NOTES 461 



Prof. Doncaster, F.R.S., was one of our most distinguished cytologists 

 and Mendelians, and his books, The Determination of Sex and Cytology, are 

 well known. Doncaster possessed that valuable gift of interesting his 

 students and friends in his subject. His teaching and writing have been largely- 

 responsible for a creation of interest in the cytological study of animal 

 breeding and Mendelism ; most of the younger cytologists in this country 

 have been pupils of Doncaster, in some way or another. 



Prof. Doncaster's death again brings us face to face with the fact that 

 British Zoological Laboratories are not how so well stocked with promising 

 men as they were twenty years ago. Unless more and better men undertake 

 the study of zoology, we have no hesitation in saying that in future vacated 

 chairs will have to be filled with mediocrities (the process has already begun) 

 or we shall be obliged to import foreigners. 



Possibly the amelioration of conditions of university teaching might induce 

 more of the better-class students to study pure sciences like Zoology and 

 Botany. At any rate one cannot fail to notice that the zoological horizon 

 is rather devoid of budding Lankesters and Batesons. 



We can see no justification for the advancement of men simply because 

 of seniority. The professorial chair needs more than seniority for its fruitful 

 occupation ; a man who has done nothing and knows nothing, and who is 

 third-rate, will not be able to attract around him workers, except third-rate 

 men. His department will be an inferior one just so long as he occupies it. 



In another page of this volume we have inserted a review by Dr. Oscar 

 Brady, on Schrenk-Notzing's late and much-discussed work. We cordially 

 agree with Dr. Brady's attitude towards the printing of such valueless 

 material in these difficult times (page 483). 



Some time ago we received a book for review entitled Sex, the Key to the 

 Bible, by Sydney C. Tapp, Ph.B. Mr. Tapp has apparently been very active 

 as a writer of what we have little hesitation in calling pornographic com- 

 mentaries on the Holy Bible. The author states on the fly-leaf of his book 

 that his production is only sold to adults. We notice that the book has been 

 published by the author himself in Kansas City, Mo., and we do not wonder 

 at this fact, because we feel sure that no decent publisher would handle such 

 truck. We cannot understand how any man can write such disgusting 

 words under the cloak of religion, and prefer not to review this book in 

 our pages. 



We understand that the United States authorities have prohibited the 

 sale of Dr. Marie Stopes's books in America. While we do not for a moment 

 question the wisdom of any of the measures taken by our American friends, 

 we do wish that they would display a like activity with reference to Mr. 

 Tapp's pornographic work published in Kansas City. We do not think that 

 the importation into our clean country of dirty books published abroad can 

 be for the welfare of the nation. 



Report on the Proceedings of Section A, British Association, Cardiff, 

 August 1920 (A. 0. Rankine, O.B.E., D.Sc.) 



The proceedings of this section were this year of exceptional interest, and 

 reflected the rapid and important progress which ha^ been made recently in 

 physical science. All those present were deeply impressed by the excellence 

 of Prof. Eddington's presidential address on August 24. Contrary to 

 expectation he did not deal with Relativity, but chose for his subject the 

 " Internal Constitution of Stars." Nothing could have been more fitting 

 than the way in which recent stellar theory was brought into line with the 

 most modern developments of physical-laboratory observations, concerning 

 which details were subsequently given by Dr. Aston and Sir Ernest Ruther- 



