360 THE AMERICAN NATURALIST, [Vou. XXXIII. 
possible a repetition of the Morrill land grant to the states ; but it 
would be possible to issue 5% bonds which benefactors of higher 
education could buy for the support of graduate work in a special 
institution. By making these bonds inalienable a permanent fund 
would be established. The low ruling rate of interest would thus 
make the matter a genuine piece of coöperation on the part of the 
government, and in so far as the 5% exceeds that rate there would 
be a government grant. 
It is, then, to emphasize the fact that the most recent thought con- 
cerning the formation of a national university does not contemplate 
flooding the District of Columbia with a body of untrained or partly 
trained students that this letter is written. It is desired that the 
government foster research, establishing a national university with 
branches, providing in the central establishment broader opportunity 
for research, increasing in the state branches the facilities for train- 
ing graduate students. SUSANNA Pusirs GAGE 
IrHaca, N. Y., February 9. 
GASKELL’S THEORY OF THE ORIGIN OF VERTEBRATES FROM CRUS— 
TACEAN ANCESTORS. 
To the Editor of the American Naturalist: 
Sir, — Since the Annelid theory of the origin of vertebrates, at 
one time so generally and enthusiastically advocated, has failed to 
realize the expectations of its adherents, interest in the subject has 
steadily fallen off, and the various attempts to substitute something 
in its place have gained only individual or, at most, a very small 
number of followers. 
The impression has steadily gained ground that in spite of its very 
great importance the problem of the origin of vertebrates is no 
longer a fruitful one for discussion, because the evidence accessible 
is so general in character that one may make out a reasonable 
theory based on almost any invertebrate that one may be pleased to 
select. We believe, however, that there is no reasonable justification 
for this state of mind, and that perhaps it may be in a measure over- 
come by showing how any radical departure from certain lines of 
procedure, even if the utmost liberty is exercised in the destroying 
of old organs and the creation of new ones, fails to make the solu- 
