864 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXIX. No. 752 



as a shield; short spined vertebrae with para- 

 pophyses never rising above the centra; pos- 

 terior ribs coossified to vertebrae." 



In article XHI. Eoy E. Andrews describes 

 a new species of cetacean, Mesoplodon iow- 

 doini. Article XIV. contains " Notes on Two 

 Porpoises from the Pacific," by John Tread- 

 well Nichols. " A Revision of the American 

 Eocene Horses (Hyracoiheres) ," by Walter 

 Granger is a very valuable study conducted 

 along morphological lines with much care. 

 In speaking of distribution the author says: 



The horizon of their greatest abundance is the 

 Wasatch, especially the Wasatch of the Big Horn 

 Basin, where they predominate over all other 

 forms, with the possible exception of Systemidon, 

 a very closely related genua. 



He remarks that " One of the progressive 

 characters of the Eocene Horses is the grad- 

 ual molarization of the second, third and 

 fourth premolars in both the upper and lower 

 jaws," and the concluding section of his 

 paper deals with "Premolar Development." 

 This article precedes a paper by President 

 Osbom on "New Fossil Mammals from the 

 Fayum Oligocene of Egypt," wherein some 

 anomalous characters indicative of new family 

 relations are recorded. The paper is prelim- 

 inary, and reports that the expedition into 

 the Fayum region of northern Egypt in the 

 winter of 1906-7 obtained a collection of 

 about 550 specimens, " including more or less 

 complete remains of most of the fossil forms 

 so far known to be characteristic of this 

 region." 



A comprehensive paper, dealing with the 

 history, the relationships and nomenclature, 

 the geographical distribution and external 

 and osteological characters of the " North 

 Atlantic Eight Whale and its near Allies," 

 by Dr. Allen, arrests both eye and attention 

 in the middle of this big Bulletin. The 

 article possesses a notable strength, and seems 

 to be a compressed result of laborious and 

 extended previous study. It is excellent read- 

 ing, and reveals the solid emphasis of author- 

 ity. It comprises about fifty pages, with six 

 contributory plates. 



The ornithologist W. De Witt MiUer re- 

 views the beautiful manakins (genus Ghiroxi- 



phia) in article XIS. The genus " is a small 

 group difiBcult to define by structural char- 

 acters alone, on account of the great varia- 

 tions in external form among the several 

 species, but well characterized by the colora- 

 tion of the adult males, all of which have a 

 blue black and a red or yellow crest." Mr. 

 MiUer has prepared a most instructive map 

 of the geographic range of the genus which is 

 new, and original for the birds discussed. 



Embracing articles XX. and XXI., and 

 covering 139 pages Professor W. M. Wheeler 

 elucidates the taxonomy and the economy of 

 the Honey Ants, and describes the ants of 

 Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. It is 

 difficult at this point to specialize. The sub- 

 ject is engrossing and the author brings to 

 the discussion an extraordinary wealth of ex- 

 perience, observation and reading. Com- 

 ment is naturally impossible except by 

 myrmeeologists, but the most inexpert eye 

 can not fail to linger over many paragraphs 

 descriptive of the positively amazing econ- 

 omies of these insects, especially such dif- 

 ferentiated abnormalities as the "nepletes," 

 individuals who become " living repositories 

 for the surplus honey of the colony, which in 

 time of need answers the purpose of the fuU 

 honey-combs of the bee." 



Article XXII. describes the Peary caribou, 

 differing from its nearest allies B. groerv- 

 landicus and B. arcticus " in being much 

 smaller, taking the skull as a basis of com- 

 parison, the females of groenlandicus and 

 arcticus being as large as the males of pearyi." 

 The paper is by Dr. Allen. 



Dr. Allen also furnishes article XX 1 1 1., 

 which discusses the rare Solenodon paradoxus 

 Brandt from San Domingo. These notes are 

 based upon specimens collected by A. Wyatt 

 Verrill, and the collector's remarks "based on 

 actual observation of the animal in life," are 

 probably the most trustworthy description of 

 its habits known. 



Mr. Verrill says : 



In its habits the Solenodon resembles a hog, 

 rooting in the earth and cultivated ground, tear- 

 ing rotten logs and trees to pieces with its power- 

 ful front claws, and feeding on ants, grubs, in- 

 sects, vegetables, reptiles and fruit, and at times 



