MarcH 29, 1912] 
them look fatter and larger than really they 
are for the purpose of sale; the selling of 
moldy, fermented, decomposed and misbranded 
grains; the offering to the people of glucose 
under the name of “corn syrup,” thus taking 
a name which rightfully belongs to another 
product made directly from Indian corn silks. 
The official toleration and validation of such 
practises have restricted the activities of the 
Bureau of Chemistry to a very narrow field. 
As a result of these restrictions, I have been 
instructed to refrain from stating in any public 
way my own opinion regarding the effect of 
these substances upon health, and this restric- 
tion has conflicted with my academic freedom 
of speech on matters relating directly to the 
public welfare. 
These restrictions culminated in the summer 
of 1911 with false charges of misconduct made 
against me by colleagues in the Department of 
Agriculture, which, had it not been for the 
prompt interference on the part of the Presi- 
dent of the United States, to whom I am pro- 
foundly grateful, would have led to my forcible 
separation from the public service. After the 
President of the United States and a com- 
mittee of Congress, as a result of investiga- 
tion, had completely exonerated me from any 
wrongdoing in this matter, I naturally ex- 
pected that those who had made these false 
charges against me would no longer be con- 
tinued in a position which would make a 
repetition of such action possible. The out- 
come, however, has not sustained my expecta- 
tions in this matter. I was still left to come 
into daily contact with the men who secretly 
plotted my destruction. 
I am now convinced that the freedom which 
belongs to every private American citizen can 
be used by me more fruitfully in rallying 
public opinion to the support of the cause of 
pure food and drugs than I could with the 
limited activity left to me in the position 
which I have just vacated. I propose to de- 
vote the remainder of my life, with such 
ability as I may have at my command and 
with such opportunities as may arise, to the 
promotion of the principles of civie righteous- 
ness and industrial integrity, which underlie 
SCIENCE 
499 
the food and drugs act, in the hope that it 
may be administered in the interest of the 
people at large, instead of that of a compara- 
tively few mere manufacturers and dealers. 
This hope is heightened by my belief that a 
great majority of manufacturers and dealers 
in foods and drugs are heartily in sympathy 
with the views I have held and that these 
views are indorsed by an overwhelming ma- 
jority of the press and the citizens of the 
country. In severing my official relations with 
the Secretary of Agriculture I take this op- 
portunity of thanking him for the personal 
kindness and regard which he has shown me 
during his long connection with the depart- 
ment. I can not leave the Bureau of Chem- 
istry without expressing to my assistants of all 
grades my appreciation of their loyalty and 
devotion to me.—Statement by Dr. H. W. 
Wiley. 
SCIENTIFIC BOOKS 
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Higher 
Groups, Genera, Species and Subspecies of 
Birds known to occur in North America, 
from the Arctic Lands to the Isthmus of 
Panama, the West Indies and other Islands 
of the Caribbean Sea, and the Galapagos 
Archipelago. By Rosert Rweway, Curator 
of the Division of Birds. Part V. [Con- 
taining] Family Pteroptrochide—The Ta- 
pacolas. Family Formicariide—The Ant- 
birds. Family Furnariide—The Ovenbirds. 
Family Dendrocolaptide—The Woodhewers. 
Family Trochilide—The Humming Birds. 
Family Micropodide—The Swifts. Family 
Trogonide—The Trogons. Washington: 
Government Printing Office. 1911. Bulle- 
tin of the United States National Museum. 
No. 50. Part V. “Issued November 29, 
1911.” 8vo. Pp. xxiili+ 859; pls. xxxiii. 
Part V. of Ridgway’s monumental work on 
the birds of north and middle America com- 
pletes the first two thirds of this great under- 
taking, Part I. of which appeared in October, 
1901. As Part IV. was issued in 1907, a 
longer interval than usual has elapsed between 
the appearance of Parts IV. and V., due in 
