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Fig. 4.-Hoplophoneus primaevus.

Fig. 5.-Hoplophoneus robustus.

Fig. 6.-Hoplophoneus insolens.

Fig. 7.-Hoplophoneus occidentalis.

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The Goldbearing Quartz of California.-The salient characteristics of the gold quartz veins of California are briefly given by Mr. Waldemar Lindgren in a paper recently published, and the results of his observations are thus summarized:

"The auriferous deposits extend through the state of California from north to south, in an irregular and unbroken line.

"The gold quartz veins occur predominantly in the metamorphic series, while the large granitic areas are nearly barren. The contact of the two formations is not distinguished by rich or frequent deposits." "The gold quartz veins are fissure veins, largely filled by silica along open spaces, and may dip or strike in any direction.

"The gangue is quartz, with a smaller amount of calcite; the ores are native gold and small amounts of metallic sulphides. Adjoining the veins, the wallrock is usually altered to carbonates and potassium micas by metasomatic processes.

"The veins are independent of the character of the country rock, and have been filled by ascending thermal waters charged with silica, carbonates and carbon dioxide.

"Most of the veins have been formed subsequent to the granitic intrusions which closed the Mesozoic igneous activity in the Sierra Nevada."

Regarding the origin of the gold, the author speaks with reserve. He points out the possibility of its derivation from the surrounding rocks, which theory, however, is not altogether satisfactory. He then states the following facts and the conclusion based upon them:

"First, the gold quartz veins throughout the state of California are closely connected in extent with the above described metamorphic series and that the large granite areas are almost wholly void of veins, though fissures and fractures are not absent from them.

"Second, that in the metamorphic series the gold quartz veins occur in almost any kind of rock, and that if the country rock exerts an influence on the contents of the veins, it is, at best, very slight.

"Third, that the principal contact of the metamorphic series and the granitic rocks is in no particular way distinguished by rich or frequent deposits.

"It is further apparent that gold deposits have been formed at different periods, though, by far, most abundantly in later Mesozoic times. Some of these later veins may have been locally enriched by passing through earlier impregnations in schist or old concentrations in the sandstones and conglomerates of the metamorphic series, the gold contents of which have, however, only been proved in isolated cases.

"These considerations strengthen the belief that the origin of the gold must be sought below the rocks which now make up the surface of the Sierra Nevada, possibly in granitic masses underlying the metamorphic series." (Bull. Geol. Soc. Am., Vol. 6, 1895.)

Precambrian Sponges.-M. L. Cayeux has published a preliminary note on the spicules of sponges found in the Precambrian beds of Bretagne. The author describes the different forms of the spicules, gives their dimensions, the mode of fossilization, and the probable causes for their fragmentary condition. The principal conclusions derived by M. Cayeux from his researches are (1) numerous spicules of sponges of various species are found in the Precambrian phtanite formations of Bretagne, and (2) that all the orders of sponges with silicious skeletons are represented in these formations.

A resume of the facts ascertained concerning this interesting fauna is given by the author as follows:

"It is impossible not to be struck by the ensemble of the sponges of the phtanites of Lamballe. Even excluding all the spicules which, although they certainly are sponges, yet are too fragmentary for exact identification, there remains an assemblage of forms which points to a very complex fauna.

"In the light of our present knowledge this fauna appears to be composed of Monactinellida, probably abundant, Tetractinellidæ, relatively rare, numerous Lithistidæ, and a few Hexactinellida. All the orders of Silicea are represented. The branching off of the sponges is then plainly as early as the base of the Precambrian of Bretagne.

"The oldest beds in which any remains have been found belongs to the Archean of Canada. M. G. F. Matthew has described Cyathospongia? eozoica from the Lower Laurentian of St. John (New Brunswick) and Halichondrites graphitiferus from the Upper Laurentian of the same region.

"Cyathospongia? eozoica may be a species of Hexactinellida, and Halichondrites graphitiferus must be referred either to Monactinellida or to Hexactinellida. The authenticity of these fossil sponges has been put beyond a doubt by M. Hermann Rauff.

"All the great groups of silicious sponges do not figure in this assemblage, but the fauna presents this character worthy of note, that the Lithistidæ and the Hexactinellidæ, that is to say, the sponges which have the most complex skeleton occupy a prominent place.

"I have called attention to these Cambrian sponges to show that there is no fundamental difference between the Precambrian and the Cambrian sponge fauna. In the one as in the other, we find already traced, the lines along which the future silicious sponges are developed." (Annales Soc. Geol. du Nord T., XXIII, 1895.)

Embryology of Diplograptus.-A large collection of specimens of Graptolites found near Dolgeville, N. Y., furnishes Mr. R. Ruedeman the data for a paper on the mode of growth and development of the genus Diplograptus. The species, D. pristis Hall, and D. pristiniformis Hall, appear as compound colonial stocks instead of single stipes, as hitherto known. From his observations the writer infers that the colonial stock was carried by a large air bladder, to the underside of which was attached the funicle. The latter was enclosed in the central disc, and this was surrounded by a verticil of vesicles, the gonangia, which produced the sicula. Below the verticil of gonangia and suspended from the funicle was the tuft of stipes.

It is evident from the structure of these graptolites that the genus Diplograptus has the combined properties of different groups, and gives valuable hints in regard to their common ancestry. The investigation of Mr. Ruedeman is one of the most important recent acquisitions of paleontologic embryology. (Am. Journ. Sci., 1895, p. 453.)

The Upper Miocene of Montredon.-M. Ch. Deperet has just published the results obtained through the excavations he has been making in the hill of Montredon near Bize (Aude), The fossils which he has collected are found also in the peat beds where they are much broken and slightly worn, and in the white marls where he has found more complete specimens, such as skulls and parts of limbs with the bones in proper relation.

Notwithstanding an abundance of fossils, the fauna of Montredon, until now, was characterized by a paucity of species, comprising only Dinotherium, Hipparion, a Rhinoceros and an undetermined Ruminant. The discoveries of M. Deperet have increased the known vertebrates to twelve. There are, in addition to the animals just mentioned, a wild boar, agreeing with Sus mujor of Leberon; three ruminants, Tragocerus amalthæus, Gazella deperdita, and Micromeryx; three carnivores, Si

mocyon diaphorus, Dinocyon, Hyaenarctus arctoides. This last constitutes, says the author, a true intermediate type between Hyænarctus of the Miocene and the bears of the Pliocene, as Ursus arvernensis and Ursus etruscus. M. Deperet adds that the discovery of this animal fills a gap by revealing in a precise manner the ancestral relation of the bear type. (Revue Scientif., 1895, p. 375.)

BOTANY.1

The Vienna Propositions.-(Continued from page 1100, Vol. XXIX.)—In a succeeding number of the same journal, Dr. Kuntze replies to the foregong article at some length. A considerable portion of the reply is taken up with personalities. This is not without provocation, for Ascherson and Engler have grievously misrepresented him in more than one place in the foregoing article, e. g., in the matter of his proposed 100-year limitation, and his comparison of the changes required by 1737 and 1753-as one can readily see by glancing at Revisio Generum 3'. Indeed, they substantially concede the injustice of their accusation as to Knntze's statement with reference to the changes required by 1753, a few paragraphs beyond, when they discuss their proposed limitation of fifty years. The anonymous correspondent of the Journal of Botany who was so pained at the supposed bitterness prevailing in America, is respectfully referred to the pages of the Oesterreiche Botanische Zeitschrift for an example of the state of feeling in other lands.

The following extracts will give an idea of Dr. Kuntze's reply.

Of the six propositions of Ascherson and Engler he says: "Numbers 1-4 are not new; No. 5 is a principium in honestans, and No. 6 a supplement to No. 5. The new principle is a year limitation proposal with retroactive force. I had previously proposed a limitation of 100 years only for names sought to be revived in the future, which would. only affect old names which are mostly doubtful and undetermined, so that by my proposed limitation, the doubtful cases would be disposed of and greater stability of nomenclature brought about. By the proposition of Messrs. Ascherson and Engler on the other hand, acquired rights would be violated. The gentlemen, indeed, in their last account no longer recognize this right, even as little as the right o political legitimism. These gentlemen now reject also the law o 1 Edited by Prof. C. E. Bessey, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska.

priority, and their proposals have never conformed to the Paris code. One must ask involuntarily what laws Messrs. Ascherson and Engler do recognize in nomenclature at all. With the best intentions, I cannot perceive any trace of a Rechtsboden.'"

"The Paris code" he continues, "is in my opinion better than the proposals and deviating principles which Engler, Ascherson and Pfitzer suggest and which they themselves follow only in part. Supposing one followed out the deviating principles honestly and consistently, many more name alterations and complications would result than through following the Paris code."

Since Ascherson and Engler have been at some pains to expose what they deem fundamental errors, one may well suggest a fundamental error upon which they proceed. Their whole argument is based upon the notion that there is a current nomenclature. It is this very notion, indeed, which creates a large part of the opposition to all systematic attempts to bring order into nomenclature. When a systematist goes goes about the work of adjusting the nomenclature of his particular group, current nomenclature does not trouble him at all. There he sets about him with vigor, and even, perhaps, in accordance with rule and principle. But as he looks about him beyond the range of his own group, he feels that it would be very convenient if names could stand as they are in the nearest book at hand, and he becomes conscious of something which he calls current nomenclature. It may be safely affirmed that if Dr. Kuntze had taken up a small group and worked out its nomenclature with the care and thoroughness he bestowed upon all the Phanerogams, no one would have made more than a passing objection, and before long his names would have found themselves current. Who ever said anything about the radical changes made in the nomenclature of the Uredinea when Winter and afterwards Schroeter replaced name after name by the old specific names of Ecidium and Uredo forms? Very little that Dr. Kuntze has done is more radical than that—and their changes are as current as anything can be said to be at the present day. Before we set about preserving a current nomenclature, we must produce one, and that can only be done by adhering consistently to rules.

As to the propositions made by Escherson and Engler, not much need be said. The 5th and 6th are avowedly only another form of the discredited 4th Berlin thesis. The whole object of the authors seems to be to save their list of eighty-one names-if not by one means then by another. They are as radical as the best of us as far as specific nomenclature is concerned, and one might well suggest that their attitude

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