Miscellaneous Intelligence. 479 



distinguished throughout by a happy combination of strati- 

 graphical skill with paleontological knowledge." 



The last annual report of this society — the oldest geological 

 society of the world — states that it has a membership of 1231 

 fellows, besides 36 foreign members, and 34 foreign correspond- 

 ents. The following Americans have received elections to the 

 society: E. S. Dana (since 1894), G. K. Gilbert (1895), C. D. 

 Walcott (1898), W. H. Dall (1898), S. W. Williston (1902), 

 J. P. Iddings (1904), H. F. Osborn (1904), W. B. Clark (1904), 

 F. Springer (1904), H. S. Washington (1904), J. M. Clarke 

 (1906), F. W. Clarke (1912), W. Cross (1912), T. C. Chamber- 

 lin (1914), W. B. Scott (1914), C. E. Van Hise (1914). 



7. A Geological Handbook to Northern France. — A geological 

 handbook to Northern France with numerous illustrations has 

 recently been prepared by Professor William M. Davis of 

 Cambridge. This book has been approved by the geographical 

 committee of the National Besearch Council as of value to our 

 soldiers abroad. It will be issued by the Harvard University 

 Press and a large number of copies will be distributed free at 

 the various cantonments ; it will also be placed on sale. 



III. Miscellaneous Scientific Intelligence. 



1. National Academy of Sciences. — The annual meeting of 

 the National Academy was held April 22-24, at the Smithsonian 

 Institution, President Charles D. Walcott presiding. A pro- 

 gram of unusual interest was presented, containing reports 

 of important researches, summaries of war work connected with 

 the National Research Council (a committee of the Academy), 

 and the William Ellery Hale lectures on "The Beginning of 

 Human History from the Geologic Record," by Dr. John C. 

 Merriam, of the University of California. At the annual dinner 

 held Tuesday evening at the Cosmos Club, the following medals 

 and awards were presented : The Comstock Prize of $1,500 for 

 discoveries in magnetism and electricity was awarded to Samuel 

 Jackson Barnett, Ohio State University; the Draper Medal for 

 discoveries in astronomical physics, to Walter Sydney Adams 

 of the Mount Wilson Solar Observatory ; the Daniel Giraud 

 Elliot Medal and Honorarium, for work in paleontology and 

 zoology, to Frank M. Chapman, American Museum of Natural 

 History, New York City. 



The following gentlemen were elected to membership : Robert 

 G. Aitken, Lick Observatory ; George F. Atkinson, Cornell 

 University ; George D. Birkhoff , Harvard University ; Percy W. 

 Bridgman, Harvard University; Stephen A. Forbes, University 

 of Illinois; Charles E. Mendenhall, University of Wisconsin; 

 John C. Merriam, University of California; Henry N. Russell, 

 Princeton University; David W. Taylor, Rear Admiral, and 



