FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1887.

THE PILOT CHART OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN for December, issued by the United States Hydrographic Office, calls special attention to the importance of an understanding among transatlantic steamship companies and captains relative to the routes followed by eastward and westward bound vessels, in order to diminish as much as possible the dangers of collision on this great race-track of the ocean greyhounds.' A reprint from the chart is devoted to a brief discussion of the routes recommended this month, with the addition of a chart showing graphically their positions relative to the December storm-belt; storm-tracks are plotted by means of dotted lines; and the average force and frequency of prevailing winds in each 5° ocean square north of the 40th parallel are also given, as indicated by the results of the international system of simultaneous meteorological observation, so far as now available. It is an appropriate time to bring up this subject, now that the proposed international conference relative to the increase of safety at sea bids fair to be held. The well-known 'steam-lanes' planned by Maury in 1855 at the suggestion of Capt. R. B. Forbes have never been followed to any great extent, and indeed were never obligatory. At present each captain is allowed to use his own discretion to a very large extent, and almost every consideration is secondary to the desire to beat the record' by making a fast passage. If the thousands of passengers who cross the ocean every season could read the thoughts of their captains during the sleepless nights they pass on the bridges of their vessels, while rushing at full speed through a dense fog, it would hardly add to their comfort. The hydrographer, in his recommendations, marks out a new policy, and instead of the old lanes plots two routes on the chart,- eastward-bound vessels to follow the southern line, or nothing to the northward of it; and westward-bound vessels the northern line, or nothing to the southward of it; the two lines crossing the 50th meridian in 45° and 46° north latitude respectively. This is regarded as the best and only practicable solution of the question likely to meet with general acceptance, all things considered. The great difference between this plan and Maury's lanes is in the much wider limits allowed, which are thought to be necessary and reasonable on account of present conditions of navi gation, the different destinations of vessels, the increased knowledge and better forecasting of the weather, and the necessity of room to allow for change of course in avoiding storms whose probable paths are now comparatively well known. The prompt use which is thus made by the Hydrographic Office, of the results of the simultaneous observations made by international agreement and published by the United States Signal Service, shows an appreciation of this important system of observation which is especially gratifying as indicating that the collection of these observations from masters of vessels will be energetically continued, now that it is in the hands of this office. It is understood that General Greely has, at the request of Commander Bartlett, ordered the immediate compilation of ten-year normals for each ocean square in the North Atlantic, for use in connection with the Pilot Chart; and the vast interests involved make this subject of such paramount importance, that it is a cause for congratulation that the United States has taken the lead not only in the inauguration of the system and the collection and publication of the observations, but also in the immediate and practical utilization of the results.

THERE IS IN SESSION this week at Trenton, N. J., a body which is something of a novelty in educational organizations, but from which great good is expected. We refer to the New Jersey Council of Education. We do not know of the existence of any similar body in any other State, and we do not believe that the organization of the New Jersey Council is as yet very well or generally understood. In his presidential address at the meeting of the New Jersey State Teachers' Association last year, Superintendent C. E. Meleney of Paterson advocated the formation of a State council of education which should have general unofficial supervision over the educational interests and educational legislation of the State. The idea proved to be a popular one, and a committee was appointed to prepare a plan for the organization of the council. The body has since been regularly organized, and is now holding its first annual meeting. Its constitution lays down as its aims the investigation and discussion of topics relating to education, the dissemination of information bearing on these topics, the consideration and recommendation of the best means of advancing the educational interests of the State, and the consideration of means by which the policy of the State may be modified in view of the progress of educational thought. The constitution limits the membership to forty-eight, and these are divided into three classes, each class to serve three years. The places of the sixteen whose terms expire each year are to be filled at the time of the meeting of the State Teachers' Association. The election of members rests with the council itself, but one-half of the nominations to fill vacancies are to be made by the State Teachers' Association, and one-half by the council. The names of the present members of the council show that its deliberations are to be participated in by representatives of every phase of education, from the sub-primary to the university. The council proposes to be the embodiment of the power of the teaching profession of the State, and will unquestionably do a great service in the cause of educational advancement. The present president of the council is Superintendent W. H. Barringer of Newark, and his address at the present meeting was to be on Education as a Problem.' The various working committees and their chairmen are as follows: school organization, Principal B. C. Gregory of Newark; course of study, Superintendent C. E. Meleney of Paterson; high schools and colleges, President Merrill E. Gates of Rutgers College; normal and training schools, Principal J. A. Reinhart of Paterson; supervision of schools, Superintendent Charles Jacobus of New Brunswick; school law, Principal J. M. Green of Long Branch; examination and tenure of office of teachers, Superintendent Randall Spalding of Montclair; hygiene and sanitation, Prof. S. A. Farrand of Newark; moral education and discipline, Dr. J. H. Vincent of Plainfield; statistics, Mr. A. Scarlett of Burlington; industrial education, President Nicholas Murray Butler of Paterson. It will be seen at a glance that the New Jersey Council is a working, not a talking body, and the example it sets could well be followed in other States.

THE RECENT MEETING of the American Public Health Association at Memphis, Tenn., of which a summary has been given in Science, was one of the most interesting and important which that association has ever held. Nine years ago its members convened in Richmond, Va., many of them having just come from cities which had been almost decimated by yellow-fever, first among which was Memphis itself. The National Board of Health had its birth in this meeting and had the same broad and liberal spirit which characterized that meeting been fostered and encouraged, that board

would doubtless be in existence to-day, having had nearly ten years of experience, which would have enabled it to cope with any epidemic which might visit our shores. But petty jealousies arose, and as a result that board has now no existence. Its work was of the best, and five volumes of its records attest this fact. The need of a national health department in some form was dwelt upon at length by the president, Dr. Sternberg, in his address. He thinks that at the present time it would be useless to ask that the sanitary interests be placed under the charge of another cabinet officer, a minister of public health, but that sanitarians should demand that their interests receive the same consideration from the national government as is accorded to the educational and industrial interests of

the country. He recommends the organization of a bureau of public health, with a commissioner at its head, with the necessary assistance to make it efficient. It has been suggested that a board of health would be better than this plan contemplates, its members coming from different sections of the country. Dr. Sternberg is right, we think, when he speaks of such a board as not calculated to do the best work. Another plan is to have such a board made up of the surgeon-generals of the army, navy, and marine-hospital service; but these officers are already fully occupied with their duties, and could not with advantage undertake the executive work of a central health bureau. Such a board would act well as an advisory body, but its work should be limited to that. It is sincerely to be hoped, that, as a result of the discussion of this important question, the next Congress will provide for a central health organization. Such action would meet with the hearty support of sanitarians throughout the United States, and would do much to quiet the minds of these gentlemen who to-day look with anxiety and concern upon the possibilities which might occur should cholera or other epidemic disease visit this country in the present unsettled condition of its sanitary administration.

SNOW HALL OF NATURAL HISTORY AT LAWRENCE,

KAN.

THE Legislature of the State of Kansas, during its biennial session of the year 1885, appropriated fifty thousand dollars for the purpose of erecting a natural history building for the University of Kansas. The erection of such a building was rendered imperative by the extensive botanical, entomological, zoological, and geological collections brought together under the supervision of Prof. F. H. Snow, whose connection with the institution dates from its foundation in the year 1866. The building was completed in the autumn of 1886, and was formally named and dedicated to the purposes for which it was erected, on Nov. 16 of that year. It has two principal stories, each sixteen feet in height, together with a basement and attic so commodious and well lighted as to make the structure practically four stories in height. The building from basement floor to attic roof is divided into two portions, partially separated from each other by the main entrance-hall and stairways. The portion to the west of the entrance is devoted to the exhibition of the various cabinets, while the opposite portion is assigned to the work of instruction. The collections belonging to each department are upon the same floor with the laboratories of that department, easily accessible to both students and instructors. The arrangement of the various apartments is so well indicated in the accompanying plans as to require no verbal description. This arrangement was suggested by Mr. J. H. Emerton of New Haven, Conn., who furnished the preliminary plans which formed the basis upon which the Legislature was solicited to make the appropriation. Mr. Emerton's outlines were placed in the hands of Architect J. G. Haskell of Topeka, Kan., who completed the architectural adaptations in the matters of construction, light, heat, ventilation, and exterior style, in a successful and satisfactory manner. most naturally grouped themselves so as to form a rectangular building; but for the purpose of increasing the volume of light, and also improving the architectural effect, their form was somewhat changed.

The rooms

The building is most admirably lighted; the volume being so

great that on a cloudy day the occupants of laboratories need not seek proximity to the windows for microscopical work, and the museum halls may have cases arranged in any desired relation. The large museum rooms are lighted on three sides, and necessarily have one side not lighted. To prevent this from being a dark side, a plate-glass window, eight feet wide and eleven feet high, opposite the centre of the unlighted wall, was added to the ordinary means of lighting, and has the effect of giving uniformity of volume throughout the entire space.

The exterior is in the Romanesque style, with rock-face ashlar and cut stone dressings, the stone being from the well-known Cottonwood quarries of Kansas. The main approach is by a broad flight of buttressed stone steps under a handsomely decorated portico, the decorations being suggestive of the uses of the building. Numerous stone panels are provided about the building, which may, if desired, be utilized for illustrations of natural history subjects cut in bas-relief.

The construction of the building is nearly fire-proof. All bearing-girders are of iron, and all floors are deadened with mortar on corrugated iron laid between the joists. All partitions are noncombustible, all lathing is of wire cloth, the roof is covered with slate and dressed with iron cornices, ridge and hip rolls. All interior finish is polished hard wood, so that little material is presented to feed combustion.

Heating is by steam, the ‘indirect' method being employed to furnish the rooms with warm fresh air, and the 'direct' method for securing proper temperature.

Fresh air is introduced into the building by means of a 'plenum ' extending under the entire building, and connecting with the outer air by arched openings and areas. Ventilation is accomplished by means of large flues leading from near floor and ceiling of all rooms to a large iron chamber in the attic, in which sufficient radiation is located to insure a successful movement of the foul air through a ventilating cupola to the exterior.

The construction of the building was by contract with McFarland & Son of Lawrence, and completion was accomplished within the prescribed appropriation, and without extras.'

INDIAN WHEAT.

AT a recent meeting of the English Farmer's Club, Professor Wallace of Edinburgh University read a paper on agriculture in India.

Professor Wallace said he went to India not only to study agriculture in view of the important influence it was likely to exercise over British agriculture, and forestry in view of the likelihood of a chair of forestry being established at his university, but he had the further object of wishing to see for himself why it was that the government had practically given up the idea of improving Indian agriculture. He found that the apathy on the part of the government in the direction of advancing agriculture was exhibited not only in the case of the native scholars, but was general. Practically all that was left of the Agricultural Department was the name, and this was not always recognized in the presidencies. The ryots' faith in the proposals of the government to improve their practices had entirely vanished. The speaker then went on to explain the character of the Indian cattle, and showed that these were raised, not for meat, but for sinew; and he pointed out the lessons to be learned from color, the black cattle better resisting heat. As to the wheatgrowing, he said, that, in order to produce wheat for the market, the ryots increased the area cultivated by taking in more land from the wastes or jungle the most convenient, in the first instance, to their holdings; but, in addition to this, they grew wheat in many cases in place of some other crop. There was a limit to the extension of the so-called substitution' wheat area; and the area of extended wheat-growth was, as time went on, always becoming more difficult to increase, and, even after difficulties are surmounted, less remunerative. A tract of country where extension would be the main source of wheat-supply skirted the eastern border of the desert of north-western India. Supplies of wheat were also expected to be forthcoming from the rich black soils of the southern Mahratta country when the railway communication was better established. It had been thought by some that the future supplies of Indian wheat would so increase as to flood the English markets to

overflowing. He did not deny that Indian wheat would for many years remain a substantial item in the annual wheat imports, but there was no indication that the amount of it would increase at any thing like an alarming rate. With the extension of railways, new wheat-growing districts would be tapped, but the supply of easily available land was by no means unlimited, and the drawbacks and disadvantages were far more numerous than most people supposed. He then commented upon the likelihood of the yield decreasing and the quality degenerating by too frequent growth on the same land. He believed that the land was not seriously impoverished by the native systems of rotation, or by the practice which they had of growing mixed crops; but it would be strange if they altered those time-honored practices, and grew wheat year after year with successful results, as if the land were in the condition of virgin soil. It had been the history of every great wheat-growing region that the yield and quality came down if the land was not kept up by manuring, as in England. He cited America as a typical example, The point where the best wheat grew had steadily marched westward, and he claimed that it had left as a record of its course the ruins of disused and deserted mills. It is not perfectly clear wherein he has evidence of this. Sir Donald Mackenzie Wallace, the author of • Russia,' and now private secretary to the viceroy of India, related an excellent illustration of the case in point. A district in southern Russia was suddenly stricken with the wheat-growing mania. For a few years the yield, for size of grain, quality, and quantity, was simply marvellous; in a few more years the excess in every way became normal; and in yet a few more years, the produce diminishing in every respect, it became impossible for wheat-growing to continue, and the people had to go back to their rye-crops and other coarser grains. He dealt with the character of the wheats grown in India, and commented upon their inferiority in several respects.

Sir James Caird, in thanking Professor Wallace for his interesting lecture, said that he thought Mr. Wallace had not given as much credit as they deserved to the various agricultural departments in India for their exertions. But in a country so populous, and with an agricultural practice to a certain extent established by a long line of experience of climate and soil, the cultivators have not been slow to avail themselves of the extending facilities of transport, which, in regard to cost on the great railway-lines in India, are now brought very much on a par with the charges in America. An increasing deinand, caused by facility of transport, has stimulated production, and has shown that instruction in the art of agriculture is not so much required as access to good markets. India has a great variety of products, and though wheat interests British agriculturists more than any other, cotton stands highest on the list of exports, next to it opium, then oil-seeds, then rice, and fifth wheat. But wheat had, no doubt, gained the most increase of any. The rapid extension of exports of native produce from India in the last ten years is, indeed, very remarkable. The total value in 1877 was sixty-five millions sterling, and in 1886 eighty-five millions, — an increase of nearly thirty per cent. There could be no great deficiency in the knowledge of the cultivators where such a result was possible; and probably the best aid that the government of India could give to native agriculture would be to proceed steadily with the construction of railways in all the richer parts of that vast country which are still without them. With regard to a continued supply of wheat to Europe, he agreed with Professor Wallace that there is neither the same facility for its increased production as in America, nor the same likelihood of a surplus. The population of India and the native states at the last census was two hundred and fifty millions. It is believed to be increasing at a rate which, in ten years, might add twenty million more mouths to be fed. This increase must be provided for, and the periodical return of famines must not be forgotten. We are within a short period of the time when one will be due. He did not, therefore, think that Europe could depend on India so much as America for future supplies of wheat.

HEALTH MATTERS. Quarantine Systems.

THE quarantine systems of the United States were fully discussed at the Memphis meeting. For years that of New York has been

regarded as the best which could be found along either coast, and its methods have been copied by the quarantine officers of other ports. The condition, however, in which the quarantine arrangements were found to be, when the Alesia' and Britannia' arrived last fall with cholera on board, has done much to destroy the confidence which up to this time had been reposed in the New York system. For the defects which then existed, and many of which doubtless still exist, the responsibility has not yet been determined. The health-officer places it upon the governor of the State, inasmuch as he has vetoed appropriations which were needed to put the hospital islands and appliances in fit condition to receive immigrants suffering from epidemic disease. On the other hand, it has been attempted to throw the blame on the health-officer himself for not supplying what was needed at his own expense. This latter criticism is unjust. He is not called upon, either as a matter of obligation or duty, to expend the amounts necessary to remedy the defects, and certainly there is no precedent for it either at the port of New York or elsewhere.

During nearly fifteen years of active connection with health organizations, the writer can recall but one instance in which a sanitary official paid out of his own pocket the amounts necessary to prosecute sanitary work, when the authorities failed or refused to appropriate public funds for that purpose. That official was Dr. Davenport of Boston, chemist and milk-inspector of the board of health. The amount expended was, if we remember correctly, more than three thousand dollars, and the last we heard he had not been repaid. If there are other instances, we should be glad to put them on record.

The Philadelphia committee reflected very severely on the management of the quarantine authorities at New York, and their complaints have not been fully met. It appears, however, that cholera has not spread from the hospital islands, and it is to be hoped that the measures taken to extinguish it have been successful. The systems at Baltimore and Philadelphia have been condemned as entirely inadequate to the task of coping with epidemic disease should it make its entrance at either of these ports. These defects were the foundation for the request, made especially by Western sanitarians, that a national quarantine system should be organized, whose restrictions should be similar at all the ports of the United States, thus leaving no port unprotected, but keeping such a vigilant watch over all, that cholera and yellow-fever might with certainty be excluded.

The quarantine system of Louisiana has been brought to such a state of perfection by Dr. Joseph Holt, president of the State Board of Health, that it is now looked upon as the best in the United States. A description of this system was given by Dr. Holt at the Memphis meeting, and is a part of the report of the committee on disinfectants. In this description the writer says there are three maritime approaches to New Orleans, the Mississippi River, the Rigolets, and the Atchafalaya River. The two latter are closed against all vessels from quarantined ports, compelling such to use the Mississippi as the only available route to New Orleans. The quarantine is a system composed of three stations, the first of which is an advance-guard inspection station situated at Port Eads, one hundred and ten miles below New Orleans. Here vessels are boarded by the medical officer, who inquires as to their sanitary record and present condition. If from a non-quarantined port, and all is well, they go to the city. If a vessel comes from a quarantined port, but gives no evidence of present or past sickness among passengers or crew, she proceeds to the upper station, seventy miles below the city, where she is subjected to sanitary treatment. If, on the other hand, the vessel gives evidence of being infected, she is sent to the lower station, located on Pass à l'Outre, one hundred and three miles below New Orleans. The sick are at once removed to a hospital. The vessel, with the well on board, is thoroughly disinfected by the aid of the quarantine tugboat. The atmosphere below decks is completely replaced with one heavily charged with sulphurous oxide, and wherever possible a solution of bichloride of mercury is applied to effect thorough disinfection. In speaking of this treatment, Dr. Holt says, A ship known to be infected with one of the three great pestilential diseases-smallpox, cholera, or yellow-fever can stand and must endure extraordinary treatment, even if clothing is wetted and some articles

damaged. 'They who go down to the sea in ships' assume the perils of the voyage, among which is this occurrence of finding themselves on an infected vessel, and being compelled to undergo a cleansing for they have no right to bring their perils ashore and endanger others." The ship, with those on board, is held ten days for observation, and then allowed to proceed to the upper station, where she undergoes further treatment, and then goes to the city.

The methods practised by Dr. Holt are very thorough, and in their application, a tugboat, fitted up with all the necessary machinery, is employed. The bedding of the vessel, together with cushions, mattresses, carpets, rugs, etc., is removed from the ship to a commodious building in close proximity to the disinfecting wharf, where they are treated by moist heat at a temperature of not less than 230° F. During this process of steaming, every article is perceived to be saturated and intensely hot, the steam freely penetrating to the interior of mattresses, double blankets, etc.; but so great is the heat in the texture of the fabrics as to immediately expel all moisture upon drawing the racks and exposure to the open air. Shirts and collars instantly assume the crisp dryness they possessed before exposure, losing the musty smell of long packing in a trunk. Silks, laces, and the most delicate woollen goods show no signs of injury whatever from the treatment. Articles of leather, rubber, and whalebone would be injured by the heat, and are therefore disinfected with the bichloride-of-mercury solution. The time required to charge the chamber with apparel for disinfection is thirty minutes; time required for action of moist heat, twenty minutes; for removal of articles, fifteen minutes, a total of sixtyfive minutes.

The report of Dr. Holt is amply illustrated with figures of the apparatus used in disinfection, and the method of its application, and should be in the possession of every sanitarian as furnishing a model which can be adapted to the requirements of every quarantine station.

MENTAL SCIENCE.

Ideas of Number in Animals.

THE study of comparative psychology labors under two difficulties: the facts upon which it is to build cannot be accurately ascertained without great difficulty; and the intrepretation of the facts is a still more delicate and laborious task. Civilized man has looked upon the facts of nature with so entirely a modern mind, that it is a rare gift to be able to appreciate the elementary thought-processes of uncivilized communities or of animals. Every attempt at improving the methods of presenting these phenomena should be received with sympathetic consideration, without regarding as final what is probably only a step to something better. Mme. Clemence Royer has recently made a study of the mathematical powers of animals that deserves the consideration of all students of psychol

ogy.

Among men we find all grades of mathematical ability, from that of a Newton and Laplace to that of one who cannot conceive the abstract notion of number. What the savage lacks is not the knowledge of the difference between three men and ten men, but the power to abstract the notion 'three' from men, trees, hands, and so on. The first step in this process is the distinction of unity from plurality, then of duality, etc., from plurality. The relic of this appears in the prevalence of the dual number in rudimentary languages.

What impresses itself upon the primitive mind is the sensory images of objects: he knows the difference between four trees arranged in a quadrilateral and in a row, between the general look of three trees and of four trees, but cannot see any thing in common between four trees and four stones. He is a poor arithmetician, but a good geometer; he is impressed by space relations, not by numerical characteristics. He can judge of distance, of the outlines, of the sizes of objects, but all by an instinctive visual talent. If, then, arithmetical notions appear late in human development, we can hardly expect it to be prominent among animals, lacking an intellectual language. What we can speak of as the language of animals is limited to the expression of the emotions. Their mathematical distinctions are sensory in nature. They distinguish between unity and plurality of certain objects, but we cannot credit

them with abstract notions of one' and 'two.' They have a kaleidoscopic, photographic memory, not an abstract verbal one. All the wonderful powers of animals finding their way, of regularity in time, must be accounted for by an accuracy in the perception of outlines, and the unconscious registration of general intervals by feelings of fatigue, number of steps, and so on.

There is no unit of distance or time. Distance is to them a perception, not an idea. Just so a dog, in attacking a boar, accurately judges the length of his leap, the size and strength of the enemy; but this does not involve any mathematical calculations. The apparent understanding of language by trained dogs comes under the same head. The dog does not appreciate the phonetic value of the words, but takes his clew from the intonation, the little gestures, and the like. The horse understands the language of the bit' better than that of his master. Animals, in brief, have their geometrical sense of relations well developed (better than men in some respects), but are not arithmeticians.

They do not, however, lack all appreciation of number. They do distinguish between numbers, for this is necessary to their existence; but their distinction, when it goes above a few simple units, is in the form of a bunch-estimate, depending as much on the arrangement of the group as on its size. They cannot estimate as we do when we divide an army into regiments, into companies, and so on, and thus estimate the number of men.

Birds, it is true, are much alarmed if an egg be removed from their nests, but they are equally alarmed if the arrangement of the eggs be disturbed; thus indicating that it is the general disturbance that causes the alarm, not a counting of the eggs. The mother recognizes her young individually, and thus can notice the absence of one; but she probably sees no more difference between the eggs than we do, and judges their number only by their arrangement. Cats probably distinguish their young by differences in the fur, and so on they are little affected if one kitten be removed; but, if more than four be taken away, they are greatly disturbed, and especially so if but one be left. If the kittens are weaned, the loss is not taken so seriously.

Dogs notice the absence of one of their number; but that they recognize each other individually is shown by their preferences and jealousies, both among themselves and towards men. Shepherds' dogs do not count their fold, but simply have a general picture of its size. Likewise trained dogs do not count, but have simply learned to associate mechanically certain geometrical forms with certain actions. Sir John Lubbock's dog, that brings a different label according as it wants something to eat, to go out, and so on, does not appreciate the intellectual value of the letters, but regards the label as an artificial means for gaining certain ends. The dog's faculties in these respects, however, seem to be not inferior to those of the Bushmen, who count only to two, and call all above that many.' Number is here concrete only with reference to objects where plurality is a useful trait: it is never abstract, and so can no more reach the stage of mathematical art than can their emotional language reach the stage of ideational abstraction to which ours has attained. By this is not meant that animals can form no abstract notions, but that their general notions are very limited in scope, and are along the line of directly useful interests only. The animal thinks by generic images, does not err in its judgments, is not liable to fallacies, all of which are distinctly human because we think by the intervention of words; and this difference forms the difficulty of our communication with them.

Animal-trainers have ignored these facts, not recognizing that geometry is more fundamental than arithmetic, and have attempted to make animals arithmeticians when nature has made them geometers. Ourselves accustomed to look on every thing from its numerical aspect, we fail to see how trivial a part this plays in animal life.

There remains the consideration of number, not of objects in space, but of succession in time. This faculty has been claimed for the higher animals. There are many stories of pets keeping up the same action at regular intervals, and always the same number of times per day or per week, the story of a dog who always wanted three pieces of sugar, of the dog who would always keep out of the way on Sunday, and so on. Mme. Royer explains this as due to ordinary associations without the intervention of abstract

The

notions of time-units. Houzeau took his dogs out walking every alternate day, and after ten walks did not notice a spontaneous desire of the dogs to go out, although they enjoyed the walk. dogs did not estimate the interval, but took hints from trifling indications. They notice the return of a complex series of circumstances. On the other hand, Houzeau ascribes an instinctive timesense to the crocodile that comes back to its eggs after a definite interval, varying from ten to fifteen days in different species. The mules on the horse-cars in New Orleans make five trips a day, and are always very restless on completing their fifth trip. Such facts need more exact experimentation before they can be ascribed to real counting on the part of the animals.

THE INFLUENCE OF SENSATIONS ON ONE ANOTHER.- Under this head Dr. Urbanschitsch of Vienna reports some curious experiments, the value of which must be left to future research to decide. His general conclusion is, that the excitation of one senseorgan increases the acuteness of the others. If a disk be regarded at such a distance that its color is indistinct, the hearing of a sound will bring out the color. The beating of a watch is heard more clearly with the eyes open than with the eyes closed. Red and green increase auditory perceptions; blue and yellow weaken them. The fact that we listen to music with our eyes closed is due to other reasons, and also to the fact that the ensemble appears best when the tones are not at their clearest. Smell, taste, and touch are open to the same influence. Red and green increase the sensitiveness of each of these senses; yellow and blue weaken their sensitiveness. Touch and temperature have a reciprocal influence. If one tickles the skin and plunges it into warm water, the tickling ceases; if into cold water, the tickling brings out the feeling of cold. These observations are regarded as showing the same re-enforcing action between sensations as has been shown to exist between motions, and as offering a mode of explanation of those curious associations between colors and sounds so insistent in some minds.

BOOK REVIEWS.

Greek Life and Thought, from the Age of Alexander to the Roman Conquest. By J. P. MAHAFFY, New York, Macmillan. 12. $3.50.

THIS work is in the main a continuation of the author's previous volume, Social Life in Greece from Homer to Menander,' though somewhat wider in its scope. It lacks the absorbing interest that belongs to the history of the great days of Greece, but it has a new interest of its own in the spread of Hellenic civilization in Egypt and western Asia. The work is not confined to the moral and social life of the times, though this is the most prominent feature, but contains a great amount of information and discussion on almost every phase of Hellenic life. The political interest of the age immediately succeeding the death of Alexander centres partly in the division of his empire into various kingdoms, and partly in the struggles of the cities in European Hellas to recover their independence. Of the various kingdoms of the Hellenistic world, Egypt was, in Mr. Mahaffy's opinion, the most important and the most prosperous, a fact which he attributes in great part to the statesmanlike genius of its founder, the first Ptolemy. In dealing with the cities of Greece, the author shows a lack of sympathy with the spirit of freedom and local patriotism which is not quite creditable in a citizen of a free country and a historian of Hellenism. It is true, the struggles of the cities to regain their autonomy proved unavailing, and perhaps they were not sufficiently cosmopolitan in their views; yet freedom is better than empire, and, while we acknowledge the defects and the failure of the patriots, we cannot but sympathize with their misfortunes.

Of the moral life of the period, we get glimpses from many points of view, and yet, as a whole, it is somewhat difficult to judge. The sins of the royal courts, especially the frequent murders, the use of torture, and the perpetual wars, are sufficiently prominent; yet Mr. Mahaffy thinks that the morality of private life was purer and more refined than it was in earlier times. In one respect there was certainly a real moral advance: it was during this period that the great schools of ethical philosophy were founded, and men came to regulate their lives by reason instead of by tradition and custom.

The author gives an interesting account of the philosophical schools at Athens, which were established by law as religious corporations with regular endowments; and he shows clearly that during most of the period under review they were highly respected and influential.

The intellectual life of the Hellenic world is treated by the author with considerable fulness. The history of physical and mathematical science is omitted, on the ground that the author lacks the special knowledge requisite for treating it. In art the Rhodian and Pergamene schools are of course the most conspicuous; and Mr. Mahaffy shows, that, though this was an age of decadence, the number of excellent artists was by no means small. In literature, after the decline of the New Comedy at Athens, the chief interest centres in Alexandria. The establishment of the Museum and the great library in that city, and the liberal patronage of both by the Ptolemies, made the place the chief seat of literature, as it afterwards became of philosophy. Of the quality of this literature, Mr. Mahaffy expresses the opinion usually held of it by modern scholars. It was distinguished by erudition and imitation of earlier models rather than by original genius or power of style. It is worthy of note, however, that it was at Alexandria that the practice arose of writing poems, and afterwards prose fictions, on the theme of romantic love, a theme which has since become the most prolific

in literature.

The concluding chapter of the book gives an account of the introduction of Hellenic civilization into Rome consequent on the conquest of Greece by the Roman arms; but the subject is only spiritual life of Hellenism in the Roman Empire. Those who have just introduced, as the author intends writing another work on the read his other works will look with interest for the promised volume.

Mount Taylor and the Zuñi Plateau. By Capt. C. E. DUTTON. Washington, Government. 4°.

STUDENTS of American geology who have learned to expect in Captain Dutton's contributions important results ably elaborated, and presented in a style which is simply fascinating, - clear and graphic, and worthy of the geological wonderland in which it has been his fortune to work, will experience no disappointment in this paper. The district to which it relates (longitude 107° to 109°, and latitude 35° to 36°) lies in the western part of New Mexico, and in the south-eastern corner of the great plateau country, and embraces two distinct geological problems of the first order, the volcanic region of which Mount Taylor is the culmination, and the Zuni Plateau. Captain Dutton's previous studies, as well as those of Gilbert, Powell, and others, were confined mainly to the western side of the plateau province, and especially to the portion traversed by the Grand Cañon of the Colorado. But although no geologist possessing any breadth of comprehension could enter the plateau country, and, after gaining an extended knowledge of its physical features, fail to perceive that it is a great unit, and sharply delimited from every thing which surrounds it, it was still extremely desirable to study the south-eastern extensions of these vast masses of strata and the features carved out of them, in the hope that problems which could be only half solved on one side of the plateau could be completely solved on the other. It was felt that the history and evolution of this unique region could be ascertained satisfactorily only by knowing the whole. The survey, therefore, embraced the first opportunity of attacking it from the eastern side; and the admirable monograph before us sufficiently attests the wisdom of this policy.

With the view of putting this new field at once into its natural relations with the whole of which it forms a part, Captain Dutton begins with a summary account of the plateau country in its entirety. The area of the plateau country, south of the Uinta Mountains, is about one hundred and thirty thousand square miles. A shaded map shows its form and its position with reference to the other portions of the western United States. The topographic features and extraordinary scenery of this region have been described many times, and it is deemed needless to descant upon them; but several pages are devoted to the general geologic features underlying these wonderful reliefs. The strata are normally approximately horizontal; and such slight inclinations as occur are very persistent, car