618 
paper on ‘Some Relations of Botany to 
Agriculture,’ and Mr. Kenyon Butterfield 
gave a talk on ‘Some New Phases of Agri- 
cultural Education.’ 
On Friday afternoon a joint session of the 
Academy and the Biological Section of the 
Michigan Schoolmasters’ Club was held in 
the University Museum. This session was 
largely devoted to the pedagogical aspects 
of the biological sciences. The papers 
given were as follows : 
‘Nature Study.’ Presidential Address: 
FESSOR CHARLES E. BARR, Albion. 
“How Shall a Young Person Study Botany ?’ 
Dr. W. J. BEAL, Agricultural College. 
‘Outline for a Year’s Work in Botany’: L. 
LENORE CONOVER, Central High School, Detroit. 
PrRo- 
‘Suggestion for a Year in Zoology’: Miss 
ANDRE, Central High School, Detroit. 
‘Value of Supplementary Experiments’: Dr. 
LEWIS MuRBACH, Central High School, Detroit. 
‘Science in the High School’: Miss PALMER, 
High School, Lapeer. 
“Recent Work and Theories on Fertilization of 
Animals’: Dr. 8S. J. Houmus, Ann Arbor. 
‘Recent Work and Theories on Fertilization of 
Higher Plants.’ Illustrated by Lantern Slides: Dr. 
J. B. Potnock, Ann Arbor. 
“The Proposed Topographic Maps of Michigan’ : 
Dr. ISRAEL C. RusskLL, Ann Arbor. 
Two evening lectures were given before 
the Academy. On Thursday evening, Pro- 
fessor H. 8. Carhart of the University of 
Michigan lectured on ‘The Place of Physics 
in a Liberal Education,’ and on Friday 
evening, Professor F. H. Herrick of Western 
Reserve University gave an illustrated lec- 
ture on ‘The Haunts and Habits of Wild 
Birds.’ 
At the business meeting Saturday morn- 
ing a committee was appointed to confer 
with corresponding committees from other 
scientific societies of the State, with a view 
to the affiliation of the other scientific 
bodies of the State with the Academy. The 
Academy voted also to endorse the bill now 
before the Legislature for an archeological 
survey of Michigan. The following officers 
were elected for the coming year :— 
SCIENCE. 
[N.S. Vou, XIII. No. 329. 
President, Professor Victor C. Vaughan, 
University of Michigan ; Vice-President, for 
Botany, Professor C. F. Wheeler, of the 
Michigan Agricultural College; for Zoology, 
Professor Hubert Clark, of Olivet College ; 
for Sanitary Science, Hon. Frank Wells, 
Lansing ; for Agriculture, Professor J. A. 
Jeffery, of the Michigan Agricultural Col- 
lege; Treasurer, Professor Wm. H. Munson, 
Hillsale College; Secretary, Dr. James B. 
Pollock, University of Michigan. 
A considerable number of new members 
were elected at this meeting; the sessions 
were well attended, and great interest was 
manifested in the work of the Academy. 
Altogether the meeting was the most suc- 
cessful and interesting in the history of the 
Academy. 
H. 8. JENNINGS. 
SCIENTIFIC BOOKS. 
Traité dastronomie stellaire. Par CH. ANDRE, 
Directeur de l’observatoire de Lyon. Premiére 
partie: Etoiles simples. 1899. Pp. xvi + 
344. Deuxiéme partie: Ltoiles doubles et 
multiples. Amas stellaires. Paris, Gauthier- 
Villars. 1900. Pp. xxiv + 429. 
This excellent work seems to have attracted 
less attention than it deserves. It has the dis- 
tinction of filling a gap in the literature of the 
subject. It covers ground which is common to 
both astrophysics and astronomy of position, as 
treatises aré now more and more compelled to 
do ; for in spite of the increase of specialization, 
the distinction in results obtained by astrophys- 
ical and astronomical methods is becoming 
slight. What, for instance, is an essential dif- 
ference between the two components of the ac- 
tual linear motion of a star, although the one is 
determined purely by the processes of astron- 
omy of position, while the other is measured by 
the spectroscope ? 
The opening chapter of Professor André’s 
first volume deals with objectives and mirrors, 
a topic upon which he is especially well fitted 
to speak. The sections treat of the theory of 
optical images, of the effect of diffraction screens 
or diaphragms over the objective, and of images 
