136 The American Naturalist. (February, 
EDITOR’S TABLE., 
ss ; : WEL A ' { 
Tur Societies of Naturalists, Morphologists, Physiologists and 
Geologists met together during the late holidays in the ample halls 
of the Johns Hopkins University, in Baltimore. The Geologists had 
met previously independently of the other societies. Their presence 
at Johns Hopkins added much to the interest of the meetings, and 
permitted some exchanges of hours on occasions of especial interest. 
The Naturalists listened to an excellent address from the retiring 
president, Dr. Minot, and had an instructive debate on the influence 
of the environment on animal life, conducted by Messrs. Osborn, 
Hyatt, Brooks and Merriam. Impressive papers were read before 
the Morphologists by Drs. Wilson and Hyatt; the former embryo- 
logical, the latter paleontological. Three of the societies sat down 
to dinner at the Stafford House on Friday evening, and did jus- 
tice to the exceptional hospitality of the host, Mr. Moale, himself a 
graduate of Johns Hopkins. The place of next meeting has not been 
decided on, but it is hoped that it will be such as will suit the conveni- 
ence of several societies additional to those that met at Baltimore. 
These are the Anatomists, who met this year in New York; and the 
newly organized societies of Botanists and Psychologists. 
These bodies all consist of actual workers in their respective fields, 
and they are, therefore, with a few others, the only scientific societies 
in this country in which strict qualifications are requisite for member- — 
ship. Ourcontemporary, the American Geologist, in a recent editorial 
“article, advocates the establishment of academies of science in the 
several States of the Union, as was done by the NATURALIST many 
years ago. It points to Indiana as furnishing an example worthy of 
imitation, since the legislature has made an appropriation for a biologi- 
cal survey of the State, to be conducted by its Academy of Science. 
The prime condition of prosperity for an academy of science must 
always be the effective character of its membership. This will always 
be especially important where State aid is granted. Some practical test 
of fitness for membership is necessary. One such test would be 
membership in one of the affiliated societies referred to above. A 
State Academy of Science composed of all the members of these 
societies resident within its borders, would be a very effective body. 
Screntiric exploration is becoming popular in the United States 
as the desire to extend knowledge increases. Apart from Government 
