SCIENCE 
EDITORIAL CoMMITTEE: S. NEwcoms, Mathematics; R. S. WooDWARD, 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. MARsH, Paleontology; W. K. Brooks, 
C. Hart MERRIAM, Zoology; 8S. H. ScupDER, Entomology; C. E. Bessry, N. L. BRirron, 
Botany; Henry F. Ossporn, General Biology; C. S. Minor, Embryology, Histology; 
H. P. BowpitcuH, Physiology; J. 8. BinLinas, Hygiene; J. MCKEEN CATTELL, 
Psychology; DANIEL G. BRINTON, J. W. POWELL, Anthropology. 
Fripay, DEcEMBER 31, 1897. 
CONTENTS: 
TM VERILY Ccoccocencosacnoteseoagaocoapadnaesacesccn09 
Gardiner Greene Hubbard. 
On the Origin and Age of the Relic-bearing Sand at 
Trenton, N. J.: ROLLIN D. SALISBURY..........977 
Sanarelli’s Work upon Yellow Fever: EDWIN O. 
JOE AR ccoscoaceannannopospsnossnsonganosopubboonoaoeonndosR 981 
Ludwig Riitimeyer : 
Current Notes on Physiography :— 
' The Glacial Lake Agassiz; Volcanoes of North 
America ; Lakes in High Mountains ; The 14,000 
Maldive Islands: W. M. DAVIS.................++- 985 
Current Notes on Anthropology :— 
Elements of Melanesian Art ; The Extension of the 
Arawack Stock; The Alleged Summerian Lan- 
guage: D. G. BRINTON....,.....0.c-secccsesecsecsoos 987 
Scientific Notes and News :— 
The Winter Meetings of the Scientific Societies ; 
The Eclipse Expeditions from Great Britain ; 
GON ENO Ure mene aiauar suits an scanesescepucteeceuseneercetomeceres 988 
University and Educational News. ........0...s0ssseeeveee 993 
Discussion and Correspondence :-— 
The Behring Sea Conferences: P. L. SLATER. 
The Enchanted Mesa: F. W. Hopner. La- 
marck and the Perfecting Tendency: JOHN GAR- 
DINER. Memorial Meeting commemorative of 
ANNE: GHG! TE ioeccceoao0aco9000390NNsE x00 /doOSROEcCOCHC 994 
Scientific Literature :— 
Memorials of William Cranch Bond: TRUMAN 
HENRY SAFFORD. Hann’s Handbuch der Klima- 
tologie: FRANK WALDO. The Theory of Solu- 
tions: H. C. J. Untersuchungen tiber das Er- 
frieren der Pflanzen: D. T. MACDOUGALL...... 997 
Societies and Academies :— 
Boston Society of Natural History: SAMUEL 
HENSHAW. The Torrey Botanical Club: Ep- 
WARD S. BURGESS. Academy of Sciences of St. 
PZQUAS Bacco ceesias eras ce dncnoseneccseere eer ten eee Tae 1003 
NCW BOOKS. cies cvascsecscdseveestescuescneronatecneeeresn tees 1004 
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. 
* press is enormous. 
TIME WASTED. 
To what extent are men of science re- 
sponsible for the credulity which everywhere 
prevails in reference to all matters relating 
to scientific discovery or accomplishment ? 
This question is not to be lightly set aside, 
for the existing condition may well create 
alarm among all who seriously consider the 
welfare of science, of scientific men and of 
the people generally. Several causes have 
conspired to bring about this condition, two 
or three of which may be mentioned. To 
begin with, during the century which is 
now approaching its end scientific discoy- 
eries and their applications have been so 
numerous and so far reaching as to prac- 
tically revolutionize conditions of material 
existence, and they have often been so won- 
derful in character that it ought not to ex- 
cite surprise to find intelligent people ready 
to accept without question announcements 
of inventions and discoveries of the most 
improbable and absurd character. Along 
this line the evil influence of a sensational 
It was bad enough ten 
years ago, but it has been greatly magnified 
by the recent and, on the whole, unfortunate 
cheapening of processes of illustration to 
the seductions of which nearly every news- 
