SCIENCE 



Friday, July 25, 1919 



CONTENTS 

 Sigma Xi and the Future: Professor F. K. 



ElCHTMTEB 75 



Zoological Aims and Opportunities: Dr. Wil- 

 LAKD Gr. Van Name 81 



Scientific Events: — 



I The Anthropological Society; The British 

 I National Physical Laboratory ; The New 

 . British Antarctic Expedition; Distinguished 

 Service Medals 84 



Sdentifio Notes and News 86 



University and Educational News 88 



Discussion and Correspondence: — 

 , Limicolous oligochwta for Laboratory Use: 

 I Dr. p. H. Kkecker. The Cumberland Falls 

 I Meteorite: Dr. George P. Merrill. The 

 I Third Edition of the Biographical Directory 

 . of America(n Men of Science: Dr. J. Mc- 

 Kebn Cattell 89 



Scientific BooTcs: — 

 Anthony on the Indigenous Land Mammals 

 of Porto Mica : Dr. Rot L. Moodie. Clarice 's 

 The Boys' Boole of Chemistry: Professor 

 H. P. Talbot 91 



Notes on Meteorology and Climatology : — 



Meteorological Aspects of Transatlantic 

 , Flight: Dr. Charles F. Brooks 91 



Special Articles: — 

 A Chart of Organic Chemistry — Aromatic 

 Series : Dr. Alexander Lowy 93 



The Kentucky Academy of Science: Dr. Al- 

 , FRED M. Peter 95 



MSS. intended for 'publication and books, etc., intended for 

 review should be sent to The Editor of Science, Garrison-on- 

 Hudson, N. Y. 



SIGMA XI AND THE FUTUREi 



Members of Sigma Xi, Initiates and Guests: 



For many years it has been the custom in. 

 our chapter upon the occasion which each year 

 corresponds to this, for the president of the 

 chapter to read an address in order to explain 

 the more clearly to those whom we are honored 

 to receive into membership the spirit of Sigma 

 Xi. In some instances this address has taken 

 the form of a description of a piece of re- 

 search; in others a general statement of the 

 function -of Sigma Xi in furthering the cause 

 of research. Much as I should like to be re- 

 lieved of the honor of addressing you this even- 

 ing, I feel that it would ill become me to 

 change so time-honored a custom. And ac- 

 cordingly I beg your indulgence while I dis- 

 cuss some of the problems and the obligations 

 before Sigma Xi, at least as I see them. This 

 subject seems to me to be imrticularly appro- 

 priate just now because of the uncertainty of 

 the conditions to be met in the new era, into 

 which, we are all agreed, we are entering. 



First, however, permit me to review briefly 

 the history of Sigma Xi — -this with the double 

 purpose of acquainting our new members with 

 the origin and development of the society 

 which, to-night, they are joining, and of fur- 

 nishing a foundation upon which logically to 

 discuss the problems before us. For we must 

 build the future upon the experience of the 

 past. 



To those of us whose educational home is 

 Cornell, Sigma Xi has a peculiar signifi- 

 cance, for it was here, thirty-three years ago, 

 namely in 1886, that the society was founded, 

 and it is from here that the society has spread, 

 until now chapters are found in nearly every 

 large institution of learning in the country. 

 How was it that these young men, in this 



1 Presidential address before the Alpha (Cor- 

 nell) Chapter of Sigma Xi, May 17, 1919, upon the 

 occasion of the initiation of new members. 



