SCIENCE 



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



Astronomy; T. C. Mendenhall, Physics; K. H. Thueston, Engineering; Iea Eemsejt, Chemistry; 



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



Bkooks, 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. McKekn Cattell, Psychology ; 



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



Friday, June 11, 1897. 



CONTENTS: 



A Forest Policy for the Forested Lands of the United 

 States 893 



The American Physiological Society: Feedeeic S. 

 Lee 900 



The Introduction of New Terms in Geology : John 

 C. Beannee 912 



Current Notes on Anthropology : — • 

 Systematic Anthropology; Ahoriginal Cultivation 

 of Maize; The Grooved Stone Axe: D. G. Bein- 

 ton 913 



Notes on Inorganic Chemistry: J. L. H 914 



Scientific Notes and News : — 



Tlic Toronto 3feeting of the British Association ; 

 Tlie British Report on the Behring Sea Seal Fish- 

 eries ; General 915 



Vhiversily and Educational News 918 



Discussion and Correspondence: — 



The Potter's Wheel in Ancient America : H. C. 

 Meecee. TIte Significance of Internal Secre- 

 tion: Wesley Mills. Sighhole Courtship: 

 HiEAM M. Stanley. A Question of Classifica- 

 tion: RoBT. T. Hill 919 



Scientific Literature : — 



Johnson on Tlie 3faterials of Construction : 

 Mansfield Meeeiman. Davenport's Experi- 

 mental Morphology : J. P. McMdkeich 921 



Scientific Journals : — 



The Journal of Geology 925 



Societies and Academies : — 



Torrey Botanical Club: iSf. L. Beitton. Ala- 

 tama Industrial and Scientific: Society : Eugene 

 A. Smith. T/ie Anthropological Society of 

 Washington: J. H. McCoemick 925 



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

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

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



FOREST POLICY FOR TEE FORESTED LANDS 

 OF THE UNITED STATES* 



THE RESERVED FOREST LANDS OF THE PUBLIC 

 DOMAIN.f 



The peculiar topogi-apliical and climatic 

 conditions of western ]Srorth America would 

 appear to make the preservation of its 

 forests essential to the profitable and per- 

 manent occupation of the country. The 

 precipitation of moisture west of the one 

 hundredth meridian is unequally distrib- 

 uted throughout the year ; the summers 

 are hot and dry, and the whole territory, 

 with the exception of the coast region of the 

 northwest, is watered so imperfectly that 

 forests are restricted to the slopes of high 

 mountain ranges or to elevated plains and 

 mesas, the valleys of the interior and of all 

 the south being practically treeless. In all 

 the interior and southern regions precipita- 

 tion is insufficient for certain and profitable 

 cultivation, and permanent agricultural 

 prosperity can only be assured through irri- 

 gation. Much of the region is traversed 



* Extracts from the report o£ the committee ap- 

 pointed hy the National Academy of Sciences, trans- 

 mitted by the President to Congress on May 25th. 

 The report is signed by the members of the committee 

 — Charles S. Sargent, Henry L. Abbot, A. Agassiz, 

 Wm. H. Brewer, Arnold Hague, GifEord Pinchot, 

 Wolcott Gibbs. It is dated from Arnold Arboretum, 

 Harvard University, JIaj' 1, 1897. 



t In the first part of the report the importance of 

 the conservation of forests is considered in the light of 

 European studies and the forest administration of 

 foreign countries is reviewed. 



