SCIENCE 



Editoeial Committee : S. Nbwcomb, Mathematics ; E. S. Woodwaed, Mechanics ; E. C. Pickbeing, As- 

 tronomy ; T. C. Mendenhall, Physics ; R. H. Thurston, Engineering ; Iea Eemsen, Chemistry ; 

 J. Le Conte, Geology; W. M. Davis, Physiography; O. C. Maesh, Paleontology; W. K. Beooks, 

 Invertebrate Zoology ; C. Haet Meeeiam, Vertebrate Zoology ; S. H. Scuddeb, Entomology ; 

 N. L. Beitton, Botany ; Heney F. Osbokn, General Biology ; H. P. Bowditch, 

 Physiology ; J. S. Billings, Hygiene ; J. McKeen Cattell, Psychology ; 

 Daniel G. Beinton, J. W. Powell, Anthropology ; 

 G. Beown Goode, Scientific Organization. 



Fkiday, January 31, 1896. 



CONTENTS: 

 The Smithsonian Institution: 145 



Memorial Tribute to Professor Thomas H. Stixley : 

 Heney F. Osboen 147 



On the Classification of Museums : G. Beown 

 Goode 154 



The X-Bays: Hugo Mijnsteebeeg 161 



Scientific Notes and News : — 



Professor Bonigen's Discovery. Physics: W. H. 

 Astronomy: H. J. General... 163 



University and Educational News 167 



Discussion and Correspondence: — 



The Metric System: J. K. Rees. Improved 

 Blackboard: Ben. K. Emeeson..- 167 



Scientific Literature : — 



Tair's Elementary Physical Geography: I. C. 

 Russell. Jackson's The Great Frozen Land : 

 Angelo Heilpein. Frye's Complete Geography : 



T. W. Haeeis. Hopkins' Beligions of India; 



Phillips' Teaching of the Vedas : D. G. Beinton.168 



Scientific Journals :- — 



The American Journal of Science; Astrophysical 

 Journal; The Physical Beview 174 



Societies and Academies : — 



Joint Commission of the Scientific Societies of 

 Washington: W. P. Moesell. 2he Philo- 

 sophical Society of Washington: Beenaed R. 

 Geben. Chemical Society of Washington: A. 

 C. Peale. Boston Society of Natural History : 

 Samuel Henshaw. Geological Conference of 

 Harvard University: T. A. Jaggar, Je. Tor- 

 rey Botanical Club : H. H. RusBY. The Acad- 

 emy of Science of St. Loxiis: Wm. Treleasb...177 



New Books 180 



MSS. intended for publication and boobs eto., intended 

 for review should be sent to the responsible editor, Proi. J. 

 McKeen Cattell, Garrison-on-Hudson, N. Y. 



THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 



The annual meeting of the Board of Re- 

 gents of the Smithsonian Institution was 

 held Wednesday, January 22d, at 10 

 o'clock. 



The Vice-President, Hon. Melville W. 

 Fuller, Chief Juptice of the United States, 

 Postmaster General Wilson, Senator Jus- 

 tin S. Morrill, Senator Shelby M. Cullom, 

 Senator George Gray, Representative Joseph 

 Wheeler, Representative R. R. Hitt, Repre- 

 sentative Robert Adams, Jr., Dr. A. D. 

 White, General J. B. Henderson and Hon. 

 Gardiner G. Hubbard. 



The death of Doctor Henry Coppee, Presi- 

 dent of Lehigh University, long a member 

 of the Board, was announced and appro- 

 priate resolutions adopted. 



An Executive Committee was appointed 

 as follows : Hon. John B. Henderson, Chair- 

 man; Hon.. William L. Wilson and Hon. 

 Gardiner G. Hubbard. 



Secretary Langley presented his annual 

 report, in which the chief events of impor- 

 tance during the past year were discussed. 

 Allusion was made to the conferring of the 

 Hodgkins Fund prize of $10,000, and to the 

 transmission of the amount of the award 

 through the American embassy in London 

 to Lord Rayleigh and Professor Ramsay ; 

 also to the fact that a similar prize for the 

 same discovery has recently been given to 

 the same persons by the Institute of France. 

 The prize of |1,000 was given to M. de Va- 



