April 22, 1898.] 



SCIENCE. 



575 



adequate explanation of the fact that hydro- 

 chloric acid solutions do not obey Henry's law. 

 Book and journal reviews. 



March. ' The Equilibria of Stereoisomers :' 

 by WiLDEE D. Bancroft. A study of substances 

 having variable melting points. ' Acetaldoxime : ' 

 by Hectob R. Carveth. A study of its variable 

 melting points. ' Naphthalene and Aqueous 

 Acetone :' by Hamilton P. Cady. ' Indicators:' 

 by John Waddell. The effect of organic sol- 

 vents in discharging the colors of indicators. 

 ' Normal Elements :' by D. McIntosh. Book 

 and journal reviews. 



Mention should be made of the excellent 

 style and typography of the Journal. 



The articles in the current number of The 

 American Naturalist commemorate the fiftieth 

 anniversary of the beginning of Agassiz's in- 

 struction in Harvard University, marking, 

 as is said in an editorial article, an era in 

 the history of zoology in America. An 

 unsigned article reviews the life of Agassiz, 

 with special reference to his activity as a 

 teacher. Then follow articles on The Philo- 

 sophical Views of Agassiz, by Professor A. S. 

 Packard ; Agassiz and the Ice Age, by Pro- 

 fessor G. Frederick Wright ; Agassiz on Recent 

 Fishes, by President David Starr Jordan ; Agas- 

 siz's Work on Fossil Fishes, by Professor 

 Charles R. Eastman ; Agassiz's Work on the 

 Embryology of the Turtle, by Mrs. Gertrude 

 C. Davenport, and Agassiz at Penikese, by Pro- 

 fessor Burt. G. Wilder. 



SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES. 



BOSTON SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



At the general meeting, February 2d, sixty- 

 four persons were present. 



Mr. William C. Bates showed a series of lan- 

 tern views illustrating the natviral features of 

 Jamaica and the Jamaicans. He gave a brief his- 

 torical account of the island and spoke of the ad- 

 vantages due to its accessibility and climate and 

 to many of the interesting characteristics judged 

 from a natural history standpoint. Mr. Bates 

 closed with a series of proverbs and riddles 

 showing that the legends and beliefs of the 

 Jamaicans have many similarities to those of 

 other countries. 



A general meeting was held February 16th, 

 with twenty-four persons present. 



Mr. John Murdoch read a paper on the ani- 

 mals known to the Eskimos of northwestern 

 Alaska. The climate and natural features of 

 the country near Point Barrow were briefly de- 

 scribed, and the behavior of the ice noted. In 

 the capture of animals the bow has been super- 

 seded by the rifle. The Eskimos depend upon 

 the walrus, the seals and the whales ; the ring 

 seal {Phoca foetida) is the most important animal, 

 the reindeer being next in importance. The 

 polar bears are not common and avoid encoun- 

 ters with men and dogs. The wolf is not found 

 in the vicinity of Point Barrow, but is abundant 

 in the reindeer country ; they chase the deer in 

 packs. The tail of the wolverine is especially 

 valued for decorative purposes. The Arctic 

 fox is the most abundant animal found at Point 

 Barrow ; it is very shy and so well protected 

 that it is seldom seen. The habits of many 

 birds, the various eiders and gulls, the snow 

 bunting, Lapland longspur, snowy owl and 

 ptarmigan were noted. The Eskimos do not 

 pay much attention to birds. 



The Society met March 2d, seventy-one per- 

 sons present. 



Mr. Hollis Webster spoke of some common 

 mushrooms, edible and poisonous, describing in 

 detail the principal characteristics of the com- 

 mon mushroom, Agaricus campestris, and of the 

 deadliest member of the group, Amanita phal- 

 loides. Mr. Webster mentioned the popular 

 interest in the group, its value as food, and 

 noted briefly the classification and method of 

 growth of the fungi. He also described, with 

 the aid of a series of lantern slides, many forms 

 of Boleti, Russula, Lepiota, etc. 



At the general meeting held March 16th 

 there were oue hundred and fifty-two persons 

 present. 



Professor William Libbey read a paper on 

 Cuba, which was illustrated by lantern slides. 

 Professor Libbey's account was based upon 

 personal observation and gave a brief sketch of 

 the country, with special reference to the phys- 

 ical features and to the customs and character- 

 istics of the Cubans. 



Samuel Henshaw, 



Secretary. 



