EDITORIALS. 
The Editor-in-Chief. — We regret to announce that the present 
editor-in-chief finds it impossible to continue to devote to the Ameri- 
can Naturalist the large amount of time that is required for its 
management, and that he feels compelled to relinquish his charge 
of the magazine with the issue of the current number. 
We are very fortunate, however, in being able to find a successor 
who may be depended upon to do all that is possible to maintain 
the value of the Naturalist and make it interesting to its readers. 
One of our associate editors finds it necessary to withdraw on account 
of pressure of other work, but no further changes in the personnel are 
expected, and our aims and general policy will remain unchanged. 
An Editor Found. — Natural Science, now in its thirteenth volume, 
has been most successful in filling a position in England similar 
to that which the American Naturalist has attempted to fill in this 
country. It was, in fact, the success of that review which inspired 
us with the hope that we might attain to a like high standard 
of excellence. It was with great regret, therefore, that we noted in 
the October number of Natural Science an announcement that the 
editor who has conducted the journal with so much ability is obliged 
to discontinue this work on account of increased responsibilities and 
lack of time. But what was still more to be regretted was that 
there appeared to be danger that the magazine might cease publica- 
tion altogether for want of an editor. 
We are very glad, indeed, to learn that this danger is now past, 
and that Natural Science will continue to appear as heretofore, 
arrangements having been made to transfer the journal to an editor 
who will conduct it on the present plan that has been found to be so 
satisfactory. We wish him great success. 
Artificial Protoplasm. — During the past summer, Professor Al- 
fonso L. Herrera, of the Museo Nacional, Mexico, very kindly sent 
us some “ synthetic protoplasm ” which he had prepared, as he says, 
from some of the substances which are to be found among the com- 
ponents of the myxomycete, Fuligo septica, viz.: pepsine, peptone, 
“fibrine acétique,” oleic acid, soap, sugar, extract of bile, carbonates 
