SCIENCE 



Editoeial Committee : S. Newcomb, Mathematics ; E. S. Woodwabd, Mechanics ; E. C. Pickering, 



Astronomy; T. C. Mendenhall, Physics ; E. H. Thueston, Engineering; lEA Eemsen, Chemistry; 



J. Le CoJfTE, Geology; "W. M. Davis, Physiography; O. C. Maesh, Paleontology; W. K. Beooks, 



C. Haet Meeeiam, Zoology; S. H. Scuddee, Entomology; C. E. Bkssey, N. L. Beitton, 



Botany; Hbney F. Osboen, General Biology; C. S. MiNOT, Embryology, Histology; 



H. P. BowDiTCH, Physiology; J. S. Billings, Hygiene ; J. McKeen Cattell, 



Psychology; Daniel G. Beinton, J. W. Powell, Anthropology. 



Friday, July 22, 1898. 



CONTENTS: 



PrdbUms of Biology : Peofessok E. G. Conklin.. 85 



Language Study: Peofessoe J. Maek Bald- 

 win 94 



The Work at the Biological Laboratory of the U. S. 

 Fish Commission at Woods Soil: Peofessoe 

 Heemon C. Bumpus 96 



Zoological Notes : — 



Publications of the American Museum of Natural 

 History: F. A. LucAS 96 



Current Notes on Meteorology : — 

 The Climate of the Philippines; SonnblicTc Verein; 

 Notes: E. DeC. Waed 97 



Owrrent Notes on Anthropology : — ■ 



Later Criminology; The Dehmon of 'Atavism;' 

 Origin of the Cliff Dwellings : PEOFESSOE D. G. 

 Beinton 99 



Scientific Notes and News : — 



Extension of the Weather Service; The Spectrum 

 ofSIetargon; The British Government and Ant- 

 arctic Exploration ; Professor Koch on the Plague; 

 General 99 



University and Educational News 107 



Discussion and Correspondence : — 



Substitutional Nervous Connection:, President 

 C. L. Hereick. The Exhibition of Cetaceans by 

 Papier Mache Casts : De. F. W. Tkue 108 



Scientific Literature: — ■ 



Gray's Treatise on Magnetism and Electricity: 

 Peofessoe John Teowbeidge. Bibliography 

 of the Metallic Carbides: H. C. B. Beeves on 

 Brown 31en and Women: Peofessoe D. G. 

 Beinton. Edridge-Green on Memory and its 

 Cultivation : Peofessoe J. McKebn Cattell.. 109 



Societies and Academies : — 



Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia: 

 De. Edw. J. Nolan. The Torrey Botanical 

 Club: Edwaed S. Buegess Ill 



Neio Books 113 



MSS. intended for publication and books, etc., intended 

 for review sbould be sent to the responsible editor, Profes- 

 sor J. McKeen Cattell, Garrison-on-Hudson, N. Y. 



PROBLEMS OF BIOLOGY. 



A BOOK entitled ' Problems of Biology ' has 

 recently been issued from the press of Swan, 

 Sonnenschein & Co., which is in many re- 

 pects remarkable. Its author, Mr. George 

 Sandeman, is evidently a metaphysician 

 whose knowledge of biology is limited 

 largely to theoretical writings. His style is 

 peculiarly obscure and incoherent; e. g., the 

 following is the preface : " This volume 

 contains the criticism of the contemporary 

 biological systems. That enquiry is neces- 

 sarj' as an introduction to the study of the 

 problems of organic life, but it is not in it- 

 self a doctrine of biology. The argument 

 ought to proceed to the discussion of the 

 philosophy of nature." There is a flavor 

 of dogmatism, pedantry and extravagance 

 about the book, and often one does not know 

 whether the author is in earnest or is per- 

 petrating a huge satirical joke. But, in 

 spite of all these imperfections and uncer- 

 tainties, there are many keen and just criti- 

 cisms of certain popular biological doctrines 

 and methods. 



The contents are divided into five chap- 

 ters, the first of which is a far-going criti- 

 cism of the Methods of Biology. There is, 

 we are told, a remarkable anarchy within 

 the science as well as a certain indefinite- 

 ness in its scope. " The inner confusion of 

 biology depends upon the form of the 

 science. The necessary form is a theory of 

 individuality. The professed form is the 



