THE Anthropological Society of Washington and the Woman's Anthropological Society have recently united for scientific work, the latter discontinuing separate scientific meetings, and the former modifying its by-laws in such manner as to combine the functions hitherto performed by the two organizations. The union was definitely completed at the annual meeting of the Anthropological Society of Washington on January 17, 1899, at which the modified bylaws were adopted, and at which representatives of both societies were recognized in the ensuing election of officers. The officers for the year are as follows: President, W J McGee; VicePresidents-Section A, Somatology, Dr. Frank Baker; Section B, Psychology, Lester F. Ward; Section C, Esthetology, W. H. Holmes; Section D, Technology, Frank Hamilton Cushing; Section E, Sociology, Dr. George M. Kober; Section F, Philology, Major J. W. Powell; Section E, Sophiology, Alice C. Fletcher; General Secretary, Jessie Moore Holton; Treasurer, Perry B. Pierce; Curator, Mariana P. Seaman; Secretary of the Board of Managers, Dr. J. H. McCormick; Councilors, J. Walter Fewkes, Weston Flint, F. W. Hodge, George R. Stetson, Edith C. Westcott, Thomas Wilson; Ex-Officio Members of the Board (as Ex-Presidents), Robert Fletcher, Otis T. Mason.

THE National Geographic Society offers two prizes for the best essays on Norse discoveries in America—a first prize of $150 and a second prize of $75. Essays submitted in competition for these prizes should be typewritten in the English language and should not exceed 6,000 words in length. They should be signed by a pseudonym and must be received on December 31, 1899. The judges are: Henry Gannett, Geographer of the U.S. Geological Survey, etc.; Albert Bushnell Hart, professor of history in Harvard University; Anita Newcomb McGee, M. D., Acting Assistant Surgeon, U. S. A.; John Bach McMaster, LL. D., professor of history in the University of Pennsylvania, and Henry S. Pritchett, Superintendent of the U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey.

A PROVISIONAL committee for the German Empire, in connection with the Thirteenth International Medical Congress, which is to be held

in Paris in 1900, has been formed, with Professor Rudolph Virchow as President.

As we have already announced, the eighth session of the International Geological Congress will be held in Paris from August 16 to 28, 1900, in connection with the great Exposition. The American Geologist states that the Committee of Organization, of which M. Albert Gaudry is President, MM. Michel-Lévy and Marcel Bertram, Vice-Presidents, and M. Charles Barrois, General Secretary, has already held several meetings. The Congress will meet in a special pavilion, and the length of its sessions will permit its members to visit the Exposition and the geological museums of Paris. Three general excursions have been arranged in addition to nineteen excursions intended for specialists, in which the number of members who can attend is limited to twenty. A circular describing the plans for these excursions will be sent out in 1899, and a guide book written by the directors of the excursions will be placed on sale at the beginning of 1900.

DR. CHARLES MOHR, of Mobile, Ala., Special Agent of the Forestry Division of the United States Department of Agriculture, has recently presented to the Museum of Pharmacognosy of the University of Michigan some interesting and valuable specimens. They consist of a section of a pine-tree trunk, showing the American method of boxing and bleeding longleafed pines for turpentine; and of samples of the twenty different turpentine products manufactured in the South. The various stages of the manufacture of turpentine are well illustrated by these specimens.

CONSUL AYERS, of Rosario, under date of December 9, 1898, writes the Department of State that by reason of the continuous onslaught made on the locusts through the efforts of the commissions, aided by a lately developed natural enemy-the Champi beetle-the injury to the crops so far has been very slight. The consul incloses a letter by an American-Maj. O. C. James-describing the beetle, which, it appears, feeds upon the eggs of the locust. The letter reads, in part: "The Champi' is the most effective locust-egg destroyer we have in Argentina. He is a dirty blackish beetle, the

larger species being a little more than 1 inch long by half an inch broad, and must be looked for closely where locusts are laying their eggs or his presence may not be discovered. Both the mature insect and its larvæ feed upon the eggs of the acridian in large numbers. These beetles belong to the genus Trox of the family Scarabæidæ. Ordinarily they feed upon dead animals and animal matter more or less desiccated. How they have developed the habit of feeding upon locusts' eggs is a mystery. Still, it might be imagined that the steps from a carrion-feeding habit could develop that which the insects now possess. In a country where hun

dreds of dead animals are left scattered over the pampa to decay, these insects have become plentiful. The eggs of the locusts are covered with a frothy exudation that soon becomes strong smelling and attracts the beetles, who devour them." Under date of December 6th, Consul Ruffin, of Asuncion, writes that among the worst pests with which Paraguay is infested are the grasshoppers, which are almost as large as small birds. The name of locust is given them, but they are more like what we call grasshoppers. A government commission to study the question of their extermination has been appointed, and in the last few days a law compelling everybody to help kill the grasshoppers or pay a fine of $20 paper (equal to about $2.75 gold) has been passed. The young ones, unable to fly, are killed, the method being to drive them into a long trench and cover them up. The grasshoppers, sometimes for a whole day, obscure the brilliant tropical sun in their flight and make it appear as though the weather were cloudy; they also impede railroad trains.

THE Weather Bureau office in New York City was moved on October 15, 1898, from the Manhattan Building, No. 66 Broadway, to the American Surety Building, No. 100 Broadway, about two blocks farther north. The monthly Weather Review gives some details in regard to the old and the new offices. The office quarters in the Manhattan Building consisted of four circular rooms, one immediately above the other, in the tower that rises to an altitude of about 88 feet above the main roof and 355 feet above the curbstone on Broadway. Communication between the four rooms was by means of a central

spiral scaircase. The barometer was in the first or lower room. Owing to the presence of the tower and the general configuration of the roof it was necessary to give the anemometer, wind vane and thermometers a much greater elevation than would be afforded by the ordinary supports. The thermometer shelter support consisted of a skeleton framework of iron, high enough to give the thermometers an elevation of 54 feet above the main roof. Access to the shelter was secured by means of a spiral staircase, the iron newel of which extended upward about 34 feet above the top of the framework as a support for the wind vane and anemometer. The lastnamed instruments were thus placed at an elevation of 326 feet above the curb, but still some distance below the top of the main portion of the tower. This station was thus occupied from March 15, 1895, to October 15, 1898. The office quarters secured in the American Surety Building consist of five rooms en suite on the twentieth floor, the next but one to the top of the building. The roof of the building on which the instruments are exposed is almost flat and there are no projecting towers or chimneys on the building itself or surrounding structures to obstruct the free sweep of the wind. The barometer is at the same elevation as in the Manhattan Building. The heights of the instruments above the Pine street curb and the roof are now as follows: Instruments.

Barometer......
Thermometer.
Anemometer cups...
Wind vane.
Rain gauge.....

Above curb. Above roof. Feet.

Feet.

THE Boston Society of Natural History, in order to meet a considerable loss of income due to the lower rate of interest now paid upon conservative investments, and also that the efforts of the Society may keep abreast of the new demands arising from the growth of the metropolitan district of Boston, needs additional members. From the statement sent with this appeal we take the following facts regarding the Society: The Boston Society of Natural History was founded April 28, 1830, for the en

couragement and promotion of the science of natural history.' It was incorporated February 25, 1831, and has long been one of the eminent and essentially public institutions of the community. The Society contributes at present to the promotion of science and of public education by the following means: (1) Meetings held on the evenings of the first and third Wednesdays of each month from November to May. These meetings are devoted to the presentation of the results of scientific investigations and to the popular expositions of such studies as are of general public interest. (2) Publication of Memoirs, Proceedings and Occasional Papers, which all record the discoveries of members and others. These publications are widely distributed in all parts of the world, more than four hundred copies being sent to academies, learned societies and other correspondents, as well as to such members of the Society as express a wish to receive them. (3) The Library, which contains upwards of 25,000 volumes and 12,000 pamphlets, includes numerous extensive sets and rare works, many of them not accessible elsewhere in this vicinity. Members are allowed eight volumes at a time for home use, and each volume may be retained a month without renewal. The library privileges are granted without reference to residence. Books are sent by express at the borrower's expense. (4) The Museum contains the collections of the Society and is open to the public on two days of each week. The number of visitors is large on those days. The Museum is open to members on other days. Special efforts have been made to display the fauna, flora and geology of New England. To increase the educational value of the collections, printed guides have been placed on sale. (5) Lectures to teachers and others, which at present are largely maintained by the Trustees of the Lowell Institute.

UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL NEWS.

IT is announced that a donor, whose name is withheld, has endowed in Harvard University a chair of hygiene.

MAXEY HALL, Brown University, has been injured by fire, the damage being estimated at $25,000.

DR. JAMES MONROE TAYLOR has been elected President of Brown University. Dr. Taylor has been, since 1886, President of Vassar College, where his administration has been very successful.

DR. THOMAS J. SEE, well known for his important researches in astronomy, has been nominated for a professorship of mathematics at the Naval Academy, Annapolis.

MR. W. L. CASCART has been appointed adjunct professor of mechanical engineering in Columbia University. At the same meeting of the Trustees the title of Professor R. S. Woodward was changed from professor of mechanics to professor of mechanics and mathematical physics.

PROFESSOR FRITZ REGEL, of Jena, and Dr. Erich v. Drygalski, of Berlin, have been appointed to professorships of geography in the Universities at Würzburg and Tübingen respectively.

DR. ROBERT OTTO, professor of chemistry in the Institute of Technology at Braunschweig, has retired. Dr. Voswinckel has qualified as docent in chemistry in the Institute of Technology at Berlin.

ACCORDING to the new catalogue of Brown University 925 students are enrolled, an increase of 65 over last year. The increase of the Freshman class, from 168 last year to 216 this, is especially noticeable. There are 99 graduate students.

IN a recent number of the Harvard Graduates'

Magazine, Professor A. B. Hart publishes a comparative statement of the attendance at the leading American universities. According to his figures the institutions rank in numbers as follows:

Undergraduates in arts and sciences: Harvard, 2,260; Yale, 1,755; Michigan, 1,429; Wisconsin, 1,097; Columbia, 802; Chicago, 783; Pennsylvania, 653; Johns Hopkins, 187.

Graduate students: Chicago, 370; Harvard, 319; Columbia, 313; Yale, 270; Johns Hopkins, 192; Pennsylvania, 151; Wisconsin, 87; Michigan, 73.

The medical department: Pennsylvania, 793; Columbia, 695; Harvard, 516; Michigan, 408; Johns Hopkins, 201; Yale, 112.

The law department: Michigan, 720; Harvard, 543; Columbia, 341; Pennsylvania, 312; Yale, 195.

THE following details are now given in regard to the establishment in Bombay of an Imperial University for India. Mr. Jamsetjee N. Tata offers a property representing a capital of over £200,000 and calculated to yield a yearly in come of nearly £10,000 for the establishment of an Imperial University or a Research Institute, in order to supply the want of a higher course of post-graduate instruction in scientific research for the best students of the existing universities. A provisional committee has drafted, for the approval of the government of India, a bill which provides for a scheme of studies with a threefold division: (1) scientific and technological; (2) medical and sanitary, and (3) educational and philosophical. The last of these branches has been included in the scheme in order to give the institution the character of a university. The new institution seeks to have the power of granting degrees and diplomas, and as it proposes to offer a strictly post-graduate course of studies it will not in any way interfere with the working of any of the existing universities. The scheme of the provisional committee involves an expenditure larger than is provided for by Mr. Tata's generous offer. A grant in aid, therefore, will be asked for from the government of India. The support of native princes, of local governments and of the public generally will be sought. It is estimated that the initial expenditure required will amount to over £100,000 and the annual charge to about £20,000. On this basis, therefore, it is proposed to establish the several departments by degrees and to found subsequently special chairs through public and private munificence.

THE following statements from a circular of the German Colonial School at Witzerhausen should be of special interest to Americans at the present time, as showing what Germany is doing to promote the education of men who intend to engage in industrial enterprises in her colonies. Similar institutions are maintained in Belgium and Holland. The purpose of this school, we quote from an announcement sent by the Division of Publications of the Department of Agriculture, is to educate young men to become practical superintendents of estates and plantations, planters, agriculturists, stock raisers and merchants for the German colonial possessions. The

course of study, which is completed in two years, comprises the following studies: Plant culture in general, including the study of soils, climate and fertilizers, farm management, bookkeeping, mechanics, engineering (bridge and road building, drainage, irrigation); special plant culture, animal husbandry and dairying; culture, use and value of tropical plants; establishment of plantations; gardening; fruit culture; vegetable culture; viticulture; forestry; geology, with special reference to tropical mining; botany (physiology, anatomy, systematic and geographical); chemistry, with laboratory practice; surveying and drafting; hygiene for tropical countries; veterinary science; colonial history. and geography; a study of the people; the history of education, religion and missionary work; colonial government, and commercial laws and relations; languages; trades (carpenters, masons, blacksmiths, harness-makers, bakers, butchers, etc.); practical work in field, garden, vineyard, forest, dairy, etc.; athletics (sports) of all kinds.

PROFESSOR W. A. HERDMAN, F.R.S., remarks in the twelfth annual report of the Liverpool Marine Biological Committee, says Nature, that there are two practices in American universities which excite the envy of professors in England. One is the 'sabbatical year'— the one year in every seven given for purposes of travel, study and investigation. The other is the frequent endowment of an expeditionor equipment of an exploring party-by an individual man or woman who is interested in the

subject and can give a special fund for such a purpose. Columbia University, in New York; the Johns Hopkins University, in Baltimore; Yale University, in New Haven, and Harvard, at Cambridge, have all been benefited immensely in the past by such exploring expeditions. Nearly every year of late has seen one or more of such, due to private generosity, in the field; and the work they have done has both added to general scientific knowledge, and has also enriched with collections the laboratories and museums of the college to which the expedition belonged.

Erratum: Vol. IX., p. 174. Line 12 from bottom of second column, for Australia read Austria.