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SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXIX. No. 735 



illustrated by several slides, showing the locality 

 and stages in the excavation of the specimen. 



Professor Osborn then gave a brief description 

 of the Cretaceous section in Montana in which the 

 skeleton of Tyrannosaurus was found last sum- 

 mer, pointing out the sharp faunal distinction 

 between the true Cretaceous and the Eocene part 

 of the section. 



Discussion: Professor Lull inquired whether 

 this specimen throws any further light upon the 

 supposed aquatic habits of Trachodon. 



Professor Osborn replied that in general the 

 view that these animals were waders rather than 

 truly aquatic, appeared to be the most probable. 



Dr. Williston inquired as to whether any carbon 

 was preserved in the skin, as it is in so many 

 instances in the Kansas chalk. He also recalled 

 that in the excavation of the type specimen of 

 Morosaurus grandis in 1878, considerable parts 

 of the skin were found to be present in the form 

 of a rather thick carbonaceous sheet. Owing to 

 the unfavorable conditions, it was not then pos- 

 sible to preserve any part of the skin. He pointed 

 out additional reasons against believing that the 

 Dinosaurs were aquatic animals. 



The problem of the habitat of the Sauropodous 

 Dinosaurs was further discussed by Dr. Matthew, 

 Dr. Williston, Mr. Riggs, Professor Lull and Mr. 

 Gidley. Dr. Williston and Mr. Riggs advocated a 

 terrestrial, Dr. Matthew and Mr. Gidley a wading, 

 habit for this group. 



In absence of Professor Osborn, Dr. Matthew 

 then reported briefly upon the Bison latifrons 

 skull recently acquired by the American Museum. 

 This is believed to be the finest fossil bison skull 

 on record. It measures nearly six feet from tip 

 to tip of the horn-coves; the skull is but slightly 

 larger than that of B. americamus, but shows 

 several differences in form. It was discovered 

 some years ago near Hoxie, in northwestern 

 Kansas. 



Discussion: Dr. Case mentioned a fine fossil 

 bison skull in the collection of Iowa University. 

 Dr. Williston observed that there was a very fine 

 skull in the Leland Stanford University collec- 

 tions. It had not, he believed, been mentioned in 

 print. He further discussed the characters of the 

 different species of Bison and the geological 

 horizon of B. alleni, reported by Marsh as Plio- 

 cene but probably Pleistocene. The living species 

 B. amerioanus is also found in the late Pleisto- 

 cene. 



The program of papers being completed, the 

 business meeting of the society followed. 



The nominating committee reported that they 



had agreed upon the names of Dr. J. 0. Merriam 

 for president and Mr. E. S. Riggs for secretary 

 and treasurer. These nominations were accepted 

 by the society and Messrs. J. W. Gidley, Barnum 

 Brown and F. B. Loomis were then nominated as 

 executive committee, and there being no further 

 nominations, the secretary was instructed to cast 

 a ballot for the nominees, and they were duly 

 elected. 



It was further resolved that the secretary with 

 an assistant from the executive committee should 

 have charge of the arrangement of program for 

 the ensuing meetings, to avoid conflict with the 

 programs of related societies whose meetings the 

 members might wish to attend. 



The following gentlemen were then proposed for 

 membership: Professor E. R. Branson, Oberlin 

 College, Ohio; Dr. Roy L. Moodie, Kansas Uni- 

 versity; Mr. W. H. Reed, University of Wyoming; 

 Mr. C. H. Sternberg, Lawrence, Kansas; Professor 

 C. E. McClung, Kansas University. After each 

 name had been individually balloted upon, the 

 president declared the unanimous election of all 

 to membership in the society. 



On motion of Dr. Loomis the following resolu- 

 tion was passed: 



Resolved, That the American Society of Verte- 

 brate Paleontologists, having found the " Bibliog- 

 raphy and Catalogue of Fossil Vertebrates of 

 North America," issued as a bulletin of the U. S. 

 Geological Survey, of the greatest service in ex- 

 pediting research, do hereby request the director 

 of the survey to prepare and publish a supplement 

 to the same, to include the bibliography from 1900 

 to 1910, and do respectfully tender all assistance 

 possible. 



It was then resolved that the society express its 

 appreciation and thanks to Professor Clarke and 

 the Johns Hopkins University for their courtesies 

 and efforts which had done so much to promote 

 the success of the Baltimore meeting. 



After which the society adjourned. 



W. D. Matthew, 



SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES 



THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETT OF WASHINGTON 



At the 209th meeting of the society, held at 

 the Cosmos Club, on Wednesday evening, Novem- 

 ber 11, 1908, Mr. Willis T. Lee spoke informally 

 on an occurrence of coal changed to coke and 

 graphite in the Raton, New Mexico, coal field. 



During some period of volcanic activity after 

 the coal beds had been formed igneous rock was 



