Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 2 (1898).djvu/553

Rh grants possible, and if, as we know, the trader usually precedes the missionary, 80 commerce provides the funds for science. In that spirit we may well say “‘ Advance Australia ” when we read as follows:—

“No fully organised collecting expeditions have been despatched, as the Trustees had not sufficient available funds for this purpose, but a few short trips were made by members of the staff, partly at their own expense. The most important of these was made possible through the kindness of Mr. Septimus Robinson, who invited the Trustees to send a collector to Buckiinguy Station for a fortnight, and gave him every assistance and generous hospitality, the only expense to the Trustees being the railway fares and the preserving material. A number of much-needed specimens were obtained in this way, and the thanks of the Trustees are due to Mr. Robinson for his assistance. <A very great need on the Museum staff is that of a trained collector. The stock of duplicate specimens is very low, and it is difficult to replenish the exhibited collections as required, and impossible to deal fully with other Museums in the way of exchange. At present the funds at the disposal of the Trustees will not permit of such an appointment being made, and this is the more to be regretted when it is seen that Museums and Institutions in other countries are sending their collectors to Australia and taking the best specimens out of the country, so that Australian types are largely located in London, Norway, &c.”

, M. Bourdarie by name, is agitating just now in the interests of the Elephant. He is appealing to the French Government and the King of the Belgians for support. Every year 40,000 Elephants are killed in Africa for the sake of their ivory, and M. Bourdarie fears that, like the Buffaloes in America, these useful animals will become exterminated if something is not done to limit the number killed. He considers that the Elephant instead of being destroyed should be protected to serve the future agriculturists of Central Africa, as the Elephant is the only animal that can work in these regions. In the meantime ivory is still an important article of commerce in Central Africa, and the problem is how to get the ivory without killing the Elephant.—South Africa.

extraordinary catch of Sprats occurred on Thursday, Nov. 17th, just west of Shoreham Harbour, about fifteen boats being kept going throughout the morning and afternoon bringing the fish to the shore. In nearly every instance the boats were loaded to such an extent that had there been any sea on to speak of they would undoubtedly have been swamped. In one case a boat containing between fifty and sixty bushels burst. The Sprats were unusually large. The last catch of any similar magnitude off Shoreham occurred in 1878.—The West Sussex Gazette. Zool. 4th ser. vol. II., December, 1898.