opinion that Casuarius is a near ally of Aepyornis. (The Ibis, July, 1896.) Geological News. MESOZOIC.-Mr. C. W. Andrews has published a paper on the structure of the Plesiosaurian skull, in which he institutes a comparison of the palatal portion with that of other Reptilia. He shows that while a similarity of structure in that region does not necessarily imply close relationship, nevertheless the very great resemblances existing between the Plesiosaurian and Rhynchocephalian palates, reinforced by the numerous other points of likeness in other portions of their skeletons, lead to the conclusion that the Sauropterygia, notwithstanding their single temporal arcade and the rhizodont dentition, are descended from a primitive Rhynchocephalian reptile. This conclusion is in accord with the opinion already expressed by sev eral writers. (Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc., May, 1896.) CENOZOIC.-A restoration of Hoplophoneus occidentalis Leidy has recently been completed by Mr. E. S. Riggs, under the direction of Dr. Williston. The material upon which its restoration is based is composed of parts of two skeletons found almost together and in exactly the same horizon just below the bullatus layer of the Oreodon beds of South Dakota. This material now forms part of the paleontological collection of the University of Kansas. (Thesis for the Degree of A. M. in the Kansas Univ., 1896.) In a paper on recent and fossil Tapirs, Mr. J. B. Hatcher describes a new species of Protapirus from the Protoceras beds of the White River (Oligocene) of S. Dakota, presenting some new facts as to the osteology of the skull and forelimb of this genus. He also gives additional characters diagnostic of the various species of Protapirus and Colodon already described by Leidy, Marsh, Wortman, Earle and Osborn; points out the distinctive osteological and dental characters in the skulls of the five generally accepted species of recent Tapirs; and reviews the previous work of others on the Phylogeny of the Tapiride and Helaletidæ. (Amer. Journ. Sci., Vol. I, 1896.) -A restoration of the skeleton of Aptornis defossor has been completed for the British Museum (Nat. Hist.). The bones from which the specimen is reconstructed were found in 1889 in a chasm in the limestone at Castle Rocks, Southland, New Zealand, the greater number of them no doubt belonging to a single bird. Mr. C. W. Andrews gives a brief description of this skeleton, calling atten tion to the great size of the anterior vertebræ in the cervical region, and the peculiar long, slender coracoids which are ankylosed with the mnch reduced sternum. The figure accompanying the text shows the probable position of the scapula in relation to the coracoid, the coracoscapular angle being very obtuse, as in most flightless birds; the humerus is proportionally small, and its pectoral crest is reduced to a mere tubercle. (Geol. Mag., London, June, 1896.) GENERAL.-According to C. D. Perrine, thirty-three distinct earthquakes were felt in California during the year 1894. This does not include a series of over one hundred shocks in Virginia, Nev., during the week of November 16-22, nor heavy earthquakes and volcanic. disturbances which occurred in the New Hebrides group of islands during October and November. (Bull. U. S. Geol. Surv., No. 129, Washington, 1895.) BOTANY.' The Teaching of Elementary Botany.-That the teaching of elementary botany in this country is, to say the least, very poor, is a statement which needs no argument to prove its correctness. Much of the botany of the public schools is a wretched attempt at doing something which neither teachers nor pupils understand. In some places the pupil is made to con the pages of a text-book in which emphasis is laid upon minute and meaningless anatomical details of the structure of a few flowering plants. Elsewhere field-work, so-called, is required of the pupil; but here again the chaff is carefully separated from the grain, and the pupil is given the chaff. Thus he is made to fill out vacancies in blanks (called "schedules") in which the unimportant structural characters receive as much attention as those which are sig nificant, the result being a description which neither describes nor separates the plant under consideration from dozens of others. The meaning of any structure is entirely overlooked, while the pupil is compelled to give much time and labor to unimportant details. There are two reasons for this condition of things: first, the little knowledge of the science of Botany possessed by many teachers; and second, the absence of any definite idea on the part of teachers of the culture-value of Botany in the education of the pupil. To remedy the first the colleges and universities are opening summer schools for 1 Edited by Prof. C. E. Bessey, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska. teachers; and in these, for the most part, something of modern Botany is given. Many years of personal experience has shown the writer that in one Western State it has been possible to do much in the way of improving the teaching of Botany through the agency of the summer school. Let not the teachers of Botany in the colleges and universities grudge the time given to work in the summer school. The additional work is doubtless the most productive work of the year, for, if it be well done, its effects will be felt by hundreds of pupils in many schools. Let professors put their best efforts and their most mature thought into this work. The remedy for the second obstacle may be looked for in the movement in the National Educational Association, which resulted in the organization of a Department of Natural Science Instruction, whose first meeting was held recently in Buffalo. It was notable that every paper presented at this meeting emphasized the culture-value of Science, and this was especially marked in those dealing with Botany in the school curriculum. We, who teach in the larger colleges and universities, have been remiss in not setting forth more prominently and forcibly the culture-value of Science, and botanists have sinned equally with the others. It is high time that we not only teach Botany for the culture which it gives the student, but we should by lectures, public addresses, and by popular articles, show how it may be presented so as to insure culture. Here we have a duty to perform, and if we have the interest of Science truly at heart, we will not shrink from the labor which this duty imposes. Let every professor of Botany realize that through the new department of the National Educational Association he may influence the teaching of his science so that it may have a culture-value.-CHARLES E. BESSEY. The Conifers of the Pike's Peak Region.-It may help the visitor to Colorado Springs and Manitou to know that the following conifers are more or less common in the adjacent mountains. Perhaps, when he learns that through the carelessness of man enormous forests of these trees have been burned from the sides of Cheyenne Mountain, Cameron's Cone and Pike's Peak, and that where once grew dense forests of conifers, with their power of conserving the moisture of the snows and rains, there grows the worthless "popple" (Populus balsamifera candicans), he, too, will be ashamed of man, the vandal, who has destroyed forever, I fear, the conifer forests of this region, with the destruction of which forests there has been a decrease in the volume of water in the mountain streams, while at the same time the sudden and dangerous floods which rush down the mountain sides have greatly increased. Juniperus communis alpina, the Mountain Juniper, is common everywhere from 7000 feet altitude to timber-line (11,500), as a low, spreading and almost trailing shrub. Juniperus occidentalis monosperma, the Brown Cedar, or more commonly called here by the erroneous name of White Cedar, is common in the Garden of the Gods. Juniperus virginiana, the Red Cedar, is to be found in the Garden of the Gods and generally at low altitudes. Some of the trees are entirely clothed with the short, blunt leaves, giving them a smoothness not generally seen in this species. Such trees are more glaucous, and are more round topped than the ordinary kind in which many of the leaves are sharp-pointed. Abies concolor, the White Fir, occurs abundantly from about 7000 feet to 8000 or 10,000 feet above sea level. Its beautiful layered foliage and erect cylindrical cones make it an object of interest to every traveller. Pseudotsuga taxifolia (P. douglasii of Coulter's Manual), the Douglas Fir, is the most common of the single-leafed conifers, occurring everywhere from the foot of the mountains to timber-line. It is distinguished at once by its elliptical cone, with trifid bracts between the scales. Picea engelmanni, Engelmann's Spruce, and P. pungens, the Sharpleaved Spruce, are common from 7000 or 7500 feet up to 9000 or 10,000 feet altitude on the eastern slopes of Pike's Peak. Pinus flexilis, the Rocky Mountain White Pine, occurs from Cheyenne Mountain to Pike's Peak, from 7000 feet to timber-line, where it is very common. It may readily be distinguished by its leaves, which are in fives. Pinus balfouriana aristata. This tree resembles the preceding, and apparently is often confused with it under the name of " White Pine" or "Foxtail Pine." It grows at high altitudes (10,000 feet) up to timber-line, and in this region is a small, or at most, a moderate-sized tree. Its short leaves (about one inch) which are in fives, and prickly cones distinguish it from all other species. Pinus edulis, the Nut Pine, is a low, spreading tree, often not more than ten or twelve feet in height. It may be distinguished by its short leaves and small cones, the latter containing a few large edible seeds. It is common in the Garden of the Gods and on the foot-hills a few hundred feet higher. Pinus ponderosa scopulorum, the Rocky Mountain Yellow Pine, or more commonly called the Bull Pine, is the most abundant conifer of the region. It grows at all elevations, from the foot of the mountains and foot-hills to timber-line. Its leaves are long, and occur in twos and less commonly in threes.-CHARLES E. BESSEY. Ferns Near Colorado Springs, Colorado.-So many thousands of travellers visit the beautiful city of Colorado Springs every year that the following list of the ferns to be found within easy walking distance from the end of the car lines may be of interest to botanical readers. Notholana fendleri Kunze. Pteris aquilina L. Cheilanthes tomentosa Link. C. gracilis (Fee.) Mett. A few notes on the above list may be of interest. There is a good deal of individuality about the Colorado climate, and the same is true of its ferns and their habits. The Woodsia and the Pteris are almost the only ferns found on the open hillsides, and these but sparingly; the others seek the protection of the mountain cañons. Most of them prefer cañons opening toward the north. During three summers spent in Colorado I do not remember finding a single fern in any canon opening toward the south. In Notholana fendleri we are told that the pinnules are oval in mature specimens. In most young fronds I have found them deltoid or spatulate, and in some beautiful specimens this form is retained. In such ferns the stipes are lighter in color and weight, the zigzag course of the rachis is less pronounced, the pinnæ are more distant, and the pinnules less numerous, giving the specimens a much lighter and more graceful appearance. The departure from the normal form is worth noting, but not sufficient to constitute a variety. Cheilanthes tomentosa, according to the books, is from eight to fifteen inches in length at maturity. Most specimens live up to the rule, but |