April 30, 1909] 



SCIENCE 



699 



least/ a larger category than the species. It 

 is true that we have high precedent for 

 naming genera after persons, as witness the 

 genus Linncea, named for the great master 

 himself hy one of his contemporaries. And 

 we have become so accustomed to Fuchsia and 

 Wistaria, that we scarcely ever give thought 

 to their derivation. But what shall we say 

 of Montagua, Grantia, Perkinsia, Fitzroya, 

 Kellia, Mitchillina, Smithia, Jonesia, etc. ? 

 These were all, no doubt, estimable gentlemen 

 who did their share of the world's work; but 

 are their names commanding enough (to say 

 nothing of euphony!) to deserve perpetuation 

 in scientific literature? And if we should 

 take into consideration the question of eu- 

 phony, what would become of such genera as 

 Billingsella, Girardinichthys, PiWhryoconcha 

 and Tarletonheania/ • or of Kohlera and 

 Dyariaf Any systematist could add in- 

 definitely to this list. 



Loyalty to one's friends is a commendable 

 trait, even in a man of science; and a sense 

 of humor is possibly the only thing that saves 

 most of us from suicide or insanity. But 

 there is a time and place for all things. One 

 assumes a grave responsibility in inflicting 

 upon future generations* such philological 

 abortions as those to which I have been al- 

 luding. 



Francis B. Sumner 



Woods Hoo:, Mass., 

 March 31, 1909 



A MENDELIAN VIEW OF SEX-HEREDITY; A COR- 

 RECTION 



To THE Editor of Science: My attention 

 has been called to the fact that in a recent 

 article on sex-heredity published in Science, 

 March 6, 1909, I carelessly wrote lugens for 



^ This qualification is inserted in view of the 

 growing custom of creating a separate genus to 

 contain each species. 



^ This should have been Tarleton-H-Beania. Br. 

 Bean is plainly entitled to damages. 



'This last I have on hearsay, but it is far from 

 incredible. 



' This is confessedly a bit of rhetorical exag- 

 geration. A taxonomie name does not generally 

 endure over five years, if, indeed, it is fortunate 

 enough to be overlooked for so long a period. 



lacticolor, on pages 399 and 400, when refer- 

 ring to the pale variety of Abraxas gros- 

 sulariata. 



W. E. Castle 

 March 31, 1909 



biographical directory of AMERICAN MEN OF 

 SCIENCE 



The undersigned will print as soon as the 

 compilation can be made, a second edition of 

 the Biographical Directory of American Men 

 of Science. The work is intended to be a 

 contribution to the organization of science in 

 America, and the editor will greatly appreci- 

 ate the assistance of scientific men in making 

 its contents accurate and complete. Those 

 whose biographies appear in the first edition 

 are requested to forward such alterations and 

 additions as may be necessary or desirable, 

 and to obtain biographical sketches from 

 those who should be included. All those en- 

 gaged in scientific work whose biographies are 

 not included in the first edition are requested 

 to send the information needed, using for 

 this purpose the blank that is given on an 

 advertising page (vii) of the current issue 

 of Science. 



It is intended that each entry shall contain 

 information as follows : 



1. The full name with title and mail address, the 

 part of the name ordinarily omitted in correspond- 

 ence being in parentheses. 



2. The department of investigation given in 

 italics. 



3. The place and date of birth. 



4. Education and degrees, including honorary 

 degrees. 



5. Positions with dates, the present position 

 being given in italics. 



6. Temporary and minor positions; scientific 

 awards and honors. 



7. Membership in scientific and learned societies 

 with offices held. 



8. Chief subjects of research, those accomplished 

 being separated by a dash from those in progress. 



All those in North America should be in- 

 cluded in the book who have made contribu- 

 tions to the natural and exact sciences. The 

 standards are expected to be about the same 

 as those of fellowship in the American As- 

 sociation for the Advancement of Science or 



