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Middletown. The results and their recommendations have now been printed in a pamphlet with an introductory article by Professor Winslow.

UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL
NEWS

PLANS are announced for the establishment of a new college for political science in New York City, for which it is said that an annual income of $150,000 is largely secured. The faculty will elect not only the professors but also the trustees, and it is intended that the fullest freedom of teaching and of research shall be given to the professors.

MR. WILLIAM H. PORTER, of New York, has given $50,000 to Middlebury College, to build. a hospital.

By opening its school of medicine to women on the same terms as to men Washington University becomes coeducational in all its departments, similar change having been ordered a few weeks since in the school of dentistry.

IT is announced that McGill University hereafter will admit women to the study of medicine and dentistry.

DR. HERBERT E. HAWKES, professor of mathematics, who has been acting dean of Columbia College during the absence on leave of Dr. F. P. Keppel, has been appointed by the trustees to be dean of the college, Dr. Keppel having resigned to accept the third assistant secretaryship of war.

DR. FLORIAN CAJORI has resigned his position of dean of the department of engineering and professor of mathematics at Colorado College, and has accepted the appointment as professor of the history of mathematics in the University of California.

PROFESSOR OTTO GLASER, of the University of Michigan, has been appointed professor of biology at Amherst College.

DISCUSSION AND CORRESPONDENCE
PROPOSED MAGNETIC AND ALLIED OBSERVA-
TIONS DURING THE TOTAL SOLAR
ECLIPSE OF JUNE 8, 1918
SPECIAL magnetic and allied observations
will be made at various points inside and out-

side the shadow belt of the coming total solar eclipse, by the department of terrestrial magnetism of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, the Coast and Geodetic Survey, and some other institutions and individuals who have offered their cooperation.

The general scheme of work proposed by the Carnegie Institution Department of Terrestrial Magnetism embraces the following:

1. Simultaneous magnetic observations of any or all of the elements according to the instruments at the observer's disposal, every minute from June 8, 1918, 7 P.M. to 1 A.M., June 9, Greenwich civil mean time, or from June 8, 7 to 13h Greenwich astronomical mean time.

(To insure the highest degree of accuracy, the observer should begin work early enough to have everything in complete readiness in proper time. See precautions taken in previous eclipse work as described in the journal Terrestrial Magnetism, Vol. V., page 146, and Vol. VII., page 16. Past experience has shown it to be essential that the same observer make the readings throughout the entire interval.)

2. At magnetic observatories, all necessary precautions should be taken to insure that the self-recording instruments will be in good operation not only during the proposed interval but also for some time before and after, and eye-readings should be taken in addition wherever it is possible and convenient. (It is recommended that, in general, the magnetograph be run on the usual speed throughout the interval, and that, if a change in recording speed be made, every precaution possible be taken to guard against instrumental changes likely to affect the continuity of the base line.) 3. Atmospheric-electric observations should be made to the extent possible with the observer's equipment and personnel at his disposal.

4. Meteorological observations in accordance with the observer's equipment should be made at convenient periods (as short as possible) throughout the interval. It is suggested that, at least, temperature be read every fifth minute (directly after the magnetic reading for that minute).

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PROGRESSIVE DEGLACIATION AND THE

AMELIORATION OF CLIMATE

IN SCIENCE of March 1, 1918,1 Professor Mather criticizes the interpretation of the writer regarding the corroborating evidence of Antarctic deglaciation as being indicative of the amelioration of climate which has been a cumulative, although variable, process since the culmination of the Ice Age. This retreat of Antarctic glaciation is not the only record upon which the writer based his interpretation. He also used "the greater and still more impressive evidence of the comparatively recent uncovering of temperate land areas."2 Professor Mather appears to dissent also from the opinions of Scott, Shackleton, Taylor,5 Ferrars and David."

These authorities, with every other explorer of these regions, make especial mention of the

1"Diminution of the Antarctic Ice Cap and the Amelioration of Climate," SCIENCE, N. S., Vol. 47, No. 1200, pp. 218-19.

7 Geographical Journal, Vol. XLIII., pp. 622623.

2 SCIENCE, N. S., Vol. 46, No. 1200, pp. 639-40. "The Voyage of the Discovery," Vol. II., pp.

416, 423, 424, 425. National Antarctic Expedi

tion, 1900-1904, Vol. 1, p. 94. Scott's Last Expedition, Vol. II., p. 204.

4 Ib., pp. 286, 288.

5 Address to Commonwealth Club, November 17, 1916.

• National Antarctic Expedition, Vol. I., 19001904, Report of H. T. Ferrar, A.M., F.G.S., geologist of the Expedition.

marked extent of the deglaciation which has recorded its extent from "south pole to Antarctic circle" (David).

Professor Mather would also wait for observations extending over centuries and omits to make note of the progressive deglaciation of temperate latitudes which has legibly recorded itself for several hundred centuries, within which time the glacial lake beds of Canada have become one of the world's richest grain fields. This evidence is more impressive and conclusive than the vast evidences in Antarctica where "the ice is everywhere retreating" (Scott).

Nor do discussions as to whether this deglaciation is due to wet or dry glaciers or to a possible decrease in precipitation add anything of moment to the great facts pointing to an amelioration of the climate of the earth so that it "is now warmer than it was during the episodes of extensive glaciation characterizing the Pleistocene Ice Age," this being due to the rewarming under solar control inaugurated at the culmination of that age.

The writer does not agree with the idea that the present distribution and development of climates is "abnormal," but holds that it is in the orderly development of climates passing from the conditions of "geological climates" into those of solar control; and also holds that present climatic tendencies and zonal control no more point to a possible return to the nonzonal distribution and control of geological climates than the present developments of life point to a redevelopment of the extinct orders of life of previous ages.

As to the climatic influence of carbonic acid generated by the combustion of fuels, carbonic acid has two narrow bands of almost complete absorption in that part of the spectrum limiting the wave-lengths emitted by the earth. These bands are at 4.5" and 14.7". The first is in a region of very slight terrestrial radiation and therefore unimportant; the second is in a region of strong vapor absorption and there is sufficient water vapor in the air to completely cover this field. Since "the efficiency of the water vapor is several times that

of the dioxides there is little left in this restricted field as water vapor covers the whole range of terrestrial radiation very effectively. Abbot and Fowle, after very elaborate studies and observations and a review of the available data on the subject, sum up as follows:

It therefore does not appear possible that the presence or absence, or increase or decrease, of the carbonic acid contents of the air are likely to appreciably influence the temperature of the earth's surface.9

There is no evidence showing that the temperatures of the depths of the Atlantic ocean are affected by the salter waters of the Mediterranean Sea. The temperatures of the depths of the Mediterranean Sea are controlled by that of the Atlantic at the depth of the sill of the Straits of Gibraltar, over which there is an inflow into the Mediterranean to replace evaporation and surface outflow less about 30 inches of precipitation. The temperatures of the depths of the Atlantic are controlled by those of polar waters.10

The area of the Mediterranean and tributary seas is about 1,149,000 square miles; of polar oceans down to the parallels of 60 degrees about 187,890,000 square miles. The relative influence of Mediterranean outflow upon abysmal depths of the Atlantic, according to the conclusions of Professors Chamberlin and Salisbury, is probably negligible.

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF., March 18, 1918

MARSDEN MANSON

TRANSLATIONS MADE ACCESSIBLE

I READ with much interest in the last number of your paper a communication from Mr. Burling regarding translations of foreign literature. If anything is contemplated in the way of a central bureau we would submit for your information that the Technical Section of the Canadian Pulp and Paper Association and the 8 Chamberlain and Salisbury, "Geology," Vol. II., p. 672.

9 Ann. Astrophysical Obs. Smithsonian Institution, Vol. II., pp. 172-73.

10 Chamberlin and Salisbury, "Geology," Vol. 658-60.

II.,

Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (U. S.) through their committees on Abstracts are publishing each week in Paper, New York, and the Pulp and Paper Magazine of Canada, Montreal, abstracts of the literature relating to this industry.

These abstracts include reviews of articles appearing in American, Canadian, British and Scandinavian Journals relating to pulp and paper-making, lumber and forestry and will in time embrace those in other languages when such periodicals are again available. The committees are ready to loan original copies of the periodicals reviewed and to supply translations where they are desired.

You are probably aware that Industrial Management of New York has a similar department relating to engineering and similar topics and that their organization is also prepared to supply translations of such articles. J. N. STEPHENSON, Chairman Committee on Abstracts, Technical Section, C. P. & P. A.

A NEW CALENDAR

On April 16 Hon. J. M. C. Smith, of Michigan, introduced into Congress, at the request of Mr. C. W. Bennett of Coldwater, Michigan, a bill providing:

That beginning with the year nineteen hundred and twenty each year shall have thirteen months of four weeks, or twenty-eight days each, the added month to be called Sol (from solstice) and to follow June.

Sec. 2. That Monday shall be the first day of the week and the first, eighth, fifteenth and twentysecond days of every month; the other days of the week to follow in rotation by number, making Sunday the seventh day of the week and the seventh, fourteenth, twenty-first and twenty-eighth days of every month.

Sec. 3. That the day following the last day of December, nineteen hundred and nineteen, and the last day of December in each subsequent year shall be called New Year Day. It shall be legal holiday, the first day of the new or following year, but not a part of January.

Sec. 4. That in the year nineteen hundred and twenty and every fourth year thereafter shall be an extra day called Leap Day, to be placed between June and Sol, but not to be a part of either

month: Provided, That there shall be no Leap. Day in the last year of any century that is not divisible by four.

A condensed statement of the facts relating to this calendar is as follows: The year consists of New Year's Day, which is the first day of the year, and is not a part of any week or month; and thirteen months of twentyeight days each, as follows: January, February, March, April, May, June, Sol, July, August, September, October, November and December.

In centennial years divisible by 400 and in other years divisible by 4, an extra day, called Leap Day, is inserted between the months of June and Sol. Leap Day is not a part of any week or month. The first quarter of the year ends with the first week of April, the second quarter with the second week of Sol, the third with the third week of September, and the fourth with the fourth week of December. New Year's Day and Leap Day are holidays, and are omitted in counting interest and rent. It might be an improvement in this calendar to have the week begin with Sunday, as has always been the case. The suggestion has also been made to give the extra month the name of Midyear, though these are matters of detail. It appears to the writer that this calendar is more desirable than the one outlined by Professor Warren in the April 19 number of SCIENCE. I hope those who are interested in the matter will communicate with Congressman Smith and encourage him to push his laudable efforts in the matter.

W. J. SPILLMAN

DRAWINGS ON LANTERN SLIDES TO THE EDITOR OF SCIENCE: In connection with the letter from Professor Gunthorp in your issue of April 12 in regard to drawings on lantern slides, I may mention that I have obtained satisfactory results with the use of ordinary India ink such as is used by draftsmen. This takes hold quite well on ordinary clean glass surface, I suppose through the action of the gum arabic contained in the ink. The slide can be attached to a drawing board by thumb tacks whose heads project over the glass, provided bits of rubber are placed be

tween the glass and the heads of the tacks. For drawing circles with a compass a small bit of paper was gummed to the glass at the center, to enable the foot of the compass to take hold without slipping (the paper being afterward scraped off). J. R. BENTON

SCIENTIFIC BOOKS

Culture and Ethnology. By ROBERT H. LOWIE, Ph.D., Associate Curator of Anthropology, American Museum of Natural History. New York, Douglas C. McMurtie. 1917. Anthropologists in America need to issue more volumes for laymen than they have so far done. Dr. Lowie's present volume, and Dr. Wissler's larger volume on The American Indian, are especially welcome studies in this sparsely cultivated field.

Dr. Lowie says in his preface that his book is an attempt at popularization. Its aim is to occupy an intermediate position between technical discourses addressed to scientists and the more popular lectures which are designed to furnish mainly entertainment. In the first four chapters Dr. Lowie seems to me admirably to have attained his purpose.

The book starts with Tylor's well-known and practically perfect definition of culture: "Culture... is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society." The point is well made and forcibly driven home that since the science of psychology, even in its most modern and varied ramifications, 66 does not

grapple with acquired mental traits nor with the influence of society on individual thought, feeling and will, there is need of a science which deals with all acquired capabilities and habits of man as a member of society." That science, as Dr. Lowie names it, is Ethnology. In the discussion of "Culture and Race" the author grants that "at first blush" it appears very plausible that within the human species "differences in organization should be correlated with the observed cultural manifestations of varying degree and complexity." And he concludes that though we 66 assume that racial

differences are at the bottom of some of the observed cultural differences, this fact would not necessarily mean, then, that the average ability of the inferior races is less, but only that extreme variations of an advantageous character occur less frequently among them." The field student of primitive peoples knows that not only do extreme advantageous variations occur less frequently among primitive peoples than among the more cultured groups numbering millions of men, but he knows that among primitive peoples artificial selection weeds out those superior individuals, who now and then appear and try to put over a new idea. The conclusion seems to me to be inevitable that this ruthless selection in time affects the racial hereditary abilities of such peoples-just as the Inquisition is known to have affected the Spaniards and Poles.

The author's conclusion in the chapter entitled "Culture and Environment" seems to me entirely too sweeping and to need many conditioning phrases:

"Environment can not explain culture because the identical environment is consistent with distinct cultures; because cultural traits persist from inertia in an unfavorable environment; because they do not develop where they would be of distinct advantage to a people; and because they may even disappear where one would least expect it on geographical principles." The discussion to a certain extent limits the sweeping reach of this conclusion.

In regard to "Determinants of Culture" Dr. Lowie truthfully says: "Psychology, social differences, geographical environment, have all proved inadequate for the interpretation of cultural phenomena. The inference is obvious. Culture is a thing sui generis which can be explained only in terms of itself." His conclusion is that culture is a closed system. Explanations of culture must remain on the cultural plane. "There are ultimate, irreducible facts, special functioning relations, and principles of wider scope that guide us through the chaotic maze of detail" in the science of human culture, as in all other sciences. Any particular cultural phenomenon is in a meas

ure at least unique; and, in consequence, "its explanation will consist in referring it back to the particular circumstances that preceded it." One by one, then, cultural inventions must be studied primarily with reference solely to themselves; while the study of the growth of culture by diffusion from people to people, with accompanying modifications, will yield the larger volume of new data in the field of cultural research.

The last chapter, "Terms of Relationship," occupies eighty-two pages, or slightly less than one half the volume. By the time I had read the chapter two thirds through I turned to the conclusion for relief and light—and I was reassured of my powers of comprehension. This is Dr. Lowie's conclusion: "I am content with calling attention to the tremendous ethnological significance of kinship terminologies, with combating premature confidence in generalizations based on sheer ignorance, and above all with suggesting that the most rigorous logical formulation of problems is possible in this too long neglected domain of the science of culture." I was relieved to find that the often long-drawn arguments, the partial agreements with or refutations of, conclusions of other students of primitive culture, and the suggested relationships between kinship terminologies and cultural facts, were not intended to get the reader farther than Dr. Lowie's sane conclusion. I question the proper appearance of this chapter in a book intended primarily for laymen.

The book, on the whole, is a genuine asset to our anthropological literature, and will interest and enlighten the scientific student as well as the layman.

ALBERT ERNEST JENKS

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

SPECIAL ARTICLES

NEZARA VIRIDULA AND KERNEL SPOT OF PECAN

THE following is intended to serve merely as a preliminary note. The work to be done on the problem far exceeds what has been accomplished but the results obtained thus far are so striking that it has seemed worth while to

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