Review of some recent American Contributions, etc. 363 
Art. XLI.—On Contributions to Paleontology, published by the 
Si ” 
mithsonian Institution 
AMONG the recent “Contributions to Knowledge” furnished 
to the scientific world by the Smithsonian Institution, is the se- 
ries of publications on systematic Paleontology here enumerated. 
The importance of these articles demands an extended notice, 
and the principles followed in their preparation or compilation 
may be exposed with advantage to students 
Commencing with that which was earliest issued, and which is 
also the most important, we may congratulate naturalists on the 
appearance of the first part of Meek and Hayden’s “ Paleontol- 
ogy of the Upper Missouri.” If fullness of detail, joined with 
conciseness of description and the elimination of characters that 
are not really pertinent to the group under consideration ; if a 
rigorous comparison of such with related types; and if, finally, a 
careful revisal of the nomenclature and synonymy of all the 
Visions when such are recog 
given of the families, subfamilies, and genera, and the genera of 
the former groups are also enumerated, and in all cases evidence 
is afforded of acquaintance with the most recent investigations. 
Not content with taking for granted the correctness of the ac- 
cepted nomenclature, reference has been made to the history and 
* 1. Paleontology of the Upper Missouri—lInvertebrates. By F. B. Memx and 
U 
F. V. Haypen, M.D. 4to. Washington, April, 1855. pp. 136, pl. 5. 
2. Check List of the Invertebrate Fossils of North America—Cretaceous and Ju- 
. By F. B. Mees. ing il, 18 
ee 8vo. Washington, April, 1864. pp. 40. 
ington, May, 1866. pp. 41. , 
ist id. of the Miocene. By F. B. Mea, 8vo. Washington, 1864. pp. 82. 
4. Check List id, o 
