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455 
or by natural means. Another exhibit may be for the purpose 
of showing the distribution of corresponding implements over 
different geographical areas. These and similar special exhibits 
are instructive, and under proper restrictions should be made ; 
but unless the design of each exhibit is clearly explained, 
the average visitor toa museum will be confused and misled, 
for such objects so grouped convey a different impression than 
when exhibited with their associated objects in proper 
geographical sequence. 
The anthropology of America is now being investigated, and 
the results are being made known through museums and | 
publications as never before. 
The thoroughly equipped Jesup North Pacific Expedition, 
with well-trained anthropologists in charge, was organised for 
the purpose of obtaining material, both ethnological and archze- 
ological, for a comparative study of the peoples of the 
northern parts of America and Asia. Although only in the 
third year of its active field work, it has already furnished 
most important results and provided a mass of invaluable 
authentic material. 
The Hyde Expedition, planned for long-continued research 
in the archeology and ethnology of the south-west—a successor 
in regard to its objects to the important Hemenway Expedition 
—is annually adding chapters to the story of the peoples of the 
ancient pueblos. 
The results of the extensive explorations by Moore of the 
mounds of the southern Atlantic coast are being published in a 
series of important monographs. 
The Pepper-Hurst Expedition to the Florida Keys has given 
information of remarkable interest and importance from a rich 
archzological field before unknown. 
The United States Government, through the Bureau of 
Ethnology of the Smithsonian Institution, has given official and 
liberal support to archzeological and ethnological investigations 
in America. 
The constantly increasing patronage, by wealthy men and 
women, of archzological research at home, as well as in foreign 
lands, is most encouraging. 
The explorations in Mexico and in Central and South 
America, the publication in facsimile of the ancient Mexican and 
Maya codices, the reproduction by casts of the important 
American sculptures and hieroglyphic tablets, all have been 
made possible by earnest students and generous patrons of 
American research. 
The numerous expeditions, explorations and publications of 
the Smithsonian Institution and of the museums of Washington, 
Chicago, Philadelphia, New York and Cambridge, are pro- 
viding the student of to-day with a vast amount of authentic 
material for research in American and comparative anthro- 
pology. 
The Archzological Institute of America, the American Folk 
Lore Society, and the archeological and anthropological 
societies and clubs, in active operation in various parts of the 
country, together with the several journals devoted to different 
branches of anthropology, give evidence of widespread interest. 
Universities are establishing special courses in anthropology, 
and teachers and investigators are being trained. Officers of 
anthropological museums are preparing men to be field workers 
and museum assistants. 
The public need no longer be deceived by accounts of giants 
and other wonderful discoveries. -The wares of the mercenary 
collector are at a discount, since unauthentic material is con- 
sidered worthless. Anthropology is now a well-established 
science. It is required of those who follow any of its branches 
to do so in seriousness and with scientific methods. 
With all this wealth of materials and opportunities there can 
be no doubt that anthropologists will in time be able to solve 
that problem which for the past half-century has been discussed 
in this Association—the problem of the unity or diversity of 
prehistoric man in America. 
UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 
INTELLIGENCE, 
A LARGE amount of information referring to examining 
authorities and educational institutions in this country appears 
in the students’ numbers issued by several of our contemporaries. 
The British Medical Journal of August 26 and the Lazcet of 
September 1 are almost entirely devoted to descriptions of the 
various methods by which a student may becomea fully qualified 
NO. 1558, VOL. 60] 
| College of Science for Ireland. 
practitioner. The Chemical News of September 1 gives a list of 
British universities and the chief colleges, technical schools, and 
institutes. The Chemest and Druggést of September 2 contains 
particulars of the educational requirements for qualification in 
pharmacy, medicine, dentistry, and veterinary surgery. 
SOME time ago a departmental committee was formed to 
report as to the buildings and site of a proposed new Royal 
It is now announced by the 
Times that the Government have arranged to acquire the whole 
of the house property and ground occupying the site recom- 
mended by the departmental committee in addition to the 
buildings mentioned in the report. The total area thus acquired 
amounts to over 50,000 superficial feet, and the new buildings 
will have a frontage both on Kildare Place and Upper Merrion 
Street, and will, as the report recommends, be in immediate 
connection with the Museum of Science and Art. 
THE West Ham Municipal Technical Institute is one of the 
newest of the London Polytechnics, and the first session of full 
work will commence towards the end of the present month. 
The Institute has been built by the Council of the County 
Borough of West Ham at a cost of 45,000/., and a further sum 
of 15,0007. has been spent upon the equipment and fittings. 
Under the direction of the principal, Mr. Albert E. Briscoe, an 
admirable programme of classes has been prepared; and a 
glance through it shows that provision has been made for theo- 
retical and practical instruction in most branches of pure and 
applied science and art. Every effort appears to be made to 
encourage students to use wisely the educational facilities which 
the Institute affords. As an instance of the excellent policy 
which is being pursued, the following extract from the 
“*Program” just published is noteworthy :—‘‘ Trade students 
are urged not to make the mistake of joining trade classes only. 
If any thorough knowledge of the principles of their trade is to 
be gained, they must possess an acquaintance with elementary 
science, and have some knowledge of arithmetic, mensuration, 
and elementary mathematics. For example, very little progress 
can be made in building or engineering drawing without some 
knowledge of elementary geometry ; plumbing and engineering 
students will not obtain a clear grasp of their work unless they 
have some knowledge of elementary physics, of arithmetic, and 
elementary mathematics. They are further advised to pursue 
thoroughly the study of one or two subjects, and not waste their 
energies by attempting to cover the whole ground of science, 
and so obtain only a smattering of knowledge. The advantage 
of systematic study in science lies not so much in the number of 
facts learnt as in the training in habits of accuracy of work and 
thought, that enables men to attack new problems as they pre- 
sent themselves in a manner likely to ensure their successful 
solution.” Much may be hoped from a Polytechnic in which 
such sound educational principles are impressed upon the 
students. 
SCIENTIFIC SERIALS. 
American Journal of Science, August.—Rotatory polaris- 
ation of light in media subjected to torsion, by A. W. Ewell. 
The difficulties encountered in the choice of a proper material 
for experiment are very great, as already pointed out by Verdet 
and Wertheim. The author found a satisfactory combination in 
jelly supported in rubber tubes, and the observations with jelly, 
corroborated by a few observations with glass, demonstrate that 
torsion of a cylinder produces the rotatory polarisation of a ray 
proceeding in a direction parallel to the axis of the cylinder, the 
rotation of the plane of polarisation being opposite to the twist, 
and a function of the twist of degree higher than the first.— 
Studies in the Cyperacez xi., by T. Holm. This article deals 
with the abnormal development of some specimens of Carex 
stipata, Muhl., caused by Lzvéa vernalis, Fitch.—The constitu- 
tion of tourmaline, by F. W. Clarke. The author discusses the 
respective merits of Penfield and Foote’s formula for tourmalines, 
regarded as salts of the alumino-borosilicic acid, Hy, A1,;B,Si,On, 
and his own derivation from the similar acid, H,,A1,B,SigO3,, 
with all of the hydrogen atoms replaceable by bases. He 
retains the general form of his own formula, but suggests that 
certain irreducible differences of constitution may be due to the 
fact that there exists a series of borosilicic acids. —Determin- 
ation of tellurous acid in the presence of haloid salts, by F. A. 
Gooch and C. A. Peters. In the estimation of tellurous acid by 
oxidation with excess of potassium permanganate, no correction 
