The effect of dissolved air upon the density of a liquid can not be computed. It has, however, been determined in the case of water, and its maximum total effect is only 3 units in the sixth decimal place. It may seem superfluous to point out that all density determinations reported by investigators should be based upon weights in-vacuo but it is unfortunately true that many such data recorded in the literature have apparently not been reduced to the in-vacuo basis, since information on this point is frequently entirely lacking in the paper.

(9) OTHER PHYSICAL PROPERTIES Information is lacking concerning the magnitude of the effect of the atmosphere upon the measurement of

EDWARD W. WASHBURN

NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL WASHINGTON, D. C.

THE TOLL OF THE AUTOMOBILE

WE hear and read a good deal of the enormous annual toll of human life due to the mania for speed so generally prevalent among automobile drivers. On this account our city streets and country highways are dangerous places for pedestrians as well as for other and more discreet motorists. Even the widely heralded "dirt roads" of Iowa are tainted with human blood. "As a killer of men, the automobile is more deadly than typhoid fever and runs a close second to influenza. Up to August of this year (1924) 9,500 lives were sacrificed, chiefly in preventable accidents." Thus reads a recent account in one of our popular magazines.

...

Not only is the mortality among human beings high, but the death-dealing qualities of the motor car are making serious inroads on our native mammals, birds and other forms of animal life.

This matter was most forcefully brought to my attention during June and July, 1924, when my wife and I made the journey overland from Iowa City, Iowa, to the Iowa Lakeside Laboratory, on West Lake Okoboji, Iowa, a distance of 316 miles. Parts of two days were occupied in the going journey on June 13 and 14, while approximately the same time was required for the return trip on July 15 and 16.

Within a few minutes after we had started from Iowa City and a considerable number of dead animals, apparently casualties from passing motor cars, had been encountered in the road, it occurred to us

that an enumeration and actual count of those that we might yet come upon during the remainder of the tour would be of interest. Accordingly, we undertook to do this on both the going and return trip which, although not over the same routes in their entirety, were of exactly the same length.

In this count only freshly killed carcasses of vertebrate animals lying in or immediately at the side of the highway were taken into consideration, and only those forms of whose identity we were certain as we passed along were included. Since we seldom exceeded 25 miles per hour we had ample time to identify the more familiar things. Stops were made for a few of the less common and unusual finds.

Our route took us through typical Iowa farming communities, for the most part moderately thickly populated and supplied with the usual farm buildings. Prairie, marsh and woodland were also represented as were various types of soil and vegetation supported by them. All these conditions make for a diversity of animal life, and we found it well represented on the highways.

About 200 miles of the road were graveled; the remainder was just "plain dirt," most of which had been brought to grade. Of course the surfaced roads permit of greater speed, together with more comfort to the speeder and correspondingly greater danger to human and other lives.

In general, the greatest number of casualties were encountered on the good stretches of road. By way of illustrating this point it may be noted that on the return journey between the Laboratory and Marshalltown, Iowa, a distance of 211 miles, all well graveled, 105 dead animals representing 15 species were counted; of these, 39 were red-headed woodpeckers (Melanerpes erythrocephalus). Several other forms that could not be identified in passing were met with. As will be seen from the appended table the mortality among red-headed woodpeckers is higher than that of any other form observed, and I believe that a combination of circumstances will account for this situation. In the first place, these birds have a propensity for feeding upon insects and waste grain in and along the roads; second, they remain as long as possible before the approaching car, in all probability not being keen discriminators of its speed; and third, they have a slow "get-away," that is, they can not quickly acquire a sufficient velocity to escape the oncoming car and so meet their death. However, I feel certain that a speed of from 35 to 40 miles an hour is necessary in order to catch these birds. Of course this is not true for some other forms such as turtles and snakes which depend upon terrestrial progression and are comparatively slow movers. In most cases all animals, if given a reasonable time to escape, will cause the hurried motorist little if any delay.

Further comment need not be made upon the various factors entering into the situation here discussed. It will be sufficient to point out that on a summer motor trip of 632 miles over Iowa roads, 29 species of our native and introduced vertebrate animals, representing a total of 225 individuals, were found dead as a result of being crushed by passing automobiles, and that this agency demands recognition as one of the important checks upon the natural increase of many forms of life. Assuming that these conditions prevail over the thousands of miles of improved highways in this state and throughout the United States the death toll of the motor car becomes still more appalling.

The details of our findings are herewith recorded in tabular form:

12. Red-bellied woodpecker (Centurus carolinus) 13. Northern flicker luteus)

(Colaptes auratus

14. Meadowlark (Sturnella sp.). 15. Bronzed grackle (Quiscalus quiscala aeneus)

16. English sparrow (Passer domesticus). 17. Shrike (Migrant?) (Lanius ludovicianus (migrans?))

18. Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) 19. Brown thrasher (Toxostoma rufum). 20. Robin (Planesticus m. migratorius). MAMMALS

21. Western fox squirrel (Sciurus niger rufiventer)

22. Thirteen-lined spermophile (Citellus t. tridecemlineatus)

23. Franklin's spermophile (Citellus franklini) 24. Woodchuck (Marmota m. monax). 25. Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus). 26. Cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus sp.) 27. Skunk (Mephitis putorius). 28. Weasel (Putorius longicaudus). 29. Cat (Felis domesticus) ...

Total

UNIVERSITY OF IOWA

51

DAYTON STONER

INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF

PLANT SCIENCES

AT representative meetings of American botanists (Botanical Society of America, American Phytopathological Society, Ecological Society of America) held in Cincinnati, December, 1923, a proposal suggesting the desirability of holding an international congress for all workers in the fields of the plant sciences (botany in its widest applications) was enthusiastically approved.

In making the proposal it was clearly recognized that in view of preparations made, and then necessarily abandoned, for a Fourth International Botanical Congress in London in 1915 (as authorized by the executive committee of the Brussels Congress, 1910), the British botanists enjoyed, if they wished to exercise it, a prior claim in respect to such arrangements. Further, there were endorsed by the three societies mentioned suggestions that if at the present time British botanists did not wish to undertake arrangements on British soil for such a congress, but would be willing or would prefer to have the initiative taken in the United States, then American botanists would gladly undertake to bring about an international gathering at a date as early as might seem practicable. Representing the three societies, there was appointed an organizing committee consisting of H. C. Cowles (Ecological Society), B. M. Duggar (Botanical Society) and H. H. Whetzel (Phytopathological Society). This committee was authorized to ascertain the wishes of British botanists, and if a favorable sentiment was manifest toward convening the congress in the United States, to proceed with the necessary arrangements.

Communicating with one of the presidents and with the secretary representing the proposed congress in London, of 1915, it seemed that the initiative might well be taken by American botanists, as indicated by excerpts from the letters received.

I think I am able to state with some degree of confidence that British botanists, so far from wishing to maintain any prior claim to holding a congress in Britain at this time or in the immediate future, would welcome the idea of the first post-war meeting being in America. As a matter of fact a British Imperial Congress has been arranged this year in London, and it is in a measure substitutionary for the International Congress which was normally due in London in 1915. It was thought that even in 1924 the time was hardly yet propitious for the International Congress to meet in this country. I am sure we shall all appreciate the delicacy with which you touch on the question of our possible prior claim, and I personally welcome your proposal. (Extract from letter of Professor F. O. Bower, President.)

On the other hand, we should, I am sure, do our best

to render successful a congress initiated in America... I took the opportunity of reading your letter to a small executive committee of the Imperial Congress. The members were much interested and, though unable to speak for British botanists as a whole, were quite in accord with the views I have expressed. (Extract from letter of Dr. A. B. Rendle, Secretary.)

Later there was transmitted by Mr. F. T. Brooks (secretary) a statement from the executive committee of the Imperial Botanical Conference (held in Lonobjection to the proposal submitted. don July 7-16) advising that the conference had no

The organizing committee has accordingly proceeded with plans for an international congress, and it has thus far formulated the following general regulations and tentative schedule:

1. An International Congress of Plant Sciences (Fourth International Botanical Congress) shall be held in Ithaca, New York, August 16–23, 1926.

2. Membership in the congress shall be unrestricted and conditional only upon subscribing to any regulations announced and upon the payment of such nominal fee as may be necessary for legitimate expenses in organizing and conducting the congress.

3. In the scope of the congress shall be included the different branches of botanical science together with what are known as its broader applications in the fields of bacteriology, agriculture and forestry-these various aspects to be suitably grouped in sections. To the end that this characterization may be effective and practically inclusive, the cooperation of all the special American societies that may be interested in the general arrangements shall be solicited and urged.

4. The work of the congress shall be primarily with problems of fundamental research and teaching, but adequate opportunity shall be accorded all sections for the discussion of regulatory recommendations of international significance.

5. Ample time shall be reserved in the preparation of the program for excursions of interest to the various sections.

6. Particulars of the meetings, discussions and excursions shall be published as early as practicable.

Through the courtesy of the Imperial Botanical Conference in London and of the Fourth International Conference of Pedology in Rome, public European announcement of the congress has been made. Furthermore, while on a visit to many centers of botanical work in Europe, during the past summer, Dr. J. R. Schramm acted as the official representative of the organizing committee to draw the attention of botanists to the congress, as far as his contacts would permit. Likewise, in the interest of the

congress Dr. H. H. Whetzel and Dr. B. M. Duggar attended the meeting of the British Association at Toronto. A special effort will be made to reach all workers in the plant sciences.

The cooperative interest of the division of biology of the National Research Council and of the American Association for the Advancement of Science has been assured. The organizing committee records with special gratification the courtesy of Cornell University in permitting the use of its facilities for the congress, thus assuring a convenient geographical location and a most favorable physical environment. President Farrand's letter is appended.

CORNELL UNIVERSITY

Office of the President.

Ithaca, N. Y., Sept. 23, 1924.

Professor H. H. Whetzel, College of Agriculture.

Dear Professor Whetzel:

I have been very much interested in hearing of the plans for the International Congress of Plant Sciences to be held in the summer of 1926 and I need not say that the prospect of having that important meeting in Ithaca is a source of great satisfaction to Cornell University. That our resources will be put entirely at the disposal of the congress goes without saying and the members may be assured of a very warm welcome.

I know of nothing which reacts with more benefit to a university than assemblies of this kind and I venture to hope that visitors from a distance may find something of interest here to justify the choice of place of meeting. Sincerely yours,

(Signed) LIVINGSTON FARRAND.

The date arranged for the congress has been selected after taking into consideration a variety of circumstances affecting both the place of meeting and the convenience of those attending from far and near. Organizing Committee:

H. C. COWLES, Secretary B. M. DUGGAR, Chairman H. H. WHETZEL

SCIENTIFIC EVENTS

LOGARITHMETICA BRITANNICA

THE Cambridge University Press is issuing under the auspices of the Biometrical Laboratory, University College, London, "Logarithmetica Britannica," a table of logarithms to twenty decimal places by Alex. J. Thompson, of the General Registrar's Office, Somerset House, London. Part Nine, the first to be published, contains the numbers 90,000 to 100,000. In the prefatory note Professor Karl Pearson writes:

This year is the tercentenary of the first great work of Henry Briggs, the friend and coadjutor of Napier of

Merchistoun, and the computer of the first, and still perhaps the most valuable, table of common logarithms. Briggs's Arithmetica Logarithmica appeared in 1624, one year before the death of King James. The growth of British mathematics amid the bloody faction and political turmoil of the Stuarts-especially noteworthy in the case of the wizard Laird of Merchistoun-is one of the remarkable facts in the history of science. But this is not the occasion to enter into that matter or indeed into the life of Briggs himself. The purpose of this publication lies in the endeavor to celebrate the tercentenary of his great achievement in a worthy manner. We would, however, willingly have provided a portrait of Briggs could such have been discovered, but inquiries in Cambridge, Oxford, London, of Lord Napier and Ettrick, and of the Yorkshire family of which he was a member have been fruitless, and the reader must be content with a specimen page of the scarce tract of 1617 in which Briggs first drew the notice of the scientific world to the advantages of logarithms to the base 10. When it came to my knowledge that the French proposed to issue a fourteen figure table and the Germans a fifteen figure table, it seemed to me that it was fitting that the land wherein logarithms were cradled should rise to the occasion and issue a standard table-Logarithmetica Britannica-to twenty figures.

In a certain sense the day of logarithmic tables to 4, 5, 6 or 7 figures is past. The users of such tables are either ignorant of the existence of slide-rules and mechanical calculators, or else unfortunately can not afford them. Where much computing has to be done logarithms to a few figures are rarely if ever used. What are used and are often badly needed are logarithmic tables to 10, 15 or 20 figures. They are wanted for work where the more or less customary machines with 9 X 10 showing 18 and the more unusual and costly machines with 12 X 12 showing 20 figures on the slide fail to give results of adequate accuracy without great expenditure of labor. In statistical and computating laboratories— especially in cases where new tables have to be prepared for publication-the original Briggs or original Vega are in greater demand than any more contracted logarithmic tables. Yet their high cost, their rarity and uncorrected errors render, as the French and the Germans have recognized, new tables desirable.

THE DEEP SEA OCEANOGRAPHIC EXPEDITION OF THE NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY1

PLANS for the Ninth Expedition of the Department of Tropical Research are well advanced. The Arcturus has been officially turned over to William Beebe, director of the forthcoming trip, and the plans for the building of the laboratory, extra staterooms, photographic room, etc., are complete.

The expedition will start early in January, and the first stop will be in the Sargasso Sea. The eastern 1 From the Bulletin of the New York Zoological Society.

portion of this area will be explored and a month's stay made, at the point of greatest concentration of seaweed, by means of a large buoy anchored in about two miles of water.

The depths beneath this zone will be searched by all modern methods of dredge, trawl, nets, traps and hooks. In this way a more thorough knowledge will be gained of a single limited area in mid-ocean than has heretofore been achieved. The daily and weekly changes in temperatures, salinity and density of the water, and in animal life will be studied and recorded. In effect the ship will function as an island.

The Arcturus will have a movable bow-sprit or railed platform which can be lowered to within a few feet of the water, and from which any fish or other creatures floating in the path of the vessel can There will be a runway be harpooned or netted.

with a hand-rail around the outside of the hull, which will give access to any part of the length of the ship's side. Large searchlights, crow's nests near the top of the masts and marine glasses will be in constant use to discover any interesting creatures within vision. There will be diving apparatus for work and study at shallow depths on submerged platforms in mid-ocean; numerous aquariums, tanks and wells for live fish; a dark room is to be built for the study of luminescence in deep-sea fishes, and complete equipment will be brought into play to capture forms of deep sea life of which comparatively little is known. Most of the luminous fishes live at great depths; some of these creatures, however, that do not inhabit the actual abysses are known to rise nearer the surface at night, so nocturnal activities aboard the Arcturus will probably be almost equal to those of daylight hours. Dredging, trawling and the use of baited traps after dark may be the means of securing hitherto unknown forms of life.

One of the objects of particular interest will be the attempt to secure specimens of the giant squid, which so far is only known through the remains found in the stomachs of cetaceans.

A powerful wireless set will be installed on the ship and weekly reports, describing the progress of the expedition, will be sent out. Complete records will be kept by means of motion pictures, paintings and photographs, as well as by written descriptions and accounts. Casts and models of the more delicate and perishable animals will be made, and every effort is to be directed toward obtaining information as to the habits of various fishes.

The extent of the Sargasso Sea varies in accordance with wind and current, so that some cruising about will be necessary in order to determine the most favorable spot for locating the floating island. Between the extremes of giant cetaceans and microscopic plankton,

there will be enough material for study to occupy every moment of the six months which it is proposed to spend on this deep-sea expedition.

PLANS OF THE ENGINEERING
FOUNDATION

THE Engineering Foundation, New York, has appointed 190 leading engineers, representing industry, education and public service in twenty-seven cities throughout the country, to act as local representatives. These engineers will work with the Foundation Board in carrying out a nation-wide plan "for the furtherance of research in science and engineering or for the advancement in any other manner of the profession of engineering and the good of mankind."

The foundation's work will be carried on with $500,000 provided by Ambrose Swasey, of Cleveland, augmented by a recent gift of $50,000 from the estate of Henry R. Towne. The immediate direction of the foundation's affairs will be in the hands of a group of engineers in New York and other cities.

At present the foundation is cooperating with the National Research Council and the Research Committees of the various engineering societies in investigations of engineering problems.

With research committees of the founder societies of

civil, mining and metallurgical, mechanical and electrical engineers, the foundation is cooperating in investigations of concrete and reinforced concrete arches, steel columns for buildings and bridges, mining methods, rock drill steels, properties of steam-bearing metals, lubrication and strength of gears.

Besides the foundation's appropriations to aid research, totaling $15,000, contributions from industries and other sources aggregate more than $100,000. Personnel research in industry, education and government will be furthered in 1925 through the personnel research federation.

Representatives announced are affiliated with numerous national organizations in addition to engineering societies, the list including the American Chemical Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Iron and Steel Institute, Society for Promotion of Engineering Education, American Society for Steel Testing and the American Meteorological Society.

PUBLIC LECTURES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

THE Zoological museum of the University of Minnesota has announced the program for its fifth annual course of Sunday afternoon lectures. These lectures are being given at 3:30 P. M. in the animal biology building as follows:

January 4. The winter bird life of Minnesota: THOS. S. ROBERTS, director of the zoological museum, University