192 Correspondence—UMM. Boulenger and Lydekker. 
scopical sections of the fragments, has come to the conclusion that 
they are merely masses of fossil wood. a view in which he is sup- 
ported by a well-known botanist, Dr. M. Hovelacque. 
This demolishing of the new Dinosaur has bronght upon M. 
Dollo a would-be crushing retort from its founder. The tone of the 
reply is, however, not of a kind to raise its author in the opinion 
of the scientific, or, indeed, for that matter, of any other world. 
He seems indeed to have followed the Old Bailey maxim, that 
when you have no case, the only thing left is to abuse the plaintiff 
and all connected with him. We were, however, especially con- 
cerned to find our own names dragged into this unseemly controversy, 
on the ground that we have seen reason to differ in certain respects 
from M. Dollo’s views as to the serial position or specific distinction 
of some of the Wealden Reptiles of Belgium. To make such 
differences of opinion the grounds of a deliberate impeachment of 
M. Dollo’s capacity as a paleontologist is, on the face of it, too 
absurd for serious notice. We believe, indeed, that scarcely any 
two palzontologists can be found who will agree with one another 
in all respects as to the affinity of a totally extinct type of animal ; 
and when the type specimens are in the fragmentary condition in 
which some of the allied English forms were found, there is no 
wonder that M. Dollo failed to recognize their identity or kinship 
with the Belgian examples. In one instance, indeed, one of the 
undersigned has since agreed with M. Dollo in regarding the 
Belgian Crocodile Bernissartia as generically distinct from the 
English Hyleochampsa. 
We are well assured, in conclusion, that no words of ours are 
needed to express the high estimation in which M. Dollo’s paleonto- 
logical work is held, not only in this country, but wherever the 
science is cultivated; and we look forward with keen hope to the 
appearance of fully illustrated monographs from his hand, which 
will worthily proclaim to the world the priceless treasures preserved 
in the Brussels Museum. G. A. BouLENGER, 
British Museum, 20 March, 1889. R. LypekKer. 
MISCHiIGLANHOUS. 
_ RE 
Human Rexics anp Bonus or Mastopon FouND IN ASSOCIATION. 
—-Mr. J. M. Clarke reports to Dr. James Hall, State-Geologist, 
Albany, N.Y., that in the village of Attica, Wyoming Co., N.Y., 
some bones of Mastodon (or possibly Elephant) and of Elk (?), 
together with charcoal, have been found at a depth of about six feet, 
in a natural sink-hole or bog-hole in the shale of that place; and 
that some ancient pottery and charcoal were found in a neighbouring 
bog-hole, about 40 feet distant, and at a depth of a foot lower than 
in the other pit. The two holes or pits were once connected by a 
small watercourse. The hole with the bones and charcoal was at 
top about 80 feet, and that with the pottery and charcoal about 
75 feet in diameter. Both narrowed downwards, and contained 
“black muck and mucky clay”; one is under the street and the 
other in a pasture. TR. ds 
