1899] A SLIGHT MISUNDERSTANDING 15 



that acquired characters or their consequences will he inherited. This 

 is an emphatic though concealed abandonment of the central position 

 of Weismann." But surely this misunderstanding of "Weismann's 

 position is inexcusable, and to slump " acquired characters or their 

 consequences " is quite illegitimate. The illustrious author of the 

 " Germ-Plasm " has made it quite clear that there is a very great 

 difference between admitting that the germ-plasm has no charmed 

 life, insulated from somatic influences, and admitting the transmis- 

 sibility of a particular acquired character, even in the faintest decree. 

 The point is this : Does a somatic modification, induced by functional 

 or environmental change, influence the germ-plasm in such a way that 

 the modification, or even a tendency towards it, is transmitted to the 

 offspring ? Tar from abandoning his position in the " Germ-Plasm," 

 "Weismann made it stronger than ever. The first condition of criticism 

 is to understand what one criticises. 



Photography in National Museums. 



In connection with our note on this subject last month, it will be of 

 interest to our readers to quote the following remarks from the Times 

 of November 24th, in regard to the remarkable collection of facsimile 

 Tudor proclamations now on exhibition at the British Museum : — 



These facsimiles have been beautifully executed at the photographic 

 establishment attached to the University Press, Oxford, which would have been 

 unnecessary if the Museum had possessed a photographic department of its own. 

 Great as is the historical interest of the collection, even this is second to the 

 importance of its exhibition as an object-lesson of the value of photography to 

 great libraries and repertories of archives. There is nothing, from the priceless 

 books and MSS. down to parish registers, which cannot by photography be re- 

 produced and ensured against destruction and decay. With an efficient inter- 

 national system every country might possess every document illustrative of its 

 history or its national life in the past. To this end, however, it is essential 

 that the photographic atelier should be national, and connected with some 

 public institution, for then, and then only, can the photographer be a salaried 

 officer, and expense thus be reduced to a minimum. The trifling public outlay 

 would be nearly, if not altogether, covered by public patronage. It is a matter 

 for much congratulation that the first important step to demonstrate the utility 

 and practicability of so great an object should have been made by the British 

 Museum. 



These remarks apply equally well to " types " or other subjects in 

 Natural History. 



Physiology of Reproduction. 



The experimental examination of the physiology of reproduction in 

 the lower members of the cryptogamic series is a study of compara- 

 tively recent date, opening a wide field of important investigation. 

 Most of the definite knowledge we as yet possess of this complex 

 and difficult subject we owe to the labours of Professor Klebs, who, 



