710 The American Naturalist. [September, 
wardly neither timidly, obscurely, nor by inferior men. Long 
ago so great an authority as Prof. James declared of the ancient 
tradition that it was “ one of the most artificial and scholastic un- 
truths which remain to disfigure modern science.” There would 
seem, therefore, now to be as little excuse for an intelligent 
man to believe in this“ New Factor ” as to continue to believe 
in the other half of the tradition, 7. e., in a personal devil. For 
a scientist to continue to throw such ‘disfiguring untruth’ 
among the already vastly complicated problems of biology and 
psychology, of heredity, and of social and ethical development, 
while completely and blindly ignoring the objections which 
have been heaped, mountain high, against it, cannot henceforth 
be counted as less than pure Orientalism. To persist in the at- 
tempt, with whatever sincerity and enthusiasm of purpose, can 
only result, as my first words portrayed, in retarding the swing 
of the pendulum to a more sober consideration by Science of 
the problems of mind, and in bringing our New Psychology 
to speedy and undeserved contempt. 
It seems hardly worth while to follow Prof. Baldwin into the 
doctrines of “Imitation” and “Organic Selection ” built by 
him upon his above foundation, when these foundations show 
themselves to be the veriest myths. 
BIRDS OF NEW GUINEA (MISCELLANEOUS). 
By G. S. MEAD. 
(Continued from page 290.) 
The family of Certheidx (Creepers) have but scant representa- 
tion in New Guinea, the genus Climacteris furnishing the only 
specimens. One species is perhaps peculiar to the island, viz.: 
Climacteris placens. Its plumage above is dusky, tinged red: 
dish on the head with black marks interspersed. Below gray- 
ish, spotted brown and black. Sexes alike. Length, six inches. 
Salvadori says the female has reddish cheeks. 
One Nuthatch also belongs to New Guinea—Sittella or Sitta 
papuensis—a very small species, less than five inches in 
