380 
tributed greatly to the enjoyment and profit 
of all. 
Delegates from the United States were 
present in large numbers and participated 
in the proceedings of this meeting of the 
British Association. Many of them were 
courteously invited to sit with the sectional 
committees and to join them in their delib- 
erations. The formation of new and the re- 
newal of old acquaintanceships, and the free 
interchange of thought thus afforded, made 
the meeting seem, to quote the language of 
the admirable address of Sir John Evans, 
like a ‘family gathering in which our rela- 
tives, more or less distant in blood, but still 
intimately connected with us by lauguage, 
literature and habits of thought, have spon- 
taneously arranged to take part.’ 
In its management of business details the 
British Association presents some instruct- 
ive points of contrast with our own or- 
ganization. Without entering here upon a 
discussion of these points, it may be useful 
to mention three wherein the British Asso- 
ciation appears markedly superior to the 
American. The first of these is the absence, 
at the summer meetings, of repeated and 
prolonged sessions of the Council, or govern- 
ing body. Secondly, no sessions affording 
Opportunity for miscellaneous debate by 
members in general are held. The entire 
energy of the members in attendance may 
thus be turned toward the object of the As- 
sociation—the advancement of science. 
Thirdly, there is the advantage which 
comes from the greater freedom and powers 
of the sectional committees. These virtu- 
ally control the proceedings of their respec- 
tive sections at any meeting, and the work 
SCIENCE. 
[N.S. Vou. VI. No. 141. 
of a section goes on with the vigor and ef- 
fectiveness which characterize our inde- 
In addition 
to these administrative matters, one cannot 
pendent or affiliated societies. 
help noting the greater enthusiasm of our 
British kin for science and for scientific men, 
and the larger proportion of attendance at 
their meetings of their best men. With 
them the meeting of the British Association 
is one of the most important events of the 
With us, widely separated over a 
continent, there is less opportunity for the 
year. 
cultivation of enthusiasm and greater diffi- 
culty in coming together; but who shall 
say that these are insurmountable obstacles 
in the way of a worthy scientific zeal and 
enterprise ? 
INTERNATIONAL AMENITIES AT DETROIT 
AND TORONTO. 
In accordance with action taken at Buf- 
falo last year, members of the British Asso- 
ciation for the Advancement of Science at- 
tending the meeting of the American Asso- 
ciation at Detroit were made honorary 
members of the latter body for the 1897 
meeting. Perhaps a score of British and 
Continental scientists availed themselves of 
this privilege; several of them took part in 
the work of the Sections, joining freely in 
discussion and in some cases participating 
also in the labors of the presiding officers ; 
and it was a general opinion that the pres- 
ence of these distinguished representatives 
of science from over seas contributed ma- 
terially to the success of the Detroit meet- 
ing. Especially noteworthy, as an indica- 
tion of the comity between the two Associa- 
tions, was the presence of Professor A. B. 
Macallum, the Local Secretary of the British 
Association for the Toronto meeting, who 
came specially to extend in person the cour- 
tesies of this body and to make arrange- 
