SCIENCE 



Editobial Committee : S. Newcomb, Mathematics ; R. S. Wood ward, Mechanics ; E. C. Pickeeing, 



Astronomy; T. C. Mendenhall, Physics; E. H. Thueston, Engineering; Iea Ebmsen, Chemistry; 



J. Le Conte, Geology; W. M. Davis, Physiography; O. C. Maesh, Paleontology; W. K. 



Beooks, C. Haet Meeeiam, Zoology; S. H. Scuddee, Entomology; N. L. Bkitton, 



Botany; Hbney F. Osboen, General Biology; H. P. Bowditch, Physiology; 



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



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



Fbiday, January 1, 1897. 



CONTENTS: 



The Geology of Oovernmeni Explorations: S. F. 

 Emmons 1 



FMses in Jamaican Natural History: Eobt. B. 

 Hill 15 



The International Meteorological and Hydrological 

 Meetings: A. Laweence EoTCH 17 



A Proposed Bureau of Plant Registration 19 



Current Notes on Physiography : — 

 Physical Features of Missouri; The Glaciers of Nor- 

 way ; Landslips in Switzerland; Heilprin's Earth 

 andits Story: W. M. DAVIS 20 



Current Notes on Anthropology : — 

 American Games as Evidence of Asiatic Intercourse; 

 Racial Studies in Switzerland : D. G. Beinton.. 23 



Scientific Notes and News 22 



University and Educational News 25 



Discussion and Correspondence : — 



Van Beneden and the Origin of the Centrosome — A 

 Correction : E. B. Wilson. The Velocity of a 

 Flight of Ducks obtained by Triangulation : H. 

 Helm Clayton. A Test of Diversity of Opinion : 

 Joseph Jasteow 25 



Scientific Literature : — 



Lydekker's Geographical Sistory of Mammals : C. 

 Haet Meeeiam. Le Blanc's Elements of Electro- 

 chemistry: Feedinand G. Wiechmann 26 



Scientific Journals : — 



The American Journal of Science 33 



Societies and Academies : — 

 Boston Society of Natural History: Samuel 

 Henshaw. Anthropological Society of Washing- 

 ion : J. H. McCoEMlCK. The Torrey Botanical 

 Club : H. H. EUSBY. Tlie Academy of Science 

 of St. Louis: Wm. Teelease 34 



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

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

 McKeen Cattell, Garriaon-on-Hudson, N. Y. 



THE GEOLOGY OF GOVERNMENT EXPLORA- 

 TIONS.* 



I HAVE chosen for the subject of my ad- 

 dress this evening the development of our 

 knowledge of the geology of the great West 

 through the agency of explorations and 

 surveys conducted under government aus- 

 pices. 



To the older of our members, especially 

 to those who took part in those early ex- 

 plorations, the matter may appear some- 

 what trite, but to the younger ones, whose 

 geological memory does not go back beyond 

 the present Survey, I have thought that it 

 might be interesting to listen to a brief ac- 

 count of the origin and methods of work 

 of these earlier organizations by one who 

 was first connected with them very nearly 

 thirty years ago. 



The period to be considered commences 

 about with the opening of the century, and 

 is most naturally subdivided by the Civil 

 War. But in this field, as in others, the 

 accumulation of knowledge progresses with 

 ever increasing rapidity, so that, while for 

 the first and much longer sub-period it is 

 possible to trace approximately the actual 

 gains that were made in geological knowl- 

 edge, in the second period it is only practi- 

 cable to attempt to characterize and con- 

 trast the methods by which geological in- 



* Address of the Eetiring President of the Geological 

 Society of Washington, delivered Wednesday, Decem- 

 ber 16, 1896. 



