268 The American Naturalist. [Mareh, 
Again we are to use the term formal for formaldehye both for this sub- 
stance itself and for its solution in water. Is this not adding to confus- 
ion? Formalin, we are told is a term which has no meaning. From 
the standpoint of chemical terminology this is true but from another 
standpoint it is not. It is an arbitrary term introduced into the 
language to denote a forty per cent. solution of formaldehyde in water 
and as such it has a distinct meaning and, on the ground of convenience, 
a very great value. 
In the same article are other illlustrations of just this same tendency 
against which I protest. There are incidentally mentioned axon, alba, 
tela, and the like and one trained in the nomenclature of universal use 
has to refer to a large series of papers in order to ascertain just what is 
meant by all of these expressions. I can see no reason why the term 
notochord is not good enough for anyone; it is descriptive, and it has 
but a single meaning which cannot by any possibility be confused. How 
about its proposed substititue “axon” I have not taken the trouble 
to look up the reasons for substituting this term. On its face it would 
seem to imply something pertaining to the axis (of the body). But is 
the notochord really axial? As far as the vertebral centres are con- 
cerned it is, but beyond this it is not, and to just this extent it is a mis- 
nomer. So far as any higher metazoan may be said to have an axis, 
that axis is the alimentary tract. 
These I merely instance as examples of what I protest against. The 
terminology of modern zoology is sufficiently overloaded already with 
terms and this attempt so persistently made in certain quarters to give 
us in addition an almost complete series of synonyms is most aggravat- 
ing. I would suggest to these would be reformers that there is no little 
truth in Goethes’ lines when he says that reality “ ist alles 
* Name ist Schall und Rauch. 
Umnebelnd Himmelsgluth. 
CoMPARATIVE ANATOMIST. 
Emil du Bois-Raymond.—The well known physiologist, profes- 
sor of physiology at the University of Berlin, founder of the Physio- 
logical Institute, and perpetual Secretary of the Berlin Academy, died 
December 26th after a severe illness. Prof. du Bois-Raymond was 
born, November 7, 1818 in Berlin, where his father, who had begun life 
as a match maker, had attained considerable eminence. His early 
education was received at the College Francais in Berlin and later at 
the College of Neuchatel. At the age of eighteen he entered the 
University of Berlin and was matriculated in the Philosophical Fac- 
ulty. 
