248 



SCIENCE 



[Vol. XXII. No. 561 



country districts. When persons reach mature age with- 

 out knowing anything about Natural History objects, 

 they find it is then too much trouble to investigate these 

 subjects. But by getting at them when young, by simple 

 and forcible illustrations, they are bound to carry it for- 

 ward with them to a certain extent, and if there should 

 come a time when they are in a position to give time to 

 study, the first they will take up and pursue with patience 

 will probably be some subject of this nature, merely for 

 the pleasure of the study. On the other hand, if they 

 have no inclination to work, they will not forget the 

 pleasant hours they spent when they sat listening to some 

 exjDlanation of an object so familiar, which will create a 

 tendency to p)ut their hands to the bottom of their pock- 

 ets and act feelingly. If children could be taught to see 

 God in Nature and the wonders which He controls, with- 

 out cramming the brain with so much theory, by giving 

 them a run into the country along with some one to ex- 

 plain, it would conduce a great deal more to their general 

 health and happiness. Country Musueums want illustra- 

 ting and simplifying as much as possible. Call a spade a 

 spade, i. p., give the local name as well as the scientific 

 one. This education would be another great saving to the 

 nation if it were universal. Half the things that are dug 

 up now are only saved by the merest chance, because the 

 men digging do not care what they are striking their pick 

 through. This would be altered altogether if they had 

 been taught in early youth to take notice of the value and 

 interest there is attaching, often, to things dug up from 

 the earth. 



Thirty-five years ago Professor Forbes said: "I cannot 

 help hoj^ing that the time will come when everj^ British 

 town even of moderate size will be able to boast of posses- 

 sing jJublic institutions for the education and instruction 

 of its adults as well as its youthful and childish popula- 

 tion ; when it shall have a well-organised Museum where- 

 in collections of natural bodies shall be displajed, not 

 with regard to show or curiosity, but according to their 

 illustration of the analogies and affinities of organised and 

 unorganised objects, so that the visitor may at a glance 

 learn something of the laws of nature ; wherein the pro- 

 ducts of the surrounding district, animate and inanimate, 

 shall be scientifically marshalled, and their industrial ap- 

 plications carefully and suggestively illustrated ; wherein 

 the memorials of the neighbouring province, and the 

 races that have peopled it, shall be reverently assembled, 

 and learnedly yet popiularly explained ; when each town 

 shall have a library, the property of the public, and freely 

 opened to the well-conducted reader of every class ; when 

 its public walks and parks (too many as yet existing only 

 in prospect) shall be made instructors in botany and agri- 

 culture ; when it shall have a gallery of its own, piossibly 

 not boasting of the most famous jjictures or statues, but 

 nevertheless showing good examples of sound art : ex- 

 amples of the history and purpose of design, and, above 

 all, the best specimens to be procured of works of genius 

 by its own natives who have deservedly risen to fame. 

 When that good time comes true-hearted citizens will 

 decorate their streets and squares with statues and 

 memorials of the wise and worthy men and women who 

 have adorned their province — not merely of kings, states- 

 men or warriors, but of philosophers, jDoets, men of 

 science, philanthropists and great workmen." 



How far are we from yet realizing this ideal, and how 

 slowly we seem to progress in so desirable a direction ! 

 Still there are many signs that the conscience of the na- 

 tion is at last awakened, and if vfe see to it that all the 

 discussions at present filling the air do not end simply in 

 talk, but that practical good shall be the outcome, then 

 our progress during the coming twenty-five years will not 

 be so discouraging. In no better way can this ideal be 



realized than by an acute recognition of the place Mu- 

 seums should occupy in our national sj'stem of education. 



LETTEES TO THE EDITOR. 



*j.Correspondents are requested to be as brief as possible. The 

 writer's name is in all cases required as a proof of good faith. 



On request in advance, one hundred copies of the number con- 

 taining his communication will be furnished free to any corres- 

 pondent. 



The editor will be glad to publish any queries consonant with 

 the character of the iournal. 



Feigned Death in Snakes. 



After reading the letter on "Feigned Death in Snakes'' 

 in Science of Oct. 13, 6ne is left with the impression that 

 Heterodon, or the "blowing viper," or, as he is known in 

 New Jersey, the "adder," actually bites itself in the side 

 and then pretends to die. 



As the adders are very common in the southern part of 

 this state, I have had countless opportunities for watching 

 this habit of feigning death and have never seen anything 

 like an attempt, or even a pretended attempt, to bite 

 themselves. The teeth of Heterodon are hardly large 

 enough to scratch a tender hand, much less bite through 

 or between the heavy folds of the snake's horny skin. 

 How this supposition^came about is easily seen, when the 

 snake, after finding it cannot escape, is about to turn over 

 on its back, throws its mouth wide open, tucks its head 

 under its body and suddenly twists over, the whole 

 affair, unless carefully watched, looks decidedly suicidal. 

 But the snake has not bitten itself and had no intention 

 of so doing. 



The account referred to is quite right in believing that 

 this is not a "faint from fear." The convolutions of the 

 serpentine hemispheres are undoubtedly well twisted, but 

 we can hardly credit the reptile with so delicately a bal- 

 anced organism as to admit of its fainting. 



The measure, I believe, is purely a j)rotective one, and 

 often of the greatest service. Heterodon is the slowest 

 and most clumsy of all our snakes, and as it cannot de- 

 pend on flight for safety, it needs other means for protec- 

 tion, of which this trick in question is among the best, as 

 is also its beautifully adajitive coloration. The spewing 

 out of the contents of the stomach is similar to that habit 

 in turkey buzzards and many other creatures, and an ad- 

 ditional aid in escaping their enemies. 



The whole affair, then, is not a 'pretended suicide" but 

 a pretended death, with a stink solely for the snake's pro- 

 tection. D.-vLLAS L. Shaep. 



Bridgeton, N. J., Oct. =4. 



The Destruction of Wild Plants. 



The destruction of wild plants by students of botany 

 and collectors has become apiDalling. Botany is becom- 

 ing a universal study in the schools, and one hundred 

 young jseople each gathering one plant to use and ten to 

 twenty to throw away, soon exterminate the rarer plants. 



The solution of the j^roblem is at hand. Let teachers 

 use only cultivated plants in their work. Of these an 

 abundance can always be had. Turn the attention of 

 students from the mere collection and analysis of plants 

 to the more important subjects of plant physiology and 

 economic botany. The time has come for a change. 



G. G. Gbofp. 



Minnesota Mounds. 



In reply to Mr. F. B. Sumner's criticism on my notes 

 on Minnesota Mounds I would state that he should j)oint 

 out and correct some of my "gross misrepresentations" 

 instead of indulging in absurd statements not bearing on 

 the subject. Would also suggest that he read the article 



