500 

*On the geology and physical geography of the West Indies, 
with reference to the distribution of mollusca.” He stated that 
the land shell faunas of Porto Rico and the Virgin Islands, Som- 
brero, Anguilla, St. Martin, and St. Bartholomew, are closely 
allied, and may be called distinct from that of Haiti on the west 
and the islands to the south. He came to this conclusion from the 
facts of distribution, and now finds corroborative evidence from 
the depth of water. An elevation of the bank on which Porto 
Rico and the Virgin Islands stand (to and including Anegada) of 
less than 40 fathoms would make one island of the whole. An- 
guilla, St. Martin and St. Bartholomew stand on one bank, 
and a similar elevation would unite them; there is deep 
waters around Sombrero. The fauna of the group is Mexi- 
can and Central American, with peculiar genera not repre- 
sented in the islands south of the Anguilla bank. There 
are genera represented in Cuba and the Bahamas, Haiti, 
Porto Rico, and the islands on the Virgin and Anguilla banks, 
but not in the islands south. One Strophia fossil in Sombrero 
and in St. Croix, recent in the others. The depth of water 
between St. Thomas and St. Croix is 2,000 fathoms, telling of 
long separation. These facts point toa large island or continent, 
which embraced the Anguilla bank in its southern limit. Bar- 
buda and Antigua stand on one bank, St. Eustatius, St. Kitts, 
and Nevis on another, with land shell fauna alliance with Guada- 
loupe, Dominica, Martinique, and Barbados—that group by their 
fauna connected (not a few species in common) with Guiana— 
water over 1,000 fathoms deep between Dominica and Martinique, 
and the latter and St. Lucia and St. Vincent. Now Trinidad and 
Tobago (both on soundings) Grenada (300 to 400 fathoms between 
it and Trinidad), the Grenadines (all on one bank with Grenada), 
and St. Vincent (1,300 fathoms between it and St. Lucia) have 
peculiarly the fauna of Venezuela. Bulimus proper (South 
American) is only found on those islands and St. Lucia. The 
greatest depth between St. Vincent and the Barbados is 1,218 
fathoms, and between the latter and Tobago 1,060. These facts 
point to an extension of the South American continent, say from 
north of the Amazon River to a point west of Trinidad, and 
northerly to Barbuda, the west side (now Trinidad, Tobago, 
Grenada, Grenadines, St. Vincent, and St. Lucia), having the 
Venezuelean fauna, and the east side (now Barbados, Martinique, 
Dominica, Guadaloupe, Antigua, &c.) having the Guiana fauna — 
Prof. Cope read a paper entitled ‘‘ Supplement to the Synopsis 
of Extinct Batrachia and Reptilia, &c.,” in which several extinct 
reptiles were described. Portions of the jaws and teeth of one 
of these from New Jersey were exhibited. It was named Ziodon 
sectorius, and was characterised by a greater amount of compres- 
sion of the teeth than in any certainly known Mosasaurén, the 
crown resembling those of some sharks.—Prof. Cope read a 
paper ‘On extinct forms of fishes of the neotropical region.” 
Two new genera, Prymmnates (Clupeide) and Anedopogon 
(? Characinidee) were determined. He also exhibited some 
fossil Batrachia from the Carboniferous of Linton, Ohio, obtained 
by the Geological Survey under Prof. Newberry. One a specimen 
of Sauropleura remex Cope presented a well-developed hind limb.” 
Oestocephalus amphiumimus was branchiferous, and probably 
limbless. Another fossil, representing a new genus, was referred 
to as Conchiocephalus piscinus Cope. It had two operculim-like 
bones on the sides of the cranium, the teeth obtuse and in brushes ; 
the size of Protonopsis.—Mr. Pliny Earle Chase read a paper on 
American and European rain-falls, showing an opposition at 
different seasons of the year, analogous to that which he had 
pointed out at different periods of the lunar month. Comparing 
the quarterly rains at Lisbon and at Philadelphia for the sixteen 
years, 1855 to 1870 inclusive, he found that the half years which 
were the most rainy at one station were the least so at the other. 
He also found that, in ten years out of the sixteen, an annual 
rainfall above the average at one station was accompanied by 
one below the average at the other. Mr. Chase also communi- 
cated some of the results which he had obtained by a discussion 
of the meteorological observations of the Signal Service Bureau, 
United States War Department. Perhaps the most important of 
his deductions were the following :—(1) The greater importance 
of the barometric gradients than of the isobars, in making 
American forecasts; (2) the great frequency of anti-cyclonic 
storms in the United States; (3) the probable origin of a large 
‘proportion of our storms in the blending of the polar and equa- 
torial currents, near the latitudes at which the general tendency 
of the winds changes its direction ; (4) the greater severity and 
briefer duration of cyclonic commotions than of those which 
are primarily anti-cyclonic, 
NATURE 

[| April 20, 1871 
BOOKS RECEIVED 
EnGcisu.—Fragments of Science for Unscieotific People: J. Tyndall 
(Longmans).—Classical and Prehistoric Influences upon British History, pt. 
i.: S. Bannister (Longmans) —British Rainfall for 1870: G. J. Symons 
(Stanford).—Symons’ Meteorological Magazine for 1870 (Stanford),— !he 
Beginning: its When and its How: M. Ponton (Longmans).—The Poor 
Artist: K. H. Horne(Van Voorst). —Half-crown Saturday afternoon Kamb!es 
round London: H. Walker (Hodder, Stoughton, ani Co.).—A Sketch: 
Romance of Motion: A. Lee (Longmans).—What is Industrial and Techni- 
cal Education? two Orations by Dr. John Mill (Simpkin and Co ). 
Foreicn.—(Through Williams and Norgate)—Die Elektromagnetische 
Telegraph: Dr. Schellen (2 vols.). 


DIARY 
THURSDAY, Aprit 20. 
Royat Society, at 8.30.—Note on the Circumstances of the Transits of 
Venus over the Sun's Disc inthe years 2004 and 2012: J, R. Hind, F.R.S. 
—On the Existence and Formation of Salts of Nitrous Oxide: Dr. E. 
Divers.— Research on a new group of Colloid Bodies containing Moroney: 
and certain members o the series of Fatty Ketones: Dr. J. E. Reynolds. 
Society oF ANTIQUARIES, at 8.30.— On the Original Purport and Use of the 
Galilee of Durham Cathedral: W. White, F.S.A. 3 
Linnean Society, at 8 —Notes on Mr. Murray's paper on the Geographical 
Relations of the chief Coleopterous Faunz=: Roland Trimen, F.L.S. 
CHEMICAL Socigrty, at 8. 
Royat INsTITUTION, at 3.—On Sound: Prof. Tyndall. 
FRIDAY, Avrit 21. 
Royat InstiTuTION, at 9.—On the pre-Socratic Philosophy: Prof, Blackie, 
F.R.S.E. 
SATURDAY, Aprit 22. 
Roya ScHoot or Mines, at 8.—Geology : Dr. Cobbold. 
Roya. INsTITOTION, at 3.—On the Instruments Used ia Modern Astro- 
nomy: Mr. Lockyer. 
MONDAY,,-Aprit 24. 
Roya GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY, at 8.30. 
INSTITUTE OF ACTUARIES, at 7.—On iriditetera Assurance : H. Harben. 
Lonvon Institution, at 4.—On Astronomy; R. A. Procter, F.R.AS. 
(Educational Course.) 
Society oF ANTIQUARIES, at 2.—Anniversary Meeting. 
TUESDAY, Aprit 25. 
Royat InstituTIon, at 3 —On the Geology of Devonshire, especially of the 
New Red Sandstone System: William Pengelly, F.R.S. 
WEDNESDAY, Apri 26. 
Geotoaicat Society, at 8.-—On a new species of Coral from the Red Crag 
of Waldringfield: Prof. P. Martin Duncan, F.R.S., F.G S —Notes on 
the Minerals of Strontian, Argyllshire: R. H. Scott, F.R.S., F.G.S.— 
On the probable origin of Deposits of “‘ Loess” in North China and Eastern 
Asia: T W. Kingsmill, of Shanghai. 
Society or Arts, at 8.—Photography in the Printing Press, being a De- 
scription{of the Working of the Heliotype Process: Ernest Edwards. 
Roya Society oF LITERATURE, at 8.30.—On ‘the Classical Names of 
Rivers : Hyde Clarke.—On Shakespeare's Birthday: C. M. Ingleby, LL.D. 
Lonpon INsTITUTION, at 12.—Annual Meeting of Proprietors. 
THURSDAY, Aprrit 27. 
Royat Socigty, at 8.30. 
Lonoon INsTITUTION, at 7-30.—On Economic Botany: Piof. Bentley. 
Roya Institution, at 3.—On Sound: Prof. Tyndall. 


CONTENTS 
Ape REsEMBLANCES TO MAN. By St. GeorGe Mivart, F.R.S. . 
Tue CoLLecTION OF INVERTEBRATE ANIMALS IN THE FREE PuBLIC 
PAGE 
Museum, Liverroot, 11. By Rev. Henry H. Hiccins. . . . 484 
Prx-EUcLIDIAN GEOMETRY . «© « «© +) 0 9 6 cs) ls), a) enna 
Our Book SHEur o/.00 5, so « (6 = ©0014) ehusnel eh euneeeanr 
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR :— 
The Science College at Newcastle.—Rev. J. WAITE . . . . . 485 
The Aurora Borealis. (With [i/ustration.}—A. S. HERSCHEL ; W. é 
J. B. Tuomrson ;,J., JEREMIAH «0 2) ais .¢ «smile ne 
Comparative Aggregate Strength of the Light from the Red 
Hydrogen-Stratum, and of that from the Rest of the Chromo- 
sphere.—B, ‘E. HAMMOND <2 6. 1). 1) 
Mount Washington —Samuet H. Scupner . . . . . . « « 487 
The Name ‘Britain’... 5 0-sa, 1+), _- pe To ob 10) oil Oe en 
Faunas of Oceanic Islands.—J. MATTHEW Jones . . . . « . 488 
Influence of Barometric Pressure on Ocean Currents.—Dr. W. B. 
CARPENTER, F.R.S, sy. 250) cal le, 6st ie 
The Times Review of Darwin's “ Descent of Man.”"—T. R. R. 
STEBRING 6 aw es ws fe is se, mm © el bn o r 
Sexual Selection.—G. FrasER . . . . 2 2 2 + « se es $99 
SclENCE IN PARIS DURING THE SiEGE. By G. F, Ropwett, F.C.S. . 490 
AMERICAN NOTES or. 5 ay 1s:/a: =)) ¢ ‘el vas eh Wey om Delt ens ane 
SCIENCE;AZ OXFORD 5 (6. iay 5), is) -tce, cuteNen >) seen GneeneEDS 
Serr’ CAvk EXPLORATION. ¢_...s » (v,.5) 0" dala en eee 49r 
New 'Spscies or MADREPORE’ 4 <<). FL OR ee eae 492 
SUBTERRANEAN ELECTRICAL DISTURBANCES . ao, he See 492 
NOTES 5): jo. 0 3 for (ae gismteg thE otlkey ay sielltte bao goin ia 
ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY’ s\5«, sc go)e) ob gee ee 495 
Science TEACHING IN ORDINARY SCHOOLS. . . . . 2... 495 
Tue INFLUENCE oF AQuEOUS VarouR ON METEOROLOGY. By W. H. 
NEAMONGK, «| owes uaciredle ss yas, Rutten an + 495 
THe Royar Sociery OF VICTORIA. |.| . |. a) ste: ee eee 4y6 
SGIENTIFIC: SERIALS’, /.| <''s 5) Jel) steal NCU a En Oo) en 497 
Socienres'aANp ACADEMIES; /./. |. << GE 3's 5 Sem 497 
BOOKS RECEIVED, ¢,/(s'jle) fel jo’ s)'hp. tau nGi eee ee 500 
Ue ee a AM cle MT awe Sco cen 
