SCIENCE 



Friday, September 20, 1912 



CONTENTS 



The British Association for the Advancement 

 of Science: — 

 Zoological Gardens and the Preservation of 

 Fauna: Dr. P. Chalmers Mitchell 353 



The Eighth International Congress of Applied 

 Chemistry: Peofessoe Jos. W. Richards . 365 



Benry Adam Weier 368 



The Dedication of the Mice Institute 368 



Scientific Notes and News 369 



University and Educational News 373 



Discussion and Correspondence: — 

 A New Mathematical Prise: Professoe 

 G. A. Miller 374 



Scientific Boolcs: — 



Plimmer on the Chemical Constitution of 

 Proteins: Professoe Thomas B. Osboene. 

 Verworn's Physiologisches PraktiTcum fUr 

 Mediziner: Professoe Feedeeic S. Lee. 

 Morecraft and Hehre's Short Course in 

 Electrical Testing: Professoe Harold 

 Pendee 374 



Scientific Journals and Articles 377 



Notes 071 Entomology: Professor Nathan 

 Banks 377 



Special Articles: — 



Sheep-ireeding Experiments on Beinn 



i: De. Alexandeb Geaham Bell . 378 



HSS. intended for publication and bookB, etc., intended for 

 rerieir aliould be sent to the Editor of SciSHCX, Garriwa-OB- 

 Hudson, N. Y. 



ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS AND TEE 

 PBESEBVATION OF FAUNA'- 



In thinking over possible subjects for 

 this presidential address, I was strongly 

 tempted to enter on a discussion of the log- 

 ical methods and concepts that we employ 

 in zoology. The temptation was specially 

 strong to a Scot speaking in Scotland, that 

 he should devote the hour when the prestige 

 of the presidential chair secured him at- 

 tention, to putting his audience right on 

 logic and metaphysics. But I reflected that 

 zoology is doing very well, however its logic 

 be wavering, and that as all lines subtend 

 an equal angle at infinity, it would be of 

 small moment if I were to postpone my re- 

 marks on metaphysics. And so I am to 

 essay a more modest but a more urgent 

 theme, and ask you to consider the danger 

 that threatens the surviving land-fauna of 

 this globe. A well-known example may 

 serve to remind you how swift is the course 

 of destruction. In 1867, when the British 

 Association last met at Dundee, there were 

 still millions of bison roaming over the 

 prairies and forests of North America. In 

 that year the building of the Union Pacific, 

 the first great transcontinental railway, cut 

 the herd in two. The southern division, con- 

 sisting itself of several million individuals, 

 was wiped out between 1871 and 1874, and 

 the practical destruction of the northern 

 herd was completed between 1880 and 

 1884. At present there are only two herds 

 of wild bison in existence. In the Yellow- 

 stone Park only about twenty individuals 

 remained in 1911, the greater part of the 



' Address of the president of the Zoological 

 Section of the British Association for the Ad- 

 vancement of Science. Dundee, 1912. 



