810 



SCIENGM. 



[N. S. Vol. XI. No. 282. 



and Mammalogy, Mineralogy and Geology, 

 Conchologjf, Entomology, Invertebrate Zo- 

 ology, Ethnology, Archfeology, and then a 

 very brief analysis of their contents, under 

 the head of systematic work, investigation, 

 and description of new species. The pres- 

 ent number of volumes of the Bulletin is 

 twelve. 



The accompanying table shows the dis- 

 tribution of papers in the general depart- 

 ments of science enumerated in the first 

 column. The Memoirs so far published 

 embrace two volumes, as yet incomplete ; 

 Vol. I., parts 1, 2, contain papers on In- 

 vertebrate Paleontology, parts 3, 4 and 5 

 on Vertebrate Paleontology ; Vol. II., 

 parts 1, 2, contain papers on Ethnology, 

 part 3 on Archaeology. 



examined by a less superficial and statisti- 

 cal method, the comparative importance of 

 the papers becomes more obvious, and the 

 deceptive results apparent of seeking equal- 

 ization by enumeration simply. A paper 

 of the far-reaching and suggestive char- 

 acter of Dr. Wortman's treatise on the 

 Ganodonta for instance while counting only 

 as one paper, in labor and intrinsic excel- 

 lence might justly over-balance a number 

 of less studious or incisive contributions. 

 So perhaps might be instanced Dr. Mat- 

 thews' paper on the ' Revision of the Puerco 

 Fauna,' Dr. Boas' ' Decorative Art of the 

 Indians of the North Pacific Coast,' Dr. 

 Allen's ' Alleged Changes of Color in the 

 Feathers of Birds without Moulting,' Profes- 

 sor Whitfield's ' Fossils of Lake Champlain,' 



Bulletin- Series ; Analysis op Co^jtents. 

 (Papers Published.) 



A glance at this table shows the very 

 evenly maintained interest and activity in 

 Mammalogy and Ornithology, a less but 

 noticeable industry in vertebrate and in- 

 vertebrate Paleontology and Entomology, 

 and the very imperfectly established atten- 

 tion to Geology, Mineralogy, Vertebrate 

 and invetebrate Zoology, the absence of 

 original work in Conchology, and the late 

 contributions in Ethnology and Archaeology. 



When this series of scientific papers is 



and Professor Osborn's papers on fossil 

 mammalia. The character of the articles 

 throughout is thoroughly in keeping with 

 the scientific aims of the institution, but 

 they also of necessity vary in their relative 

 value. 



In the three lines of systematic work, 

 description of new species, and investiga- 

 tion, the two first largely preoccupy the 

 attention of the writers, as might be ex- 

 pected. The first issues of the Bulletin were 



