BOSTON TO WASHINGTON 113 



were succeeded by larger and larger forms with fewer toes, 

 till they culminated in the modern horses, asses, and zebras, 

 with a single toe, or hoof, on each foot. 



In the evening I had the pleasure of meeting Professor 

 Dana, the first of American geologists, and one or two other 

 professors of Yale. The next morning was spent in a stroll 

 over the parks and gardens, and in admiring the grand elm 

 trees which line many of the streets of this picturesque city 

 and render it one of the most pleasing I visited in America. 

 In the afternoon I went by train to New York, and then on 

 to Poughkeepsie and to Vassar College, one of the most exten- 

 sive and complete ladies' colleges, where half the professors 

 are ladies, while the president was Dr. J. M. Taylor. 



I breakfasted in the hall with the lady principal, doctor, 

 professors, and students, of whom there are about three hun- 

 dred. Each student has a separate bedroom, and to each 

 three bedrooms there is a sitting-room, and so far as possible 

 they are allowed to group themselves. Students enter at six- 

 teen by a rather stiff examination in mathematics, Latin, 

 either Greek, German, or French, history, etc. The regular 

 course of study includes natural history, physiology, chem- 

 istry, physics, and astronomy, all taught experimentally in 

 laboratories, and an observatory which has a meridian circle 

 and a twelve-inch equatorial. There is also a good natural 

 history museum and art gallery. Anglo-Saxon and moral phil- 

 osophy are taught in the last term. The grounds are over 

 two hundred acres of rather rough park-like country, contain- 

 ing a lake with boats and a gymnasium. In the evening I 

 lectured on " Oceanic Islands " to a good and very attentive 

 audience. 



The next morning I had to be up at 5 a.m. in order to 

 catch the train to New York and on to Baltimore, where I 

 lectured in the evening on " Darwinism." I gave here four 

 lectures to the Peabody Institute, and one, on " Island Life," 

 at the Johns-Hopkins University. The next morning I called 

 on President Gilman, who showed me round the buildings, 

 library, reading-room, etc., and introduced me to the pro- 

 fessors, among whom was Dr. W. K. Brooks, the zoologist, 



