tive willingness to subscribe individually. Meanwhile, personal conferences with biologists and organizations in other parts of the world disclosed a general sympathetic interest in the possibility of establishing the inclusive service.

With these assurances of cooperation and support, the project has finally become possible of execution through the generous action of the Rockefeller Foundation pledging $350,000 in support of the editorial conduct of the service, the funds being available over a ten-year period. Although the support is pledged to the Union of American Biological Societies, the funds are appropriated through the National Research Council.

The new journal, Biological Abstracts, will begin its work with the literature of 1926; the first issue may, therefore, be expected about May or June, 1926. For 1925, however, some funds were made available to carry on necessary organization activities and to support the editorial work in Botanical Abstracts and Abstracts of Bacteriology, both of which will merge into Biological Abstracts.

General Organization.-Except during its first year, the journal will be issued in twelve monthly abstract numbers, the annual volumes, which will coincide with the calendar year, closing with an index issue. The abstracts will be printed in English, but all authors' names, titles and citations in so far as they appear in Latin- or Slavic-letter languages will be printed in the original. The abstracts appearing in the issues will be grouped into convenient and reasonably homogeneous subject-matter sections, each in charge of a specialist who will act as section editor. A small central editorial office and staff will be charged with the responsibility of securing all necessary abstracts, distributing these periodically to section editors, and exercising general editorial supervision; preparing provisional manuscript of all indexes; attending to proof reading and seeing all issues through the press; arranging for detailed business management of the journal, etc. Some aspects of the plans and work merit a fuller statement.

Cooperation from Biological Groups.-The small central editorial staff is evidently unable to pass competently on all policies and detailed procedure affecting special interests. Many of the larger research biological societies, whether they happened to be members of the union or not, were therefore invited to name advisory committees to cooperate with the editors in dividing the biological field into suitable subject-matter sections and choosing section editors, preparing lists of possible collaborators (abstractors), determining indexing policies, etc. In this way it is hoped that throughout the broad field to be covered

and the extensive constituency to be served reasonable competence will be brought to bear on the problems involved. Fourteen such advisory committees have been appointed and are actively cooperating.

Preparation of Abstracts.-With few exceptions no abstracts will be prepared by the section editors or in the central editorial office, though the latter will issue all requests for abstracts and administer any necessary follow-up. It is hoped to secure, if possible, virtually all abstracts from collaborators resident in the countries in which the various publications, especially serials, are published, each collaborator, however, being invited to assume only a very moderate and non-burdensome responsibility. It is therefore the plan to produce the journal through cooperation coextensive with productive activity in biological science. More specifically, it is the plan to secure abstracts mainly in the following three ways:

(1) Through authors, who will be invited by the central editorial office to submit abstracts of specifically designated articles of their own authorship.

(2) Through collaborators responsible for furnishing all necessary abstracts and titles from one or a limited number of specifically designated and assigned serial publications. This procedure will be followed only in those journals which confine themselves to a limited special field and the contents of which therefore readily fall within the competence of a single specialist.

(3) Through collaborators who will be invited to abstract individually designated papers falling within their special interests and linguistic equipment. This procedure will be followed in cases in which it is not possible or practicable to secure the abstracts by one of the first two methods.

In addition, abstracts will in some cases be secured from other abstracting journals with which cooperative relations have or may be established.

The abstracts will not attempt to evaluate contributions. No arbitrary limit is placed on the length of abstracts; it is the policy to have them as long as necessary to fulfill their primary functions-permit adequate and accurate indexing of the corresponding original articles and acquaint the reader with the more important new information authors believe that they have contributed. Collaborators and authors will be free to prepare abstracts in any one of five or six languages, depending entirely upon their convenience; any necessary translations will be arranged for by the central editorial office.

Subject-matter Sections.-With the invaluable and generous cooperation of the various advisory committees and many individual biologists, the field to be covered by the service has been divided into some eighty sections to which the abstracts are to be allocated by the central editorial office. No scheme

of sections can meet fully the special desires of all; this is generally recognized and the editors have Cencountered only the most generous spirit of giveand-take between groups as these have collaborated in arriving at a tentative division which gives promise of approximating greatest convenience to the greatest number. It is to be remembered that the grouping of abstracts into sections serves a useful purpose chiefly during current reading; the indexes, the only effective avenues of approach when abstracting journals are later used, are prepared without reference to the sections in which the abstracts were printed, and any inconvenience growing out of misallocation of abIstracts or unwise delimitation of sections is thus only temporary. Since the sections are intended to serve the convenience of the greatest number, they are subject to change as experience may dictate. A further provision which will aid in reducing the inconvenience growing out of the necessity for sections and the printing of but a single abstract of any one paper (in the interests of economy), is the system it of cross references; this will be within the complete

control of each section editor and is discussed in more detail below.

Indexes. The indexes give to an abstracting service permanent reference value; special attention has, therefore, been given to this aspect of the organization work. The concluding (thirteenth) number of each annual volume will be devoted to the indexes, of which three have been definitely planned, as follows:

(1) Authors' index.

(2) Detailed analytical alphabetic subject index. (3) Subject index arranged by systematic groups. An index to new genera, and other special aids, can be added if this is deemed necessary.

It is recognized that the limited indexing staff in the central editorial office will not be thoroughly competent to pass finally on all entries to appear in the two subject indexes. On the other hand, the section editors can not be expected to do the laborious mechanical work of preparing the subject-index entries for the abstracts appearing in their sections. A procedure has, therefore, been worked out whereby the manuscript of the alphabetic and systematic indexes for each abstract is prepared in the central office and attached to the corresponding abstract before this is sent to the section editor. By this plan the various specialists (section editors) will have full opportunity to edit critically not only the abstracts, but the individual index entries as well, without, however, being burdened with detailed mechanical preparation. In this way it is hoped that all index mate

rial will have adequate editorial attention; also, index entries will be completely prepared before the corresponding abstracts go to press, thus reducing to the minimum the delay in the appearance of the annual indexes.

Section Editors.-Section editors will be clothed with full editorial prerogatives. At regular intervals, probably once a month, all accumulated abstracts, with attached index manuscript, will be distributed to the section editors from the central office. Wherever possible, the corresponding original articles will also be furnished; in the measure that this can be done section editors will have all necessary facilities for adequate editorial supervision of both abstracts and

indexes.

Since but one abstract of any one article is to be printed (in view of the great economy effected), material of interest to the readers of a given section will often appear in other sections. In order that practically all material germane to any one section may be represented in that section, editors will be provided with galley proof of as much of each issue as they may request from which they may gather all cross references deemed desirable for insertion in their. respective sections. Each editor will thus have complete control also of the cross references appearing in his section.

It is obvious that section editors occupy key positions and have the opportunity to render a fundamental service to their colleagues the world over. The endeavor of the central editorial staff will be to take from the shoulders of section editors as much detail and drudgery as possible and leave them reasonably free for those functions that are editorial in the best sense of the term. Under these conditions it is expected that there will be a sufficient number of biologists with the requisite equipment willing to man these very important posts.

Physical Make-up of the Journal.-In this direction the effort has been to keep down bulk without sacrificing legibility. A double-column page similar to that in SCIENCE and set in eight-point solid type has been adopted. This page has a capacity 88 per cent. greater than that of Botanical Abstracts, though the size of the page is only very slightly larger; also, the legibility is generally conceded to be greater than in Botanical Abstracts with its 5-inch single column, though the size of the type is the same. By this arrangement the original estimate of the number of pages annually necessary to cover the biological literature in abstracts and indexes is nearly halved.

With the cooperation of the Bureau of Standards and paper manufacturers, a rather exhaustive study

has been made of available high-grade, thin, opaque papers. The one selected for the journal bulks 1,030 pages to the inch and meets with very general approval.

With this advantageous combination of format, typography and paper an inch of shelf room occupied by Biological Abstracts will accommodate about five times as much material as one occupied by Botanical Abstracts. It is now reasonably certain that for some years to come annual volumes of Biological Abstracts will not occupy more than three to four inches of linear shelf space, which is less than the space now occupied by a year's issues of Botanical Abstracts alone.

Central Editorial Staff and Office.-Members thus far appointed are: J. A. Detlefsen and F. V. Rand, associate editors; and J. R. Schramm, editor-in-chief.

From among several extended, it has been decided to accept the generous invitation of the University of Pennsylvania to house the office in the zoology building. The exceptional current library facilities in Philadelphia itself and its strategic position among the great library centers of the east were dominant factors in the decision.

Business Management and Subscriptions.-For the present at least, the business management of Biological Abstracts, including subscriptions and advertising, will be conducted in the central editorial office. Subscription rates have not been finally determined, but it is reasonably certain that they will be within the estimates originally made by the joint publications committee. Early in the coming year announcements will be made and communications sent to individuals and institutions regarding subscriptions. Inquiries relative to subscriptions and advertising should be sent to Biological Abstracts, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.

UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, PHILADELPHIA

J. R. SCHRAMM

HAROLD WILLIAM NICHOLS

DR. HAROLD W. NICHOLS, a radio research engineer of the Bell Telephone Laboratories, died on November 14 at his home in Maplewood, New Jersey. He was born in Iowa on February 23, 1886, and received his education at Armour Institute of Technology, Chicago, receiving a B.S. degree in 1908 and E.E. in 1911; and at the University of Chicago from which he received the degree of M.S. and Ph.D.

In July, 1914, he joined the Bell Telephone Laboratories in New York City. He rapidly achieved disSCIENCE, September 28, 1923, pp. 236-239.

tinction in the radio research activities of that organization, and during the world war he was in charge of its radio work. During recent years he has been identified prominently with the investigations of shipto-shore radio telephone service and of short waves in radio communication. He is recognized as an authority on "fading"; his papers on this phase of radio are distinct contributions to the art. He took a leading part in the transatlantic radio telephone tests in 1923, and for a lecture on this subject received the Radio Premium from the British Institution of Elec trical Engineers. He had twenty inventions pertaining to the radio art to his credit and nine applications are now pending.

Dr. Nichols was a member of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers; the American Mathematical Society; the American Physical Society; the Institute of Radio Engineers; and the Sigma Xi and Eta Kappa Nu fraternities.

His associates in the Bell Telephone Laboratories regard his death as a distinct loss to the profession as well as a great personal loss to themselves. He was a man of pleasing personality; an efficient and untiring worker, noted for his judgment and insight into all phases of the art of radio.

Dr. Nichols is survived by his widow, formerly Miss Lois Boardman, and two children.

SCIENTIFIC EVENTS

THE AMERICAN-HUNGARIAN FOUNDATION

LIBRARY

THREE or four years ago the American-Hungarian Foundation was organized by a group of men, chiefly in Lansing and East Lansing, Michigan, but including others from Chicago, New York, Detroit, Cleveland and other parts of the country, for the purpose of furthering the mutual educational interests of Hungary and America.

One of the objects accomplished was the exchange of professors between the two countries. In the fall of 1924, Professor Geza Doby, professor of biochemistry in the economic faculty of the University of Budapest, and Professor Alexander Kotlan, of the Royal Veterinary College of Budapest, were brought to Michigan State College as visiting professors for the college year. This current year Professor H. J. Stafseth, of the department of bacteriology, Michigan State College, is an exchange professor at Budapest at the Royal Veterinary College.

One of the important things brought out by this exchange is the great interest expressed by the Hungarian scientists for American scientific work. Owing, however, to the very unfavorable rate of exchange for Hungarian money, it is practically impossible for

Hungarian scientists to subscribe for American peri= odicals. An arrangement has been effected through the American-Hungarian Foundation for the establishment of a loan library at Budapest. From this library, under restrictions to prevent loss and too great a delay in the circulation of the material, any responsible scientist in Hungary may borrow such books, periodicals or separates as are available, returning these at the earliest possible moment.

It is urged that American scientists send to this library the copies of their separates. Particularly, it is urged that where possible four or five copies be sent, but if that is impossible, at least one copy. It is hoped that a generous response may be made to this appeal and that this library may be placed on the permanent mailing list of those who maintain mailing lists for their separates. Articles in the so-called pure sciences, as well as in the sciences that have more direct application to agriculture and the industries, are desired, as well as separates along the special industrial and agricultural lines.

It is very fortunate that the international exchange of literature by the Smithsonian Institution can be made use of in forwarding these separates to Hungary.

Each batch of separates should be addressed on an inner wrapper as follows:

American-Hungarian Foundation Library,

Közgazdasági Egyetem,

Szerb Utca 23,

Budapest IV, Hungary,

and at the upper lefthand corner should be placed the name of the sender. This should be enclosed in an outer wrapper, addressed to the Smithsonian Institution, International Exchanges, Washington, D. C. The name of the sender should appear on this wrapper also. At the same time a postal card or letter should be mailed to the Smithsonian Institution, stating the number of packages being sent to it and the name and address of the consignee. This is important for the completeness of the Smithsonian Institution's records. Postage should be prepaid to Washington but no postage should be placed on the inner wrapping. As these packages accumulate, they will be forwarded to Budapest.

MICHIGAN STATE COLLEGE

ERNST A. BESSEY

THE CARNEGIE CORPORATION GRANTS REPORTS of progress during the fiscal year 1924-25 made by the recipients of large grants from the Carnegie Corporation of New York are made public in the annual report of President F. P. Keppel, presented at the annual meeting of the corporation trustees. These include grants for scientific purposes to the following institutions and organizations, the

amount of the grant reported representing in many cases support accorded over long periods of years:

Engineering Study of the Society for the Promotion of Engineering Education, $108,000; Food Research Institute at Stanford University, California, $704,000; Vanderbilt University, for endowment of the Medical School, $1,500,000; University of Colorado Medical School building, $100,000; Columbia University and the Presbyterian Hospital of New York building, $1,000,000; the Johns Hopkins University Medical School, for an Out-Patient Building and Diagnostic Clinic, $2,000,000; New York Academy of Medicine building, $1,550,000; Junior College, St. Johns, Newfoundland, $75,000.

Among the more important grants made during the current year for scientific purposes are the following: Carnegie Institution of Washington, endowment and support of activities, $5,712,500; California Institute of Technology, $100,000; Meharry Medical College for library and laboratory endowment fund, $50,000; New York Academy of Medicine, supplementary appropriation for building, $550,000; Oberlin College, for the library endowment fund, $50,000; Western Reserve University, emergency appropriation for School of Library Science, $21,000; American Museum of Natural History, for support of educational facilities, $75,000; Franklin Foundation of Boston, for organization of additional courses, $50,000; Institute of Educational Research of Teachers College, for study of psychology of adult education, $47,000; Association of American Medical Colleges, for study of medical education, $40,000; Potter Metabolic Institute of Santa Barbara, California, for research in the production of insulin, $15,000.

ELECTIONS OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF AGRONOMY

AT the meeting of the American Society of Agronomy, held in Chicago on November 16 and 17, the following officers were elected:

President-Director C. G. Williams, Wooster, Ohio.
Editor-Dr. R. W. Thatcher, Agricultural Experiment
Station, Geneva, N. Y.

Secretary-Treasurer-Dr. P. E. Brown, Iowa State College, Ames.

First Vice-president-Dr. W. L. Burlison, University of
Illinois, Urbana.

Second Vice-president-Director M. J. Funchess, Alabama
Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn.
Third Vice-president-Dr. E. F. Gaines, Washington
State College, Pullman.

Fourth Vice-president-Dr. A. G. McCall, Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station, College Park.

Dr. W. M. Jardine, secretary of agriculture, was elected an honorary member. Dr. Jardine has been

1908 and held the He has the distinc

a member of the society since office of president for one year. tion of being the only member who now holds the rank of honorary member.

Twelve of the leading agronomists of the country were elected to fellowships by the society. The following are those who were thus honored:

Dr. C. R. Ball, Bureau of Plant Industry.
Dr. P. E. Brown, Iowa State College.

Dean L. E. Call, Kansas State Agricultural College. Director S. B. Haskell, Massachusetts Agricultural Experiment Station.

Dean Jacob G. Lipman, Rutgers University.
Dr. T. L. Lyon, Cornell University.

Professor M. F. Miller, University of Missouri.

Dr. C. V. Piper, Bureau of Plant Industry.

Director R. W. Thatcher, N. Y. Agricultural Experiment Station.

Dr. Chas. E. Thorne, Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station.

Dr. C. W. Warburton, Extension Division, U. S. Department of Agriculture.

Dr. C. A. Zavitz, Ontario Agricultural College.

LATE NOTES ON THE KANSAS CITY MEETING OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION THE general headquarters hotel for the Kansas City meeting will be the Muehlebach. There has been some uncertainty, but this is now definite. The executive committee will hold its sessions in the Muehlebach, in the permanent secretary's consulting room. The council will hold its sessions in the tea room.

The following are the headquarters hotels for the several groups. By following these assignments congestion will be largely avoided.

Mathematicians, Hotel Baltimore.

Physicists and Meteorologists, Hotel Kupper.
Chemists, Hotel Aladdin.

Astronomers, Hotel Kupper.

Geologists and Geographers, Kansas City Athletic Club. General Zoologists, Kansas City Athletic Club. Entomologists, Hotel Baltimore.

Parasitologists, Hotel Stats.

Ornithologists, Hotel Dixon.

Botanical Scientists, Hotel Baltimore.

Ecologists, Microscopists, Nature-Study Workers, Hotel
Westgate.

Anthropologists, Hotel Muehlebach.
Psychologists, Coates House.

Social and Economic Scientists, Kansas City Athletic
Club.

The Metric Association, Hotel Muehlebach.
Engineers, Hotel Muehlebach.

Medical Scientists, Hotel Baltimore.
Agronomists and Horticulturists, Hotel Baltimore.
Seed Analysts and Potato Workers, Hotel Savoy.
Education Scientists, Coates House.

The geneticists interested in agriculture are planning to hold a session on Monday, December 28, on the mezzanine floor of the Kansas City Athletic Club. The session is to be devoted to a symposium on "What genetics has contributed to practical plant and animal breeding," which will be led by Dr. E. W. Lindstrom, of Iowa State College, Ames, Iowa.

The Joint Genetics Section of the American Society of Zoologists and the Botanical Society of America will hold sessions Tuesday forenoon and Wednesday afternooon.

Upon arrival in Kansas City those attending the meeting should proceed at once to the registration room, in the Aladdin Hotel, which will be open from 9 to 9 on the first three days and from 9 to 5 on the remaining days. The general program will be available there, with full information on all details of the convention.

The sessions at Kansas City will necessarily be mainly held in hotels, but the hotels to be used are conveniently grouped. The local committee has cared for all details in an excellent manner. The meeting will be different in many respects from meetings held in university buildings, but it will surely be a real success and the unusual features of a hotel convention will constitute an interesting variation, more pleasant than otherwise. BURTON E. LIVINGSTON, Permanent Secretary

SCIENTIFIC NOTES AND NEWS THE faculty of Wesleyan University presented to Dr. William North Rice, professor emeritus of geology, engrossed resolutions on his eightieth birthday on November 21. President McConaughy and Professor J. W. Hewitt made the presentation speeches.

THE gold medal of the Holland Society of New York was presented on November 23 to Professor Henry Fairfield Osborn, president of the American Museum of Natural History, in recognition of his achievements in the field of biological anthropology.

PROFESSOR ERNST COHEN, director of the Van't Hoff Laboratory at the University of Utrecht, Holland, will be the visiting professor of chemistry in Cornell University during the second semester of this academic year. Professor Cohen will be the first of a succession of scientific men to occupy the new nonresident chair of chemistry established here by the anonymous gift to the university of $250,000, which was recently announced.

THE resignation by Professor A. V. Hill of the Jodrell chair of physiology, tenable at University College, London, has been accepted, with effect from