548 Scientific Intelligence. 



would also follow. The reduction of the digits of the hind foot 

 to four and the lengthening and approximation of metatarsals 

 2-4 to form a " cannon " bone, Pycraft thinks were due to leaping. 

 Feathers are derived from the reptilian scales, those upon the 

 hinder border of the wing lengthening and becoming fimbriated 

 along their edges and more and more efficient for carrying the 

 body through space. 



A figure of the pro-avian is presented which combines lizard- 

 like characters with those of Arch^eopteryx. The principal objec- 

 tion to the restoration lies in the lack of sufficient alar expanse, 

 either by membrane or by feathers, to support the animal in the 

 air. It would seem as though a moderately well developed 

 patagium, of which the pre- and post-patagia of existing birds are 

 the mere remnant, must have preceded the development of 

 feathers. This one might assume from the description, but not 

 from the figure. 



It is difficult for the reviewer to imagine the reduction of the 

 bird's hand to be a grasping modification, or one which would aid 

 the creature at all in its arboreal life ; but that it is directly cor- 

 related with the development of the feathered wing seems much 

 more probable, Again, how is one to account for the great simi- 

 larity of the hind-limb of the bird to that of the bipedal dino- 

 saurs? The Triassic dinosaurs with a few exceptions had this 

 type of foot, yet they were preeminently terrestrial forms and 

 the vast assemblage of their foot-prints in the Connecticut Val- 

 ley shows not one instance of a leaping individual. k. s. l. 



III. Miscellaneous Scientific Intelligence. 



1. National Academy of Sciences. — The autumn meeting of the 

 National Academy was held in Boston on Nov. 20-22 in the new 

 buildings of the Harvard Medical School. The meeting was one 

 of unusual interest ; the attendance was large and as shown below 

 a long list of papers was presented. A novel feature of the 

 meeting was the Conversazione, or exhibit of specimens, appara- 

 tus, etc., held on Tuesday afternoon ; about fifty exhibits were 

 included in the list. The titles of papers presented are as follows: 



Alexander Graham Bell, : A few notes concerning progress in experi-' 

 ments relating to aerodromics. On the construction of an aerodrome with 

 historical introduction. 



W. E. Story : A method for the enumeration of algebraic invariants. 



A. G. Webster : Acoustic measurements. 



W. T. Porter : Vasomotor relations. 



A. A. Noyes and others : The conductivity, ionization and hydrolysis of 

 salts in aqueous solution at high temperatures. 



R. S. Woodward : Theory and application of the double suspension 

 pendulum. 



R. H. Chittenden : The minimal proteid requirement of high proteid 

 animals. 



G. N. Lewis : The free energy of oxidation processes. 



