SCIENCE IN THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC. 463 



mony with the known laws of the entire organic world? This, and 

 nothing less than this, is what Dr. Bastian inculcates and demands. 

 Popular Science Review. 



SCIENCE IN THE ARGENTINE EEPUBLIC. 



By Prof. C. GILBEET WHEELEE. 



MUCH is being done in the Argentine Republic of South Amer- 

 ica, not only for the advancement of general education, but 

 for the extension of science. The foreign still preponderate over the 

 native workers, yet there is a creditable showing of contributions to 

 science on the part of the indigenous talent of the country. With its 

 universities and colleges, its observatory, Meteorological Bureau, 

 Academy of Science, Argentine Scientific Society, museum, and scien- 

 tific journals, with its rich and yet little-studied flora and fauna, 

 recent and fossil, the Argentine Republic has large and promising 

 facilities for training scientific investigators, and for vigorous progress 

 in the elements of a higher civilization. 



The republic now has, in addition to the considerable number of 

 foreign eminent men of science domiciled within her borders, a few na- 

 tives, mostly younger men, who are devoting themselves to scientific 

 pursuits. A still larger number are becoming interested in the sub- 

 ject, sufficiently so, at least, to give much time to the collection of 

 specimens, making of experiments," or the recording of observations, 

 besides often expending in connection therewith not inconsiderable 

 sums of money. There is Moreno, the young, bold, and successful 

 explorer of Patagonia ; Ramorino, the student of the phenomena ex- 

 hibited by the famous Rocking-Stone at Tandil; and, as to the supply 

 of careful meteorological observers, our eminent countryman, Dr. B. 

 A. Gould, of the National Observatory and Director of the Meteoro- 

 logical Office, says : 



" There seem to be persons enough who are able and willing to undertake 

 the necessary labor of making systematic observations, troublesome as it is, 

 with no other stimulus than their desire to serve science and their country. 

 In three cases I have found gentlemen who have carried on observations of the 

 sort during past years (up to eighteen), unaided and unencouraged. These have 

 cordially offered me all their data, gratified at seeing their labors appreciated 

 last. I think this young nation, so long struggling with foreign enemies and 

 internal dissensions, has reason to be proud of the number, relatively large, even 

 though intrinsically small, who are ready to work for her welfare and honor, 

 without hope of personal glory or emolument." 



Buenos Ayres, " the Athens of South America," has a scientific 

 society denominated "La Sociedad Cientifica Argentina," with nine- 

 ty-four active members, mostly natives, although the president is a 



