156 THE AMERICAN NATURALIST. [VoL. XXXVI. 
substances is drawn out into a cylindrical thread, the latter will, 
under certain conditions, break up into a series of drops of definite 
size and of definite distances from each other. If two such cylin- 
drical threads of unequal size are treated in the same way, they will 
form drops proportionate to the original sizes of the threads, etc. 
Here Biitschli claims we find an analogy to the tripartite division of 
the archenteron of the gastrula of the sea urchin. I may add that a 
still more striking parallel is to be found in the behavior of the “fluid 
crystals” described by Lehmann. If a portion of one of these is 
pinched off, it shows from its optical behavior that it has assumed 
the crystal condition characteristic of the original whole. 
Bütschli concludes : The old and the new vitalism alike empha- 
size the presence of the unsolved riddles of biology and express a 
doubt as to their solution on mechanical principles. They teach us 
nothing about the organism, since the very premises of the vitalistic 
argument rest on the assumption of an ultimate orderly action that 
is in itself beyond our comprehension. Therefore, we may well say 
that we can only grasp those parts of the phenomena of life that we 
can interpret by means of physico-chemical principles. ^ yy M. 
Biometrika, *a journal for the statistical study of biological 
problems," makes its first appearance with the number for October, 
190I. Its aim is to serve “as a means of collecting under one title 
biological data of a kind not systematically collected or published in. 
any other periodical,” and of spreading such a knowledge of statis- 
tical theory as may be requisite for scientific treatment of the data 
collected. The editors are “in consultation with Francis Galton," 
Professors W. F. R. Weldon, Karl Pearson, and C. B. Davenport. 
Biometrika is published in Cambridge, England, at the University 
Press, a sufficient guarantee that the excellent form given to the 
initial number will be maintained. An excellent portrait of Darwin, 
from the Pinker statue at Oxford, forms the frontispiece. An edi- 
torial by Francis Galton is followed by papers by Professor F. Lud- 
wig, Miss M. Beeton. and Professors Karl Pearson, W. F. R. Weldon, 
and other well-known students of variation. 
