New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-27
THE SCIENCE CONVENTION.



Tynda of his visit 30 Niagara, and his daring passage
beneath the Falls point where visitors had
been conducted, will feel interest In Prof Hoeys
paper which took up the subject Of the gradual change
destruction OF the cataract which Prof TyndalI dis
cussed in the closing paragraphs Of his lecture upon his
return 10 England.
THE PRoxIMATR FUTURE OF NIAGARA-BY PROF. O. w.
HoLLEf.
Prof Tynda said that IL the rate OF recession named
by sir G. Lye foot year. correct in 5000 years
the Horseshoe Fail would be far above Goat Island and
the American channel would be dry. Prof. Holley
showed that Sir Charless rate the result OF
lecture founded on a guess He also by means OF the
most Trustworthy data have since the commence
ment OF the historic PERIOD showed that would DC
more than twice that length OF time before the Falls
would recede a mile. He also described the formation
Of the bottom OF the river the course and depth OF the
nnetent cn rents ana tne location Oh ihe Das All wDen
indicated that the American channel would never be
Prof Tynda thinks that the depth of the water will
determine the of the chasm channel the gorge
recedes, and the rate OF Prof HOlley cited
the physical facts which tend TO prove that It is the
character OF the bed of the river the harder or
nature of the material TO be broken down, that VIII de-
eide these points He particularly noticed the fact that
the Falls constantly diminishing in hight they
receded until they reached their present SITE where
the river makes acute angle with its former drec-
ton This was necessarily case because they were
recedng in the line Of the Dip Of the underlying rock
higher than now when they are two miles up stream.
To this bend in the river we owe one OF the most beau
the Falls.
Prof Tyndan speaks of his trip through the Cave Of
the Winds OF seeing the shae In It,; also OF the
binding hurricane Of spray which was hurled against
him. Prof Holley said Z was this last Circumstance
the that shale whatever is visible in the
HOey closed by sayiag that Prof Tyndals style
vigorous animated, and positive that one might
rather than the most realistic uterances Of many OF his
brother scientists.
on THE QUESTION "Do SNAKES SWALLOW THEIR
YoUNGp BY C. BROWN GOoDE OF MIDDLETowS
UNIVERSITY, CONN.
This paper discussed the habit observed in certain
snakes of allowing their young temporary refuge in
their throats whence they when danger is past
He stated that the question had been mooted one since
the habit first discussed by Gilbert White in his
Natural History SelbOrne," published 1889. Ref
erence was made TO the of Sir william Jardine, NJ
c. Cooke and Prof f. W. Putnam well as TO the re-
cent discussion Vt the subject In The London Lana ana
Water.
The question only be decided by the testimonies OF
eyewitueses Through the courtesy Of the editors OF
The American AgrieuituriSf a inserted asking
for observations BY this means and by personal inquiry
the testimony persons been secured or these
young enter the parents mouth, IN 10 cases
the parent warning them by aloud whistle Two were
cOnsiderate enough TO walt and see the young appear
when danger seemed to be past one repairing to the
spot and witnessing the same act on several sue
cessive days -Four the young rush out when the
parent was struck; lS saw the young shaken OUT by
dogs or running from the mouth OF their DEAD parent
20 who saw the young enter Killed the motnef ana Iou
them living within while only IL allowed the poor parent
to escape % saw the young living Mltnin tne parent
but they did not see them enter the testimony is a
least dubious.
1t be Objected that these are the testimonies OF
laymen, unframed and unaccustOmed 10 observation
The letters are however. from very intelligent ella SIS
farmers, planters, and business menlntegent read
ers OF an agricultural magazine, III auuton, Nc Ia
the testimony OF several gentlemen whose WORD would
not be doubted other questions in zoology. There
were given the statements OF Prof l. Smith of Yale
College DR.. Edward Palmer OF the Smithsonian lnsutu-
ton the Rev. c. L. LOOMS. M. d. of hiddetown, Conn.,
and Others statement OF the editor OF me 10
OOgSt regarding the Scaly Lizard or Europe Io0t0ca
pipipard), which has similar habit ,
Ia the opinion of Profs. Wyman and Gill and other
psychologists there is phys reason why the young
snakes may not remain considerable time In the data
bic throat and stomach OF the mother Inc gastric juice
acts very feebly upon living tissues and 1t Is almost I'M
possible to smother reptiles. TOads ana frogs oiteh es
cape unframed from the stomach of snakes. III the
habit is not protective If the young cannot escape from
protective, a similar habit is seen in South American
fishes of the genera Arius. Ba0rtts, and Geophagus
the male the for safety IN their mouths
Since many important facts in biology are accepted
on the statements of single observer. 1t is claimed
that these Testimonies sufficient set this matter
forever at rest The well attested relate to the
garter snake and ribbon snake (Eutnta sirtaIis
sourtta the water snake SLTop'dootns s,Redo)' the
mOcassn AneistrOd0n cOni0T1T and plScIroruS), the
massasauga (Oroaius tergeminas the tsnGllsh viper
(PeQS be1ttS) and the mountain black snake (OOu1eT
AHe0hGenSiSl. 1t is probable that the habit EXTENDS
well AS Throughout the family Of Crotalid. 1t is note
worthy that ali these snakes Known 10 he oVOVlv-
parous while well attested case occurs among the
truly oviparous milk snakes (OphebOus grass snakes
(LiOpeltiS and CyeIophtS ground SHAKES tS'OTero OF
the smooth black snakes (BdScdt0n cohsfrcor IT, yet
remains to be shown that the habit IS shared D egg
laying snakes Further observations are mncn needed
genera entirely unknown.
Prof Gill corroborated the statement that there was
no physical reason why the habit could not exist, and
said that he considered the evidence sufficient to finally
decide the matter He repudaed the popular idea that
snakes are sometimes swallowed by men, and that they
live aterward in the stomach aud he glad Of the
opportunity of denouncng that common error One Of
the members present added to the testimony Of the
Daper his personal evidence that he had with his
own eyes, young snakes entering and issuing from the
mouth of an older one.
"Burt Wilder must be here" said gentleman to me
this morning though hav MT yet seen him.
"Then how do you know he is here 2"
because Section is all hung full OF brains"
And really section did present remarkable appear
apee: IL was Acknowledgement, to speak-with
diagrams brains both sides and over the rostrum
1t looked like an enlarged view Of certain TRIBUNE
Lecture Extra. And Professor Wilder himself was
there ready to do justice to his brains. The compare
tive secuson of Penikese has enabled Professor Wilder
to produce an unusual amount OF work. He had no less
Than ten papers for this days reading and he
did get through q surprising number OF them II seemed
as though he could scarcely finish one paper and sit
down before he was called on to deliver another.
THE CEREBRAL PIssUREs OF MAMMALIA AND THE LIMITS
OF THEIR HoMoLoGY-BY PROF. BURT G. WILDER
OF CORNELL UNIVERSITY.
Brains have been studied with three objects l. The
descriptive anatomy of Its parts The comparison be-
tveen the brains OF man and apes 8. The illustration OF
function.
More attention has been given to the folds (gyri con-
voutons or anfartuostie than TO the assures burrows
or sulci) But whatever may be the manner OF their
formation the latter really represent the increase oil
ganglionic or dynamic tissue more than the former
WHILE practically the assures are very much easier 70
study and describe than the spaces which they bound
Naturally human brains have been most extensively
studied and those of adults. owen and BischOf, how
ever have compared total brains with those OF quad
mana But the existing doubt and disagreement with
the lack OF any generally recognized basis for the deter
mnaton of homolOgies suggest the need Of different
method of study. .,.-
The size of human brains the expense OF their preser-
walton in numbers the rarity OF apes brains, and espe-