May 24, 1901.] 
Fresno, Cal., seems to furnish a good illustration 
of this class. As a result there is always found 
a greater or less formation of sodium carbonate, 
the, soluble and very noxious component of 
black alkali, and the very soluble calcium 
chloride. Such regions are generally further 
characterized by the presence of a hardpan at 
a distance of a few feet below the surface and 
generally parallel to it, the cementing material 
of which is calcium carbonate. In such areas 
there is a tendency toward an accumulation of 
the soluble carbonates at the surface of the soil. 
Calcium chloride accumulations, in spots of 
comparatively restricted area, are frequent ac- 
companiments and are often mistaken for bad 
black alkali spots, although the presence of 
soluble carbonates in more than very small 
quantities is an impossibility. (4) The class of 
alkali most commonly encountered is that in 
which the predominating feature is the simul- 
taneous action of solutions of sodium chloride 
upon gypsum and calcium carbonate. In such 
an area the formation of soluble carbonates can 
take place to only a very limited, generally 
negligible, extent. The apparent increase in 
the solubility of the gypsum is also much less 
than when the calcium carbonate is not present. 
The alkali of the Salt Lake Valley appears to 
be a good illustration of this type. (5) Much 
less frequently other types of alkali are en- 
countered, as at Billings, Mont., where the 
soluble material in the soils appears to be almost 
entirely sulphates. (6) Modifications of the 
types described above are more or less fre- 
quently found. They may possibly be of such 
importance as to warrant a separate classifica- 
tion, as, for example, the conditions found to 
exist in the valley of the Sevier, Utah. (7) 
The classification here proposed is believed to 
be comprehensive and is founded on scientific 
principles. It is elastic and will readily admit 
of modifications. Principles other than those 
now recognized in it may be introduced without 
the accompaniment of radical changes. It can 
be made as specific as the advance of our 
knowledge from time to time will justify. 
‘Chemical Examination of Alkali Soils,’ by 
Atherton Seidell. In this paper the author 
pointed out the necessity for uniform methods 
in the examination of the water-soluble com- 
SCIENCE. 
825 
pounds of alkali soils, in order that the work 
of various investigators may be compared. A 
description of the procedure and methods in 
use in the U. S. Department of Agriculture was 
given, with a full discussion of the basis there- 
for. The unique features are the preparation 
of the solution for analysis, the preliminary de- 
termination of the salt content, by means of the 
electrolytic bridge, and the determination of 
carbonates, bicarbonates and chlorides. The 
statement of the results was also discussed at 
length. 
L. S. Munson, 
Secretary. 
THE ONONDAGA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 
THE 46th regular meeting of the Society was 
held in the Historical Rooms, on April 19, 
1901. 
The first paper was by Professor J. D. Wil- 
son, entitled ‘The Fauna of the Goniatite 
Limestone.’ In most places this formation 
consists of two layers of rock scarcely more than 
two feet in thickness, but exceedingly rich in 
goniatites and other cephalopods. He had col- 
lected 18 varieties of goniatites, orthocerata, 
and related forms, nearly all of them confined 
to the upper layer of limestone. Recently he 
had found several specimens, onea coiled form, 
evidently related to Gyroceras transversum, and 
ornamented with nodes, but having a cross sec- 
tion distinctly decahedral. The name Thoraco- 
ceras Wilsont is suggested. In the discussion 
Professor Philip F. Schneider called attention 
to a much smaller and less prominent fauna of 
the limestone, which is principally confined to 
the lower layer. It consists of 3 gasteropods, 
2 pteropods, 1 brachiopod and 1 trilobite, thus 
increasing the list to 25 specimens. 
The second paper, entitled ‘Recent Theories 
as to the Cause of the Glacial Period,’ was 
given by Dr. T. C. Hopkins of Syracuse Uni- 
versity. He spoke briefly of several of the 
recent theories and carefully described the 
‘ Atmospheric Theory.’ This theory is based 
on the principle that slight variations in the 
amount of carbonic acid and watery vapor pres- 
ent in the atmosphere produce grave changes 
in its temperature, and he would entirely ac- 
count for the great differences in the tempera- 
