8o abstracts: oceanography 



the relation between the carbon dioxide content of the furnace gases 

 and the yield of cyanide, both at two temperatures. The curves indi- 

 cate that under certain conditions producer-gas may be used in the 

 process and that the dissociation of sodium carbonate is probably one 

 of the controlling chemical reactions. J. B. F. 



ANTHROPOLOGY. — Prehistoric villages, castles, and towers of south- 

 western Colorado. J. Walter Fewkes. Bur. Amer. Ethnology, 

 Bull. 70. Pp. 79, figs. 18, pis. 33. 1919. 



This work is intended to meet the demand for information regard- 

 ing the prehistoric ruins in and about Mesa Verde National Park which 

 was created for the preservation of the more important remains in 

 this region. The Bureau of American Ethnology', in cooperation with 

 the Department of the Interior, has done much by the excavation 

 and repair of these monuments to increase their educational value, 

 and in order to make known the nature of that work, the Bureau is 

 publishing from time to time short papers on these monuments and 

 their builders. Most of the structures here enumerated have long 

 been known to cowboys and sheep men, and many have been described 

 by archeologists, but this knowledge is local or scattered in many 

 publications, often inaccessible to the general public. It is the purpose 

 of the bulletin to collect this material in one publication and to show 

 the relation of towers, castles, and other remains to the great cliff 

 buildings of the Mesa Verde National Park. Particular attention is 

 paid to the architecture of the ruins and the fact is pointed out that we 

 have in buildings an index of the social organization of the people 

 to whom they owe their origin. J. B. Swanton. 



OCEANOGRAPHY. — Physical characteristics of the ocean depths. G. 

 W. LiTTLEHALES. U. S. Naval Institute Proceedings, 6:45. 

 Pp. 16, figs. 15. Jan., 1919. 



The extent to which the ocean has been sounded and the conforma- 

 tion of its basins are described. The depth and bulk of the ocean, and 

 the salinity, density, gases, temperature, pressure, compressibility, 

 and viscosity of its waters are discussed. The penetration of light into 

 the depths, oceanic movements and circulation, and marine deposits 

 on the bottom are subjects also included. G. W. L. 



