SCIENCE 



Editoeial Committee : S. Newcomb, Mathematics ; E. S. "Woodwaed, Mechanics ; E. C. Pickering, 



Astronomy; T. C. Mendenhalx,, Physics ; R. H. Thueston, Engineering; Iea Eemsen, Chemistry; 



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



C. Haet Meeeiam, Zoology; S. H. Scuddee, Entomology; C. E. Bessey, N. L. Beittost, 



Botany; Heney 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. 



Fkidat, May 27, 1898. 



CONTENTS: 



On the Genetic Energy of Organisms : Professor 

 Henry Shaler "Williams 721 



The 3Ieastcrement of Small Gaseous Pressures : 

 Chaeles F. Beush 730 



Some Thoughts concerning the Teaching of Chemis- 

 try : Peofessoe W. P. Mason 734 



Professor SchencJc's Researches on the Predetermina- 

 tion of Sex 736 



Conversazione of the Boyal Society 738 



Zoological Society of London. 741 



Owrremt Notes on Anthropology : — 



Primitive Musical Instruments ; Pre-Colunibian 

 Leprosy in America : The Tlirowing Stick in 

 America : Peofessoe D. G. Beinton 742 



Notes on Inorganic Chemistry: J. L. H 743 



Scientific Notes and News : — 



Tlie Rumford Medal; The Coming Meeting of the 

 British Association at Bristol ; Liquid Hydrogen ; 

 General 744 



University and Educational News 747 



Discussion and Correspondence : — - 

 Spiritualism as a Survival : Peofessoe Edwaed 

 S. Morse. ^ Tlie Neiv Psychology :' De. E. W. 

 ScEiPTUEE. Fulgur perversum at Avalon, N. J. : 

 LE'rns "WooLBlAN. The Definition of Species : 

 Peofessoe J. MoKebn Catiell 749 



Scientific Literature : — 



Thaxler's 3Ionograph of the Lahoulheniaceas Peo- 

 fessoe Geo. F. Atkinson. Agricultural Experi- 

 ment Stations : T. D. A. Cockeeell. II Codice 

 Atlantico di Leonardo da Vinci: PEOFESSOE E. 

 H. Thdesion 752 



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

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

 McKeen Cattell, Garrison-o.n-Hudson, N. Y. 



ON THE GENETIC ENERGY OF 0RGANIS3IS.* 

 Foe several years the conviction has been 

 growing more and more definite in my mind 

 that the fundamental principle in vital 

 phenomena is to be found in variation 

 rather than in heredity. The first time 

 this opinion was definitely expressed in 

 print was in ' Geological Biology ' (1894): 

 " Variability is thus assumed to be an in- 

 herent characteristic of all organisms, and 

 origin of species has primarily to consider 

 how comparative permanency of characters, 

 and of different sets of characters in differ- 

 ent lines of descent, is brought about" 

 (p. 184); and: " The search has been for some 

 cause of variation ; it is more probable that 

 mutability is the normal law of organic 

 action, and that permanency is the acquired 

 law," etc. (p. 297). Two years later Pro- 

 fessor L. H. Bailey said in his ' The Sur- 

 vival of the Unlike ' (1896) : " In other 

 words, I look upon heredity as an acquired 

 character, the same as form or color or sen- 

 sation is, and not as an original endowment 

 of matter" (p. 23). Perhaps others have 

 published the same conclusion, but, if so, 

 I have not elsewhere seen the point ad- 

 vanced as a scientific proposition. 



The conviction was reached on my part 

 through studies in paleontology. As early 

 as 1881 I was struck by the evidence of a 



*A paper read before the American Society of 

 Naturalists, December 24, 1897, by Henry Shaler 

 ■Williams, Yale College, New Haven, Conn. 



