38 



A notable event in the progress of science and of public educa- 

 tion in New York is the bequest of ^1,000,000 to the American 

 Museum of Natural History by Morris K. Jesup, who was its 

 president from 1882 to his death on January 22, 1908. The 

 provision in his will relating to the museum reads, in part, 

 as follows : 



I give and bequeath to the American Museum of Natural 

 History in the City of New York ;^ 1,000,000, to constitute a 

 permanent fund, the principal to be invested and kept invested, 

 and the income to be applied and apportioned to the general 

 purposes of the museum, other than alterations, additions, 

 repairs, or erection of buildings, the purchase of land, or the 

 payment of salaries, or for labor or for services of any kind 

 ordinarily considered under the item of maintenance. * * * 

 I believe it [the museum] to be today one of the most effective 

 agencies which exist in the City of New York for furnishing 

 education, innocent amusement, and instruction to its people. 

 It can be immensely increased in its usefulness by increasing 

 its powers. 



The following resolution adopted by the American Association 

 for the Advancement of Science at its recent Chicago meeting, 

 on recommendation of Section F (zoology) is of interest to the 

 students of plants as well as of animals : 



Realizing that the work in the Panama Canal is changing bio- 

 logical conditions in Panama and that the completion of the canal 

 will enable the fresh-water faunae of the two slopes to mingle 

 freely and that many marine animals will succeed in passing the 

 completed canal, the American Association for the Advancement 

 of Science urges upon the President and Congress to make pro- 

 vision for a biological survey of the Panama Canal zone. 



Since the conditions will be permanently changed as soon as 

 the canal is completed and the work can not be satisfactorily done 

 after the completion of the canal, there is great urgency that pro- 

 visions for the work be made at once. 



Resolved, That the permanent secretary be instructed to send 

 copies of this resolution to the President, the Vice-President, the 

 Speaker of the House, and the Secretary of the Smithsonian 

 Institution. 



Similar resolutions have been adopted by the council of the 

 American Society of Naturalists. 



