GEOLOGY 345 



studies under this grant. It has only been found possible to reach such 

 a basis by means of excursive inquiries into the djuamic organizations 

 and interactions of related cosmic units, but this outer field is left in 

 the main for the next section. 



The fourth part of the paper consists of such applications of the 

 properties and of the interactions of the dynamic envelopes of cosmic 

 units, other than the earth, as are either necessarily or helpfully con- 

 sidered in a comprehensive earth-study. In particular, the interactions 

 of the dynamic envelopes of stars, star clusters, and star systems are 

 considered in their relations to nebulous and similar states of partial 

 disorganization out of which the evolutions of normally organized 

 bodies are supposed to grow, and an attempt is made to show that 

 these dynamic envelopes are agencies in the development and in the 

 distribution and localization of nebulae. 



A feature of this section is the discussion of what appears to be a 

 previously unrecognized class of djTiamic organizations in which 

 gravitative control is held to be effectively, if not essentially, supple- 

 mented by electric and magnetic aid made available by the extreme 

 state of di\dsion of the matter composing them, and its interactivity. 

 Comets and nebulae are discussed as possible types of such peculiar 

 organizations. 



The whole ground of the paper has been covered by manuscript, 

 but this lacks completeness and maturity in many parts, while some 

 of the subjects have thus far grown so unexpectedly under study that 

 it is not now possible to say when the paper will be completed. 



Vaughan, T. Wayland, U. S. Geological Survey, Washington, District of 

 Columbia. Study of the stratigraphic geology and of the fossil corals and 

 associated organisms in several of the smaller West Indian Islands. (For 

 previous reports see Year Books Nos. 13-16.) 



No progress report on this project was made for the Seventeenth 

 Year Book of the Institution, because my collaborators and I devoted 

 almost our entire time to work connected with the prosecution of the 

 war during the time the United States was a participant in the world 

 struggle. As soon as possible after the armistice was signed the inves- 

 tigations on West Indian stratigraphy and paleontology were resumed. 



During last March the manuscript of a volume bearing the general 

 title "Contributions to the geology and paleontology of the West 

 Indies" was transmitted to the President of the Institution and was 

 accepted for publication as Publication No. 291 of the Institution. It 

 was issued from the press during October of the current calendar year. 

 This volume contains six articles, as follows: "Introduction," by T. W. 

 Vaughan; "Tertiary calcareous algae from the islands of Saint Bartho- 

 lomew, Antigua, and Anguilla," by M. A. Howe; "Fossil Foraminifera 

 from the West Indies," by J. A. Cushman; "Fossil Bryozoa from the 

 West Indies," by F. Canu and R. S. Bassler; "Tertiary MoUusca from 



