Mr. Smith and his wife on their return, resumed their employment at the Carnegie Museum, devoting themselves to the arrangement of the Colombian material and to the classification of the large and increasing collections of mollusca belonging to the museum. One of the results of this period is the "Catalog of the Genus Partula" which was published in 1902. After about a year in Pittsburgh, Mr. and Mrs. Smith felt the need of a change and resolved upon removal to Wetumpka, Ala., where they began the systematic collection of fresh-water shells, belonging to the family of Strepomatida, which abound in the Coosa and other rivers of that region. They were supported in their work by four ardent conchologists: Mr. George H. Clapp, of Pittsburgh, Messrs. John B. Henderson and T. H. Aldrich, of Washington, D. C., and Mr. Bryant Walker, of Detroit, Mich., who formed a "syndicate" to enable the work to be done. When Mr. Aldrich dropped out of their number, Professor H. A. Pilsbry, of the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, took the vacant place for such time as he was able to command the necessary funds. In 1910 Dr. Eugene A. Smith, of the Geological Survey of Alabama, induced Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Smith to take charge of the museum at the University of Alabama, and here they have been engaged for nearly a decade in arranging and caring for the collections which have been accumulated principally by the Geological Survey of Alabama. For the past two or three years the Alabama Museum and the Carnegie Museum have been working conjointly in the exploration of the Tertiary deposits of Alabama, under the oversight of Mr. Smith, and the result has been discovery of a number of new and rich deposits of Tertiary mollusca. Vast series of specimens had been gathered by our indefatigable friends, and the last letter received by the writer contained a request for a fresh supply of labels. It was written only a day or two before the lamented death of the sender. Mr. Smith was not a mere collector of natural history specimens. He was a naturalist in the true sense of that much abused word. He had a wide and accurate knowledge of the major divisions of the animal kingdom and keen powers of discrimination. He was especially well versed in conchology, though he wrote and published but little. He was a systematist of far more than ordinary ability, whose opinions were received with great respect by those who employed him. He was an accomplished linguist. He was familiar with the Greek and Latin classics, spoke Spanish readily and used Portuguese as if it were his mother tongue. He also had a good knowledge of French and German, sufficient to enable him to consult works in those languages. He was one of the survivors of a group of naturalist explorers and investigators to whom we are indebted for much of our knowledge of the fauna and flora of tropical America. He belonged to an illustrious company which, beginning with Humboldt and Bonpland, included in its ranks such men as Alfred Russel Wallace, Henry W. Bates, J. N. Natterer, J. J. Tschudi, J. B. Hatcher and J. D. Haseman, who courageously faced dangers in the wilderness in order to secure information at first hand as to the fauna and flora of the great continent where they labored. W. J. HOLLAND CARNEGIE MUSEUM THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE PASADENA MEETING OF THE PACIFIC DIVISION THE third annual meeting of the Pacific Division of the American Association for the Advancement of Science will be held at Pasadena, Calif., during the period June 19-22, 1919. On account of the war no meeting was held in 1918. The address of the retiring president, Dr. D. T. MacDougal, on "Growth of Organisms " will be delivered on Thursday evening in the Palm Room of the Hotel Maryland, following which a public reception will be held. The address of welcome will be given by President James A. B. Scherer, of Throop College of Technology, and the response by Dr. Barton Warren Evermann, the chairman of the executive committee. Special considerations related to the exigencies of the times have induced the executive committee to arrange a program which it is hoped will bring together, in two half-day sessions, the entire attendance of the meeting irrespective of society affiliations and special interests. This is something of an innovation but it is believed the importance of the subjects to be presented and the community of interest involved will justify this departure. Thursday afternoon, June 19, will be devoted to a symposium in which the projected Exploration of the North Pacific Ocean will receive a thorough exposition as regards its economic and scientific possibilities. The importance of this project to the people of the Pacific area can scarcely be overestimated. The Pacific Ocean as a source of food supply remains largely undeveloped. That a scientific survey of this little-known portion of the globe will result in very tangible benefits is not to be doubted. There are, moreover, many scientific questions pertaining to meteorology, geodesy, geology, etc., which will be clarified by the proposed investigations. The aims of the symposium are to impress upon the people generally of western North America their vital interest in the general subject under consideration; and to advance the problem of ways and means of carrying out the contemplated explorations and investigations. Care has been observed in assigning the topics to men qualified by experience to treat them briefly and cogently. The arrangement of the symposium is as follows: Problems of Population of the North Pacific Area as Dependent Upon the Biology, the Oceanography and the Meteorology of the Ocean: DR. W. E. RITTER, director, Scripps Institution, University of California, La Jolla. The Northern Fur-seal Problem as a Type of Many Problems of Marine Zoology: DR. BARTON W. EVERMANN, director, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco. Scientific and Economic Problems of the Mammals and Birds generally of the North Pacifio: Dr. JOSEPH GRINNELL, director, Museum of Vertebrate zoology, University of California, Berkeley. Peculiarities in the Scientific Problems of the Fisheries of the North Pacific: PROFESSOR JOHN N. COBB, director, College of Fisheries, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington. The Problem of the Organic Fertility of the North Pacific Ocean: MR. E. L. MICHAEL, zoologist, Scripps Institution, University of California, La Jolla. Currents, Temperatures and Salinities of the North Pacific: MR. G. F. McEwEN, hydrographer, Scripps Institution, University of California, La Jolla. Barometric Pressures, Winds, Storms, Etc., of the North Pacific: MR. E. A. BEALS, district forecaster, United States Weather Bureau, San Francisco. Fundamental Problems in the Geology of the North Pacific Region: DR. GEORGE D. LOUDERBACK, associate professor of geology, University of California, Berkeley. On Friday afternoon, June 20, another symposium will be presented which will be of interest to workers in every department of science. Its stated purpose is "to stimulate the spirit of scientific inquiry and research and to disseminate scientific information among the people." The need for more research men, with better equipment for their work, is keenly felt. The generous support of the people and the government is required not alone in solving the immediate problems of the day but in furthering and promoting research in all branches of science. The assignment of speakers in this symposium on "Scientific education in a democracy" is as follows: The Dependence of a Community on Scientific Ex- The Graduate School; Its New Duties: DR. W. F. DURAND, professor of mechanical engineering, Stanford University. The Early Training of the Scientific Expert: DR. E. W. BAILEY, supervisor of science, University School, Oakland. The Relation of the Engineer to Scientific Investigation and to the General Public: DR. J. A. L. WADDELL, consulting engineer, Kansas City, Missouri. Must Learning Be Mediocre in a Democracy? DR. E. C. MOORE, president, State Normal School, Los Angeles. Friday evening, June 20, a public address will be given in the Palm Room of the Hotel Maryland by Dr. S. D. Townley, professor of applied mathematics, Stanford University, the subject being "Earthquakes on the Pacific Coast of North America." MEETINGS OF AFFILIATED SOCIETIES Following are announcements of the various societies which will meet under the auspices of the Pacific Division: ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF THE PACIFIC Beverly L. Hodghead, president, 1715 Euclid Ave., Berkeley. R. T. Aitken, first vice-president, Lick Observatory, Mount Hamilton. Dorothea Klumpke Roberts, second vice-president, 1106a Valencia St., San Francisco. D. S. Richardson, secretary-treasurer, University of California, Berkeley. The Astronomical Society of the Pacific plans to hold two sessions for the discussion of scientific papers. The first, from 10 A.M. to 12 M., June 19, at Throop College; the second from 9.30 A.M. to 12 M., Friday, June 20, also at Throop College. Papers of particular interest to physicists will be discussed at the meeting on Friday morning, and members of the American Physical Society are especially invited to be present. The American Astronomical Society has been invited to meet with the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. If the invitation be accepted, probably the only change in the above program would be an extra session on Friday afternoon for scientific discussions. It is expected that a number of papers from the Pacific Coast observatories will be presented. Astronomers from the Lowell Observatory, the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory, Pomona College, and Mount Wilson have signified their intention of attending these meetings. AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY J. S. Ames, president, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore. D. C. Miller, secretary, Case Scientific School, Cleveland, Ohio. E. P. Lewis, local secretary, University of California, Berkeley. The American Physical Society will hold a meeting Thursday morning, June 19, at Throop College. On Saturday the offices and laboratories of the Mount Wilson Observatory in Pasadena will be open to visitors, and there will be an excursion, open to all members of the society, to the observatory on Mount Wilson. CALIFORNIA SECTION, AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY L. H. Duschak, president, University of California. Robert E. Swain, acting president, 638 Channing Ave., Palo Alto. Bryant S. Drake, secretary-treasurer, 5830 Colby St., Oakland. J. Pearce Mitchell, John S. Blowski, William C. Bray, councilors. The meeting of the California Section of the American Chemical Society will be held Saturday evening, June 21, in conjunction with the Southern California section of the American Chemical Society. COOPER ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB Northern Division Barton W. Evermann, president, California Acad- Mrs. James T. Allen, secretary, 37 Mosswood Road, Southern Division Loye Holmes Miller, president, State Normal L. E. Wyman, secretary, 3927 Wisconsin St., Los Angeles, Calif. The Cooper Ornithological Club will hold joint sessions with the Western Society of Naturalists. CORDILLERAN SECTION, GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA Henry Landes, president, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash. Charles E. Weaver, secretary, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash. A meeting will be held of the Cordilleran Section of the Geological Society of America, the details of which will be announced later. ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA Barrington Moore, president, American Museum of A joint session with the Western Society of Naturalists, for the reading of invited papers, has already been planned. Two trips have been arranged for June 21, one to Mount Wilson and the Observatory of the Carnegie Institution, and one to the rich fossil deposits at Rancho La Brea. PACIFIC COAST BRANCH, PALEONTOLOGICAL SOCIETY Bruce L. Clark, president, University of California, Berkeley, Calif. Chester Stock, vice-president, University of California, Berkeley, Calif. Chester Stock, secretary-treasurer, University of California, Berkeley, Calif. The Pacific Coast Branch of the Paleontological Society will hold its meeting in conjunction with that of the Cordilleran Section of the Geological Society of America. The program to be presented will be announced at a later date. PACIFIC SLOPE BRANCH, AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGISTS H. J. Quayle, chairman, Riverside, Calif. E. O. Essig, secretary, Ventura, Calif. The annual meeting of the Pacific Slope Branch of the American Association of Economic Entomologists will be held this year at the Citrus Experiment Station, Riverside, California, May 28-29, in connection with the California Fruit Growers' Convention. It is expected that many members will arrange to attend the meeting of the Pacific Division also. SEISMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA C. F. Marvin, president, U. S. Weather Bureau, Washington, D. C. C. F. Tolman, Jr., first vice-president, Stanford University, Calif. Otto Klotz, second vice-president, Dominion Astronomical Observatory, Ottawa, Canada. H. O. Wood, third vice-president, Cosmos Club, Washington, D. C. S. D. Townley, secretary-treasurer, Stanford University, Calif. The sessions of the Seismological Society will be correlated with those of the Cordilleran Section of the Geological Society of America and of the Pacific Coast Branch of the Paleontological Society, but the exact time of the meetings has not yet been determined. Several papers have been promised for the meeting of the Seismological Society and it is expected that an interesting program will be presented. SIERRA CLUB Wm. E. Colby, president, 402 Mills Building, San Francisco, Calif. Vernon L. Kellogg, vice-president, Stanford University, Calif. J. N. LeConte, secretary, Berkeley, Calif. The Southern California Section of the Sierra Club will arrange an outing in the vicinity of Pasadena that will permit of attendance upon the meetings of the Pacific Division by the members. A future announcement will give details of the outing. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SECTION, AMERICAN CHEMICAL W. L. Hardin, president. H. L. Payne, secretary, 223 West First St., Los Angeles. E. O. Slater, E. E. Chandler, councilors. A meeting of the affiliated sections of the American Chemical Society will be held Saturday evening, June 21. WESTERN SOCIETY OF NATURALISTS T. C. Frye, president, University of Washington, Tracy I. Storer, (acting) secretary-treasurer, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, Berkeley, Calif. The Western Society of Naturalists will hold sessions for the presentation of papers on biological subjects on Thursday and Friday, June 19 and 20, at 9 A.M. One of these will be a joint session with the Ecological Society of America. On the afternoons of these two days the society will meet with other organizations in the two symposia under the Pacific Division. On the evening of Friday, June 20, a dinner for members of the society will be held at one of the local hotels. Luncheon will be provided at Throop College of Technology on Thursday and Friday for all in attendance at the scientific meetings. On Saturday, June 21, there will be a field excursion up Mount Wilson Via Sierra Madre and Little Santa Anita Canyon. This trip affords excellent opportunity to see the fauna and flora of the region from the dry washes at the southern base of the San Gabriel Mountains to the Transition Zone forest on the top. At the observatory opportunity will be afforded to see the astronomical equipment. Luncheon will be provided for all visitors. Those who do not care to walk may arrange for transportation up and down the mountain. Other trips to Rancho La Brea and Catalina Island. PACIFIC FISHERIES SOCIETY Barton Warren Evermann, president, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco. C. McLean Fraser, vice-president, Nanimo, British Columbia. G. R. Hoffses, vice-president, Seattle, Wash. Willis H. Rich, secretary, Stanford University, Calif. E. Victor Smith, treasurer, Seattle, Wash. The Pacific Fisheries will hold sessions on Thursday and Friday. A UNION OF SCIENTIFIC FEDERAL EMPLOYEES THE recent formation of a union of scientific employees of the federal government is an event of more than local importance, as is also the work of the Congressional Joint Commission on Reclassification of Salaries of federal employees. The work of this commission was the immediate cause of the formation of the union, which took place at a mass meeting at the New National Museum in Washington, May 8, 1919. In the call for the mass meeting the advantages of organization which had been urged were summarized as follows: improvement of conditions and facilities for more effective scientific and technical work; adequate presentation of the needs and results of such work to the public and to legislative and administrative officers (the Reclassification Commission wishes to deal with employees through organizations, and not as individuals); greater freedom in both official and non-official activities; just and reasonable salaries based on service performed and the economic and social conditions which prevail; greater public recognition of the aims and purposes of research; advancement of science and technology as an essential element of national life. While the advantages of forming a national scientific union had been the subject of considerable discussion it was felt by the committee that such an organization could not possibly be formed in time for the work of the Reclassification Commission, and only the following plans were suggested for consideration at the mass meeting: Plan No. 1.-To work only through existing scientific organizations. Plan No. 2.-To form an independent organiization of those federal employees doing scientific or technical work. |