156 Scientific Intelligence. 



tion under the prominent metal which they contain. Numerous 

 half-tone plates Irom photographs give satisfactory reproductions 

 of the actual appearance of the specimens. 



11. Synoptical vieio of the various divisions of Embryophyta 

 siphonogama ; by A. Engler, bearing date October, 1898. — In 

 the 165th installment of Pflanzenfamilien, Professor Engler 

 presents a detailed account of his reasons for suggesting the clas- 

 sification which he gave in his Syllabus, in 1892 (and in fact 

 earlier), and introduces his statements by a synoptical view of 

 his system. The strictly technical character of the whole memoir 

 renders it unwise for us to transfer any part of it to our pages, but 

 we must call attention to the importance of the communication. 

 All of our readers who are interested in Systematic Botany should 

 undertake an early and thorough study of the synopsis, explana- 

 tions, and charts. Those who examine this paper by Professor 

 Engler will be impressed by his fairness towards those with whom 

 he cannot agree, and with his singular fairness in pointing out 

 defects in his own system. In view of Professor van Tieghem's 

 important papers already examined in this Journal, the present 

 installment of the Pflanzenfamilien will be particularly welcome 

 to all students of Botany at this time. g. l. g. 



III. Miscellaneous Scientific Intelligence. 



1. Scientific Collections presented to Yale University. — Pro- 

 fessor O. C. Marsh has recently presented to Yale University, 

 for the benefit of all departments of the University, the exten- 

 sive and valuable collections belonging to him and now deposited 

 in the Peabody Museum, New Haven. The deed of gift is dated 

 January 1st, 1898. The conditions attached to the gift are only 

 such as appear necessary to insure the permanent care and preser- 

 vation of the collections themselves. The main collections, six in 

 number, include the following : — 



(1) The Collection of Vertebrate Fossils. This is the most 

 important and valuable of all, as it is very extensive, contains a 

 large number of type specimens, many of them unique, and is 

 widely known Irom the descriptions already published, mainly in 

 this Journal. In extinct Mammals, Birds, and Reptiles, ol 

 western North America, this series stands preeminent. It repre- 

 sents the main results of nearly thirty years explorations in the 

 Rocky Mountain region. 



Among the prominent features of this collection may be men- 

 tioned: (1) the series of fossils illustrating the genealogy of the 

 horse, as made out by Professor Marsh; (2) the Birds with teeth, 

 nearly two hundred individuals, described in his monograph 

 " Odontornithes " ; (3) the gigantic Dinocerata, several hundred 

 in number, Eocene mammals described in his monograph on this 

 group; (4) the Brontotheridse, huge Miocene mammals, some two 

 hundred in all ; (5) Pterodactyles, over six hundred in number; 

 (6) Mosasaurs, represented by more than fifteen hundred indi- 

 viduals ; (7) a large number of Dinosaurian reptiles, some of 



