270 



SCIENCE. 



[Vol. XXI. No. 537 



first case, that the pattern has grown smaller, and, in the second 

 case, that it has grown larger. 



The writer of this note has never been able to make things ap- 

 pear to him in this way. When the lioropter is nearer than the 

 object, the pattern, though it appears smaller, seems also dis- 

 tinctly more distant, and when the horopter is fai-ther away, the 

 pattern seems larger and nearer. When one has learned the crick 

 of causing the adjacent parts of the pattern to overlap and coalesce 

 perfectly, the experiment may be tried as often as one likes, and 

 I have tried it often and under many different conditions, always 

 with the same result. Of course, care has always been taken to 

 make sure of the point at which the axes of the eyes converge, 

 either by converging them at first on the tip of the finger and 

 then removing it, or by moving the finger to and fro in the field 

 of vision after the eyes have become fixed, the separate images 

 becoming closer together or farther apart, according as the finger 

 approaches or recedes from the horopter. The fact is, as is well 

 known, that an estimate of an object's distance is always an in- 

 ference from various data furnished by the eye, as the visual 

 angle, the position of the horopter, and the muscular movement 

 in each separate eye necessary to effect accommodation. For dis- 

 tant objects the last mentioned fails, and aerial perspective comes 

 in to aid; but for objects that can be used in this experiment the 

 three factors mentioned are those on which the eye relies. The 

 conditions in the experiment being unique, the data obtained are 

 discordant, and it is not wonderful that different persons, under 

 the circumstances, disagree in their estimates of the distance of 

 the pattern. 



Take the case where the eyes are squinted. The pattern being 

 seen clearly, and no accommodation being necessary, each eye 

 separately infers that the object has remained stationary. The 

 horopter having advanced, the two eyes jointly agree that the 

 pattern is nearer. But, if it is nearer, the angle it subtends re- 

 maining the same, the pattern must be actually smaller. But, on 

 the contrary, no accommodation for bringing it nearer has been 

 necessary, so, if it is smaller, that must be an apparent effect 

 due to its having moved back. The conclusion to which one 

 comes must be influenced by the relative weight that he is un- 

 consciously accustomed to give to the different data on which his 

 estimate of a distance is ordinarily based. And having interpreted 

 the phenomena in one particular way at first sight, this becomes 

 habit, and what may have been determined by chance the first 

 time one tries the experiment becomes a settled thing. Often as 

 I have tried it, however, I am always conscious of a queer feeling 

 of surprise as the pattern comes out clearly before me — a feeling 

 that all is not quite right, due, of course, to the unconscious 

 clashing of these contradictory data. I may add that in my own 

 case, and I suppose in that of others, in monocular vision an ob- 

 ject appears distant or near as the eye is fixed respectively on 

 something nearer than it or something beyond it. As accommo- 

 dation is associated always with concentration of the axes of the 

 eyes, it is doubtless impossible to accommodate the focus per- 

 fectly to the pattern while the horopter is in a different plane, 

 hence, as in the case of the writer, this may tip the balance in 

 favor of his peculiar way of inferring from the clashing data. 



NOTES AND NEWS. 

 All lovers of ferns will be glad to learn that an association 

 for the study of these plants by correspondence has been formed. 

 The work will be made as easy as possible for beginners, and all 

 who are interested in ferns are invited to join. Applicatii ns 

 should be made to the secretary. Miss A. May Walter, 516 Spruce 

 Street, Scranton, Penn., or to Willard N. Clute, Binghamton, N.Y. 



— Professor Daniel G. Brinton, M.D , LLD., of Philadelphia, 

 received on May 10 the further honorary degree of "Doctor of 

 Science " from the University of Pennsylvania. His works are 

 numerous, and have been principally upon linguistics, ethnology, 

 and American archaeology. 



— The Chicago Academy of Sciences has undertaken the col- 

 lection of views from all localities in Illinois, and adjacent parts 

 of Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin, for the purpose of bringing 

 together, where they may be accessible to all scientific workers, a 



complete series illustrative of the geological and natural history 

 features of the region. The value of such a collection is apparent, 

 and the Academy believes that, in the interest of science, it may 

 reasonably expect the cooperation of all who may be in a position 

 to assist in the work. While all views are acceptable, those 

 illustrating the following features are especially desired: geology, 

 topography, land, water, and forest scenes, farm life, public 

 buildings, neighborhood characteristics, and, in general, anything 

 characteristic or unique in the study of nature or man. In send- 

 ing views, please observe the following directions: 1. Send pho- 

 tographs unmounted. 2. Send with each a careful description of 

 (a) the locality, (b) objects shown, (c) direction of view, (d) by 

 whom taken. Number descriptions and views to correspond. 



— A meeting of the Victoria Institute was held at Adelphi 

 Terrace on May 1, at which an address by Professor Maspero, 

 embodying the results of his investigations during the past ten 

 years as regards the places in Southern Palestine claimed, accord- 

 ing to the Karnac records, to have been captured by the Egyptians 

 in the campaign under Sheshonq (Shishak) against Rehoboam. 

 M. Maspero pointed out the great help that the recent survey of 

 Palestine had been in determining the localities referred to, and 

 specially referred to the fact that the Egyptian letters, rigorously 

 transcribed in Hebrew letters, gave almost everywhere the regular 

 Hebrew forms in the Bible, " without change or correction." The 

 paper was admirably read in the author's ab.=ence liy Mr. Theo. 

 G, Pinches of the British Museum, who afterwards added some 

 remarks. The discussion was continued by several members, in- 

 cluding Major Conder, E.E., who contributed many interesting 

 details. During the discussion reference was made to the great 

 interest taken in the question by the late Canon Liddon, who, on 

 the occasion of Professor Maspero's former paper being read, 

 pointed out that the identity of form of the words in the Egyptian 

 and Biblical lecords pointed to the antiquity of the latter. 



— Morris Phillips & Co. have issued a new edition for 1893 of 

 "Abroad and at Home." This book is a guide of an unusual 

 character, giving much information in regard to hotels, board- 

 ing-houses, restaurants, etc., of considerable value to those who 

 intend to go abroad, or who intend to travel in this country. 

 Last year, the book first appeared early in the summer, and dur- 

 ing the three summer months three editions were called for. 

 This year, new matter has been inserted descriptive of Atlantic 

 City, Niagara Falls, the St. Lawrence, Adirondacks, and Sara- 

 toga Springs, and a summer-resort guide giving information re- 

 garding the leading hotels. A specially prepared chapter on Chi- 

 cago also appears. 



— "Miss Helen Keller, who may be regarded as the mostremark- 

 able person in this country when her natural deficiencies [blind and 

 deaf] are compared with her graces and gifts," says The Evening 

 Star of Washington, of May 11, "is now a guest at the house of 

 Mr. Alexander Graham Bell in this city. Last evening a num- 

 ber of well-known gentlemen were also his guests and had an 

 opportunity to see how extraordinary is the intelligence of this 

 young lady and how more marvelous is her power of expression, 

 not only by manual signs, but also by distinct and agreeable oral 

 utterances. Among the guests was Senator Sherman. Professor 

 Bell said to Helen: 'This is the birthday of Senator Sherman 

 and we are going to drink his health. We want you to propose 

 a toast. Do you know what that means?' As this was a new 

 idea to the young lady it vvas explained to her. 'We want you 

 to propose a sentiment in honor of this birthday,' said Professor 

 Bell. Helen looked puzzled or thoughtful for a minute and then 

 said slowly and with a sympathetic emphasis: ' I propose bis 

 health, happiness and prosperity. May he be as helptul to his 

 country in the future as he has been in the past, and may he be 

 blessed with all good things in this life and in the beautiful life 

 to come.' During the evening the quickness and fitness of her 

 answers to Professor Newcomb and other scientific gentlemen 

 surpi-ised everybody. So did her accurate repetition of Long- 

 fellow's Psalm of Life, and so did her keen enjoyment of stories 

 told to her and of the conundrums with which she puzzled the 

 friends who were talking with her. Her story is wonderful, 

 and the skill of her teacher, Miss Sullivan, is admirable in the 



