SCIENCE 



Editoeial Committee : S. Newcomb, Mathematics ; E. S. Woodwaed, Mechanics ; E. C. Pickbeing, 



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



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



Beooks, C. Haet Meeeiam, Zoology ; S. H. Scitddbe, Entomology ; N. L. Beitton, 



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



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



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



Friday, May 21, 1897. 



CONTENTS: 



The Problems of Astronomy : Simon Newcomb 777 



The BecentVisit of Sir Archibald Geikie : J. F. KEMP. 785 



Sir Archibald Geikie on a Comparison between the 

 Tertiary Volcanic Succession in Northwestern Eu- 

 rope and in Western America : "W. F. Moesell..788 



Some Phases in Weed Evolution: F. A. WAUGH...789 



The Effect of the Density of the Surrounding Gas on 

 the Discharge of Electrified Metals by X-Bays : 

 C. D. Child 791 



Current Notes on Physiography : — 



Cornish on Sand Dunes; Philippson on Geomor- 

 phology; Thorodssen on Northeast Iceland; Vol- 

 canic Phenomena of 1894 ; Limestone Range of the 

 Klonthal, Switzerland: "W. M. Davis 795 



Current Notes on Anthropology : — 



The Notes on American Ceramics; The Racial 

 Geography of Europe; Another Interpreter of 

 the Mayan Hieroglyphs : D. G. Beinton 797 



Notes on Inorganic Chemistry: J. L. H 798 



Scientific Notes and News : — 



A Permanent Census Bureau ; The Elizabeth Thomp- 

 son Science Fund; General 799 



University and Educational News 803 



Discussion and Cmrespondence : — 



Former Extension of Ice in Greenland: Ealph S. 

 Taee. Poudre : LuDOVic EsTES. Earliest Pub- 

 lished Note of the late Chas. E. Bendire : C. H. 

 M 804 



Scientific Literature : — 



Recent Text-books of Physics. Sergi's Antropologia 

 delta Siirpe Camitica : D. G. Beinton. M'Ken- 

 drick's Elementary Buman Physiology. Joseph 

 W. Waeeen. Martin's Story of a Piece of Coal : 

 J. J. Stevenson 805 



Societies and Academies : — 



Biological Society of Washington : F. A. Lucas. 

 Tlie Geological Society of Washington : W. F. 

 MOESELL. Science Club of the Northwestern Uni- 

 versity : Thomas F. Holgate. The Texas Acad- 

 emy of Science: Feedeeic W. Simonds 810 



New Books 812 



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

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

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



TRE PROBLEMS OF ASTRONOMY.* 

 Assembled, as we are, to dedicate a new 

 institution to the promotion of our knowl- 

 edge of the heavens, it appeared to me that 

 an appropriate and interesting subject might 

 be the present and future problems of as- 

 tronomy. Yet it seemed, on further reflec- 

 tion, that, apart from the difficulty of mak- 

 ing an adequate statement of these prob- 

 lems on such an occasion as the present, 

 such a wording of the theme would not 

 fully express the idea which I wish to con- 

 vey. The so-called problems of astronomy 

 are not separate and independent, but are 

 rather the parts of one great problem, that 

 of increasing our knowledge of the universe 

 in its widest extent. JSTor is it easy to con- 

 template the edifice of astronomical science 

 as it now stands, without thinking of the past 

 as well as of the present and future. The 

 fact is that our knowledge of the universe 

 has been in the nature of a slow and gradual 

 evolution, commencing at a very early 

 period in human history, and destined to 

 go forward without stop, as we hope, so long 

 as civilization shall endure. The astrono- 

 mer of every age has built on the founda- 

 tions laid by his predecessors, and his 

 work has always formed, and must ever 

 form, the base on which his successors shall 

 build. The astronomer of to-day may look 



*An address given by Professor Simon Newcomb 

 at the dedication of the Flower Observatory, Uni- 

 versity of Pennsylvania, May 12, 1897. 



