8 THE NAUTILUS. 



here we are confronted with the fact that all differential observa- 

 tions are more or less affected with the variable " personal equa- 

 tion " among observers. The measure of conclusions is more or less 

 in error, and the elimination of the variable is not a mathematical 

 possibility. It follows, therefore, that a definition of the word SPE- 

 CIES is almost an impossibility, the judgment of a naturalist being 

 a controlling factor. This is a serious and unalterable fact. The 

 most unselfish and conscientious naturalists will often radically dis- 

 agree on the validity of a species. Others without a surplus of con- 

 science, candor or brains, will go on making species ad libitum, to 

 the end of time. 



A? a result of such diffusiveness, the birds, fishes, insects, shells, 

 and plants, have generally been named three or four times over. 

 This condition is discreditable to science, and Congresses of scientists 

 are not able to remedy the evil. An epidemic of this sort is raging 

 in Europe, and the " New School " mills are grinding out species by 

 the hundreds. 



The animus of species mongers is often visible, and not praise- 

 worthy. Posing as scientists, they grasp nomenclature and bandy 

 names about football fashion, with a nonchalance that takes away 

 the breath of astonished beholders and raises the hair on end. The 

 vocation of such gentry is that of the " Bulls and Bears," tearing 

 down what others labored hard to build up, and raising standards 

 which a later litter of "Bears" will demolish. 



A FEW NOTES ON PISIDIA. 



BY DR. V. STERKI. 



It is hoped that our fellow couchologists will not feel chilly when 

 reading this title, but kindly excuse the writer for coining again 

 with Pisidia. The Cycladidcc are in order at present, and the season 

 for collecting is at hand. Many conchologists in the East and West, 

 North ami South of our country are prepared to do vigorous collect- 

 ing, and many others not yet enlisted will probably join them, so 

 that, in all probability, more will be done in this line than at any 

 previous time. And there is no doubt that the results will be highly 

 satisfactory. Almost every sending coming in from the compara- 

 tively few places where collecting has been done so far, brought up 

 some new form or forms which may prove to be new species, or 

 varieties, by comparing them with more materials from other places. 



