SCIENCE 
Eprror1AL Commirrtre: S. NeEwcoms, Mathematics; R. S. WoopWARD, Mechanics; E. C. PICKERING, 
Astronomy; T. C. MENDENHALL, Physics; R. H. THURSTON, Engineering; IRA REMSEN, Chemistry; 
J. LE Conte, Geology; W. M. Davis, Physiography; O. C. MArsu, Paleontology; W. K. Brooks, 
C. HART MERRIAM, Zoology; S. H. ScuDDER, Entomology; C. E. Bessry, N. L. BRITTON, 
Botany; Henry F. OsBorN, General Biology; C. S. Minor, Embryology, Histology; 
H. P. Bownitcu, Physiology; J. S. BILLInes, Hygiene; J. McCKEEN CATTELL, 
Psychology; DANIEL G. BRINTON, J. W. POWELL, Anthropology. 
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1897. 
CONTENTS: 
Signalling through Space without Wires: W. H 
TETRISTIC TR cacosnooscacosapaqsoocoocoooanp sap snoeacooScooa0nEK 829 
Characters, Congenital and Acquired: G. ARCH- 
TDVAIETY TRIED sq0sccn50onn5ocn0annocconoqpepeseDoccpacoooDbod 896 
The Desirability and the Feasibility of the Acquisition 
of Some Real and Accurate Knowledge of the Brain 
by Pre-collegiate Scholars: BURT G. WILDER....902 
The Native Dahlias of Mexico: JOHN W. HARSH- 
THING HR nococoononsonsosancosupoocoubcesuoscboguaqeaCeNdio5 908 
Current Notes on Anthropology :— 
Inscription of the Cross at Palenque ; The Ethnol- 
ogy of Kissing ; The Aborigines of India: D. G. 
1 BIPTAN FOR occ ononocconsacoacoonnscbconnanspeq0D0qB0c9009090000 910 
Scientific Notes and News :— 
The Royal Society; The New York State Science 
Teachers’ Association ; A National Department of 
Health ; The Protection of the Sea Otter ; General.912 
University and Educational News. ........+-.-++essseseens 916 
Discussion and Correspondence :— 
The United States Fish Commission : F. A. LUCAS. 
A National Department of Health: C. H. PRESTON..916 
Scientific Literature :-— 
Lloyd Morgan on Habit and Instinct: HERMON 
C. Bumpus. Sapper on Das Nordliche Mittel- 
Amerika nebst einen Ausflug nach den hochland 
von Anahuac: D. G. BRINTON. Wild Neighbors : 
WWERNON) BAUGEN, .--cecsces-ccseessrassoacscnsececscunee 918 
Societies and Academies :— 
Boston Society of Natural History: SAMUEL 
HENSHAW. Geological Society of Washington : 
W. FF. MorsewyL. Entomological Society of Wash- 
ington: L.O. HOWARD. Torrey Botanical Club : 
EDWARD S. BuRGEsS. The Academy of Science 
of St. Lowis: WILLIAM TRELEASE.........-..-..++- 922 
MSS. intended for publication and books, etc., intended 
for review should be sent to the responsible editor, Prof. J. 
McKeen Cattell, Garrison-on-Hudson, N Y. 
SIGNALLING THROUGH SPACE WITHOUT 
WIRES.* 
Scrence has conferred one great benefit 
on mankind. It has supplied us with a 
new sense. We can now see the invisible, 
hear the inaudible and feel the intangible. 
We know that the universe is filled with a 
homogeneous continuous elastic medium 
which transmits heat, light, electricity and 
other forms of energy from one point of 
space to another without loss. The dis- 
covery of the real existence of this ‘ ether’ 
is one of the great scientific events of the 
Victorian era. Its character and mechan- 
ism are not yet known by us. All attempts 
to ‘invent’ a perfect ether have proved be- 
yond the mental powers of the highest in- 
tellects. We can only say with Lord 
Salisbury that the ether is the nominative 
case to the verb ‘to undulate.’ We must 
be content with a knowledge of the fact 
that it was created in the beginning for the 
transmission of energy in all its forms, that 
it transmits these energies in definite waves 
and with a known velocity, that it is per- 
fect of its kind, but that it still remains as 
‘inscrutable as gravity or life itself. 
Any disturbance of the ether must origi- 
nate with some disturbance of matter. 
An explosion, cyclone or vibratory motion 
may occur in the photosphere of the sun. 
A disturbance or wave is impressed on the 
* An address given before the Royal Institution by 
W. H. Preece, Esq., C.B., F.R.S., M.Inst.C.E. 
