REVIEWS 'J'J'J 



But alas, notwithstanding all these conclusive evidences of evolution from 

 a still earlier terrestrial type the Triassic forms offer no conclusive evidence 

 of the origin of the order. The author can see no especial rhynchocephalian 

 characters in the ichthyosaurs, so strongly urged by Baur, and he rejects 

 the conclusions of McGregor that the ichthyosaurs are nearly related to the 

 phytosaurs, and in both thesexonclusions the writer concurs. He believes 

 that the ichthyosaurs arose from very primitive or the most primitive reptiles. 

 Hay, recently in his extensive work on the turtles has reached the same con- 

 clusion for that order of reptiles. In other words, the results of both these 

 authors, based upon exhaustive studies, go to support the phylogenic views 

 expressed by Cope in his Factors of Evolution, published not long before his 

 death. It seems to the writer they also destroy every shred of support remain- 

 ing for the primary division of the reptiha into two chief classes, and the 

 writer further protests against the use of the terms ' ' Synapsida ' ' and ' ' Diap- 

 sida" as practically synonyms of Cope's Synaptosauria and Archosauria, 

 proposed and sustained by him years before his death. 



Briefly stated in conclusion. Dr. Merriam gives a full discussion of the 

 geological and geographical distribution of the ichthyosaurs, their classifi- 

 cation (he accepts Baur's two families only, the Mixosauridae and Ichthyo- 

 sauridae), evolution, and structure, with especial reference to the Triassic 

 forms, which are fully described so far as the known material has permitted. 

 The work is well illustrated by text figures and plates. 



Both the author and the University of California are to be congratulated 

 upon the issuance of this volume, and not the least is the university to be 

 commended for the inauguration of the handsome series of quarto memoirs 

 of which this is the beginning; other institutions might well profit by the 

 example. 



S. W. W. 



Skeletal Remains Suggesting or Attributed to Early Man in North 

 America. By Ales Hadlicka. Bureau of American Ethnology, 

 Bulletin No. 38, Washington, D. C, 1907. 



This is a very careful, dispassionate review of the skeletal remains found 

 at New Orleans, Quebec, Natchez, Lake Monroe (Florida) Soda, Creek, 

 Charleston, Galaveras, Rock Bluff, Penon, Trenton, Burlington, Riverview, 

 Lansing, Osprey, Hanson Landing, and Nebraska. The discussion of 

 the Nebraska "loess man," which is based on personal examination of the 

 grounds as well as study of the remains, is the climacteric point of interest, 

 because of the low, retreating foreheads of some of the skulls. Hadlicka's 

 general conclusion (p. 98) is as follows: 



