666 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXVI. No. 672 



dii and Selaginella rupestris, but the general 

 results in this respect were distinctly disap- 

 pointing. 

 Experiences at the Biological Laboratory of 



the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries at Beaufort^ 



N. C: W. D. HoYT. 



An account was given of the excellent equip- 

 ment of the station, and the facilities for re- 

 search. The richness of the local fauna and 

 the varied flora was noted. The locality 

 abounds in epiphytic plants of numerous 

 species. The speaker's investigations indicate 

 a local algal flora that compares favorably 

 with that of the New England and the Florida 

 coast. Over 100 species have been found. 

 The latitude of Beaufort appears to be the 

 northern limit of certain southern species and 

 the southern limit of some northern ones. 

 The predominant flora varies greatly, accord- 

 ing to the season, southern forms predomi- 

 nating in summer and northern forms in 

 winter. 



A coral reef about twenty-three miles ofi the 

 coast and under a depth of 13 to 14 fathoms, 

 extends about one mile in length and one 

 half a mile in width. This is probably the 

 most northern of the coral reefs. It supports 

 a rich algal flora, consisting almost entirely 

 of southern forms, and some of them new to 

 North America. 

 Bemarhs on the Unusual Habitats of Certain 



Ferns in New Jersey: Miss Pauline Kauf- 



MANN. 



Several species have been observed growing 

 in habitats somewhat unusual for the species. 



Observations in Western South Carolina, and 

 on the Isle of Palms : Homer D. House. 

 On this island, which is off the coast of 

 South Carolina, several species new to South 

 Carolina, and a probably new species of 

 Helianthus,' were found. 



Account of a Visit to the Experimental Gar- 

 den of President Brainerd, at Middlebury, 

 Vt.: Tracy E. Hazen. 



A description was given of President 

 Brainerd's experimental pedigreed cultures of 

 violets. In addition to remarks concerning 

 the Mendelian studies in Viola, attention was 

 called to the fact that, contrary to the general 



notion, viable seeds were commonly found in 

 the petaliferous flowers of the violet. 



Discussion followed the remarks of each 

 speaker. C. Stuart Gager, 



Secretary 



DISCUSSION AND CORRESPONDENCE 



SOME OBSERVATIONS ON MUSEUM 

 ADMINISTRATION 



The two articles which recently appeared 

 in Science^ by Drs. Dorsey and Boaz on 

 museum administration have been of more 

 than passing interest to those engaged in the 

 collection and exhibition of natural history 

 material. While Dr. Dorsey's article dis- 

 cussed the matter from a purely ethnological 

 standpoint, that of Dr. Boaz is of siioh a scope 

 as to include broadly all branches of museum 

 installation. The following observations are 

 based upon an experience of thirteen years in 

 one of the smaller museums, where the attend- 

 ance averages about 350,000 per year. 



Dr. Boaz states that museums may serve 

 three purposes, viz., healthy entertainment, in- 

 struction and the promotion of research. That 

 a museum is for the purpose of providing in- 

 struction and of promoting research all mu- 

 seum men will agree, but there is great danger 

 of dwelling too much upon the idea of enter- 

 tainment. All museum men desire unques- 

 tionably that their museums should afford 

 healthy entertainment, but the installations 

 must not be prepared for this purpose. In 

 the writer's opinion every exhibit should be 

 prepared with some definite purpose in view; 

 it must, indeed, be the embodiment of an idea 

 which may be apprehended by the visitor. 



It has not been the writer's experience that 

 the public resents to any large degree an at- 

 tempt at systematic instruction, or that it 

 dislikes to give serious consideration to the 

 exhibits. It has been frequently noted in the 

 Chicago museums that visitors will study or 

 look over every case in a given hall or gallery; 

 the more commonplace exhibits will perhaps 

 be passed over, but where it is apparent that 

 some idea or fact of nature has been embodied 

 in an exhibit, this exhibit will be carefully 



'No. 641, April 12, 1907, and No. 650, June 

 14, 1907. 



