March 24, 1922] 



SCIENCE 



307 



all is that of reptiles and amphibians secured 

 by Mr. Slevin, totaling more than 3,000 speci- 

 mens. Every species previously known from 

 the islands is represented by one or more speci- 

 mens, and several species new to science were 

 secured. 



Very large and complete collections of the 

 botany of the islands were secured by Mr. 

 Johnston. In addition to a large number of 

 dried specimens secured for the Academy's 

 rapidly growing herbarium, a considerable 

 number of living cactuses were sent direct to 

 Dr. J. N. Rose at the United States National 

 Museum, who with Dr. Britton, is monograph- 

 ing that group. 



Owing to the unfortunate illness of Mr. 

 Owen, during much of the cruise the collec- 

 tions of birds and mammals are small; how- 

 ever, good series of eggs of several species of 

 birds were secured, particularly of Heer- 

 mann's gull, and elegant and royal terns. 



Dr. Baker secured a very extensive collec- 

 tion of mollusks particularly of shallow-water 

 species. As the vessel was not equipped for 

 dredging in deep water, not much was done 

 in that line. Valuable collections of fossils 

 were obtained at several places where fossils 

 had not been previously known to exist. Dr. 

 Baker also rendered invaluable service in his 

 capacity as physician to the expedition. 

 Through his constant attention to the drinking 

 water supply, the food, and all other matters 

 pertaining to health conditions on the ship, 

 no serious illness due to local conditions ap- 

 peared at any time. 



A record of water temperatures was kept 

 throughout the cruise and samples of water 

 were taken, all of which have been turned over 

 to the Scripps Institution for Biological Re- 

 search for use in its oeeanographic studies. 



Small collections of marine algae, fresh- 

 water fishes, and marine invertebrates were 

 made. 



All of the collections have now arrived at 

 the Academy's Museum in San Francisco. 

 Specialists are already at work upon them 

 and the results of their studies will appear in 

 due time in the Proceedings of the California 

 Academy of Sciences. 



Mr. Slevin as chief of party performed his 

 duties with excellent judgment and rare tact. 

 All members of the staff showed a fine spirit 

 of cooperation and a degree of enthusiasm and 

 industry highly commendable. Collaborators 

 Contreras and Lopez proved most agreeable 

 and helpful members of the party and con- 

 tributed materially to the success of the ex- 

 pedition. Through their relations with local 

 officials of the Mexican government they were 

 able to render very great assistance in many 

 ways. Captain Ross was an ideal command- 

 ing officer who appreciated the aims and pur- 

 poses of the expedition, and was always ready 

 to do anything possible that would contribute 

 to its success. 



The uniform courtesy shown by local govern- 

 ment officials was very gratifying and was 

 highly appreciated by all members of the ex- 

 pedition, as it is by the Academy. 



Special mention should be made of courtes- 

 ies extended by the United States officials with 

 whom the members of the party came in con- 

 tact, particularly Mr. J. A. McPherson, United 

 States Vice-Consul at Guaymas and Mr. Fran- 

 cis J. Dyer, United States Consul at Nogales, 

 Sonora. 



On the whole, the expedition is regarded by 

 the Academy as having been a very successful 

 one, the results of which when published will 

 add much to the knowledge of the natural his- 

 torj- of the region. 



G. Dallas Hanna 

 California Academy of Sciences 



APPEAL OF THE AMERICAN 

 CHEMICAL SOCIETY 



A SMALL group of chemists, gathered to- 

 gether in 1876, founded the American Chemical 

 Society. For several years the society was 

 localized in its nature. Its journals were of 

 little scientific importance, and its membership 

 grew slowly. At least twenty-five years passed 

 before it gained strength. Its growth really 

 started when it eliminated classes of member- 

 ship, became a democratic organization, and 

 interested chemists throughout the counti-y. 

 As its membership began to increase, its one 

 journal, the Journal of the American Chemical 



