy in 
Dreventing the generosity of ^l. Spendiaroff from becoming a 
bad precedent in the administration of the Congress. 
The history of this foundation is peculiar. 
During the month of excursions prior to the St. Petersburg 
Congress, a young man was noticed by all participants, and 
