and some nuclei. But few details as to the stratification or formation of the deposit are given in the account published in Cosmos (Sept. 12, 1896, P. 211) and as nothing is said about hammer-stones, and flint chips, we are left to wonder whether the place represents a paleolithic workshop such as Messrs. Spurrel and W. G. Smith found at Crayford and Caddington, England or not. Meanwhile the excavation which we are told is to be continued, if studied with care and without bias may affect the validity of the French subdivisions (Chellean Mousterian, Solutrean Magdalenian) of the Palæolithic period in Central France. Judged by the shape of the flint blades found with the horse bones, M. M. Chauvet and Riviere call the deposit Chello-Mousterian while hardly a mile away, we have Laugiere Haute classified as showing Magdalenian above Solutrean culture layers, with Laugiere Basse, Cro-Magnon and Gorge d'Enfer floored with Solutrean only. The rock shelters of Le Moustier (Moustierian) and La Madeleine (Magdalenian) are not far distant and the question is whether all these different geological epochs supposed to indicate intervals of thousands of years, varying stages of human culture and changes in animal life can be justly established at this remarkable neucleus of ages where one more subdivision is proposed to be added to the list of culture layers represented in an area of a few square miles and based on differences in flint chipping, and variations not universally agreed to, in the sequence of animal life.

Chipped Flint blades from Somali Land.-Mr. H. W. SetonKarr who presented to the British Association for the Advancement of Science at Ipswich, England in 1895 several heavy ovate blades of chipped flint from Somali Land, has brought more recently from the same region others (referred to in Proceedings of Royal Society, Vol. LX, no. 359, p. 19). Often well worked, considerably patenated, and resembling in shape and make, the drift blades of England and France they appear to have been found not in situ but on ths surface, mostly along water courses where rain or wind had bared them of surrounding earth. No excavations were made to ascertain their position with reference to the surrounding geological strata, and no association appears to have been established with the remains of animals living or extinct. Nothing is said of Hammer-stones or chips that might have testified to the existence of blade workshops at the sites, and nothing as yet save the appearance of the blades (some of which are worked only on one side after the French Moustier pattern) has been presented to warrant us in setting back the date of these relics to the date of the similar shapes associated with the Mammoth and Rhinocerus in the Somme Valley.

Cave Hunting in Scotland.-If as we understand no chipped blades of the "Turtleback" or drift character have been gathered in Scotland or northern Europe, if no traces of (Paleolithic) man in Association with the Cave Bear, Woolly Rhinocerus and Mammoth have been discovered in caves or quarries anywhere to the northward of middle England or in Scandinavia North Germany and Russia, if in a word it can be proved that snow and ice precluded human presence or obliterated man's foot-prints in northern Europe at the time when drift men were chipping flint on the banks of the Thames and Somme, then the exploration of caves in any part of this colder European region is of particular scientific interest. Near Oban in Scotland the Mackay, Gas works, Distillery, and MacArthur caves recently explored by Mr. J. Anderson for the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland (see proceedings of the Society, vol. XXIX, 1895, p. 211) showed human rubbish deposits consisting largely of the shells of edible mollusks (Ostrea, Patella, Pecten, Solen, etc.), interbedded in one instance (the Mackay Cave) with a gravel layer apparently caused by a marine inundation. In the latter cave, fairly representing the others, Mr. Anderson found in in the shell rubbish about 150 bone needles and points, seven numerously barbed bone harpoons, sometimes with pierced bases, three pebble hammerstones, a few flint nodules, and several flakes and scrapers together with numerous fish bones and the remains of the common deer, the Bos longifrons, boar, the dog and the cat; in other words, the recent fauna of the region. The bones of fifteen human skeletons found apparently near the surface and above the shell and bone refuse in the various caves, according to Mr. Anderson and Sir William Turner, represent a people of the Neolithic or late stone age in Europe, while on the other hand M. Boule (see L. Anthropologie, May and June, 1896, p. 321) citing the gravel bed as evidence of an early flood and comparing the barbed and pierced harpoons with similar harpoons supposed to be of an intermediate age (between Paleolithic and Neolithic) from certain French caves, suggests that the Oban remains form a connecting link between the Paleolithic (Mammoth, Rhinoceros and Reindeer time) and the Neolithic (recent fauna time) of western Europe. When all the results of European archæology are summed up it has been supposed that a hiatus in time unbridged by any intermediate human or animal presence, existed between the earlier and later of these periods, and a link will be added to the archæological chain, if discoveries in French caves or elsewhere satisfactorily fill the supposed gap. But whether the remains from Oban can or cannot be assigned this important intermediate position, further investigation will show. For a time the cave explorer might leave

the southern fields where much collaboration has perplexed the subject, and turn northward. There the coast is clear. There evidence broadening the perspective of the European student, and setting a wide geographical limit to the ancient human record, can be established in unexplored caves, where in a new way the unearthed testimony should show the relation of fossil man to glacial ice and cold.-H. C. MERCER.

PROCEEDINGS OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES.

New York Academy of Sciences.-Biological Section, October 12, 1896.-Dr. Bashford Dean and Mr. G. N. Calkins presented preliminary reports upon the results attained at the Columbia University Zoological Laboratory at Port Townsend, Washington. The expedition spent about six weeks in exploring and collecting, and brought home large collections from exceptionally favorable collecting grounds. Dr. Dean spent some time in Monterey, Cal., and brought home collections of eggs and embryos of Chimera and Bdellostoma.

Dr. J. L. Wortman made a preliminary report upon the American Museum Expedition to the Puerco and Wasatch Beds. He reported finding a connecting link between the close of the Cretaceous and the beginning of the Tertiary. He gave an interesting account of the massive ruins of the so-called cliff-dwellers in the region visited by him. In the Big Horn basin the expedition had remarkable success as well as in the Wind River basin.

Prof. Osborn stated that with the collections made this summer the American Museum could now announce that their Eocene collection was complete, containing all mammals now known in the Eocene; that their collection from the Wasatch bed was the finest in existence, and that from the Wind River basin was complete; the Bridger was represented by all but two or three types; and fine collections have been made in the Uintah.

Mr. W. J. Hornaday made a report of a tour of inspection of foreign zoological gardens, made under the auspices of the New York Zoological Society. He visited fifteen gardens in England and on the continent, studying the features of excellence in each.

Prof. Bristol gave a brief account of the progress at the Marine Biological Laboratory at Wood's Hole, Mass., during the past summer.

Prof. Osborn offered the following resolution on the death of Professor G. Brown Goode, after paying a tribute to his memory:

Resolved, That the members of the Biological Section of the New York Academy of Sciences desire to express their deep sense of loss in the death of Professor G. Brown Goode, of the U. S. National Museum. In common with all naturalists in this country, we have admired his intelligence and highly successful administration of the National Musuem as well as his prompt and ready response to the requests and needs of similar institutions throughout the country.

In face of the arduous and exacting duties of his directorship he has held a leading position among American zoologists, and we are indebted to him for a series of invaluable investigations, especially upon the fishes.

Those of us who had the good fortune to know Professor Goode personally, recall his singular charm of character, his genial interest in the work of others, his true scientific spirit. We have thus lost one of our ablest fellow-workers and one of the truest and best of men.

The resolution was adopted unanimously by a rising vote.

CHARLES L. BRISTOL, Secretary.

The Academy of Science of St. Louis.-At a meeting of the Academy of Science of St. Louis, held October 19, 1896, Mr. Trelease exhibited living flowers of Catasetum gnomus, demonstrating the extreme irritability of their tentacles and the precision with which the pollinia become attached to any object touching either tentacle. Mr. J. B. S. Norton presented a list of the Ustilaginea of Kansas, together with the result of germinations of about one-half of the entire number. Three persons were elected to active membership.

WILLIAM TRELEASE, Recording Secretary.

The Biological Society of Washington.-The following communications were made: C. Hart Merriam, "A New Fir from Arizona;" Frederick V. Coville, "Notice of Britton and Brown's Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada; " Erwin F. Smith, "A Bacterial Disease of Potatoes, Tomatoes and Eggplants;" B. E. Fernow, "Timber line: Its Aspects and Causes."

FREDERICK A. LUCAS, Secretary.

SCIENTIFIC NEWS.

A course of eight free lectures mainly upon Science and Travel has been arranged by the Field Columbian Museum for Saturday afternoons in October and November at the usual hour, 3 o'clock. Most of these lectures will be illustrated by steropticon views. Subjects, Dates and Lecturers: Oct. 3.-" Archeological Explorations in Peru," Dr. G. A. Dorsey, Assistant Curator of Anthropology, Field Columbian Museum. Oct. 10." A Trip to Popocatapetal and Ixtaccihuatl," Prof. O. C. Farrington, Curator of Geology, Field Columbian Museum. Oct. 17. -"San Domingo," Mr. G. K. Cherrie, Assistant Curator of Ornithology, Field Columbian Museum. Oct. 24.-"Egypt and what we know of her," Dr. J. H. Breasted, Instruction in Egyptology and Semitics, University of Chicago. Oct. 31.-"The Petroleum Industry," Dr. D. T. Day, Chief of Division of Mineral Resources, U. S. Geological Survey. Nov. 7.-" Alaska and its Inhabitants," Prof. George L. Collie, Beloit College, Wis. Nov. 14.-"The Economic Geology of the Sea," Mr. H. W. Nichols, Curator of Economic Geology, Field Columbian Museum. Nov. 21.-" The Physical Geography of New England," Dr. H. B. Kümmel, Assistant Professor of Physiography, Lewis Institute.

Dr. Ludwig Reh, formerly assistant in the Museum at Sao Paulo, Brazil, has been appointed assistant in the Concilium Bibliographicum at Zürich. With this addition to the working force the Bureau will soon bring its work up to date; and its cards will be sent out more frequently than before.

The annual meeting of the American Psychological Association will be held at Boston, December 29th and 30th, 1896, that place and time having been chosen by the American Society of Naturalists and ratified by the President of the Association.

The Executive Committee of the American Society of Naturalists have decided to hold the next meeting of the Naturalists at Boston and have chosen the Inheritance of Acquired Characters for the theme of discussion.

The next session of the Association of American Anatomists shall be held in Washington City, May, 1897, in conjunction with the other societies of the Congress of American Physicians and Surgeons.