RECORDS 83 



order and then immediately after in a different order required a 

 longer time for the second order. If dealt 2, 3, 4, 5 • • • « times 

 in the same order before dealing in some new order, the succes- 

 sive practices in the same order followed the law of the practice 

 curve, which is an asymptotic approach to a physiological limit ; 

 and at the same time dealing the cards in any order required also 

 less and less time. This shows that practice in one order gives 

 practice ability in another order antagonistic to it, and the more 

 practice in one order the greater the ability to respond quickly 

 to the new order. 



Professor MacDougal reported upon a series of experiments 

 showing the influence of variations in visual stimulation upon 

 reactions to auditory signals. Reaction time was shorter in 

 darkness than in light, in weak light than in strong light, and 

 in colored than in neutral light. Reaction time was more con- 

 stant under neutral than under colored light, and changes in 

 quality of light were followed regularly by increased rapidity of 

 reactions. These changes were apparently due to changes in 

 the attentive condition of the reactor, not to any immediate 

 organic influence of the intensity or quality of the light. 



James E. Lough, 



Secretary. 



BUSINESS MEETING. 



December i, 1902. 



The Academy met at 8:20 P. M., President Cattell presiding. 

 The minutes of the last business meeting were read and ap- 

 proved. 



The Secretary reported from the Council as follows : that 

 the Council had voted to nominate the following as candidates 

 for Fellows, to be voted upon at the Annual Meeting : E. F. 

 Buchner, Esther F. Byrnes, R. H. Cunningham, A. W. Ches- 

 ter, William Dutcher, H. C. Dyar, G. I. Finlay, John Eyer- 

 man, W. J. Gies, A. W. Grabau, J. D. Irving, Gustav Lang- 

 mann, H. R. Linville, J. E. Lough, R. T. MacDougall, T. C. 

 Martin, Adolf Meyer, S. A. Mitchell, H. C. Parker, F. Peter- 



