SCIENCE 



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



Astronomy; T. C. Mkndenhall, Physics; R. 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. Scuddee, Entomology ; N. L. Beitton, 



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



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



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



Feidat, June 4, 1897. 



CONTENTS: 



On Tioo Forms of Automatic Microtomes : ChAKLES 

 Sedgwick Minot 857 



XII. Deidsclier Oeograplientag. Jena, 1897 : F. P. 

 Gulliver 86G 



Status of Forest Seservation Policy : B. E. FEENOW..868 



Current Notes on Plujsiograpliy : — 



Topographical Map of the Geological Survey : Tlie 

 Baraboo District, Wisconsin; Balch on Ice Caves ; 

 W. M. Davis 869 



Current Notes on Anthropology : — 



Ethnography of Madagascar; Studies in Mayan ' 

 Hieroglyphs ; Psychics in the Study of Man : D. 

 G. Beinton 871 



Notes on Inorganic CJtemistry : J. L. H 872 



Sdentifle Notes and News 873 



University and Educational News 876 



Disctission and Correspondence : — 



TIte Discrimination of Species and Suhspedes : J. 

 A. Allen, Tiieodoee Roosevelt. Glacial Man 

 in Ohio : CLARENCE B. Mooke. The Smithson- 

 ian Inslitution and a National University: Ben- 

 jamin Ide Whkelee 877 



Seientific Literature : — 



Two Outlines of Psychology : Joseph Jasteow. 

 37ie Geologic Atlas of the United States 883 



Scientific Journals : — 



Tlie American Journal of Science 888 



Societies and Academies : — 



Geological Society of Washington : W. F. MoE- 

 SELL. Nmo York Academy of Sciences — Section 

 of Geology: Richard E. Dodge. The Torrey 

 Botanical Cluh : E. S. BuEGESS. Boston Society 

 of Natural History : Samdel Henshaw. The 

 Academy of Science of St. Louis: William 

 Teelease 889 



New Books 892 



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

 for review sbould be sent to tbe responsible editor. Prof. J. 

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



ON TWO FORMS OF AUTOMATIC MICRO- 

 TOMES. 

 It is proposed to describe two microtomes, 

 one of which has already been widely used ; 

 the other, on the contrary, has been put on 

 the market very recently. The older in- 

 strument may be known as the ' automatic 

 wheel microtome;' the new one has been 

 named the ' precision microtome,' and is 

 also planned to work automatically. 



A microtome is an instrument of pre- 

 cision, which implies that it must be treated 

 with extreme delicacy and kept most 

 scrupulously clean. It will be found 

 usually, when complaint is made against a 

 microtome, that the complaint is misdi- 

 rected and ought to be, not against the 

 machine, but against the owner. A modern 

 microtome necessarily has several adjust- 

 ments, every one of which must be exact 

 and secure. If any one of them is imper- 

 fect and insecure; if any of the movable 

 parts are allowed to become corroded, or 

 gummed up with oil, or loose, or clogged 

 with dust or dirt of any kind, the micro- 

 tome will not and can not work as an in- 

 strument of precision. 



The knife used for cutting ought to be 

 regarded as an integral part of the micro- 

 tome, and as its most delicate and easily in- 

 jured part. In accordance with this view, 

 there has been added a description of a new 

 form of knife, which offers certain substan- 

 tial advantages. 



