1890.] Editorial. 51 
either Dr. Wallace or Dr. Lankester. “The American evolution- 
ists ” will soon furnish them with some additional information on 
this topic, all quite as much within the “scientific method” as are 
the speculations of Weismann, though Dr. Wallace and Prof. 
Lankester think that they have not done so in the past. Accord- 
ing to the latter, the opponents of post-Darwinism are not “ labo- 
ratory men,” which explains their shortcomings. But there are 
laboratories and laboratories! The laboratories where section cut- 
ting and staining form the methods of studying nature are of high 
importance, but they do not cover the whole ground. Indeed, 
the adepts at this work are sometimes grossly ignorant of gross 
anatomy. In the: estimation of some of these gentlemen the 
value of a scientific pursuit is inversely as the size of the objects 
studied. What the value of cetology can be in such eyes we do 
not know, unless it be something to be promptly sat upon. 
—TheE recent establishment of four geological surveys in as 
many States of the South, is a matter of congratulation. The first 
to lead the way was Arkansas, whose survey is in active prose- 
cution by Prof. Branner. The Texas Legislature next inaugurated 
the work, and appointed Prof. Dumbel to superintend it. Prof. 
Dumbel has displayed much energy in getting his organization 
to work, and much is to be expected from his corps of able assis- 
tants. In the present number of the NATURALIST we announce 
the opening of the surveys of Missouri by Prof. Winslow, and of 
Georgia under Prof. J. W. Spencer. The people of the South 
were never more alive to the importance of developing the re- 
sources of their States, and of contributing their share to the 
stock of our knowledge of creation in all its aspects. 

