The Period from 1871 to 1880 25 



The severe limitations Newcomb imposed upon himself did not prevent 

 his delivering a profound and interesting address. (Vol. 27, pp. 1-28.) 



0. C. Marsh (geology) delivered his address as retiring president of the 

 Association at its meeting held at Saratoga Springs, N. Y., in August, 

 1879. The first paragraph and the next to the last one in his scholarly ad- 

 dress will give an idea of both the subject matter and the method of its 

 treatment. (Vol. 28, pp. 1-42.) 



In the rapid progress of knowledge, we are constantly brought face to face with the 

 question, What is Life? The answer is not yet, but a thousand earnest seekers after 

 truth seem to be slowly approaching a solution. This question gives a new interest to 

 every department of science that relates to life in any form, and the history of life 

 offers a most suggestive field for research. One line of investigation lies through em- 

 bryology, and here the advance is most encouraging. Another promising path leads 

 back through the life history of the globe, and in this direction we may hope for in- 

 creasing light, as a reward for patient work. . . . 



I have endeavored to define clearly the different periods in the history of Palaeontol- 

 ogy. If I may venture, in conclusion, to characterize the present period in all depart- 

 ments of science, its main feature would be a belief in universal laws. The reign of Law, 

 first recognized in the physical world, has now been extended to Life, as well. In re- 

 turn, Life has given to inanimate nature the key to her profounder mysteries — Evolution, 

 which embraces the universe. 



George F. Barker (chemistry) delivered his address as retiring president 

 of the Association at its meeting held at Boston, Mass., in August, 1880. 

 For the first time a retiring president of the Association gave his address a 

 formal title, "Some Modern Aspects of the Life-Question." The discussion 

 was concerned largely with transformations of energy in the cells, and the 

 transmission of impulses along nerve fibers in animals. It was, of course, 

 brought out that the ultimate source of energy on the earth is the sun, a 

 fact that provided occasion for a beautiful closing paragraph. (Vol. 29, pp. 

 1-30.) 



Papers of Interest Presented at the Meetings 

 The Indianapolis, hid., Meeting, August, i8ji. {Vol. 20) 



1. On the Geological History of the Gulf of Mexico. E. W. Hilgard. 



2. On the Characteristics of the Primary Groups of the Class of Mam- 

 mals. Theodore Gill. 



3. The Great Mound on the Etowah River, Georgia. Charles Whittlesey. 



The Dubuque, Iowa, Meeting, August, 18J2. (Vol. 21) 



1. On Soil Analyses and their Utility. Eugene W. Hilgard. 



2. Ancient Mounds of Dubuque and its Vicinity. H. T. Woodman. 



