SCIENCE 



Editoeial Committed : S. Newcomb, Mathematics ; K. S. "Woodwaed, Mechanics ; E. C. Pickeeino, 



Astronomy ; T. C. Mendenhall, Physics ; R. H. Thurston, Engineering ; Ira Eemsbn, Chemistry ; 



Joseph Lb Contb, Geology ; W. M. Davis, Physiography ; Heney P. Osbobn, Paleontology ; 



W. K. Beooks, C. Haet Meekiam, Zoology ; S. H. Souddee, Entomology ; C. E. Bessey, 



N. L. Beitton, Botany ; C. S. Minot, Embryology, Histology ; H. P. Bowditch, 



Physiology ; J. S. Billings, Hygiene ; William H. Welch, Pathology ; 



J. McKeen Cattell, Psychology ; J. W. Powell, Anthropology. 



Friday, December 7, 1900. 



CONTENTS: 



The History of the Neotropical Eegion : De. H. 

 von Iheeing 857 



A History of the Development of the Quantitative 

 Study of Variation: Pbofessoe Chas. B. 

 Davenpoet 864 



Plant Geography of North America : — 



Composilion of the Bocky Mountain Flora : De. 



P. A. Bydbeeg 870 



A Tertiary Coral Beef near Bainbridge, Georgia : 

 De. T. Wayland Vaughan 873 



Peach Yellows: A Cause Suggested: O. F. Cook.. 875 



Scientific Books : — 



VanH HofTs Legonsde chimie physique : H. C. J. 

 Meyer's Determination of Badicles in Carbon 

 Compounds: Peopessoe W. E. Orndoeff 881 



Scientific Journals and Articles 882 



Societies and Academies : — 



Geological Society of Washington : Db. F. L. 

 Eansome, David White. Section of Biology 

 of the New York Academy of Sciences : Pro- 

 fessor F. E. Lloyd. Torrey Botanical Club : 

 Peofessoe Edward S. Burgess. Zoological 

 Journal Club of the University of Michigan : Dr. 

 H. S. Jennings 884 



Discussion and Correspondence : — 



The Electrical Theory of Gravitation : Peo- 

 fessoe W. S. Franklin. The Homing Instinct 

 of a Turtle : Peofessoe C. L. BRISTOL 887 



Botanical Notes : — 



Peach Leaf Curl; A Neio Botanical Journal; 

 Engler's Pflanzenreich : Peofessoe Charles 

 E. Bessey 890 



Practical Besults obtained from the Study of Earth- 

 quakes: Professor John Milne 891 



Scientific Notes and News 982 



University and Educational News 896 



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

 for review should be sent to the responsible editor, Pro- 

 fessor J. McKeen Cattell, Garriso'^-on-Hudson, N. Y. 



THE HISTORY OF THE NEOTROPICAL 

 REGION. 



In No. 276 of Science, April, 1900, Dr. 

 Henry F. Osborn published an article on 

 the ' Geological and Faunal Relations of 

 Europe and America during the Tertiary 

 Period, ' to which I may here refer, as it may 

 be useful for science to discuss the diiferent 

 opinions to which our study has led us. 



It is singular that Mr. Osborn has no 

 knowledge at all of the numerous papers 

 published by the writer on the history of 

 the neotropical fauna, and consequently it 

 is necessary to say at first some words on 

 these papers, and the new discoveries and 

 ideas published in them. Referring here 

 only to those of my publications in which 

 the geological and zoogeographical rela- 

 tions of South America were fully discussed, 

 I name the following: 



1. ' Die Geographische Verbreitung der 

 FlussmuBcheln.' Das Ausland, Stuttgart, 



1890, Nos. 48-49 ; and translated ' The Geo- 

 graphical Distribution of the Freshwater 

 Mussels.' The New Zealand Journal oj 

 Science, Vol. I., Dunedin, 1891, pp. 151-154. 



2. ' Ueber die Beziehungen der chilen- 

 ischen und suedbrasilianischen Suesswas- 

 ser fauna.' Verhandlungen des deutsehen wis- 

 senschaftlichen Vereines zu Santiago, Vol. II., 



1891, p. 142-19. 



3. 'Ueber die al ten Beziehungen zwischen 

 Neuseeland und Suedamerika.' Ausland, 

 Stuttgart, 1891, No. 18. Translated, 'On 



