Evening star., 1916-08-05

! is published in separate form. The re-
port forms comprehensive review of
scientific development during the past
year, prepared especially for study or
casual reading by the layman.
| Dr. Charles D. Walcott. secretary of
| the Smithsonian Institution, contributes
an article on the evidences of primitive
| life as he has found them in his inter-
| esting researches in geology and pale
| ontology, or the study of fossils. some
| of which he believes to have been bur-
| led in the mud 15.000,000 or 20,000,oOO
| years ago
Theory Regarding Atoms.
| Prof Sir Ernest Rutherford. f. r. s..
| of the University of Manchester, Eng
| land, writes on the constitution of mat
ter and the evolution of the elements,
discussing some modern views on the
| structure of atoms. and the great num-
ber and variety of methods applied to
the solution of this problem. He says
the general evidence indicates that
each atom contains as its center an
electrically charged nucleus or core of
| very small dimensions. surrounded by
a cluster of electrons or electrical
units. probably in rapid motion. which
extend for considerable distances from
the center or nucleus. He believes that
a beginning of the solution of atomic
structure, the fundamental problem
upon which both physics and chemistry
are based. has been made.
Some aspects of progress in modern
zoology, or the study of animal and
plant life, is discussed by Prof. Ed
mund B. Wilson of Columbia Univer
sity. Two less general papers are on
brds-one by Myron II. Swenk. Ne
braskan ornithologist, Disappearance
of the Eskimo Curlew,' which, like the
passenger pigeon. is rapidly becoming
extinct; and the other by Louis A. Fu
ertes. the we'll known American bird
man, on Impressions of the voices of
the tropical birds. as heard by him in
the wilds of South and Central Amer
lea, illustrated with many clever and
artistic drawings by the author. Mr..
Fuertes writes most entertainingly in
a popular style, but with due regard
for scientific facts. Among the birds
discussed are wrens, partridges, orioles,
f1ycatchers, finches, thrushes, toucans,
Cuckoos, motmots, parrots, pigeons and
many birds unfamiliar to northerners,
the calls and songs of which he care
fully .eproduces phonetically and with
reference to the musical scales. An
other paper on a biological subject is
entitled Construction of Insect Nests
by Prof. DR.. Y. Sjostedt of the Stock
holm Natural History Museum.
Remarkable Wood Described.
An account is given by W. E. Stafford
of the Department of Agriculture of a
remarkable wood called Lignum nephrit-
icum. celebrated during the sixteenth
and seventeenth centuries in Europe
for reputed medicinal virtues and be-
cause of the strange color phenomena
or f1uorescence displayed by its infu-
sion in water. which became opalescent,
changing with different lighting ar
rangements from amber and yellow to
greenish blue. This peculiar wood
seems to have been lost track of until
recently. Its very name says the
author. has disappeared from modern
and its botanical identity has remained
doubtful In the article he shows
however, that this classic wood came
from two distinct sources. from trees of
the other from the Philippines.
Leon Dominian. a noted anthropolo-
Gist, contributes educational ar
ticle on the linguistic areas in Europe,
discussing their boundaries and politi-
cal significance, and illustrating them
with many colored maps. This article
is of particular interest in view of
the fact that the very boundary lines
defined by Mr.. Dominian now CORE
spond in some instances to the battle
lines of the great European war. In
this connection he says: Modern his
tory has entered a stage in which the
determination of national boundaries
is intimately connected with distri-
button of languages International
events in the past two centuries have
been marked by constant endeavor 10
provide conformity Of political and
linguistic frontiers. The progress of
western Europe in this respect is sat
sfactory The eastern section of the
continent contains problems which have
defied diplomatic solution"
Language Follows Trade.
With other things the author
points out that language has always
followed in the wake of trade. and
Babellike confusion has prevailed
along channels wherein men and their
marketable commodities flowed; the
history of Europe during the nineteenth
century shows that modern reconstruc-
ton OF nationalities is based on Ian
guage, practically all the wars Of this
period are the outcome Of three great
constructive movements, which were
the outward and visible signs of the
progress of democratic ideals. and that
the delimination of international from
tiers Is necessary the determina-
tion of administrative boundaries or
city lines.
Two other interesting papers are The
Place of Forestry Among Natural
Department of Agriculture. and Prog
ress in Reclamation of Arid Lands in
the Western United States by j. H.
ReadIe of the United States recIa