-400 The American Naturatist. [April, 
_ certain that the present paleontologist deserves such a reprimand that 
he will be forced to adopt methods recognized as legitimate by 
scientists. Whether such men as Prof, E. D. Cope, Prof. Persifor 
Frazer, Dr. T. Sterry Hunt, Dr. F. M. Endlich, and others, are 
moved by envy, malice or hate in agitating this-geological controversy, 
matters little—that is precisely the cheap kind of retort the world ex- 
pects; yet the fact remains that Prof. Marsh’s assistants and others are 
marshalled against him also, No man engaged in scientific pursuits, 
however flanked by wealth and influence, can possibly hope for the 
support of high-minded, honorable men, if his course is such as to lay 
him plainly open to charges of trickery, plagiarism, illegitimate 
methods, disregard of the works of others, the rights of priority, and 
incompetence in general. Although the present paleontologist may, 
by the very weight of his official position and influence, avoid the 
scrutiny of an investigating committee, which in common justice he 
should not escape, he cannot but be weighed in the balance by scien- 
tists and found wanting.—Erwin H. BARBOUR, PH.D. 
Lowa College, March 15, 1890. 
Die Spinnen Amerikas.—The death of the German araneel-, 
ogist, Count Keyserling, made a large breach in the little circle of 
working araneologists. It was known that he had left a large amount 
of manuscript for the concluding parts of his work, ‘“‘ Die Spinnen 
Amerikas,’’ and this, it was feared, would be lost to science. But the 
publishers, with praiseworthy enterprise, have resolved to complete 
Keyserling’s work as far as possible after the original plan. They 
failed, however, to find any one in Europe who would edit the finished 
manuscripts and complete the fourth volume, which treats of the 
Epeiride. In this emergency they solicited the aid of Dr. George 
Marx, of Washington, D. C., who has at last consented to undertake 
the task. Being a thorough German scholar and a well-furnished 
araneologist, Dr. Marx is admirably equipped for this duty. A large 
part of Count Keyserling’s manuscript, which was in a good degree of 
forwardness, has already been edited, and will soon be ready to trans- 
mit to Germany. Dr. Marx will then edit the notes upon the Orbite- 
lariæ, and add descriptions of the species which Keyserling had not 
reached at the time of his death. He will thus contribute about one- 
third of the matter in what will constitute Volume IV. of ‘ Die 
Spinnen Amerikas.’’—Henry C. McCook. 
