SCIENCE. 



Editorial Committee : S. NEWCOSrs, Mathematics ; R. S. Woodward, Mechanics ; E. C. Pickering, As- 

 tronomy ; T. C. Mendenhall, Physics ; R. H. Thurston, Engineering ; Ira Remsen, Chemistry ; 

 Joseph Le Conte, Geology; W. M. Davis, Physiograpliy ; O. C. Marsh, Paleontology; W. K. 

 Brooks, Invertebrate Zoology ; C. Hart Merriam, Vertebrate Zoiilogy ; N. L. Brittox, 

 Botany ; Henry F. Osborn, General Biologj' ; H. P. Bowditch, Physiology ; 

 J. S. Billings, Hygiene ; J. McKeen Cattell, Psychology ; 

 Daniel G. Brixton, J. W. Powell, Anthropology. 



Friday, Jakuaky 25, 1895. 



CONTENTS: 



The Past and Present of the Atnerican Mathrmntuul 



Society : Emoey McClintock 85 



Tlic Origin of our Vernal Flora: John Harsh- 



BERGER 93 



0» Certain Hahits and Instincts of Social Insects ; 



Marcus Hartog 98 



Tlie Proper Scientific Name for Bretcer's Mole: 



Frederick W. True 101 



The A meriran Folk-Lore Society : D. G. BriNTON 101 

 Scientific Literature :— 103 



Poincare's Les oscillations elcctriques (I.): M. 



I. PUPIN. Alexander's Engine Construction : 



R. H. T. 

 Notes :— 109 



Personal ; General ; Congresses ; New and Forth- 

 coming Publications. 

 Societies and Academies : — 110 



American Mathematical Society ; loiea Academy 



of Sciences. 



Scientific Journals 113 



New Books 113 



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

 for review should be sent to the responsible editor, Prof. J. 

 McKeen Cattell, (;iarrifion on Hudson, N. Y. 



Subscriptions { five dollars annually) and advertisements 

 should be sent to the Publisher of Science, 41 East -JSth St., 

 New York. 



THE PAST AND FUTURE OF THE AMERICAN 

 MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY.* 



ITavixg been requested by the Council 

 to address the Society on retiring fi-om the 

 presidency, it has appeared to me that I 

 must choose betw'cen the discussion of the 



*Addrcss delivered by the retiring President, be- 

 fore the American Mathematical Society at the annual 

 meeting held December 28, 1894. 



position and prospects of some branch of 

 mathematics with Avhich I may be familiar 

 and a more general and discursive review 

 of the present position and future prospects 

 of our Societj-. I have, after some hesita- 

 tion, chosen the latter subject. It seems 

 desirable, on the w'hole, that there should 

 be made at tliis time some permanent 

 record, however slight, of the steps by 

 which so large and flourishing a society has 

 come togetlier, and of the views ('oncerning 

 its present scope and tlie hopes concerning 

 its future possiliilities which are entertained 

 by tliose who have hitherto been most im- 

 mediatelj' concerned in the conduct of its 

 affairs. 



The New York ^Mathematical Society, 

 originating in 1SS8. was at first not much 

 more than a small mathematical club meet- 

 ing periodically at Columbia College. The 

 first meeting was called by a circular signed 

 by three young men. The number of those 

 who could be expected to attend these meet- 

 ings was not great, but all who were able 

 and who were sufficiently interested to do 

 so were invited to join the Society. It was 

 fortunate in securing for its first president 

 Profes.sor Van Aniringe, distinguished alike 

 by scientific attainments, official eminence, 

 and administrative abilitj'. The professor 

 of astronomy at Columbia was also active 

 in it from the first. The meetings of the 

 young Society were, as I am informed (for 

 at that time I did not reside in New York). 



