446 
be also pessimistic regarding those whom it calls 
‘natural scientists,’ for the editorial quoted 
above says: ‘‘ Devotees of natural science are, 
as a rule, the most intolerant of all university 
teachers, especially toward differences of opin- 
ion within their own sphere.’’? We have pub- 
lished a number of articles on scientific educa- 
tion, but none of these have betrayed a preju- 
dice against the classics equal to that against 
modern scientific education shown recently by 
Professor Wilson, of Princeton; Professor Peck, 
of Columbia, and President Stryker, of Hamil- 
ton, nor equal to that against the classics in the 
recent program of President Andrews, himself 
formerly a teacher of classics. 
WHILE engaged in promulgation we may re- 
mark that President Stryker, who had much to 
say last winter in regard to ‘debasing’ the 
A. B. degree by granting it for scientific stud- 
ies, has allowed Hamilton College to give the 
degree of Ph. D. causa honoris. This, we be- 
lieve, is illegal in the State of New York. 
THE will of Charles T. Wilder, of Wellesley, 
Mass., gives more than $100,000 to charitable 
and educational institutions, including $10,000 
each to Robert College at Constantinople, the 
Armenian School for Girls at Constantinople, 
the Colorado College at Colorado Springs, 
Whitman College at Walla Walla, Wash., and 
Charleston College, Northfield, Mass. In a 
codicil dated July 27, 1897, Mr. Wilder be- 
queathed $15,000 to the trustees of Amherst 
College for the purchase of land for an observa- 
tory. The residue of the estate, both real and 
personal, is left to the executors in trust to be 
distributed among charitable, educational and 
religious institutions. 
THERE is offered this year at Amherst Col- 
lege a prize of $500 for the best prepared fresh- 
man in the classical division and a similar prize 
of $300 in the scientific division. 
THREE new associate professors have been 
appointed at Oberlin College, Charles Edward 
St. John, Ph.D. (Harvard), in physics and 
mathematics; Herbert Lyon Jones, M.S. (Deni- 
son), A.M. (Harvard), in Botany, and 8. F. 
McLennan, A.B. (Toronto), and Ph.D. (Chi- 
cago), in psychology and pedagogy. 
AT Williams College, Mr. Edward V. Hunt- 
SCIENCE. 
(N.S. Vou. VI. No. 142. 
ingdon (Harvard) has been appointed instructor 
in mathematics and Mr. Frank H. Williams, 
assistant in chemistry. 
DISCUSSION AND CORRESPONDENCE. 
AMPHIBIA OR BATRACHIA. 
As Professor Wilder * has expressed the hope 
that the discussion on the proper name of the 
class variously known as Amphibia or Batrachia 
‘may continue until all doubts are removed,’ I 
venture to add my contribution. Dr. Baur+y 
has treated the history of the nomenclature in 
his usual thorough manner, but perhaps has 
not laid sufficient emphasis on one point (al- 
though fully recognizing it himself), which has 
influenced me more than any others and prob- 
ably will appeal to Professor Wilder more than 
the others. 
The principle of priority of nomenclature 
should guide us in the selection of names of 
large groups as well as those of genera and 
species, provided there is no counteracting ele- 
ment or objection. It is especially important 
to retain the names of Linnzeus as much as 
possible. 
Linneeus introduced into the system six 
classes—Mammalia, Aves, Amphibia, Pisces, 
Insecta and Vermes. These have all been gen- 
erally retained by succeeding naturalists except 
Amphibia. While many have adopted Am- 
phibia, however, still more, perhaps, have em- 
ployed Batrachia. But there appears to be no 
good reason for this use of Batrachia at the ex- 
pense of Amphibia. 
Amphibia should be retained as a class name, 
as it was at first given as such, and the fact that 
the class as originally constituted contained 
diverse elements should weigh no more against 
the adoption than the analogous extensions in 
the case of Insecta and Vermes or innumerable 
genera. The name should be restricted to the 
typical subdivision of the primitive Amphibia. 
The name Amphibia, doubtless, expresses the 
concept of Linnzeus derived from his own 
observations of living animals, and he must 
have been most impressed with the metamor- 
phosis of some which he mentions first among 
*ScIENCE, August 20, 1897, p. 295. 
{ ScrencE, July 30, 1897, pp. 170-174. 
