Maech 22, 1907] 



SCIENCE 



469 



of each genus. Those memoirs in which the 

 type species is placed in the middle of a genus 

 are, in general, systematic catalogues, not de- 

 scriptions of new species. When a genus is 

 first named, nine writers out of every ten place 

 first a species they know and which they deem 

 typical of the group in question. 



For all these reasons, the writer thinks that 

 the first species rule should prevail, though he 

 would not strenuously object to the rule of the 

 first reviser. In so far as the method of elimi- 

 nation sets aside both first species and first 

 reviser, doing the work over again with every 

 change in our views of generic limits, he feels 

 sure that future systematists will have none 

 of it. David Stare Jordan 



SPENCER P. BAIED 



The following, which I have just come 

 across in the ' Autobiography ' of Moncure D. 

 Conway (Vol. 1, p. 49) seems worth reprint- 

 ing in Science. Conway was a student at 

 Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa., when Baird 

 was professor of zoology there. 



T. D. A. C. 



Baird, the youngest of the faculty, was the be- 

 loved professor and the ideal student. He was 

 beautiful and also manly; all that was finest in the 

 forms he explained to us seemed to be represented 

 in the man. He possessed the art of getting knowl- 

 edge into the dullest pupil. So fine was his spirit 

 that his explanations of all the organs and func- 

 tions of the various species were an instruction 

 also in refinement of mind. Nothing unclean could 

 approach him. One main charm of spring's ap- 

 proach was that then would begin our weekly 

 rambles in field, meadow, wood, where Baird in- 

 troduced us to his intimates. About some of these 

 — especially snakes — most of us had indiscrim- 

 inate superstitions. Occasionally he would cap- 

 ture some pretty and harmless snakes, and show 

 us with pencillings their dilTerence from the 

 poisonous ones. He even persuaded the bolder 

 among us to handle them. * * * After Professor 

 Baird went to reside in Washington I had oppor- 

 tunities of seeing him and his family often. Mrs. 

 Baird was a lady of fine culture and much wit. 

 Baird was very lovable in his home, and to the 

 end of his life he remained a man in whom I never 

 discovered a fault of mind or heart. He awakened 

 in me a love of science, to which I had previously 

 given little thought. 



MONUMENT TO MENDEL 



To THE Editor of Science : It may not be 

 generally known that an effort is being made 

 to erect a suitable monument to Gregor 

 Mendel. The movement has the support of 

 leading biologists both in Europe and in 

 America. It is hoped that American biolo- 

 gists will use their best efforts to see that this 

 country is not behind Europe in its apprecia- 

 tion of the remarkable work of this pioneer 

 in a field which at the present time occupies 

 so important a place in biology. 



According to circulars just received from 

 Professor Tschermak, Professor C. B. Daven- 

 port, Cold Spring Harbor, Long Island, New 

 York, has consented to receive subscriptions 

 to the fund. 



While American scientific men are, gen- 

 erally speaking, not wealthy, I think we all 

 appreciate fully the service rendered by 

 Mendel, and should not only contribute 

 according to our means, but should endeavor 

 to induce those who have the means and are 

 interested in the progress of science to do so. 



W. J. Spillman 



U. S. DePAETMENT op AGEICtnLTUBE 



associated peess fakes 



To THE Editor of Science: The Asso- 

 ciated Press cables us that Matteucci says 

 that within a few weeks the earth is to strike 

 the tail of Marchette's comet, with dangerous 

 consequences to the world. Now does the As- 

 sociated Press believe this, and has it made 

 any provision against such catastrophe ; or has 

 it merely preempted the right to say ' I told 

 you so ' ? 



Every one recognizes the attempted scare as 

 one of the vapid jokes of an Associated Press 

 agent. No one is soft enough to be hoaxed, 

 and no one has suffered from the stupid fake, 

 except a few frightened invalids and that par- 

 ticular Press Association itself which allows 

 its name to be used as guarantor for such 

 folly. Luckily there are other press associa- 

 tions, whose reputations are above sending 

 such stupid cablegrams, or making their 

 patrons pay for such nonsense. 



C. A. 



