1892.] Editorials. 833 
EDITORIALS. 
EDITORS, E. D. COPE AND J. S. KINGSLEY. 
—THE meeting of the American Association for the Advancement 
of Science, which closed its session at Rochester, August 23, was 
remarkable for several things. One characteristic was the large pre- 
ponderance of papers in the biological section. Not only was this 
section more abundantly supplied with matter than any other, but 
entomological and botanical clubs also held sessions almost contin- 
uously. It seemed to the section that it would not be possible in future 
to give time for all papers likely to be presented, so it was decided to 
divide it into a zoological and a botanical section, which should, how- 
ever, have a joint session to hear papers of general interest. Another 
feature of the Association was the extraordinary management of the 
geological section, which seemed to have fallen into the hands of a 
clique who quite forgot to cooperate with the rest of the Association. 
The section spent nearly all of one session discussing an excursion 
which some of the members had taken the day before, in disregard of 
the printed programme, which announced that certain papers would 
be read. Numerous persons were much inconvenienced by this pro- 
ceeding. Another session was adjourned before half the usual term 
had elapsed, although persons were present fully prepared to read 
papers as announced in the programme. On another day the alterna- 
tive was presented the members of remaining after the dinner hour 
had arrived, or of submitting to a final adjournment, as some of 
the members had an excursion on hand for the afternoon. In order 
to finish the programme the section decided to remain and take a late 
dinner, rather than disoblige the excursionists. But the height of 
impropriety was reached when the chairman of the section left the 
meeting and asked the section to elect one of his friends chairman. 
The section promptly complied. The new chairman then appointed an 
important committee, in which the late chairman’s name occupies a 
conspicuous place. 
The arrangements for the meeting of the Association made by the 
citizens were excellent, and were carried out without interruption. 
Discussion of papers was active and interesting, and added much to 
the interest of the occasion. 
