to count as an early human foothold. My statement (See Hill Caves of Yucatan. Lippincott, Phila., 1895, p. 21) referring to the rocks of Yucatan as of Mesozic Age, is at variance with the recent observations of geologists, while Professor Holmes says on the other hand, (p. 18): "The massive beds of limestone of which the Peninsula is formed contain and are largely made up of the remains of the marine forms of life now flourishing, along the shores. Fossil shells obtained from the rocks in various parts of the country are all of living species and represent late Pliocene or early Plistocene times, thus possibly bringing the date of the elevation of Yucatan down somewhat near that of the reputed sinking of Atlantis, some eleven or twelve thousand years ago, or not far from the period that witnessed the oscillations attending the glacial period." Though true that the peninsular limestone is largely composed of existing marine forms we learn on

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Fig. 2. Examples of Terraces and Pyramids, superstructures omitted. closer examination that it is not entirely so, and that the shells are not all modern. We find that the full list of age denoting fossil mollusca collected from the rocks of Yucatan by the expedition in 1891 of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia (See Geol. Researches in Yucatan, by Prof. Angelo Heilprin, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. 1891. p. 136) does not characterize the Yucatan rock as of Plistocene Age while the recent researches of geologists (Prof. J. W. Spencer makes the Niagara Gorge 32,000 years old) now tend to add to the antiquity of the Glacial Epoch. Professor Heilprin who conducted the Yucatan

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

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e

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 venting 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.

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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 infection, 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.