444 NATURAL HISTORY MISCELLANY. 
GEOLOGY. 
CIENT REPTILES OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY. — Professor Cope has 
noticed in the ** American Journal of Science," the bones of the Megadac- 
diis polyzelus of Hitchcock found at Springfield, Mass., and infers that 
“demonstrate the former existence in the region in question, of a 
t 
genus ma 
stones of the valley of the Connecticut there can be no doubt," and the 
author adds that there is abundant reason that they progressed " leaps. 
X ATE OF GEOLOGICAL CHANGE. — Mr. H. M. Jenkins writes on the 
rate 2 geological change, in the "arteri Journal of Science,” and 
comes to the conclusion that 
: her the relative lapse of time occupied by the Successive events of geo- 
logieal history by the known facts of the accumulation of deposits, or by the comparative 
hanges whieh have occurred in the life of successive periods, we are led equally to infer that 
the rate of geological change has been more rapid in the latter than in ue earlier geological 
periods d that that asd d tone n ^ pria fot m 
MICROSCOPY. 
R-TIGHT SPECIMENS. — When shall we cease to suffer from the direc- 
tions sometimes given to mount dry specimens in a cell of pasteboard or 
paper, fastening the glass cover down by “a little gum” or “paste?” Of 
y case the original object is tolerably certain to be marred or ruined. 
I not unfrequently see collections of PEPES by popular makers, which 
have perished in this manner. Lately I lost in this way a very choice 
Specimen prepared by one of the be yes makers, whose work is 
usually faultless; and still later, having occasion to remount a group of 
diatoms whieh had been bought at a considerable price, I found the thin 
any r s to 
entirely exempt. I know of no cure for this state of things except for 
arrangement which is both convenient and economical; but such pro: 
parations should always be Mejia protected by Brunswick black or 
me other impervious varnish. — 
