Geology and Natural History. 161 



3. The Origin and Relationship of the large Mammals of 

 North America and the Caribou; by Madison Grant, Secretary 

 of the New York Zoological Society. — These articles, reprints 

 from the annual (eighth and seventh) reports of the New York 

 Zoological Society, form an exceedingly interesting volume of 

 about 60 pages, copiously illustrated by 32 exceptionally fine 

 plates, reproductions of photographs of the caribou in their native 

 haunts, in captivity in the N. Y. Z. park, and of mounted speci- 

 mens in the American Museum. A map showing the distribution 

 of the two kinds in North America is also given. The purpose 

 of the first article, as stated by the author, is u to briefly review 

 the living large mammals of the United States and Canada, and 

 to endeavor to trace their past history, " such an analysis being 

 possible because of the increase in knowledge of the true relation- 

 ship of mammals and their geographical distribution greatly aided 

 by the definite proofs given in recent' paleontology. The facts 

 are very clearly presented in concise divisions showing the exist- 

 ence of two definite continental radiations, proved by distinct 

 faunal groupings showing geographical origin and connection, 

 followed by a discussion of the various distinct groups of animals 

 themselves with a table showing their derivation, concluded by a 

 summary of previously mentioned facts. In the second article, 

 the facts correlated in regard to the caribou are presented in a 

 similarly clear manner, showing the origin of the name, classifica- 

 tion, of the various species with their geographical origin and dis- 

 tribution. K. J. B. 



4. The Mammals of Pennsylvania and Neio Jersey ; by 

 Samuel N. Rhodes. — This volume (privately published) of 266 

 pages with 9 plates (reproductions of photographs) and faunal map 

 is, as shown by the title page, a "biographic, historic, and descrip- 

 tive account of the furred animals of land and sea, both living and 

 extinct, known to have existed in the states of Pennsylvania and 

 New Jersey" and is "designed as both a popular and scientific 

 presentation of' a branch of nature-study hitherto unduly neg- 

 lected." Among the many valuable facts given in the introduc- 

 tion, one of especial interest is that "the list of fossil mammalia 

 found in these two states far exceeds that of the rest of the 

 United States east of the Mississippi river. " This is due to the 

 researches of Leidy, Cope, and Marsh among the fossil-bearing 

 limestone caves and fissures in the Delaware valley and in the 

 marl beds of New Jersey. Above 90 species are cited of which 

 30 are found still existing; these, with over 70 living species and 

 25 sub-species or geographic races, show not only a surprisingly 

 large mammalian fauna, but also the noteworthy fact that the fossil 

 fauna exceeds that of the living. The vast amount of careful labor 

 expended in compiling this valuable work will be appreciated by 

 all students, and writers on kindred subjects. k. j. b. 



5. Medusce of the Bahamas ; by Alfred Goldsborough 

 Mayer. Memoirs of Natural Science, vol. I, No. 1, of the 

 Museum of the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences. — This 

 article of 33 pages, with 7 heliotype plates, is based on observations 



Am. Jour. Sci. — Fourth Series, Vol. XVIII, No. 104. — August, 1904. 

 11 



