314 Scientific Intelligence. 



Members effectifs: M. M. Barrois, Ch., Capellini, G., Hughes, 

 Thomas, Renevier, E., Tietze, E., Tschernyschew, Th., Williams, 

 H. S., v. Zittel, K. 



Members consultatifs : Choffat, P., Clark, W., de Cortazar, D., 

 Davis, W. M., Dawson, G., Deperet, Ch., Freeh, Fr. Griesbach, 

 C, Karpinsky, A., Kayser, E., de Lapperent, A., Martin, K., 

 Mayer-Eymar, Ch., Nathorst, A., Nikitin, S., Stephensen, G., 

 De Stefani, G., Taramelli, T., Uhlig, V., Van deu Broeck, E., 

 Walcott, Ch., Woodward, Hor. 



In the session of August 20 (Sept. 1), which was devoted to the 

 question of the stratigraphic nomenclature, the Congress, after the 

 discussion of the propositions of Messrs Bittner, Freeh, Karpin- 

 sky and Tschernyschew, accepted the following propositions : 



I. The introduction of a new stratigraphic term in the interna- 

 tional nomenclature ought to be based upon well established 

 scientific need, justified by some particular reasons. Every new 

 appellation ought to be associated with some distinct characteris- 

 tic — both stratigraphical (batrologique) and paleontological — of 

 the deposits to which it is applied ; at the same time it ought to 

 be founded upon facts observed not in a single section only, but 

 over a more or less extended area. 



II. The appellations applied to a terrain in a particular sense 

 cannot be employed in another sense. 



HI. The date of publication decides the priority of stratigraphic 

 names applied to the same beds. 



IV. For small stratigraphic subdivisions sufficiently well char- 

 acterized paleontologically, in case of the creation of new names, 

 it is preferable to take the most important paleontological 

 peculiarities as a basis. Geographic or other names should not 

 be employed except for sections of some importance including 

 several paleontological horizons, or where the terrain cannot be 

 characterized paleontologically. 



VII. Names badly formed, from an etymological point of view, 

 are to be corrected without excluding them, on that account, from 

 use in the science. 



As to the following two propositions : 



V. "It is preferable, in the case of various stratigraphic terms 

 already existing in the literature, to substitute the words superior, 

 median and inferior for those applied to sections and series. 



VI. " When a term given to a whole series of beds is to be 

 restricted in meaning to a part only of the beds, it should not be 

 applied except to the beds which are paleontologically the more 

 characteristic," — it was decided to refer them for consideration to 

 the stratigraphic committee elected at the session of August 18th 

 (30). 



Concerning the place of re-unions of the stratigraphic com- 

 mittee, the Congress decided that the committee should itself 

 determine place of meeting, taking consideration of the re-unions 

 of the various geological societies. 



The committee elected Professor Renevier president, and Mr. 

 Lugrom secretary of the committee. 



