SCIENCE 



A WEEKLY JOURNAL DEVOTED TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE, PUBLISHING THE 

 OFFICIAL NOTICES AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION 

 FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE. v 



Editoeial Committbb : S. Newcomb, Mathematics ; E. S. Woodwaed, Mechanics ; E. C. Pickeeing 

 Astronomy ; T. C Mendenhali, Physics ; K. H. Thueston, Engineering ; Iea Eemsen, Chemistry ; 

 Chaeles D. Waloott, Geology ; "W. M. Davis, Physiography ; Hbnet F. Osboen, Paleon- 

 tology ; W. K. Beooks, C. Haet Meeeiam, Zoology ; S. H. Scuddee, Entomology ; C. E. 

 N. L. Beitton, Botany ; C. S. Minot, Embryology, Histology ; H. P. 

 BowDiTCH, Physiology ; William H. Welch, Pathology ; 

 J. McKeen Cattell, Psychology. 



Feidat, Mat 8, 1903. 



00VTENT8: 



The Endowment of Astronomical Research: 

 Peofessoe Edwaed C. Pickeeing 721 



Tlie Nature of Nerve Irritability and of Chem- 

 ical and Electrical Stimulation, II.: Pko- 

 FESSOE A. P. Mathews 729 



Stremmatograph Tests: De. P. H. Dudley.. 733 



Scientific Books: — 



Treadwell's Analytical Chemistry : H. L. W. 

 Pearl's Movements and Reactions of Fresh- 

 water Planarians: De. Robert Yeekes. 

 Pratt's Course in Invertebrate Zoology: 

 Peofessoe H. S. Jennings 736 



Societies and Academies: — 



Geological Society of Washington: W. C. 

 Mendenhall. The Society for Experi- 

 mental Biology and Medicine: De. William 

 J. Gibs. New York Academy of Sciences: 

 Section of Biology: M. A. Bigelow; Section 

 of Astronomy, Physics and Chemistry : Dr. 

 S. A. Mitchell. Columbia University 

 Geological Journal Club: H. W. Shimer. 

 Northeastern Section of the American 

 Chemical Society: AETHtna M. Comet. 

 Psychological Club of Cornell University.. 739 



Discussion and Correspondence: — 



Walbaum and Binomialism: De. Theo. 

 Gill. The New Mexico Normal University : 

 Professor T. D. A. Cockerell 744 



Shorter Articles: — 



The Use of Pneumatic Tools in the Prepar- 

 ation of Fossils: E. S. Riggs. Transferring 

 Thermometric Readings: S. W. Dudley. 

 Discovery of Dental Grooves and Teeth in 

 the Type of Baptanodon (Sauranodon) 

 Marsh: Charles W. Gilmore. The Bitter- 

 rot Fungus: Dr. Hermann von Schrenk, 

 Perley Spaulding 747 



Quotations : — 



The Index Medicus; The Presidency at the 

 University of Virginia 751 



Current Notes on Meteorology : — 



General Circulation of the Atmosphere: 

 Professor R. DeC. , Ward 752 



The Light of Nova Gemmorum: Professor 



Edward C. Pickering 753 



Brain-weight, Cranial Capacity and the Form 

 of the Head, and their Relations to the 

 Mental Powers of Man: De. E. A. Spitzka. 753 

 The St. Louis Congress of Arts and Sciences. 754 



Scientific Notes and News 756 



University and Educational News 759 



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

 tor review should be sent to the responsible editor, Pro- 

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



THE ENDOWMENT OF ASTRONOMICAL 

 RESEARCH. 



The unexampled prosperity of the 

 United States, during the past few years, 

 has given it the industrial supremacy of 

 the world in many departments. A sim- 

 ilar advance is to be expected in its scien- 

 tific progress, especially in astronomy, if 

 equal skill is shown in organization and 

 development. The vast fortunes now be- 

 ing accumulated must, during the next 

 few years, lead to gifts and endowments 

 on a scale unparalleled in the past. It is 

 not an easy matter to make large gifts 

 wisely, and probably many of the most 

 brilliant men in the country, having 

 amassed large fortunes, are now trying to 

 decide how they can bestow them to the 

 best advantage. To establish a university 

 of the highest grade a large sum of money 

 is required. For instance, Harvard for 

 many years has had an annual income ex- 

 ceeding a million dollars. To duplicate 



