deep, clear vein
of poetry in his composition. I have noted that several of our
nineteenth-century scientists have this vein. Huxley was of this number;
the spirits at the seances used to designate him as the "Poet of
Science." Dr. Jordan in "Matka and Kotik" vindicates his right to be
known as the _American_ Poet of Science.

It is evident that while the President of the Fur-Seal Commission was
performing his duty in the Pribilofs, in the summer of 1896, his mind
became profoundly impressed with the sorrows of the seal. Not only have
commerce and the equity of nations been outraged in this matter, but the
cry of humanity is heard. Aye, more; the cry of the seals themselves is
heard; and it is this cry that Dr. Jordan has interpreted and sent to
the world. Not satisfied with the preparation of his preliminary report,
he has found opportunity to appease his sense of indignation, by writing
this book, every line of which tells a story of avarice and crime and
butchery which, if we mistake not, the roused-up spirit of mankind will
soon abate.

Dr. Jordan's book is a sort of dramatical story, the _personae_ of which
are all Seals except one man, Apollon the Destroyer, and a few of the
creatures such as Chignotto, the sea-otter; Bobrik, her son; Epatka, the
sea parrot; Eichkao, the blue fox; Isogh, the hair-seal; Amogada, the
walrus; Sivutch, the sea lion; and Kagua, his wife, etc. The principal
actors are Atagh, an old "beach-master" living on the Tolstoi Mys;
Matka, his wife; Kotik, their child; Unga, Atagh's brother; Polsi,
Matka's brother; Minda and Lakutha, Kotik's sisters; Ennatha, Matka's
sister, and Annak, Ennatha's child. It is the manner of life and fate
of these personages that Dr. Jordan has delineated in the "Tale of the
Mist-Islands." He tells us that it is a true story--that the author
personally knew Matka before Kotik was born, and that he witnessed the
events which he describes.

I shall not attempt to give an extended review of the story of "Matka
and Kotik." I must satisfy myself and, I trust, incite the interest of
the readers of THE ARENA, by sketching only an outline of the Saga of
the Seal. The scene of the story is the Mist-Island, or, more properly,
certain parts of the shore and headlands of that island whereon the
seals pass an important part of their migratory life. From these coast
lines they take to sea at certain seasons and swim away, generally to
the south. Tolstoi Head is the point of ob