may 1899] PROF. MORGAN OX MR. HERBERT SPENCER 413 



of poetical idealism which calls in the " noumenon " as a basis for what is 

 apparently only " phenomenonly " seen. The true scientific metaphysics has no 

 need of this poetic distinction. Matter is directly known in itself as possessed 

 of qualities ; there is nothing really behind it. The phenomena of the world, 

 as reviewed by science, are not merely formulated in terms of antecedence and 

 sequence ; they are really considered as standing in the relation of cause and 

 effect, which is an intuitive judgment underlying a portion of our empirical 

 knowledge. There is no reference whatever to a supposititious underlying cause, 

 nor do we know or understand anything whatsoever about the noumenal mode of 

 action of any cause ; all this is truly inexplicable. It is hoped, on behalf of the 

 progress of science in this country, that Mr. Herbert Spencer's " inexplicable " 

 may be interpreted in some such way as here suggested. All who recognise in 

 the Darwinian labours an heroic but vain attempt to harmonise a rising and 

 aggressive science with the best interests of poetry, literature, and journalism 

 (all of which are excellent in their way), will no doubt enthusiastically join in 

 this hope. P. Q. Keegax. 



Patterdale, Westmoreland. 



BEES AND FLOWERS. 



Will Mr. Bulman forgive me for saying that his paper in your February issue, 

 pp. 128-130, is spoiled by its vagueness and even inaccuracy in regard to facts'? 

 No discussion about bees in general, as if they were all of one kind, can be of 

 much value in this connection ; nor do observations on the honey bee prove 

 anything about wild bees. I have now for several years been observing the 

 habits of bees in New Mexico, and can affirm that there are numerous species 

 which ordinarily visit only one kind of flower ; notably nearly all those of the 

 large genus Perdita. Others confine themselves to one family, as Cucurbitaceae 

 or Compositae. Others, again, visit many flowers of very diverse families. The 

 detailed facts have been published, so I will not occupy your space by repeating 

 them; they will be found in Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, Jan. 1896, 

 pp. 25-107; Botanical Gazette, Aug. 1897, pp. 104-107; Zoologist, Feb. 1898, 

 pp. 78-81, July 1898, pp. 311-314; and Bull. Sci. Lab. Denison Univ., xi. 

 (1898), pp. 41-73. These references merely relate to my own observations, 

 and are cited in defence of the statements above made ; but of course there is 

 abundant testimony from other sources. 



T. D. A. CoCKERELL. 



New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic 

 Arts and Agricultural Experiment Station, 

 Mesilla Park, N.M., March 3, 1899. 



PAGINATION. 



Sir — Referring to your kind notice of our latest Museum Handbook on 

 page 252 of the March Number, you will, I hope, forgive my expressing surprise 

 that a journal so scrupulous in matters of bibliography as Natural Sri, n<; should 

 suggest a double pagination in a reprint. Such a complication gives a needless 

 uncertainty to references, and it is difficult to see what good is gained by it. 

 If it can be shown that the numbers 1, 2, 3 present any advantage over 97, 

 98, 99, then I will recommend my Committee to use a double pagination, but 

 not before. The question was carefully considered, and it was not the additional 

 cost which determined the action of the Committee. 



Wm. E. Hoyle, 

 Owens College, Manchester, Keeper of flu Museum. 



March 17. 1899. 



