NOVBMBEB 20, 1896.] 



SCIENCE. 



753 



study of species which have recently appeared 

 in Natural Science and in the Bevue Scientifique : 

 ' ' We regard the expressions above quoted as 

 an indication of a mild form of megalomania 

 which is not unfrequently found among the 

 users of mechanical appliances in the biological 

 laboratory. The most intelligent cultivators of 

 these important branches of biologic research 

 are, however, well aware that the exact deter- 

 mination of species is fully equal in importance 

 to their own pursuit, for the following reasons, 

 among others : If we regard biology to consist 

 of two branches, evolution and physiology, we 

 define evolution, with Darwin, as the origin of 

 species. For physiology the question of species 

 is not so impoi'tant. Species are, however, 

 what the labors of the ages have produced, and 

 it is necessary to know them in order to pursue 

 any branch of evolution (as embryology or 

 paleontology) intelligently. The work of the 

 embryologist and paleontologist who does not 

 know the species whose origin he seeks to ex- 

 plain is greatly lacking in precision. Linnaeus 

 states that the tyro knows the higher divisions, 

 but only the expert knows species. We also 

 especially deny that the discrimination and de- 

 scription of species is within reach of the most 

 mediocre intelligence. On the contrary, no 

 kind of work in biology imposes as much on all 

 the mental faculties which are used in scientific 

 work. Those who have not attempted it have 

 little idea what is involved in a diagnosis or an 

 analytical key. Finally, as regards the mam- 

 malogic work of Messrs Merriam and Miller, we 

 consider it of the utmost importance. They are 

 pointing out the results of the evolution of 

 Mammalian life in North America, which it is 

 the business of the embryologist and the 

 paleontologist to explain. And in this field the 

 work of Messrs. Merriam and Miller is the best 

 that has ever been done in any country." 



GENERAL. 



Dr. J. A. Hugo Gylden, director of the 

 Astronomical Observatory at Stockholm and 

 professor of astronomy at the University, died 

 on November 9th at the age of fifty-five years. 



The seventieth birthday of Dr. Stanislas Can- 

 Bizzaro, professor of chemistry at Eome, will be 

 celebrated on November 21st, by the presenta- 



tion of a gold medal, of congratulatory ad- 

 dresses and of a fund to be used by him for the 

 advancement of chemistry. 



There wall be held at Washington a me- 

 morial meeting in honor of the late Dr. G. 

 Brown Goode. Hon, Gardiner G. Hubbard is 

 Chairman of the Committee of Arrangements. 



We learn from Die Natur that a monument in 

 honor of K. Th. Liebe, who had made important 

 contributions to geology and ornithology, es- 

 pecially in Thiiringen, was dedicated in Gera 

 on October 18th. 



The hundredth anniversary of the birth of the 

 eminent anatomist, anthropologist and natural- 

 ist, Anders Adolf Retzius, was celebrated with 

 suitable ceremonies at Stockholm on October 

 13th. 



The municipality of Paris has changed the 

 name of the Boulevard de Vaurigard to that of 

 Boulevard Pasteur. 



The Berlin Academy of Sciences proposes, as 

 the subject for the Cothenius prize, 'Experi- 

 ments and observations on the origin and be- 

 havior of new varieties of grain during the past 

 twenty years.' The paper, which may be in 

 Latin, German, French, Italian or Jnglish, 

 must be presented before the beginning of the 

 year 1899. The prize is of the value of 2,000 M. 



Mr. E. Etheridge has been awarded by the 

 Royal Geological Society of Cornwall its first 

 Bolitho gold medal. 



The Committee on Science and Arts of the 

 Franklin Institute, of Philadelphia, have 

 awarded the John Scott medal for 1896 to 

 Emile Berliner, of Washington, D. C, for his 

 invention, the gramophone, it being, in their 

 opinion, an invention of great merit and use- 

 fulness. 



The managers of the Royal Institution, 

 London, have appointed Prof. A. D. Waller, 

 M. D., F. R. S., to be Fullerian professor of 

 physiology for three years, and Dr. A. Scott to 

 be superintendent of the Davy-Faraday Re- 

 search Laboratory. The Chi'istmas lectures 

 specially adapted for children will this year be 

 be given by Prof. Silvanus P. Thompson, 

 F.R.S., his subject being ' Visible and Invisible 

 Light. ' 



