expedition informs me that " the fossil shells are not all recent species since even the level plains about twenty to twenty five miles from the coast contain fossil mollusca (Amusium mortoni, from Cenotes near Merida, Turritella perattenuata and Turritella apicalis from R. R. cut one-half mile east of Tekanto. Ostrea meridionalis and Arca species undetermined, from a digging near Merida and Lucina disciformis) not now known to be living, and which make part of the Floridian formation (the typical Pliocene of the United States). Furthermore in the Sierra which contains the caves, a number of fossil forms have been found the determination of which is rather doubtful, but which

Fig. 3. The various kinds of ground plans used in Maya (ancient Yucatecan) temples.

(a) Single chamber building with plain door.

(b) Single chamber temple with wide doorway and two square columns. (c) Two chamber temple with wide doorway and round columns and the Sanctuary with single plain doorway.

(d) Two chamber temple, the vestibule with simple doorway and the Sanctuary with three doorways and a low altar.

(e) Four chamber temple Palenque type, the vestibule with three entrances and two squarish piers, the Sanctuary with tablet chamber, and two small lateral chambers.

(f) Three chamber temple, Chichen Itza type, the vestibule entered by wide portel with two serpent columns, this Sanctuary enlarged by introducing two square columns to support the triple vault, and a long gallery with three doorways extending behind.

may be of early Pliocene or even of Miocene Age." Professor Pilsbry of the Academy of Natural Sciences and Mr. C. W. Johnson of the Wagner Institute say further after examination of the shell bearing rock specimens brought home by the Expedition above mentioned and now in the Academy of Natural Sciences, that "the shells indicate late Pliocene but by no means Plistocene Age, the presence of several characteristic Pliocene species Turritella (2 species) Fulgur rapum. Pecten eboreus Amusium mortonii, and Ostrea meridionalis preventing the possibility of the rocks being assigned to a later Epoch than the Pliocene while the fossils extinct and still existing considered together, indicate that the formation was contemporaneous with the Floridian formation of Prof. Heilprin."

In the second part of the volume a talent for lucid simplification impresses us in novel panoramic views of Uxmal and Chichen Itza, when stationed upon an imaginary height, we view the arrangement of walls and mounds clear of obscuring masses of leafage and rubbish, add to this something of the ever delightful charm of the landscape painter in sketches illustrating the course of expedition along the east coast, as we follow it from the Isle of women (Mujeres) to Tuloom, and from Cozumel to Cancun and El Meco. Looking from water to land we seem to see the tropical distance taking on its mirage like garb of coolness, and by grotesque pinnacles of rock, hear the rush of green waves upon the sands, where mysterious walls set softly in the deceitful blue allure us from the shore.-HENRY C. MERCER.

PROCEEDINGS OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES.

Nova Scotian Institute of Science.-May 11, the following papers was read: Notes on the Geology of Newfoundland, by T. C. Weston, Esq., F. G. S. A., Ottawa; Phenological Observations for 1895, by A. H. McKay, Esq., LL. D., F. R. S. C., Superintendent of Education; Glacial Succession in Central Lunenburg, by W. H. Prest, Esq., Chester Basin, N. S.; On the Flora of Newfoundland, No. 3, by Rev. Arthur C. Waghorne, New Harbour, Newfoundland; Notes on Nova Scotian Zoology, No. 4, by Harry Piers, Esq.; Water Supply of the Towns of Nova Scotia-Financial, Sanitary and other Considerations, by W. R. Butler, Esq., M. E., Professor of Mathematics, Natural Philosophy and Engineering, King's College, Windsor; On the Broad Cove Coal Field, by W. H. Ross, Esq., C. E.-HARRY PIERS, Secretary.

Boston Society of Natural History.-The Annual Meeting was held Wednesday evening, May 6th. The following business was transacted: Reports of the Curator, Secretary, Librarian, Treasurer and Trustees; Announcement of the award of the Walker Prize for 1896; Election of Officers for 1896-97. The following paper was read: Prof. Charles S. Minot: On the Principles of the Construction of the Microtomes. There was shown a collection of the microtomes illustrating the evolution of the instrument, and also a microtome of a new model. May 20. The following papers were read: Prof. E. S. Morse: Man as a Tertiary Mammal; Dr. G. A. Dorsey: On the Photograph and Skeleton of Neddy Larkin, a native of Australia.-SAMUEL HENSHAW, Secretary.

American Philosophical Society.-April 17.-Dr. D. G. Brinton read an obituary notice of Henry Hazelhurst.

May 1st.-A Symposium on the Factors of Organic Evolution was held. Three stated papers were followed by open discussion. The papers were read by Prof. E. D. Cope, who approached the subject from the standpoint of paleontology; Prof. E. G. Conklin, who discussed it from the embryologic point of view; and Prof. L. H. Bailey, who adduced the facts of botany in support of his conclusions. Dr. D. G. Brinton discussed the papers previously read.

May 15th-Prof. A. H. Smyth read an obituary notice of Henry Phillips, Jr. Prof. E. D. Cope read. two papers, entitled Sixth Contribution to the History of the Miocene Vertebrata of N. A.; and Second ' contribution to the history of the Cotylosauria.

Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences.-May 8th.Anthropological Section.- Papers were read by Dr. M. V. Ball on "Tattooing among Convicts." and by Dr. H. Allen on "Ethnic Bearing of the Classification of the Hand."-CHAS. P. MORRIS, Recorder.

The Academy of Science of St. Louis.-At the meeting of May 18, 1896, Professor C. M. Woodward presented a critical examination of some of the mathematical formulæ employed by Herbart to represent mental phenomena, in which these formule were criticised as inadequate. Though not considering any formulæ likely to be adequate, from the nature of the case, the speaker offered a substitute for the Herbart formula pertaining to the bringing into consciousness of a sublatent concept through the suggestion afforded by another concept similar in some respects while differing in others.

Dr. A. N. Ravold made a report on the use in St. Louis of diphtheria antitoxine, prepared by the Health Department of the city. During the past winter, 342 cases of diphtheria had been treated with this serum, by 93 physicians. Doses of from 2.5 to 106 cc. had been administered. As a rule, the recovery was far slower when the quantity used was small than when a larger quantity was employed. Usually the serum was administered only once. In about half the cases a decided change for the better was noticeable within 24 hours, and these cases were practically cured within 48 hours, although attention was called to the fact that for some weeks the throat of a convalescent is a breeding place for the diphtheritic bacilli, the virulence of which did not seem to be diminished by the serum treatment. Of the cases reported on, 9.06 per cent. only, died, and as a considerable number of cases were hopeless when treatment was administered, the patients dying

within 24 hours thereafter, it was considered fair to deduct these deaths from the total, which reduced the mortality to 4.6 per cent. when the serum was administered in the earlier stages of the disease. The injurious consequences of administering the serum were fully considered, but held to be practically insignificant. It was also stated that when used on persons who had been exposed to but had not manifested the disease, the serum proved an unfailing means of conferring immunity for a certain period of time. Among the advantages in the use of this serum was mentioned that of lessening the chances of secondary infec tion, so frequent after an attack of diphtheria.

A committee presented resolutions on the death of Dr. Charles O. Curtman, for many years a member of the Academy.-WM. TRELEASE, Recording Secretary.

SCIENTIFIC NEWS.

The Biological Laboratory of the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences will open at Cold Spring Harbor, Long Island, July 3d, 1896 for its seventh session. As in the previous years Prof. Herbert W. Conn, of Wesleyan University is the Director. This year he is assisted by Prof. H. T. Fernald who gives instruction in Embryology, Prof. H. S. Pratt who takes charge of general zoology, Dr. D. S. Johnson, instructor in Botany, Dr. Edward L. Rice Assistant in Biology and W. H. C. Pyncheon instructor in photography. The session lasts six weeks but students, upon special arrangement, can remain longer. The Institute now possesses five buildings for the use of the laboratory, a good equipment of the apparatus necessary for collecting and for investigation and can accommodate about sixty students. The laboratory fees are as follows: The laboratory fee, including any one course of instruction, the general lectures and the use of the laboratory privileges is $20.00. For each additional course of instruction an additional fee of $5.00 is charged. The fee for the course in elementary zoology is $15.00. Board is furnished for $4.50 a week; rooms from $1.50 to $3.00 a week. The total expense for the session is thus from $55.00 to $75.00. For circulars and other information address, Prof. H. W. Conn, Middleton, Ct.

The second Annual Meeting of the Botanical Society of America will be held in Buffalo, N. Y., on Friday and Saturday August 21 and 22, 1896. The Council will meet at 1.30 p. m. on Friday, and the Society will be called to order at 3 p. m. by the retiring President, Dr.

William Trelease, Director of the Missouri Botanical Garden.

The

President-elect, Dr. Charles E. Bessey, Professor of Botany in the University of Nebraska will then take the chair. The afternoon session will be devoted to business. At the evening session the retiring President will deliver a public address on " Botanical Opportunity." The sessions for the reading of papers will be held on Saturday at 10 a. m. and 2 p. m. The Botanical Society of America is affiliated with the American Association for the Advancement of Science whose sessions this year begin on Monday August 24th, in Buffalo.

At the Springfield Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, it was voted that the Sectional Committee of Section E be directed to prepare a program for the meeting of the Section, and to transmit the same to the Permanent Secretary for printing and distribution not less than one month before the meeting.

It is therefore requested that members intending to present papers at the Buffalo Meeting of the Association send title and abstract of the same to the Secretary of the Section on or before July 15, 1896. A. C. GILL, Secretary Section E.

Prof. S. P. Langley states that the Smithsonian Institution has decided to rent a table at the Naples Zoological Station for another period of three years, for the benefit of American students. The interest manifested by American educators and biologists in this matter has convinced the Institution that in so doing it best cooperates with the educational institutions of the United States.

About July 1st next a party under the direction of Mr. T. H. Mobley will start from Lacomb, Alberta, for a two year exploring trip through northern Canada, taking in all points of interest between Edmonton and the Arctic Sea. There are four in party, all of which are thoroughly experienced men, of whom two are naturalists.

Dr. H. Baumhauer, formerly of Lüdingshausen, goes to the University of Freibourg, Switzerland, as ordinary professor of Mineralogy, while Dr. O. Mügge, of Münster, goes to a similar position in the University of Königsberg.

Two of the honors received by Prof. Leuckart in connection with his fifty year doctor-jubilee were elections to honorary membership in the Zoological Society of France and the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Dr. G. B. Grassi, of Catania, well-known for his researches on the structure of the lower Arthropods has been called to the University of Rome as professor of comparative anatomy.