OCTOBER 6, 1899. ] 
John M. Clarke, Albany, N. Y. 
Paropsonema represents an extraordinary 
type of echinoderm structure. It is be- 
lieved to be an echinoid. The description 
was illustrated with drawings. 
Extending over several square miles in 
the Chenango Valley, N. Y., a stratum 
of Oneonta sandstone occurs, in which are 
found thousands of Orthocerata standing 
erect and perpendicular to the bedding 
planes. They are the only truly marine 
organisms in the-sandstone. Specimens 
were shown. 
The so-called ‘water biscuit’ are proba- 
bly concretions due to the effect of aquatic 
vegetation of low order, producing a pre- 
cipitation of lime from the water. Speci- 
mens were shown. 
‘The Pot Holes of Foster’s Flats (now 
called Niagara Glen) in the Niagara River,’ 
Miss Mary A. Fleming, Buffalo, N. Y. 
The discovery of pot holes at Foster’s 
Flats is recorded, together with their loca- 
tion and the general appearance of the sur- 
roundings. They occur in large fragments 
which have fallen from the adjacent cliffs 
and were apparently formed while the frag- 
ments were part of the cliffs. 
‘A Consideration of the Interpretation of 
Unusual Events in Geologic Records, Illus- 
trated by Recent Examples,’ Frederick W. 
Simonds, Austin, Tex. 
An examination of geologic reports shows 
that, as a rule, the working geologist devotes 
too little time to the interpretation of events, 
while recording facts. The value of strati- 
graphic work is not questioned, but the value 
of interpretation should not be underesti- 
mated. Proper interpretation of unusual 
events is not only difficult, but an improper 
interpretation may be exceedingly mislead- 
ing and be conducive to error in other 
directions. 
‘The Pre-Lafayette (Tennessean) Base- 
level,’ W J McGee, Washington, D. C. 
The most extensive base-level of the North 
SCIENCE 
489 
American continent is that preserved in 
part as an unconformity beneath the La- 
fayette formation, and in part as a some- 
what dissected surface, extending inland 
from the margin of the formation. This 
base-level is the record of a vast period of 
approximate continental stability, which 
has been called the Tennessean. 
‘The Relative Ages of the Maumee 
Glacial Lake and the Niagara Gorge,’ 
Chas. E. Slocum, Defiance, Ohio. 
The time thought necessary for the erod- 
ing of the Niagara Gorge has been short- 
ened by recent observers until now 7,000 
to 7,500 years is believed to be sufficient. 
The Ice Age was probably well over before 
the waters began to erode the gorge. The 
level of Lake Erie has been little, if any, 
lowered by the gorge. The Maumee Glacial 
Lake was well drained before the Niagara 
River channel was worn, and the ice must 
have disappeared from the Lake Hrie region 
previous to this—that is to say the Maumee 
Glacial Lake may have existed several 
thousand years before the erosion of the 
Niagara gorge began. 
‘The Galt Moraine and Associated Drain- 
age,’ F. B. Taylor, Fort Wayne, Ind. 
In Canada, west of Lake Ontario, extend- 
ing northeast from Paris, past Galt to Credit 
Forks, is about fifty miles of moraine, called 
the Galt moraine, and fragments of two 
others to the west and east. The Galt 
moraine in its northern part is on or close 
to the escarpment which runs north from 
Hamilton. A large river carried the glacial 
waters to the southwest along the front of 
the moraine in its early stages of formation. 
The bed of this river is well marked. As 
the ice receded the moraine was deposited, 
the river changed its course and for a time 
ran between the ice and the moraine. For 
several miles the bed is on the brink of the 
escarpment. Along that part there is no 
bank on the east side of the bed, but a 
descent of over 200 feet to the Credit river. 
