SCIENCE 



Editoeial Committee : S. Newcosib, Mathematics ; R. S. Woodwakd, Slechanios ; E. C. Pickering 



Astronomy; T. C. Mendknhall, Physics; R. H. Thhkston, Engineering; Ika Remsen, Chemistry; 



J. Le Conte, Geology; W. M. Davis, Physiography; O. C. Maesh, Paleontology; W. K. Brooks, 



C. Hart Meeriam, Zoology; S. H. Scuddee, Entomology; C. E. Bessey, N. L. Britton, 



Botany; Henry F. Osboen, General Biology; C. S. MiNOT, Embryology, Histology; 



H. P. BowDiTCH, Physiology; J. S. Billings, Hygiene; J. McKeen Cattell, 



Psychology; Daniel G. Brinton, J. W. Powell, Anthropology. 



Fkiday, March 3, 1899. 



' CONTENTS: 



Geodetic Operations in the United Stales : E. D. 

 Preston 305 



The American Morphological Society (I) ; PROFES- 

 SOR Bashfoed Dean 311 



Association of American Anatomists : De. D. S. 

 Lamb 320 



American Mathematical Society : PeofessOE F. N. 

 Cole 322 



The Nomenclature of the Hyoid in Birds: F. A. 

 Lucas 323 



Scientific Books : — 



Whitehead's Treatise on Universal Alr/elira : De. 

 Alexandee Macfarlane. Bniley on the 

 Principles of Agriculture : Elisha WILSON 

 Morse. Be.ddard's Elementary Zoology : PRO- 

 FESSOR Charles Wright Dodge. Peabody's 

 Laboratory Ede^ cises in Anatomy and Physiology : 

 Professor Fred^ic S. Lee. Books Beccived. 324 



Societies and Academies : — 



The Biological Society of Washington : De. O. 



F. Cook. 77ie Chemical Society of Washington : 

 William Krhg. The Nao York Section of the 

 American Chemical Society: De. Dueand Wood- 

 man. Geological Conference and Students' Club 

 of Harvard University : J. M. Boutwell. 

 Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia : 

 Dr. E.J.Nolan 332 



Notes on Physics : — 



The Measurement of Inductance: W. S. F 336 



Notes on Inorganic Chemistry : J. L. H 337 



Current Notes on Anthropology: — 



Linguistics of the Chaco ; The Craniology nf Crim- 

 inals ; The Folk lore of the Fjort: Professor D. 



G. Brinton 338 



Scientific Notes and News 339 



University and Educational News :— 



Mr. Agassiz and Harvard University ; The Cli- 

 matological Laboratory of the University of Neio 

 Mexico; General 341 



M8S. intended for publication and books, etc., intended 

 for review should be sent to tlie responsible editor, Profes- 

 sor J. McKeen Cattell, Garrison-on-Hudson N. Y. 



GEODETIC OPERATIONS IN THE UNITED 

 STATES* 



The geodetic operations in the United 

 States, as executed by the Coast and Geo- 

 detic Survey, may be grouped into three 

 distinct periods of time. The work was 

 authorized by Congress in 1807, but a quar- 

 ter of a century elapsed before anything 

 was done in the field worthy of the name 

 of Geodesy. This closed the first period, 

 which may be characterized as the era of 

 preparation and education of public senti- 

 ment. In 1832 operations were begun with 

 vigor, and the foundation was laid for a 

 great national work. The Survey was con- 

 ducted on the same general lines of policy 

 for eleven years, when the reorganization 

 of 1843 established its permanent status. 

 No great deviation has since been made 

 from this plan, which has now held for 

 fifty-five years. If we eliminate the Civil 

 War period of five years, during which 

 work was suspended, and regard operations 

 before the reorganization as of a prelimi- 

 nary nature, we have half a century of 

 geodesy. During its comparatively short 

 existence the Survey has been three times 

 under the control of the Treasury Depart- 

 ment, twice under the Navy, and once 

 under law i-equiring its personnel to be 

 army or navy officers. The direction of the 

 work has, however, remained throughout 



* Published by permission of the Superintendent of 

 the U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey. 



