520 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. IV. No. 93. 



and physical conceptions of the structure 

 of complex molecules. They seem to de- 

 mand essentially a condition of kinetic 

 equilibrium between molecules and atoms ; 

 inter-atomic distances we shall have to con- 

 sider greater than was our wont ; atomic 

 and molecular influences must extend to 

 considerable distances. Geometrical static 

 arrangement of atoms or groups of atoms 

 seems incompatible with their behavior. 

 The relation of atoms in the molecule seems 

 rather to be orbital, permitting of ready re- 

 arrangement and readjustment by relatively 

 slight disturbing causes, capable of return- 

 ing to former relations promptly, involving 

 various quantities of energy. All our in- 

 ferences in reference to molecular magni- 

 tudes will have to be interpreted as effec- 

 tive merely, and not actual in the sense of 

 space occupied. 



The one central pillar upon and about 

 which all physical science is erected to-day, 

 the conservation of energy, stands un- 

 changed and, if possible, more clearly de- 

 fined and strengthened than ever in these 

 tests. 



I repeat, may American physicists take 

 up these problems and add their share to 

 the development of these epoch-making 

 theories. 



C. L. Mees. 



KosE Polytechnic Institute, 



Teeke Haute, Ind. 



THE CORNELL EXPEDITION TO GREENLAND. 



The Cornell party, which accompanied 

 Lieut. Peary on the steamer Hope, left 

 Sydney, July 16th, and passed the entire 

 eastern coast of Labrador near the land, 

 with one stop at the island of Turnavik. 

 Entering Hudson Strait a stop of several 

 days was made at Big Island and the neigh- 

 boring coast of Baffin Land. From here 

 an unsuccessful attempt was made to pene- 

 trate the ice which stretched across the 

 mouth of the Cumberland Sound, after 



which the ship steamed across to Disco 

 Island, on the Greenland coast. A stop 

 was made there, another in the Vaigat 

 Strait and a third at TJmanak. After a 

 brief stop at Upernavik, the party was 

 landed, August 7th, on the ISTugsuak penin- 

 sula. Latitude 74 °7', about 80 miles north 

 of Upernavik. The party remained there 

 until September 7th, and then returned, 

 following practically the same route and 

 making nearly the same stops as those 

 made on the northern passage on the Green- 

 land coast. On the American side a stop 

 of two or three days was made in Cumber- 

 land Sound, where the conditions closely 

 resemble those in Hudson Strait. 



The main object of the expedition was 

 to study the geology of a small area in some 

 detail; but collections of plants, insects, ma- 

 rine invertebrates and birds were also made. 

 In connection with this work considerable 

 dredging was done. 



Briefly stated, the principal geological re- 

 sults are as follows : At Turnavik, on the 

 Labrador coast, evidence of recent glacia- 

 tion is abundant. The hills are all rounded; 

 there has been little post-glacial decay, and 

 the transported boulders, as well as the bed 

 rock, are very fresh. Upon exposed rock 

 faces, unprotected from the weather, glacial 

 strisB are still very distinct. Granting 

 equality of weathering, this region has been 

 much more recently glaciated than regions 

 of similar geological structure in New Eng- 

 land. The amount of glacial carving has 

 not been sufficient to lower the surface of 

 the gneiss to the level of the pre-glacial 

 decay in the trap-dike valleys. 



Until the northern end of the Labrador 

 peninsula is approached evidence of glacia- 

 tion in the form of rounded contours is so 

 distinct that it may be seen from a ship sev- 

 eral miles from land. At Cape Mugford, 

 Table Mountain and vicinity, in Latitude 

 58° 59', the topography changes to the an- 

 gular type, and this highland portion of the 



