132 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [July, 



torn of the paper imbedding box in which the object has ah'eady been placed, 

 before the film has formed on the surface of the celloidin. When the paper 

 is removed from the hardened celloidin, the writing will be found transferred 

 to the bottom of the block. It is now painted over with a thin layer of cel- 

 loidin to fix it. 



EDITORIAL. 



The new marine biological laboratory at Wood's Holl is for the continuation 

 of the work of the laboratory heretofore located at Annisquam, Mass., and 

 which has done so well under the dii'ection of Prof. Alpheus Hyatt during 

 the past six years. The newly organized laboratory is designed to furnish a 

 place where anyone who desires the inestimable advantage of seashore work 

 in biology can find every opportunity for it. Similar facilities have 

 been afforded by the Annisquam laboratory, by the laboratory of the Fish 

 Commission, and by the Chesapeake laboratoiy. We have little doubt but 

 that this laboratory will be well patronized by elementar}^ students, and trust 

 that the laboratory for investigators may also prove successful. The direc- 

 tion of Prof. CO. Whitman and the instruction of Prof. B. H. VanVleck 

 insure any who attend everything needed in the way of guidance and super- 

 vision. Teachers seeking a place for work can scarcely do better. 



It is hardly necessary to write of the benefits to zoologists of seaside study. 

 All know that many representative animals, such as the ascidians and echi- 

 noderms, are not found in fresh waters. But more important than that, since 

 the preserved specimens may be carried inland, is the great advantage of 

 handling live specimens — to see them live and move, to dissect them fresh 

 (often more advantageous) , and to preserve them by various methods, ob- 

 serving the changes produced by the treatment. This remark applies to the 

 beginner ; the expert knows too well to require mention the necessity, for 

 original studies in many groups, of a residence on the shore. 



o 



Dar\vin's biography. — Any of our readers, who have n6t already done 

 so, should lose no opportunity of reading Darwin's Life and Letters recently 

 issued. We can conceive of no honest and intelligent person, whatever his 

 estimation of Darwin's philosophic attitude, who would not thoroughly enjoy 

 reading such a cliarming I'evelation of the personality of this great man. 

 There can be no question of the wonderful interest and following which his 

 views have received, and attention enough was bestowed upon the man to 

 have spoiled a weaker character without in the least marring the beautiful 

 simplicity of his character. No theme would give us greater pleasure 

 on which to write at length than these two volumes, and their story — the 

 Boy at College, the Explorer of the Beagle, who, in spite of bodiW weakness, 

 •was so active in seeing everything, the era during which the idea of the 

 ' origin of species ' was dawning and growing, filled with the uninteresting 

 task of finishing up the results of his Beagle studies, the modest feeling which 

 prompted him to withhold his work from publication and allow the laurel 

 of discoverer of the great idea to be another's, the honest and -whole-souled 

 enjoyment he had in the success of his brethren, the entire absence of envy — 

 these and many more evidences of a beautiful character must charm anyone 

 who comes under the influence of the biography, even if he regarded Darwin 

 as under a great delusion. And to the, worker in science the book must have 

 an especial charm, for it shows such wonderful patience and industry in spite 

 of difHculties which, to most minds, would have been insurmountable. 



