abstracts: botany 167 



(b) approximate length; (c) moisture content and ''regain"; (d) quan- 

 tity of oil, grease and foreign substances contained; (e) percentage loss 

 in scouring raw wool. 



2. Determinations upon yarn, thread and twine: (a) length; (b) 

 tensile strength and elasticity; (c) count or number; (d) twist; (e) per- 

 centage of loading, sizing and coloring material; (f) percentage fiber 

 composition. 



3. Determinations upon fabric: (a) weight; (b) tensile strength and 

 elongation; (c) percentage fiber composition; (d) thread count; (e) yarn 

 number of size; (f) folding endurance, (g) action of light on colors. 



W. S. Lewis. 



ENGINEERING. — Physical testing of cotton yarns. W. S. Lewis. 

 Technological paper No.. 19, Bureau of Standards. (In press.) 

 The investigation consisted in a study of single and two ply yarns as 

 to variations in size, twist and tensile strength of yarns within cops, 

 bobbins, skeins, etc., and also their behavior under various relative 

 atmospheric humidities. W.S.L. 



GEOGRAPHY. — A study of biological paleogeography in its bearing on 



the origin of man in America. Austin H. Clark. Science (N.S.), 



35: 669-670. 1912. 



A short sketch of the ancient land connections between the Americas 



and other land masses, with the conclusion that man probably entered 



America over a broad land area connecting Alaska with northeastern 



Asia. A. H. C. 



PALiEONTOLOGY. — Restoration of the genus Eldonia, a genus of free 



swimming Holothurians from the Middle Cambrian. Austin H. 



Clark. Zoologischer Anzeiger, 39: Nr 25/26: S. 723-725. 1912. 



A figure of a restoration of the curious holothurian described by Wal- 



cott as Eldonia ludwigi is given, together with a description of the animal. 



The figure is a composite from all the figures published in the original 



paper. A. H. C. 



BOTANY. — A synopsis of the red firs. William H. Lamb. Proceed- 

 ings of the Society of American Foresters, 7: No. 2. 1912. 

 This is a discussion of the distinguishing characteristics of noble fir 

 (Abies 7iobilis Lindl.), red fir (Abies tnagnifica Murr.), and Shasta fir 

 (Abies shastensis Lem.). Much confusion exists as to the distribution 



