192 Miscellaneoas — International Geological Congress. 



standing his previous retirement from active service, Mr. Davies 

 also undertook the revision of the proofs of the British Museum 

 Catalogue of Fossil Eeptiles. As Sir Richard Ovpen remarks, the 

 discovery of the cranium of Dasornis was due to Mr. Davies, who 

 recognized it among some fish-remains from the London Clay ; and 

 to the skilled manipulation of the same observer we are indebted 

 for the well-displayed jaws of Odontopteryx. Prof. Leith Adams 

 was in continual communication and consultation with Mr. Davies 

 while pi'eparing his Memoir on British Fossil Elephants, of the 

 dentition of which our lamented friend had unrivalled knowledge ; 

 and the British Museum Catalogue of Fossil Mammalia owes much 

 of its value as a record of the history of specimens to its careful 

 revision by the same hand. Only a little more than a year ago, 

 Mr. Davies entered with his usual enthusiasm upon the reading of 

 the proofs of Messrs. Woodward and Sherborn's " Catalogue of 

 British Fossil Vertebrata," to which he made important contribu- 

 tions ; and several of his letters, containing information of much 

 historical value in reference to literature and specimens, are now 

 preserved in a bound volume in the Geological Library of the 

 British Museum. 



Apart from all literary work, however, Mr. William Davies leaves 

 some enduring monuments in the British Museum. The great head 

 of the Ilford Mammoth was rescued from destruction entirely by 

 his skill in the disinterment of such remains ; and the same remark 

 applies to many of the unique gems in the Brady Collection. The 

 bones of the huge Omosaurus from the Kimmeridge Clay of Swindon 

 were extricated from a difficult matrix, or built up from apparently 

 worthless fragments, in part by his own hand, in part under his 

 direction. Hyper orlapedon — one of the latest acquisitions — was 

 worked out by the masons under the same supervision ; and Mr, 

 Davies played no unimportant part in superintending the extrication 

 from the matrix of some of the finest examples of Siwalik Mammals 

 and South African Eeptiles. Palaeontology has, indeed, lost a 

 master- hand. A. S. W. 



nvnisciBiLijj^isrEOTJS. 



The International Geological Congkess, 

 "Washington, 26th August, 1891. 

 The negociations respecting the proposed change in the date and 

 locality of the next meeting of the International Geological Congress 

 were at length brought to a conclusion by the American Organizing 

 Committee. It has now been decided that the Congress shall be 

 held in Washington during the week commencing Wednesday 26th 

 August, 1891. Sub-committees have been formed to arrange for the 

 scientific business, the long excursions, the local arrangements, 

 and for the nomination of officers. A circular has been issued 

 announcing the proposed arrangements, and coiTlially inviting all 

 Geologists to take part in the labours of the Congress. 



