484: Scientific Intelligence. 



The flesh-eaters of Deseado time are all marsupials, and their 

 origin gives rise to further perplexing problems. Some are of 

 the opossum series, which could well have been developed from 

 some remnant of the Mesozoic marsupial fauna that had a world- 

 wide distribution ; but the presence of diprotodonts, which are 

 characteristic of Australia, and of the Borhyaenidae, which are 

 closely related to the Thylacinidse of Australia, suggests a migra- 

 tion from that continent as late as Tertiary times. However, to 

 the author's mind this involves a connection which is almost too 

 difficult to postulate. 



The birds, Loomis thinks, probably came from Africa with the 

 invasion of the ancestors of the Notoungulata. 



The remaining chapters contain careful technical descriptions 

 of the material, well illustrated by the author's own drawings. 

 A table of contents is present, but an index would have added to 

 the working value of the book, especially as it deals with such 

 unfamiliar forms. 



Professor Loomis has performed a notable service to science, 

 not only in the production of this work, but in the way in which 

 the expedition was conceived, organized, and carried through to 

 its successful termination. Such accomplishment is worthy of 

 generous support. r. s. l. 



2. Publications of the United States Geological Survey, George 

 Otis Smith, Director. — Recent publications of the II. S. Geo- 

 logical Survey are noted in the following list (continued from 

 vol. xxxvii, pp. 280-282): 



Topographic Atlas. — Forty-three sheets. 



Professional Papers. — No. 83. The Middle Triassic Marine 

 Invertebrate Faunas of North America ; by James P. Smith. 

 Pp. 254, 99 pis. 



No. 86. The Transportation of Debris by Running Water ; 

 by Grove K. Gilbert, based on experiments made with the 

 assistance of Edward C. Murphy. Pp. 263 ; 3 pis., 89 figs. 



No. 90. Shorter Contributions to General Geology. B. Ero- 

 sion and Sedimentation in Chesapeake Bay around the Mouth of 

 Choptank River; by J. Fred. Hunter. Pp. 7-15; 1 pi., 1 fig. 

 C. Dike Rocks of the Apishapa Quadrangle, Colorado ; by 

 Whitman Cross. Pp. 17-31; 4 pis. D. The Composition of 

 Crinoicl Skeletons; by F. W. Clarke and W. C. Wheeler. 

 Pp. 33-37. E. Contributions to the Stratigraphy of South- 

 western Colorado; by Whitman Cross and E. S. Larsen. Pp. 

 39-50; 1 plate, 2 figs. 



Mineral Resources of the United States. Calendar year 1912. 

 Parti. Metals. Pp. 1079; 3 pis. 13 figs. Part II. Non-metals. 

 Pp. 1218; 8 pis., 11 figs. — The important information perma- 

 nently preserved in these massive volumes has already been given 

 to the public in the form of advance chapters. Similarly the 

 data for 1913 are now being rapidly arranged and published. 



Bulletins — No. 548. Electric Activity in Ore Deposits; by 

 Roger C. Wells. Pp. 78; 7 figs. 



