92 SCIENCE. 
variation zz temper, or if the distribution of heat be very 
irregular and the changes of temperature abrupt.”” How- 
ever, this, to me, is only partial and does not touch the 
root of the matter—a molecular dissymmetry. 
Perhaps this comment is totally uncalled for, but as 
there are already so many apparently different phenomena 
and ‘‘effects,’’ in physics, it is well, when we can, to 
ascribe all modifications of any effect, that are manifestly 
due to the same principle, to that effect, instead of setting 
it down as a zew phenomenon. W. R. TURNBULL. 
Ithaca, N. Y. 
Birds Singing on Their Nests. 
Ir is one of the encouraging hopes in natural science 
that taking anything for granted is giving way to facts. 
It is but a few years ago when one of our popular ornithol- 
ogists said that birds were silent on their nests, else it 
would betray their nests. Ihad never seen anything in 
print to the contrary, up to 1886, when I discovered the 
nest of a white-eyed vireo from hearing the song proceed 
from one direction. I cautiously followed it, to find the 
bird on the nest. And here I may say I saw the male and 
female change places on the nest about noon every fifteen 
or twenty minutes; the male singing all the time on the 
nest as heartily as when off it. In February, 1892, I 
communicated these facts to the Ornthologist and Oélogist. 
It came out in ‘‘ Bird Notes” in March, 1892, after which 
several correspondents from widely differing localities 
testified to hearing other species of vireos and the black- 
headed grosbeak of California singing on the nest. 
In the April number of the Ornzthologist and Odlogist, 
1892, Clyde L. Keller writes: ‘‘ It seems to be a trait 
peculiar to that family (vireos). I have observed both 
cassius and the western warbling vireo singing on their 
nests.” In the next month, May, Mr. S. R. Ingersoll 
writes: ‘‘ Let me add both the red-eyed and warbling vireos 
singing on their nests, especially the latter variety ” (speak- 
ing of the eastern warbling vireo). This takes in so many 
of the vireos that it is probable all the family have this 
peculiarity. One may at first wonder thatit was so long 
undiscovered. I think the solution lies in the fact that 
allthese birds I hear of not being silent on the nests are all 
birds that have their nests well concealed. I had looked 
many years in vain for a goldfinch’s nest before I could 
find one, till my earshelped me. Passing by a tree several 
times a day, I heard the voice of a female in the tree 
answering the call of a passing male. After searching 
some time I discovered her sitting on her nest, as well 
concealed as a goldfinch knows howto do it, so that the 
risk of betraying the nest is not great, with such birds 
as we now know to sing on their nests. 
Henry HAtes. 
Ridgewood, N. J. 
Effects of Weather on Scientific Work. 
Very few persons recognize the sources of error that 
come directly from atmospheric conditions on experi- 
menters and observers and others. In my own case I 
have been amazed at the faulty deductions and miscon- 
ceptions which were made in damp, foggy weather, or on 
days in which the air was charged with electricity and 
thunder storms were impending. What seemed clear to 
me at these times appeared later to be filled with error. 
An actuary in a large insurance company is obliged to 
stop work at such times, finding that he makes so many 
mistakes which he is only conscious of later that his work 
is useless. In a large factory from ten to twenty per cent 
less work is brought out on damp days and days of threat- 
ening storm. The superintendent in receiving orders to 
be delivered at a certain time takes this factor into calcu- 
lation. There iga theory among many persons in the fire 
Vol. XXIII. No. 576 
insurance business that in states of depressing atmosphere 
greater carelessness exists and more fires follow. Engineers 
of railway locomotives have some curious theories of 
trouble, accidents and increased dangers in such periods, 
attributing it to the machinery. These are common illus- 
trations and can be confirmed in the experience of all 
thoughtful observers. If some one would gather up re- 
liable facts and tabulate them in this field, no doubt some 
laws of mental activity would be found. In an inquiry 
among active brain workers in my circle I find a settled 
conviction that many very powerful forces coming from 
what is popularly called the weather control the work 
and its success of eachone. The psychology of the weather 
should be a most pregnant new land for study, and I 
would be pleased to hear from any one who may have some 
personal experience on this topic, for the purpose of mak- 
ing some future studies for the readers of Sczence. 
T. D. Croruers, M.D. 
Hartford, Conn. 
A Freak of Inflorescence. 
Amonc several hyncinths blooming in the window there 
is one which reverses the usual order of inflorescence. Its 
first spike of flowers was normal, that is, indeterminate, 
but the second began to bloom at the top, its lowest 
blossoms opening about the same time as the upper ones 
on the first spike. A spike on another plant began near 
the middle to open its flowers, and continued the process 
in both directions. 
My observation of ‘‘late-blooming trees’ has been 
that generally the second blossoming occurs only when 
the normal action of the tree has been in some way 
thwarted. A number of Duchesse pear trees blooming so 
early as frequently to get touched by frost are almost 
sure to bear clusters of blossoms the following August. A 
Siberian crab, in one of its off years, bore in July several 
clusters of flowers. These were larger than the ordinary 
flowers, and nearly as double as a Baltimore Belle rose. 
The summer flowers of the pear trees, on the contrary, 
are generally not so large, nor so many in a cluster as the 
spring flowers. Lucy A. OsBaNnD. 
Ypsilanti, Mich. 
Maya Hieroglyphs,---A Correction. 
In my first article on the ‘‘Interpretation of Maya 
Hieroglyphs by their Phonetic Elements” (Sczence, Dec. 
15, 1893), p- 325, 2d col., 3d line from bottom, for 162 
read 102; p. 327, 2d col., 5th line, for 123 read 125; 43d 
line, for 136 read 128, 129; p. 328, 1st col., 32d line, for 
mout read mouth; 4th line from bottom, for 84 read 86; 
2oth line from bottom, for 166 read 167; 21st line from 
bottom, for 165 read 166; fig. 35 should have been given 
in the illustration, but was omitted from the drawing 
sent. It is composed of three squares, similar to those 
given in fig. 128, and has the phonetic value xa v/s, 
sha v/s, cha v/s. H. T. Cresson. 
The Native Calendar of Central America and Mexico. 
In Sctence, Feb. 2, and also in the American Anthro- 
pologist for January, Dr. Cyrus Thomas publishes some 
observations on the above subject, bearing upon my 
recent work, ‘‘ The Native Calendar of Central America 
and Mexico” (Philadelphia, 1893). As Dr. Thomas 
is evidently under some misapprehensions as to my 
statements, I beg to place them in a somewhat clearer 
light. 
In the Anthropologist he undertakes to correct some of 
my quotations from the writings of Dr. Ed. Seler; but 
from his own words, it is plain that Dr. Thomas is very 
