242 NATURAL SCIENCE. April, 



patent to all whom they concern. We shall continue to welcome all 

 comment that is useful, and to publish it in whatever way seems most 

 useful. We are concerned with science and not with individuals ; it 

 is our business to distinguish between merely personal criticism and 

 criticism for the advantage of science. So far as we succeed in this 

 we are confident of securing the approbation of all workers : if 

 ever we fail, or seem to fail, we shall receive gladly advice and 

 correction. 



New Journals. 



The stream of new periodicals is this month increased in volume 

 by two dealing with Natural Science. The first of these is not 

 strictly a new journal, though practically it is so. Science Gossip is 

 reappearing under " entirely new management," and seemingly with 

 somewhat different aims. The present month has also witnessed the 

 birth of Science Progress, a "monthly review of current scientific 

 investigation." It is conducted by Mr. H. C. Burdett, of Stock 

 Exchange and hospital fame, and it may be purchased for half-a- 

 crown. Mr. Burdett is assisted by Professor Farmer, who is editor- 

 in-chief, and a number of other gentlemen, who form an editorial 

 committee. He has also secured as " contributors to the earlier 

 numbers " Professors Burdon Sanderson, Dunstan, Ray Lankester, 

 and others. The committee states that " in no case will the articles 

 be of a popular character, although it is intended that they shall be 

 intelligible to persons possessing an ordinary scientific training." 

 The first number contains 104 pages, distributed among seven articles, 

 dealing with " Physical Science and its Connections," " The New 

 Theory of Solutions," " Insular Floras," " Fossil Plants," "Bacterial 

 Poisons," " Vertebrate Morphology," " Chemical Physiology." These 

 appear to be excellent resumes of current research, and cover a wide 

 field. 



Memorial Volumes. 



The multiplication of periodicals not directly containing the results 

 of individual research leads us to the consideration of a type of 

 publication which is both interesting and annoying. Journals, popular 

 or otherwise, which do not affect to contain actually new work, have 

 a notable and valuable place in the hierarchy of scientific literature. 

 But the publication of actual research concerns very practically all 

 those who are engaged on research. The confusion of tongues and 

 the laudable enthusiasm of governments and institutions already 

 render patience a necessary equipment of the Zoologist or Palaeonto- 

 logist. With care, access to many libraries, and perusal of Records, 

 it is nearly possible for him to keep abreast with what appears in the 

 ordinar}^ publications. But there have of late been published a good 

 many volumes, we cannot call them books, of a strangely composite 

 nature, their subjects merely united by the desire to do honour to 



