Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 2 (1898).djvu/554

518 The London steamer 'Oceana,' which was returning from an interesting scientific expedition off the west coast of Ireland, was driven into Cork Harbour for refuge during the recent gale. The object of the expedition, which was under the auspices of the British Museum, was to explore the ocean within 200 miles off the coast of Cork and Kerry for specimens of aquatic life, and whatever general knowledge could be obtained. Mr. Murray, who had charge of the operations, stated to a correspondent at Cork that the expedition had been most successful. Soundings were taken at various depths to a maximum of 2000 fathoms, as far as 200 miles west of the Fastnet, and several interesting and some curious specimens were procured. These will be arranged and classified, which must occupy a considerable time, and a report will then be written upon them for the British Museum.—Daily Mail.

example of Mr. Rhodes is to be followed in Australia, the Victoria Government having determined to reserve 91,000 acres at Wilson's Promontory as a huge national Zoo wherein all the native animals, which will otherwise soon become extinct, will be able to live and breed. It is, by the way, an example which might well be followed nearer home. The English "fauna" is not very extensive, but it is exceedingly interesting, and is rapidly diminishing. There is plenty of land in the island which would answer the purpose admirably, and which is useless for almost everything else.—Globe.

We have already (ante, p. 449) called attention to a proposed Zoological Society of Edinburgh. We are now glad to learn that as the result of a meeting held last week a committee has been appointed to formulate a scheme for a zoological garden in Edinburgh. It was mentioned at the meeting that letters asking information had been addressed to the secretaries of various existing gardens, and it appeared to be the opinion that the two best suited to the requirements of Edinburgh were Dublin and Bristol, each of which has an income of about £3000 a year from an average of about 120,000 visitors. Prof. Cossar Ewart, in strongly commending the proposal, spoke of it as being painful to think that many children grew up in Scotland without having ever seen many of the animals they heard so much about. Forty years ago there was a zoological garden at Edinburgh, but it collapsed for lack of support from the public.

has again published "Additional Notes on the Great Auk or Gare-fowl (Alca impennis, Linn.)," reprinted from the 'Transactions of the Edinburgh Field Naturalists' and Microscopical