CIENCE 
EDITORIAL Commirrer: S. NEwcoms, Mathematics; R. S. WooDWARD, Mechanics; E. C. PICKERING, 
Astronomy; T. C. MENDENHALL, Physics; R. H. THURSTON, Engineering; IRA REMSEN, Chemistry; 
J. LE ContzE, Geology; W. M. DAvis, Physiography; O. C. MAksH, Paleontology; W. K. 
Brooks, C. HART MERRIAM, Zoology; S. H. SCUDDER, Entomology; N. L. BRITTON, 
Botany; HENRY F. OsBoRN, General Biology; H. P. BowpitTcH, Physiology; 
J. S. BILLINGS, Hygiene ; J. MCKEEN CATTELL, Psychology ; 
DANIEL G. BRINTON, J. W. POWELL, Anthropology. 
Fripay, Juty 16, 1897. 
CONTENTS: 
On the Theory of Organic Variation: H.S. WIL- 
HG TEAUVIS vette seretselstetteetelatsicitselse tela eiepielelscterieeiseteiieiiatesetssi1= 73 
Microscopical Examination of Water, with a Descrip- 
tion of a Simple Form of Apparatus: GEORGE 
(Ch. \AVTEC DSIEIIAD TGoahgensasanadaaodessnscoadonoconBAEnceSoOGECG 85 - 
Spectrum Color Standards: J. H. PILLSBURY...... 89 
Pleistocene Fossils from Baffinland and Greenland : 
1B, WH MIGBSAID ET Go cqdoanopoaonacnonsooancobaqaneDs608s056090 91 
Current Notes on Physiography:— . 
The Sierra Nevada; North Carolina and its Re- 
sources ; Dungeness Foreland; A Fault Line in 
Afghanistan: W. M. DAVIS ......c.ccesceeeee coeeee 93 
Scientific Notes and News.............+.-osere-see-seeeeeoeee 94 
University and Educational News.........c.s0sceseesceees 98 
Discussion and Correspondence :— 
A Brilliant Meteor: ALEXANDER GRAHAM 
BELL, GEORGE KENNAN......1...001cesseceeeseceeees 99 
Scientific Literature :-— 
What are Stipules? LESTER F. WARD. Thomas 
on the Genera of Rodents: T.S. PALMER........ 100 
Societies and Academies :— 
New York Academy of Sciences, Section of Biol- 
ogy: C. L. Bristou, G. N. CALKINS......... ....107 
MSS. intended tor publication and books, etc., intended 
for review should be sent to the responsible editor, Prof. J. 
McKeen Cattell, Garrison-on-Hudson, N. Y. 
ON THE THEORY OF ORGANIC VARIATION.* 
As the evolution question becomes more 
and more deeply examined the particular 
phenomena described under the terms varia- 
tion and heredity are concentrating much 
closer observation and thought. The whole 
philosophy of the matter seems to turn 
upon the interpretation of these phenomena. 
* An address delivered before the Philosophical 
Club of Yale College, April 1, 1897. 
In this discussion biologists and those who 
are engaged in adjusting biological theories 
to the systems of human thought appear 
to be resting on the assumption’ that the 
great result of the speculations of the last 
fifty years has been the furnishing of a 
rational explanation of the so-called natural 
causes of variation of organisms in their 
morphological and physiological aspects. 
This assumption appears to be associated 
with another, which in some sense is its 
antithesis, 7. e., that those organic phe- 
nomena which recur in relatively uniform 
cycles in successive generations of organ- 
isms are fundamental, are the expressions 
of the intrinsic nature of organic matter, 
and thus lie beyond the immediate investi- 
gation of science. According to this view, 
heredity (a) is not caused, but is a primary 
law of all organisms; variation (b) is a 
departure from the strict operation of the 
law of recurrence in generation; and thus 
external environment (c), or the general 
conditions of being in which organisms 
exist, is effective in its interaction with the 
intrinsic energies of the organism in divert- 
ing or modifying the natural expression of 
those energies, to the causing of that diver- 
sity and heterogeneity of form and opera- 
tion which we see about us. This is, as I 
understand it, a fair expression of the gen- 
eral attitude of thinking men toward the 
problem in question. This position has re- 
ceived little consideration because it has 
