138 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 



length commonly found is -a. question which has not been satis- 

 factorily answered. It will be seen, by reference to Fig. 11, 

 that the hole, which is of luiiform size (one millimeter) 

 throughout, is considerably curved. A line drawn between 

 the two extremities of the hole, on the concave side, would be 

 about one-quarter of an inch from the middle of the curve ; 

 yet this hole is no larger than an ordinary knitting needle, is 

 curved to correspond with the outer line of the bead. No 

 drills have been discovered in the graves which would do the 

 work referred to. Figs. 12 and 13, PI. 2, represent beads 

 drilled with stone tools, but the tapering form of the drill 

 made the holes too large at the ends, and glass beads were used 

 to reduce them to the size required. This style of work, how- 

 ever, was done after the advent of the white people, when glass 

 beads were used instead of the dentalium shells formerly used 

 for the same purpose.* 



(To be continued.) 



'See also Figs. 18 and 19, PI. 3: (to follow) 



There is much discussion now concerning the theories which have- 

 become traditional among geologists. In different directions and upon 

 new grounds the nebular hypothesis is being attacked as untenable and 

 inadequate to explain phenomena heretofore even used as arguments 

 in its favor. Disclaiming here any intention of assuming to speak 

 for astronomers, there is a growing belief among geologists that a 

 complete revision of the sub-stratum of geologic theorj^ is becoming 

 necessary. That the failure of certain theories, which attempt to 

 explain natural phenomena, to give explanation of the phenomena 

 themselves, has involved geologists in illogical conclusions while em- 

 ploying logical methods of reasoning, is the contention of a writer in 

 the American Geologist.* The discussion of the paper will be taken 

 up in a later issue. 



Professor T. C. Chamberlin, Head Professor of Geology in the Uni- 

 versity of Chicago, has long since taken ground against some pre- 

 conceived notions in geology, as to the formation of the earth and its 

 general life-history. His views also antagonize the nebular hypothesis 

 and they are closely in accord with some of the opinions ex!pressed b}- 

 Sir John Murray in his recent lecture on " Oceanology, " published in 

 this issue of the Bulletin. Professor Chamberlin adopts what is known 

 as the planetesimal theory of the earth 's origin, and he believes that 

 the compression due to cooling is, as it were, squeezing out gaseous 

 ingredients, and that this process, in varying quality, has been going, 

 on for ages. In a way this has bearing on the nature of radio-active 

 substances, which are now attracting the attention of investigators 

 everywhere. 



♦The Untenableness of the Nebular Theory. By N. Mistockles. Part 

 I., American Geologist, Vol. XXXIV., No. 4, Oct., 1904. p. 226: Part II.. 

 No. 5. Nov., 1904. p. 310: Part III., No. 6, Dec. 1904. p. 361. 



