Apbh, 16, 1909] 



SCIENCE 



621 



is of greater functional importance than the 

 corresponding tooth in the American form. 



From the illustrations of Amphicyon 

 lemanensis by FilhoF it is seen that the 

 occipital condyles of that form are less sessile, 

 the mastoid process is of larger size, and the 

 tympanic bullse were probably smaller. It is 

 also seen (PI. XL, figs. 4, 6-8) that M° has 

 three roots and the crown is occupied by three 

 distinct ciisps, a distinctly more conservative 

 character, and properly to be considered as 

 more primitive than that of the reduced and 

 comparatively simple crowned M" of Daphwno- 

 don superbus. Another character which 

 seems to indicate less specialization in the 

 European genus is the short antero-posterior 

 diameter of Mj, when compared with that of 

 Daphmnodon superbus. 



It is further seen on; comparison that the 

 skull of Daphoenodon superbus is less elon- 

 gated than that of Daphcenus felinus from 

 the American Oligocene. The base of the 

 skuU back of the pterygoids is especially 

 shortened. The muzzle is heavier. The in- 

 cisors are larger, the antero-intemal tubercle 

 of P* (camassial) is less developed, M' and 

 TVf' are more developed internally, and the 

 postero-internal angles of M.^ and M^ are more 

 prominent. The position of P' is less oblique 

 in the alveolar border than is the case with the 

 corresponding tooth in Daplicenus felinus, a 

 character tending toward conditions found in 

 the recent dogs. 



The limbs of Daphoenodon superbus are 

 comparatively long and slender, the thoracic 

 region rather light, and the tail is very long. 

 These are characteristic structural features of 

 Daphcenus felinus described by Mr. Hatcher 

 in the Memoirs of the Carnegie Museum, Vol. 

 I., pp. 66-95. 



0. A. Peterson 



Cabnegie Museum, 

 March 20, 1909 



NOTES ON MUSHROOM SPORES 



In making experiments to determine if the 

 spores of dung-inhabiting mucors pass 

 through the stomach and intestines of animals 

 before they germinate, an interesting fact 



'L. c, PI. XIII., Fig. 5. 



about the spores of mushrooms was discov- 

 ered. 



Some fresh horse manure, immediately after 

 it was voided, was placed upon a sterilized 

 plate and covered with a sterilized glass cover. 

 On examining parts of this manure for 

 mucor spores, there were found spores re- 

 sembling mushroom spores. The plate was 

 then set siside for three weeks when an abun- 

 dant crop of mushrooms appeared. Examina- 

 tion proved them to be Goprinus ephemerus 

 Fries. 



There is a possibility that the spores might 

 have been floating in the air and might have 

 fallen upon the manure in the short time that 

 it was exposed in the stable but it is not very 

 probable that such was the case. 



It seems practically demonstrated that these 

 spores passed through the digestive tract of 

 the horse and escaped any injurious effect 

 from the process of digestion. They germi- 

 nated and developed into mature plants in a 

 very short time. David E. Sumstine 



Western Univeesitt or Pennsylvania, 

 Pittsburgh, Pa. 



tanks for soil investigation at cornell 

 university 



There are certain experiments involving 

 fundamental problems in soil productiveness 

 that can be conducted only where it is pos- 

 sible to accurately measure the conditions as 

 they exist in the field, and to maintain the 

 records through a great number of years. 

 Some of these problems are as follows : 



Effects of the continuous use of large 

 amounts of mineral fertilizers upon the 

 physical and chemical properties of the soil, 

 and upon the bacterial flora and bacterial 

 activity. 



Changes that occur in a series of years 

 when soils gradually deteriorate or improve. 



Effect of different methods of soil treatment 

 upon the loss of lime in the drainage water. 



The loss of potassium and other substances 

 occasioned by manuring with lime. 



Loss of soluble salts caused by clean culti- 

 vation. 



Extent to which soils under field conditions 



