December 25, 11)03.] 



SCIENCE. 



809 



value of these concessions aiiiountiiiir to 

 about $1,400, and the discussions that took 

 place initiatiuy; what is still more valuable 

 — the hearty interest and cooperation of 

 the citizens in the puqioses of the labo- 

 ratory. 



A laboratory buildinir has been planned, 

 contracted for and completed, the contract 

 price being $3,843. The laboratory has 

 been equipped with books, apparatus, 

 furniture and supplies, at a cost of 

 $1,813.50. 



Dr. W. A. Cannon, recently connected 

 with the New York Botanical Garden 

 (Bronx Pai-k), New York, was appointed 

 resident investigator, and took charge of 

 the laboratory September 1. He is now 

 engaged in investigating the root systems 

 of desert plants with reference to their 

 special devices for the absorption and stor- 

 age of water. 



The privileges of the laboratory have 

 been granted to Professor Charles B. 

 Davenport. University of Chicago, for an 

 inquiry into the morphological and physio- 

 logical ad.iustment of desert animals to 

 their habitat. Other applications are 

 pending. 



The committee has presented an illus- 

 trated report on the laboratoiy location, 

 which is now in press as a publication of 

 the institution. 



E. AV. Olive, Crawfordsville, Ind. Re- 

 searches on the cytological relations of 

 the Amoebce, Acrasiece and Myxomycetcs. 

 $1,000. 



Abstract of Hcport.—^h: Olive's work 

 has been carried on in Professor Stras- 

 liurger's laboratory in the Botanical Insti- 

 tute at Bonn, Germany. In order to do 

 this work he resigned his position as in- 

 structor at Harvard University. His 

 studies include cultures of the Acrasia? and 

 of the Labyrinthulew, which he had 

 l)rought from America. 



Mr. Olive's report sliows definite prog- 

 ress in his research, and the prospect of 

 the completion within two months of two 

 papers incorporating a portion of his re- 

 sults. 



Janet Perkins, working at the Royal 

 Botanical Gardens, Berlin, Germany. 

 For preliminary studies on the Philip- 

 pine flora. $1,900. 



Abstract of lieport.— Dr. Janet Perkins 

 reports that she was engaged in the pro- 

 jjosed investigation from February 20 to 

 October 5. 1903. A catalogue of the 

 Philippine flora was begun, based on vari- 

 ous monographs and papers which have 

 appeared in scientific periodicals. This 

 work consumed much time, as literature 

 regarding the Philippines is greatly scat- 

 tered, and the synonymy needs a thorough 

 clearing up. 



Among other matters that were begun 

 were: (a) A catalogue of the various 

 native names, (b) a list of botanical litera- 

 ture pertaining to the Philippines, (c) the 

 attempt to construct a type herbai-ium of 

 Philippine jilauts, (d) the detennination of 

 certain Philippine plants received from the 

 Department of Agriculture, and (c) the 

 preparation of a sample copy of the manu- 

 script and illustrations for the position of 

 the family ^larantacea?. 



CHEMISTRY. 



W. D. Bancroft, Cornell University, 

 Ithaca, N. Y. For a sy.'itcmatic chemical 

 study of alloys, beginning irith the 

 bronzes and brasses. $500. 

 Abstract of h'cport.—The experimental 

 work under this grant has been done by Jlr. 

 E. S. Shepherd, under the direction of Pro- 

 fessor Bancroft. They have analyzed the 

 dirterent solid bases and determined the 

 copper-tin-lead diagram except for the 

 allays containing less than twenty per cent, 

 of copper. They have determined the 

 densities and electromotive forces of the 



