Professor Dawkins drew particular attention to the promiscuous character of the bones found in paleolithic cave-deposits. These bones belong to extinct or still living northern and tropical animals, and to such as pertain by their nature to moderate climates. In explanation of this fact he says: "There existed in those times. a vast continent contiguous to Africa, and stretching as far as the extreme limits of Ireland and Scotland. In summer the lion, sabre-toothed tiger, spotted hyena and hippopotamus went northward, while during winter the reindeer, musk-ox, lemming, tailless hare, glutton and Arctic fox sought refuge in the South." The mixed bones of these animals, he states, show no difference in their chemical composition, which certainly would not be the case if long periods had intervened between the time of their existence. The views of Mr. James Geikie, as given in his "Great Ice Age," were strongly opposed by the lecturer. The May number of the Matériaux pour L'Histoire Primitive et Naturelle de L'Homme contains a long and highly illustrated review of the splendid work by Mr. Ernest Chantre, relating to the Bronze Age of the Rhône district. A copy of the large map accompanying that work is presented to the readers of the Matériaux. This map embraces France and the adjacent parts of Germany and Switzerland. All points of archæological interest, such as caves, palafittes, tumuli, dolmens, etc., are indicated on it by different signs, denoting by their colors the probable age to which each locality pertains.

The Proceedings of the Berlin Anthropological Society for 1877 (Verhandlungen der Berliner Anthropologischen Gesellschafty were lately received. On the 7th of April the Anthropological Society, in conjunction with the Geographical Society of the same city, gave a reception to the Emperor of Brazil. On this occasion. Professor Virchow delivered a long and interesting address on the anthropology of America. A translation into English would be very desirable.

GEOLOGY AND PALEONTOLOGY.

THE REPTILES OF THE UPPER JURASSIC OF THE NORTH OF FRANCE. Dr. H. E. Sauvage has described in the Bulletin of the Geological Society of France a description of some bones of the limbs of a Sauropterygian reptile, which he refers to the genus Polycotylus, under the name of P. suprajurensis. A Dinosaurian of the same horizon he refers to the genus Iguanodon, under the name of I. precursor. Dr. Sauvage adds to the list the previously known species, Megalosaurus insignis Desl., Omosaurus armatus Ow., and Bothriospondylus suffossus Ow., all Dinosauria. He obtains Megalosaurus-like teeth from the Gault of the Meuse and of Ardennes.

A QUATERNARY CAMEL FROM ROUMANIA.-Professor Stephanesco, of Belgrade, recently communicated to the Geological

Society of France a specimen of an almost entire lower jaw of an extinct species of camel found in a quaternary deposit in Roumania. Remains of probably the same species have been found in Hungary. It belongs to the genus Pliauchenia (Cope), a form hitherto only known as American, which is intermediate between the genus Camelus and the Procamelus of Leidy. The species was rather smaller than the Camelus dromedarius.

THE FAUNA OF THE LOWEST TERTIARY OF FRANCE.-Below the lignite and argile plastique of Meudon, where the greater number of types of the Suessonien Fauna have been discovered, several horizons of the Lower Eocene are recognized in France. Immediately below the argile plastique is the conglomerate of Meudon and Cerny, and, still lower, the Sables de Bracheux. The latter is the first horizon above the upper bed of cretaceous, or the Pisolitique, which is perhaps to be parallelized with the Mæstrich

tien.

Dr. Lemoine has recently investigated the vertebrate fauna of these beds with much success. I give a brief notice of his discoveries, which are of much interest to American palæontologists, in view of the light they throw on the fauna of the corresponding periods of the history of our continent.

In the Sables de Bracheux he finds peculiar Squalodonts, and a new species of the genus Myledaphus, thus far only known from the Laramie bed of the Judith river of Montana. Also a Chimara like the Mylognathus of Leidy; a gar of the genus Clastes Cope, which is shown to be quite distinct from Lepidosteus in the entire maxillary bones, and Lacertilia.

In the conglomerate, Dr. Lemoine finds Mammalia related to Adapis, viz: Lophiocharus copci Lem., and two species of Plesiadapis Gerv.; also two species of Arctocyon and a new genus, Pleuraspidotherium. With these occur in abundance, the remains of the genus Champsosaurus (Cope Simadosaurus Gerv.) lemoinei Gerv, which is well known as characteristic of the American Laramie group. Crocodiles and alligators are abundant, with turtles of the genus Compsemys Leidy. There are numerous squalodonts, and a large species of Pappichthys Cope, a genus of Amüde which first appears in America in the Bridger formation.

The greatest number of species were found by Dr. Lemoine in the Sables and other beds of the horizon of the Lignite of Meudon, or nearly that of the Gastornis, the Palonyctis, and the Coryphodon tocnus. The following names of genera of mammalia recall the Wasatch and Bridger fauna of America. Phenacodus, Hyracotherium, Opisthotomus,? Hyopsodus, ? Stypolophus, Miacis, and the Lophiocharus peroni and three species of Plesiadapis Gerv., Orotherium (Cope), Pachynolophus, Lophiodon and one or two Artiodactyles. Crocodiles, Ophidia and Lacertilia are more abundant, with birds and turtles. The genera of the latter are very familiar on this side of the Atlantic; Polythorax Cope, a Dermate

mys near costilatus; Anostira Leidy, Tronyx; a form much like Plastomenus lachrymans and a genus near to Compsemys Leidy, perhaps the Apholidemys of Pomel. Of fishes, Pappichthys is abundant, mingled with the marine genera Myliobates, Phyllodes and Squalodonts.

The above lists present a mixture of the Laramie, Wasatch and Bridger fauna of Western America. It is remarkable that of the first named, only those of Tertiary character have been found by Dr. Lemoine, since the numerous types of Dinosauria, are entirely wanting.-E. D. Cope.

GEOGRAPHY AND TRAVELS.'

LAKE NYASSA.-Mr. H. B. Cotterill has recently returned to England, after an absence of nearly two years, during which he explored the Nyassa lake and also made the journey from its northern end to Dar-es-Salaam (on the coast twenty-five miles south of Zanzibar), a distance of 350 miles, passing through a region never before visited by Europeans.

From a paper read before the Royal Geographical Society, on the 25th of March, and a lecture delivered at the Society of Arts, on May 27th, and reported in the Times, we learn that the principal object of his journey was to endeavor to plant in Central Africa, a germ of legitimate commerce and thus assist in the destruction of the slave trade. Mr. Cotterill sketched the suppression of this traffic on the coast line, and stated that the word "suppression" exactly expressed the circumstances of the case. This trade is now scotched but by no means dead. Were the pressure put upon the trade now relaxed, slavery would again revive. Footholds and centres for civilizing influences in the interior must be secured before it can receive its death-blow. The advantages which the Nyassa offered for commencing beneficial influences upon the interior were, that there existed a great lake settlement; the accessibility of the Nyassa both by land and water, as compared with other lakes; the magnificent water-way supplied by the Nyassa, itself, to the very heart of the continent, and the commanding position that any settlement at the north end of the Nyassa would hold. He found the northern portions of the lake far more beautiful and populous than the granite country of the south. Ivory is in abundance. There was evidence of the presence of precious metals. Cotton grew wild and was also cultivated by the natives. Sugar cane, grains of various kinds, yams, bananas and the like grew luxuriantly. The region was as healthy as India when once a person had become acclimatized.

His journey to the coast was made in company with Capt. Elton, late British Consul at Mozambique, and three friends. From the northern end of the lake a flat marshy country extends towards the southern end of Tanganyika which was said to be 1 Edited by ELLIS II. YARNALL, Philadelphia.

about ten or twelve days distant. After a few days march they reached a great plain bounded by a range of mountains called Kondi, running from the eastern side of the lake to the northwest. Several rivers intersect the plain running towards the Nyassa and it is a country of remarkable beauty and fertility. By a gradual ascent the height of 6000 feet above the sea was reached. Finally, passing through forests of gigantic bamboos, they crossed the Kondi range at a height of 8800 feet above the sea, and found themselves on a great plateau 7000 feet high called Uwanji, a splendid cattle country. Here they soon came to Merere's town. From this point other plains intersected by many streams could be seen. They suffered much during the remainder of the journey from scarcity of food and shortly before reaching the Ujiji caravan route, 350 miles from Bagamoyo, Captain Elton, who had been failing rapidly, died.

The rest of the party arrived safely at Zanzibar, after a journey of four months and a half from Livingstonia. A full account of the journey, under the title "Researches and Adventures among the Lakes and Mountains of Eastern Africa," will soon be published.

A direct road from Dar-es-Salaam to the lake has already been begun at the expense of one or two private persons. The Royal Geographical Society has decided to dispatch a carefully-organized expedition commanded by Mr. Keith Johnston to explore this region, and contemplates pushing their explorations to the southern end of Lake Tanganyika, a further distance of 190 miles. The expedition is expected to leave England early in November. Some weeks will be spent in scientific investigation in the coast regions near Zanzibar. A geologist has been appointed as assistant and second in command to Mr. Johnston. The route to Livingstonia, the Scotch Mission settlement at the southern end. of Nyassa, is being improved by the opening of the rivers Zambesi and Shire by the Portuguese to steam navigation, and the making of a road for seventy miles around the rapids of the Shire to a point whence the steamer Ilala runs to the new colony.

In connection with the remarks of Mr. Cotterill it may be stated that the transport of slaves by sea is being rapidly crushed out by the exertions of the British fleet engaged in that service on the east coast of Africa. During the last half of 1877 only nineteen slaves were captured, while in the previous six months the number was 263. Two years ago the computed average of slaves introduced into Pemba amounted to 1000 a month, but not more than 800 are believed to have been landed during the last six months of 1877. The caravans sent down to the coast are very small; many were captured and others returned to the interior, no market being found for them.

A meeting of geographers and telegraph engineers was

recently held in London, to consider the connection of the Egyptian telegraph lines now reaching Khartum with those existing at Kimberley in the extreme south of Africa. Central African Telegraph Company are already making arrangements to run a line from the Transvaal to Zanzibar.

The

OBITUARY.-Dr. August Heinrich Petermann died at Gotha, on the 26th of September. This very eminent geographer was born at Bleicherode, a village of Prussian Saxony, April 18, 1822. Educated at the Potsdam Geographical Institute, founded by Berghaus, the well known author of the "Physical Atlas," he afterwards became his secretary and assistant in preparing the maps for his great work, and also for that of Alexander von Humboldt on Central Asia. Removing to Edinburgh in 1845, and afterwards to London, he aided largely in the bringing out of Dr. A. K. Johnston's "Physical Atlas" and other geographical works, took an active part in the proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society, and was instrumental in sending Drs. Barth, Overweg and Vogel to Central Africa. In 1854, he undertook the charge of the great geographical establishment of Justus Perthes, at Gotha, where he remained until his death, founding and conducting with great success the Mittheilungen aus Justus Perthes' Geographischer Anstalt über Wichtige neue Erforschungen auf dem Gesammtgebiete der Geographie, a monthly periodical whose volumes constitute an almost complete record of the progress of geographical discovery since that date, illustrated by a vast number of maps and plans. The first and second North German Expeditions to the North Pole were sent out under his direction and material support. The new edition of Stieler's "Hand-Atlas" (1875), contains many maps drawn by him, including the best, for their size, that have yet appeared of the western portion of the United States. The loss, at a comparatively early age, of one whose untiring industry and enthusiastic devotion has so greatly aided in extending the bounds of civilization, is deeply deplored.

MICROSCOPY.1

NATIONAL MICROSCOPICAL CONGRESS (Continued)." The Migration of Leucocytes," by Dr. W. T. Belfield, of Chicago. In examining microscopic sections of the kidneys of persons who had died of pneumonia, the author had found the intertubular tissue crowded with an abundance of cells having all the appearance of white blood corpuscles. As other appearances of renal inflammation were wanting, and there had been no previous history of renal disease, it was judged that the retardation of the blood current incident to the pneumonia had furnished the occasion for the escape, from the capillaries, of the blood corpuscles by means of their amoeboid movements. To test and study this fact of migration of leuco1 This department is edited by Dr. R. H. Ward, Troy, N. Y.