SCIENCE 



A WEEKLY JOURNAL DEVOTED TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE, PUBLISHING THE. 



OFFICIAL NOTICES AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION 



FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE. 



Friday, July 20, 1906. 



CO'NTENTS. 



The Aims of an Astronomer: Pkofessoe Ed- 

 ward C. Pickering 65 



Home Aspects of the Panama Canal: Pro- 

 fessor Wm. H. Burr 71 



Scientific Books: — 



Hartman's Archeological Researches in 

 Costa Rica: Professor George Grant 

 MacCurdy 78 



Scientific Journals and Articles 81 



Discussion and Correspondence: — 



De Vries and Ms Critics: Professor C. 

 Stuart Gager , 81 



Special Articles: — 



A New Fossil Seal from the Marine Miocene 

 of the Oregon Coast Region: Dr. J. L. 

 WoRTMAN. Deio-point and Humidity 

 Chart: Professor John F. Woodhull.... 89 



Quotations : — 



The Most Important Work in the World. . 92 



Observatories and Astronomers of the World. 93 



Elizabeth Thompson Science Fund: Professor 

 Chari^s S. MiNOT 93 



Scientific Notes and News 94 



University and Educational News 96 



MSS. intended for publication and books, etc., intended for 

 review should be sent to the Editor of Science, Garrison-on- 

 Hudson, N. Y. 



THE AIMS OF AN ASTRONOMER."- 

 Two titles have suggested themselves for 

 my address of this morning, 'The Aims of 

 a Man of Science' and 'The Aims of an 

 Astronomer.' The objections to the more 

 restricted title are, that those of you who 

 do not know me might think that I was 

 about to discourse upon the inhabitants of 

 Mars, or give you a technical paper inter- 

 spersed with mathematical formula of ap- 

 palling length. From both of these courses; 

 I solemnly promise to abstain. The broad- 

 er title might lead me into domains outside- 

 of my own studies, which are always par- • 

 ticularly tempting to a specialist. The 

 early aims of an astronomer must be passed 

 over briefly to reach the more alluring field 

 when they become, or should become, the 

 aims of astronomy. 



The first aim of a boy when he reaches 

 manhood, and becomes an independent unit 

 in the community, is generally to acquire 

 money or its equivalent. This aim for a 

 time is perfectly legitimate. He is entitled 

 to support, food, lodging and clothing. 

 Unfortunately, the savage has here a great 

 advantage over civilized man. As soon as 

 he attains his full strength and physical 

 development, he becomes an important 

 member of his tribe. He can hunt and 

 fish, and can live in even greater comfort 

 than his elders. The complex wants of civ- 

 ilization have changed all this. With us, a 

 boy must get his education, and for years 

 must be dependent on others when he should 



^Address before the Harvard Chapter of Phi 

 Betta Kappa. 



