580 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. XIV. No. 354. 



thious forms (ostrich, rbea, dinornis, aepyor. 

 nis, emeu, cassowary, kiwi or apteryx) are 

 thoroughly examined and lead the author to 

 unite these two groups into a new division 

 Palseognathse, differing from all the remaining 

 orders (Neognathse equals Carinatse minus Cryp- 

 turi) especially in skull structure. 



His conclusion is that the various ' stru thious ' 

 forms are widely separate in origin ; the emeus 

 and cassowaries are on the whole the most 

 primitive, the true ostriches being a later 

 branch from the same stem ; the moas are dis- 

 tantly related to the aepyornithes ; the kiwis 

 (Apteryges) are highly aberrant. The inter- 

 relationships of the higher birds are not dis- 

 cussed, but an appended phyletictree represents 

 Hesperornis SiS one of the Pygopodes and Ichthy- 

 ornis as related to the Steganopodes (pelicans, 

 tropic birds, cormorants, etc.). 



H. F. O. 



THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION AND THE DEATH 

 OF PRESIDENT McKINLEY. 

 We reproduce the letter addressed by the 

 President of the British Association for the Ad- 

 vancement of Science to the United States Am- 

 bassador to Great Britain and the latter's reply : 



british association for the advancement 

 of science. 



Burlington House, 

 London, W., Sept. 19, 1901. 



To his Excellency, The Hon. J. H. Choate, Am- 

 bassador of the United States of America. 



Sir, The General Committee of the British Associa- 

 tion for the Advancement of Science, assembled this 

 year in Glasgow, desire me to express to you the horror 

 with which they heard of the attack upon the late 

 President of the United States, and their deep sorrow 

 at his death. On the first day of the meeting in 

 Glasgow the Association telegraphed to Mr. McKin- 

 ley the assurance of their sympathy and of their ear- 

 nest hopes for his recovery. 



These hopes have not been fulfilled; and it is now 

 my sad duty to inform you that the tragic fate of the 

 President of the United States has cast a deep shadow 

 over our meeting. Together with all our fellow- 

 countrymen we share in the sorrow of the great sister 

 nation which you represent; and we desire, through 

 you, to inform the men of science of America that 

 the members of the British Association are bound to 

 them not only by ties of blood, not only by the links 



which unite all students of nature, but by the deeper 

 feelings which draw together those who are partners 

 in a common sorrow, and mourn one of the leaders of 

 our common race. 



I am, sir. 

 Your obedient servant, 



A. W. EiJCKER, 



President. 

 AMERICAN EMBASSY, 



London, Sept. 23, 1901. 



Sir, 



I have received with heartfelt gratitude the kind 

 expression of condolence and sympathy at the death 

 of President McKinley which you have forwarded to 

 me on behalf of the General Committee of the British 

 Association for the Advancement of Science. 



I shall duly advise my government of its receipt, 

 and it will be highly appreciated by them and by 

 Mrs. McKinley. Your kind message and hundreds 

 of other similar communications from all parts of the 

 British Dominions, carry an assurance of national 

 friendship and goodwill which will be most welcome 

 to the American people. 



Yours sincerely, 



Joseph H. Choate. 



A. W. EtJcKER, Esq., 



President. 



SCIENTIFIC NOTES AND NEWS. 



Among the scientific men who have expressed 

 their intention of being present at the Yale bi- 

 centennial exercises are Professor Simon New- 

 comb and Professor Charles S. Minot. 



Professor Bashford Dean, of Columbia 

 University, has returned from his sabbatical 

 year, spent in studying the marine zoology of 

 Japan, and in visiting China and the Philip- 

 pines. He has sent to the American Museum 

 of Natural Histqry a fine collection of Ainu 

 materials, also a series of glass sponges and of 

 the Japanese long-tailed fowls. For the Zoolog- 

 ical Department of Columbia he brings back 

 extensive research and exhibition collections. 



We regret to learn that Dr. J. H. Hyslop, 

 professor of logic and ethics in Columbia Uni- 

 versity, is ill, and has been given leave of ab- 

 sence for a sabbatical year which he will spend 

 in the Adirondacks. Dr. A. L. Jones, as lec- 

 turer, will take his courses. 



Professors Mitsuru Kuhara and Hanichi 

 Muraoka, occupying respectively the chairs of 



