SCIENCE 



Editorial Committee : S. Nkwcomb, Mathematics ; E. S. Woodward, Mechanics ; E. C. Pickeeing, 



Astronomy; T. C. Mendenhall, Physics; E. H. Thueston, Engineering; Iea Eemsen, Chemistry; 



J. Le Conte, Geology; TV. M. Davis, Physiography; 0. C. Maesh, Paleontology; W. K. Beooks, 



C. Haet Meeeiam, Zoology; S. H. Scuddee, Entomology; C. E. Bkssey, N. L. Beitton, 



Botany; Hbney F. Osboen, General Biology; C. S. Minot, Embryology, Histology; 



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



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



Friday, Maech 11, 1898. 



CONTENTS: 



The Debt of the World to Pare Science : Peofessoe 

 J.J. Stevenson 325 



Becent Progress in Malacology : De. W. H. D all.. 334 



On the Law of Ancestral Heredity : Peofessoe 

 Kael Peaeson 337 



The Boyal Society's Antarctic Vonference 339 



Ellis's North American Fungi: Peofessoe Chaeles 

 E. Bessey 346 



Owrrent Notes on Anthropology : — 

 Allen on Hawaiian Skitils; Primitive Cosmogonies : 

 Peofessoe D. G. Beinton 347 



Notes on Inorganic Chemistry: J. L. H 347 



fie Notes and News 348 



lity and Educational News 353 



Discussion and Correspondence : — 



Muscular Disturbances in 3Ionocular Vision : 

 Peofessoe W. Le Conte Stevens. The North- 

 ern Durchmusterung : PEOFESSOE EDWARD C. 

 Pickering, J. G. Hagen, M. B. Snydee 353 



Scientific Literature : — 



Willson's Theoretical and Practical Graphics: 

 Peofessoe George Beuce Halsted. Shu- 

 feldt's Chajyters on ike Natural History of the 

 United States: C. F. B 355 



Societies and Academies : — 



Biological Society of Washington : F. A. LucAS. 

 Geological Society of Washington : De. W. F. 

 Morsell. Torrey Botanical Club: Edward 

 S. BuEGESS. Engelmann Botanical Club : Her- 

 mann von Schrenk 357 



Scientific Journals 360 



MSS. intended for publication and boolis, etc., intended 

 for review siiould be sent to the responsible editor, Prof. J. 

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



THE DEBT OF THE WORLD TO PURE 



SCIENCE* 



The fundamental importance of abstruse 

 research receives too little consideration in 

 our time. The practical side of life is all- 

 absorbent ; the results of research are util- 

 ized promptly and full recognibion is 

 awarded to the one who utilizes while the 

 investigator is ignored. The student him- 

 self is liable to be regarded as a relic of 

 medieval times and his unconcern respect- 

 ing ordinary matters is serviceable to the 

 dramatist and newspaper witlet in their 

 times of need. 



Yet every thoughtful man, far away as 

 his calling may be from scientific investiga- 

 tion, hesitates to accept such judgment as 

 accurate. K"ot a few, engrossed in the 

 strife of the market-place, are convinced 

 that, even from the selfish standpoint of 

 mere enjoyment, less gain is found in 

 amassing fortunes or in acquiring power 

 over one's fellows than in the effort to 

 solve Nature's problems. Men scoif at 

 philosophical dreamers, but the scoffing is 

 not according to knowledge. The exigen- 

 cies of subjective philosphy brought about 

 the objective philosophy. Error has led to 

 the right. Alchemy prepared the way for 

 Chemistrj' ; Astrology for Astronomy ; 

 Cosmogony for Geology. The birth of in- 



* Presidential address delivered at the annual 

 meeting of the New York Academy of Sciences, 

 February 28, 1898. 



