Mat 28, 1920] 



SCIENCE 



543 



that these principles had been so stated as to 

 convey a meaning quite different from that 

 intended. It is hoped that these notes con- 

 cerning the writer's statements that have been 

 criticized will throw a somewhat different 

 light on their interpretation. 



Maurice G. Mehl 

 TJniveksitt of Missoubi 



an improved method of holding large 

 specimens for dissection 

 Mr. John M. Long^ recently published a 

 scheme for holding large specimens open 

 while dissecting them in which he uses " trays 

 of galvanized iron with four or more loops 

 of metal soldered on the sides to which ordi- 

 nary heavy rubber bands are attached. To 

 these rubber bands are tied small fishhooks 

 which have had their barbs filed off. These 

 hooks are to be fastened to any part of the 

 anatomy so as to hold the specimen firmly, or 

 to pull certain parts to the desired position." 

 As these rubber bands with the sharp fish- 

 hooks attached are permanently tied to the 

 sides of the trays, there is some danger and 

 inconvenience in handling the latter. This 

 difficulty can be overcome and the whole 

 scheme improved upon by fastening small, 

 blunt hooks to the rubber bands at the op- 

 posite ends from the fishhooks, thus making 

 them so that they can be easily removed from 

 the trays. It is also a good idea to file the 

 points of the fishhooks down somewhat so 

 that they are not so dangerous to handle, and 

 yet they can be easily thrust through the 

 skin or flesh of the specimen to be held. 



Horace Gunthorp 

 Washburn College, 

 TOPEKA, KIans. 



SCIENTIFIC BOOKS 



South. The Story of Shachleton's Last Expe- 

 dition, 1914-1917. By Sm Ernest Shack- 

 LETON, C.Y.O. With 88 illustrations and 

 diagrams. The Macmillan Company, New 

 York, 1920. $6.00. 



It has been well said that peace has its 

 1 Science, Vol. XLIX., pp. 120-121. 



victories as great as those of war. Too much 

 praise can not be given the men who for 

 country alone, or for the whole world, have 

 struggled and suffered, bled or died. But 

 peace, not war, is the normal phase of our 

 life, and its unwarlike victories — material, 

 mental and spiritual — most deeply affect us. 

 Por this reason the world delights to read this 

 straightforward tale of Shackleton, wherein 

 are embodied high adventure, unique experi- 

 ences and thrilling situations with displays of 

 courage and persistence, of fidelity and sol- 

 idarity — qualities which ennoble mankind. 



The scientific work in view was the most 

 comprehensive and ambitious ever attempted 

 by a polar expedition. In extent and impor- 

 tance it approached, if it did not surpass, the 

 International Polar Conference program of 

 1881-1884. GeogTaphically the vast ice-clad 

 continent of Antarctica was to be crossed 

 from Weddell Sea to Eoss Sea, and its 

 glacier-lined, unknown coasts charted by 

 cruises in unvisited waters of the Antarctic 

 Ocean. Scientifically were to be studied the 

 fauna of the sea, the hydrography of the 

 ocean, the geology of the land, the mete- 

 orology of the air, and the mysteries of mag- 

 netism. The primary base, imder Shackleton 

 personally, was to be established near Vachsel 

 Bay, Luitpold Land, discovered in Weddell 

 Sea by Filchner in 1912. 



It is of special interest that this south- 

 polar area, through the comprehensive policy 

 and timely application of England's colonial 

 methods, is a part of her empire. By procla- 

 mation of July, 1908, this region was declared 

 to be British territory which was defined as 

 " Situated in the South Atlantic Ocean to 

 the south of the 50th parallel of south lati- 

 tude and lying between 20 degrees and 80 

 degrees west longitude." 



The second party — to enter Ross Sea — ^wiU 

 be later considered. Sailing from Plymouth, 

 August 8, 1914, after the Admiralty had 

 declined the offer for war purposes of his ship 

 Endurance, Shackleton made his final arrange- 

 ments at Grytvikin, South Georgia whence 

 he steamed south on December 5. His ship 

 was fitted for every contingency, and his crew 



