geologists, and the marginal stream channels and fossil waterfalls,' the details of which have been developed and described by Fairchild and others. Green Lake, or, as it has been rechristened, Jamesville Lake, is a pretty pond without surface outlet lying in a gorge at the base of a hundred-and-fifty-foot cliff over which in glacial times there must have poured a waterfall comparable in height and volume. to the present Horseshoe Fall at Niagara.

Professor Hopkins then gave a paper on the 'Stratigraphic and Economic Geology of the Syracuse Region.' The greater part of the city is located on outcrops of Salina (Silurian) shales. North of the city there North of the city there occur within a few miles outcrops of the Niagara limestones and shales, the Clinton limestones and shales and the Medina sandstone. In going southward from the city one traverses the upper divisions of the Silurian and the Devonian. In the near vicinity of Syracuse are the type localities of several important groups. The chief economic geologic products of the vicinity of Syracuse are common salt, gypsum and limestone.

In the afternoon the combined parties traversed the great glacial river channel lying southwest of Jamesville and extending from Butternut Creek on the east to the upper slopes of the valley of Onondaga Creek on the west. The evening was devoted to a public illustrated lecture by Professor Fairchild on 'Glaciation in North America, with Particular Reference to the Effects of the Ice Sheet in Central New York.' The lecture was complimentary to the citizens of Syracuse, and an audience of about one hundred and fifty persons greeted the speaker in Assembly Hall, University Block. After the lecture there was an informal social meeting of the section in the rooms of the University Club.

On Friday the excursionists, under the leadership of Professors Fairchild and

Hopkins, visited the important gypsum quarries and the great glacial stream channels and fossil waterfalls' southwest of and near Fayetteville, about eight miles east of Syracuse. The noon hour was passed beside Blue Lake, at the base of a cliff marking an ancient Horseshoe Fall, and the time was improved by listening to an address by Mr. Frank B. Taylor, of Fort Wayne, Ind., on 'The Great Lakes in Their Relation to Local Geology.' Mr. Taylor showed by means of maps the extent of some of the great glacial lakes affecting the region and gave some of the results of recent studies by himself and others in the vicinity of Lake Huron.

Friday evening was utilized for a regular meeting of the section, in the rooms of the University Club, for the reading of papers. A list of the speakers with abstracts of their papers follows:

F. P. Gulliver on 'Sudbury Basin Shorelines.' The author described the shore lines of Reservoir No. 5, of the Metropolitan System of reservoirs for Greater Boston, situated in the Sudbury Basin and largely in the towns of Marlboro and Southboro, Mass. Use was made of these shore lines for field work with the classes of the author at St. Mark's School, Southboro. The water in this reservoir has a successive series of changes of level from the high water of early spring to the low water of fall, and, therefore, the shores, which are largely composed of gravel, record the features of shore lines of elevation. At points where the water remains at the same level for the longest time the cliffs and beaches and other shore-line features are more strongly developed, and where the water was at a given level for a very short time the features are correspondingly faint. Bay-bars are formed at some points, spits at others, tomboles behind boulders, ripple marks on the bottom, sorting of fine and coarse material; in fact, nearly all the fea

tures which are seen along most natural shore lines are here well represented. The paper was illustrated by means of photographs of various typical shore-line forms which were taken by the boys in the author's classes.

H. L. Fairchild on 'Some New Problems in Glaciology.' The author described by The author described by the aid of a large scale map some high-level glacial channels recently recognized by him in the Split Rock region southwest of Syracuse. These channels are at a greater altitude than the large and well-marked channels and waterfalls farther south which were included in the field studies of the meeting. The problem of the conditions of their formation has not yet been solved. A. W. Grabau on 'The Physical Character and History of Some New York Formations.' This address was prepared for delivery in the field on Saturday, but it was deemed best to hear it at the meeting of Friday evening. The author briefly reviewed the New York series of sedimentary rocks and its nomenclature and described some of the difficulties in correlation which have been brought to light by recent detailed field studies.

C. J. Sarle on 'The Burrow Origin of Arthrophycus and Dædalus (Vexillum).' The author's conclusions regarding the problematic genera Arthrophycus Hall and Dadalus (Rouault) have been reached through a study of Arthrophycus alleghaniensis (Harlan) and Dædalus archimedes (Ringueberg) as they occur in the Medina formation. One form of D. archimedes from the Medina is known as Spirophyton archimedes Ringueberg. In Europe the genus is known as Vexillum (Rouault). The author holds that Dadalus has always been described in an inverted position, that the ridges by which Arthrophycus is known are only the bases of a fossil having a compound structure very similar to that of Dadalus, and that both are the result

of the repeated shiftings of burrows, probably of worms. The paper was illustrated by means of diagrams and some remarkably fine specimens.

David White on 'The Occurrence of Glacial Epochs in Paleozoic Time.' In this paper the author concisely stated the evidences from plant life and other phenomena in favor of the theory that there was extensive glaciation in Carboniferous time, particularly in portions of the southern hemisphere.

David White on 'The Age of the Wise and Harlan Formations of Southwestern Virginia.' The Wise and Harlan formations, 1,270 and 880 feet, respectively, in thickness, embrace the youngest Paleozoic (Coal Measures) rocks in the Estillville and Bristol quadrangles of the VirginiaKentucky region. As originally proposed by Campbell, the Wise, consisting of a heterogeneous mass of sandstones and shales with coals, and the overlying Harlan, similarly constituted but somewhat more arenaceous near its base, were tentatively paralleled with the Monongahela and Dunkard formations in western Pennsylvania. Since then the basal portion of the Wise has been referred by Stevenson, on stratigraphic grounds, to the upper Pottsville, while the writer provisionally inIcluded the whole of the Wise in the Pottsville.

Fossil plants more recently gathered not only confirm this reference of the entire Wise, but show the lower portion of the Harlan also to antedate the Allegheny of the northern bituminous region. The plants from the roof of the High (Big) Splint coal near the top of Big Black Mountain are Kanawha (Pottsville) in age, as are also those from a horizon 150 feet higher, in the Harlan. Additional fossil material will be required before it will be possible to conclude with certainty whether the coals four to five hundred feet above the

High Splint are younger than the Stockton coal, the top of the Kanawha, which the writer places, together with the Black Flint, within the Pottsville, and which at highest can not be later than the Brookville coal (base of the Allegheny), where it is now placed by Stevenson.

The further progress in the study of the fossil floras brings support to the writer's rough provisional correlation of the Harlan formation with the Anderson in Tennessee, and in part with the Charleston sandstone in West Virginia, though the lower boundaries are probably earlier in the more southern formations. The enormous expansion already noted in the southward extension of the Sewell and lower Kanawha is apparently shared by the upper Kanawha and Homewood stages in the southern Appalachian coal field.

E. O. Hovey on 'The Western Sierra Madre of the State of Chihauhua, Mexico.' The paper described very briefly some of the geologic and geographic features of the country traversed by the author in company with Professor Robert T. Hill, on a journey by pack train from Nuevas Casas Grandes southward to Ocampo (Jesus Maria) and thence northeastward to Miñaca. The great plateau of Mexico, in Chihuahua at least, has been built up on a foundation of Cretaceous limestone and schist and post-Cretaceous granite by countless volcanic eruptions of lava streams and tuff beds. The constructional surface thus produced has been leveled by atmospheric action and sheetflood erosion, and the great cañons have subsequently been cut in the elevated plateau. The Navosaigame formation of ancient local conglomerate was described and named.

On Saturday the members and others in attendance upon the meeting again divided into two sections, one under the guidance of Professor Hopkins and the other under that of Professor Fairchild. The former

continued stratigraphic and economic studies near Fayetteville, while the latter went southwestward to the Split Rock quarries of the Solvay Process Co. in the heavy-bedded Onondaga limestone about five miles from the city. From near Split Rock can be seen some of the high-level ancient channels which have suggested to Professor Fairchild his new problems in glaciology. A section of the Split Rock party continued its excursion to Skaneateles Lake and returned through the Marcellus-Cedarvale glacial channel and the Onondaga valley to the city. Other places of interest visited by members were the serpentine dike in the northeastern part of the city and the extensive salt works.

Before adjournment the section passed a hearty vote of thanks to the City of Syracuse, Syracuse University, the University Club, the Citizens Club and the City Library Association, and expressed its appreciation of the labor in behalf of the meeting expended by Professors Hopkins and Fairchild. About fifty persons, half of whom were members or prospective members, attended the various excursions and sessions, aside from the number in attendance upon the public lecture.

EDMUND OTIS HOVEY,
Secretary.

SCIENTIFIC BOOKS.

By

Die Lichtsinnesorgane der Laubblätter. G. HABERLANDT. Leipzig, Wilhelm Engelmann. 1905. Pp. 142, pl. 4.

In this work, Haberlandt has brought together the results of his extensive studies of the perception of light by the leaf, some of which have already appeared in his 'Physiologische Pflanzenanatomie' and in various papers. The book is one of great interest and it should be read by every botanist concerned with the relation of plants to stimuli. A critical reading, however, is very necessary, since the text contains much special pleading. The author rejects Sachs's view that heliotropic

stimulation is due to the direction of the rays of light, and not to differences of light intensity. In its place he advances the hypothesis that the direction of the light can act but indirectly by producing differences of intensity. In support of this view, it is assumed that the perception of light stimuli is localized in the upper epidermis, and that the arched epidermal cells of Ficus, Hedera, Magnolia, Oxalis, etc., and the so-called ocelli of Fittonia, Impatiens and Peperomia serve as definite sense organs for perceiving light. The author proves experimentally by photographic prints of the epidermis that these sense-organs concentrate the light upon or near the cytoplasm of the inner epidermal wall. Further than this, his exposition, as he himself states, oftentimes possesses a purely hypothetical character.' The facts gained by the author's experiments are a valuable addition to our knowledge of the intimate details of the reception of light by the leaf. As a whole, however, the book contains far too much speculation, and is too much pervaded by an obvious bias in favor of 'sense-organs.' It is an excellent example of first-class experimental work marred by unscientific treatment of the results obtained. FREDERIC E. CLEMENTS.

THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA.

Soil Bacteria and Nitrogen Assimilation. By FREDERICK D. CHESTER. Bulletin 66 (Nov., 1904), Delaware College Agricultural Experiment Station, Newark, Del.

In a bulletin bearing the above title Frederick D. Chester records his experiments with free nitrogen-assimilating bacteria. He states that nitrogen-fixing bacteria are present in all soils. Some fix nitrogen more actively than others. These microbes are stimulated to greater activity by free soil tillage, due to the fact that they are essentially aerobic and frequent stirring up of the soil supplies them with the necessary oxygen (air). Since these low organisms further require organic matter and lime for their food, he advises the liberal supply of these articles to the soil in order that the organisms may multiply rapidly and fix the free nitrogen of the air more actively for the use of higher plants. The more tech

nical side of the paper deals with the methods of technique and the culture characteristics of the microbes described. The first part of the paper is historical, reviewing largely the European work along similar lines. It is an exceedingly interesting paper and the reader is advised to consult the original.

ALBERT SCHNEIDER.

SCIENTIFIC JOURNALS AND ARTICLES. The American Naturalist for August contains the following papers: 'A Systematic Study of the Saliaceæ,' by D. P. Penhallow, containing, among other conclusions, that the Saliaceæ as a whole is an old world family with a strong tendency to a boreal habitat, and the present tropical and subtropical members of the group probably represent the relics of a wider distribution in Cretaceous and Tertiary time. 'Developmental Stages in the Lagenidæ,' by J. A. Cushman. The writer considers that Hyatt's laws of development may be applied to the Foraminifera and that where young individuals can be obtained their relations are usually made out with ease. B. M. Davis gives the seventh of the series of 'Studies on the Plant Cell,' accompanied by a bibliography of papers referred to in section V.

The Popular Science Monthly for September has the following articles:

CHARLES KEYSER EDMUNDS: China's Renaissance.' FRANK LINCOLN STEVENS: The Science of Plant Pathology.'

6

held on the evening of August 18 at the University of California.

The committee appointed to draft an organization reported as follows:

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.

The committee appointed May 3, 1905, by unanimous vote of the charter members of the Berkeley Folk-Lore Club to report on a scheme of organization for the club, beg leave to submit the following:

CONSTITUTION OF THE BERKELEY FOLK-LORE CLUB.

1. This society shall be called the Berkeley Folk-Lore Club.

2. Besides the fifteen charter members, to wit: Messrs. Lange, Mitchell, Goddard, Dresslar, Hart, Setchell, Merriam, Richardson, Fryer, Gayley, Miller, Ritter, Keeler, Noyes and Kroeber, members shall consist of such men members of the academic senate of the University of California, and such men members in good standing of the American Folk-Lore Society, as are unanimously elected by the club; and of such only.

3. The officers shall be a president, vice-president and secretary, who shall constitute an executive committee which shall arrange for all meetings and transact all business of the club.

4. Four or more meetings annually shall be held, at the first of which in each academic year the officers shall be elected.

5. Five shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

6. Amendments to this constitution may be proposed at any meeting of the club and adopted by a two thirds vote of those present at the next meeting.

The committee recommend the adoption of this constitution and the immediate organization of the club under its provisions. Signed:

A. L. KROEBER, CHARLES KEELER, G. R. NOYES.

The report of the committee was discussed and accepted, the proposed constitution being thereby adopted.

The following officers were then elected:

President-A. F. Lange.
Vice-President-Charles Keeler.
Secretary-A. L. Kroeber.

New members elected were: Professor F. W. Putnam, Dr. B. P. Kurtz and Professor H. K. Schilling.

The committee on the establishment of a California branch of the American Folk-Lore Society reported as follows:

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.

The committee appointed May 3, 1905, on vote of the charter members of the Berkeley Folk-Lore Club to report on the feasibility of the establishment of a California branch of the American Folk-Lore Society beg leave to submit the following recommendations:

That the formation of the Berkeley Folk-Lore Club provides an opportune basis for the establishment and successful development of a California branch of the American Folk-Lore Society, which will extend the work undertaken by the Berkeley Folk-Lore Club to a wider sphere of influence and bring it before a larger body of persons, thus enhancing the promotion of folk-lore interests on the Pacific coast. Be it resolved, therefore,

That a California branch of the American FolkLore Society be hereby organized by such of those present as signify their willingness; and

That a committee of five be appointed to arrange for a meeting, including a program, in Berkeley, on the evening of August 28; said committee to submit at this meeting a formal draft of organization, with nominations for officers, for the California branch of the American Folk-Lore Society. Signed:

A. L. KROEBER, CHARLES Keeler, G. R. NOYES.

This report was adopted, and the following committee appointed under its provisions to report at the first meeting of the California branch on August 28: J. C. Merriam, G. R. Noyes, A. L. Kroeber, W. C. Mitchell and Charles Keeler.

/DISCUSSION AND CORRESPONDENCE. LATIN AS THE LANGUAGE OF BOTANICAL DIAGNOSIS.

AMONG the resolutions passed by a majority vote at the recent congress of botanists at Vienna, one only seems to have altogether surprised us in America, and that is the one the import of which is conveyed in the above caption. A large number of botanists-a list of names embracing very many of the leading systematic botanists of Europe-have announced that after two years more new genera