Reviews 



THREE PHASES OF MODERN PALEONTOLOGY 



L Uintacrinns: Its Structure a?id Re latio7is. By Frank Springer. 

 (Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., Vol XXV, pp. 1-90, 8 pis., 

 Cambridge, 1901.) 



IL Oriskatiy Fauna of Becraft Mountain. By John M. Clarke. 

 (Mem. New York State Mus., Vol. Ill, No. 3, 128 pp., 9 

 pis., Albany, 1900.) 



III. Stratigraphical Successiofi of the Fossil Floras of the Pottsville 

 Formation in the Southern Anthracite Coal Field. By David 

 White. (U. S. Geol. Surv., Twentieth Ann. Rept., Part 11, 

 pp. 749-930, 13 pis., Washington, 1901.) 



Three notable contributions to our knowledge of fossil organisms 

 have lately appeared from the hands of the printer. They are notable 

 as making distinct advancements in paleontology. They are notable 

 as typifying the three distinct phases into which the science relating to 

 ancient life has finally resolved itself. They are notable as model 

 works of their kind, each representing the general subject from a very 

 different viewpoint, and hence show very diverse modes of treatment 

 and the very diverse character of paleontological inquiry of today. 



I. The crinoids have long been an attractive theme to geologists. 

 Ever since the discovery by Marsh,'-in 1870, of the remarkable Creta- 

 ceous crinoid afterward called LTintacrinus, great interest has been 

 taken by paleontologists in each new accession. Grinnell, Meek, 

 Willison & Hill, and Logan, in this country, and in Europe, Schliiter 

 and Bather, have described carefully the known material. It has 

 remained for Mr. Springer, so long intimately associated with the 

 lamented Wachsmuth, to give us a magnificent monograph on the sub- 

 ject, including a large amount of new information derived from rich, 

 lately discovered material. And this after one would naturally think 

 that about all that it was possible to say had been said. 



The special charm and value in this work is the strictly morpho- 

 logical character that it presents. In this respect it fully keeps up the 



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