516 Canadian Record of Science. 



root, the cinchona bark and the cocoa leaf are now subject to 

 an increasing measure of constructive operation in the 

 laboratory. Morphine is convertible into codeine, and the 

 efforts to convert strychnine into brucine and cinchonine 

 into quinine ought to succeed. 



The necessary studies of position in the pyridine mole- 

 cule are being entered upon. Some good medicinal alka- 

 loids are being made by art. It may come that the identical 

 alkaloids of nature will be made by art. Not by chance 

 efforts, however, nor by premature short-cuts, but, if at all, 

 through the well earned progress of the world's chemistry 

 will these results be gained. And it speaks enough for the 

 rate of this progress to say that one of the very first of the 

 forward steps here recounted was taken by a man still living 

 as a contributor. Due honor for what his hands have done, 

 and all gratitude for what his eyes have seen. 



A Decade of Evolution. 



In the evening there was a general session in the library 

 to listen to the address ol Professor Morse, the retiring- 

 president of the association. It was undeniably warm, but 

 every seat had been taken, and there were not a few who 

 listened standing. The speaker began by explaining how 

 he had become engaged in the effort to collate the work 

 that had been done by Americans toward the illustration of 

 evolution during the last ten years. He first quoted the 

 testimony among American naturalists to the derivative 

 theory of those who had written about birds, and said 

 that every principle claimed by Darwin had been illustrated 

 by these little things. Dr. Brewer's work upon nesting 

 was touched upon. O. P. Hay was quoted as authority for 

 the fact that reel-headed woodpeckers had taken to hoard- 

 ing — storing up acorns which had worms in them, and 

 fattening, so to speak, their future food. 



Then the speaker glanced from birds to insects, and 

 claimed that there was remarkable individuality in them. 

 Some were superior, some inferior. E. G. Peckham estab- 

 lished clearly that wasps could distinguish between colors, 



