1877. ] Geology and Paleontology. 499 
Albert S. Gatschett, Remarks upon the Tonkawa Languages, read before 
the Am. Phil. Soc. November 17,1876. Intorno Agli Scavi Archeologici 
fatti dal Sig. A. Arnoaldi, veli presso Bologna, Osservazioni del Conte 
Senatore G. Gozzadini; Bologna, 1877. Albin Kohn, Die Bienenkorb- 
griber bei Wrobelwo, Posen ; Archiv ix., 4, 1877. A. Ecker, Sur 
Statistik der Körpergrösse im Grossherzogthum Baden; Ib. Von 
Baer, Von wo das Zinn zu den ganz alten Bronzen gekommen sein 
mag? Ib. P. Cazalis de Fondouce, The Palafittes of Laibach Moor; 
Matériaux, 2,1877. C. Engelhardt, Influence of Classic Industry and 
Civilization upon those of the North during Ancient Times; Ib. i 
Moura, The Age of Stone in Indo-China; Ib. J. Walhouse, On Non 
Sepulchral Monuments; London Anth. Inst., F ebruary 27th. Rey. 
Thomas Powell, F. L. S., On the Nature and Use of the Vegetable Poi- 
sons, employed by the Natives of the Samoan Islands ; London Linnzan 
Society March 15th. Rev. A. C. Cleary, The Problem of Language; 
Victoria Institute, March 19th. Dr. Crockley Clapham, Brain Weight of 
the Chinese and Pelew Islanders ; London Anth. Inst., March 29th. E. 
B. Tylor, Review of Spencer’s Principles of Psychology ; Mind, April. 
J. P. Mahatfey, Modern Excavations; Contemp. Rev., April. Sir. J. 
Lubbock, Our Ancient, Monuments; Nineteenth Century, April. The 
iedionale of Mythology, Cornhill Mag., April. Die Völker Russlands ; 
Petermann’s Mittheil, I., 1877 (good). William Tegg, Meetings and 
Greetings: the Situtaiidadl Observances, and Contiesiee of all Nations ; 
lado, Tegg & Co. — Oris T. Mason. 
Nore. We shall be glad to receive the titles be papers read before scientific bodies, 
or published in the journals of our country. — . Mason, Washington, D. C. 
GEOLOGY AND PALÆONTOLOGY. 
INFLUENCE OF GEOLOGICAL CHANGES ON THE Eartn’s AXIS OF 
Rotation. — Mr. George H. Darwin has presented a paper on this 
subject to the Royal Society. He concludes that if the earth be quite 
rigid, no redistribution of matter in new continents could ever cause the 
deviation of the pole from its primitive position to exceed the limit of 
about 3°. But if the view, that the earth readjusts itself periodically 
to a new form of equilibrium, is correct, then there is a possibility of a 
cumulative effect; and the pole may have wandered some 10° or 15° 
from its primitive position, or have made a smaller excursion, and re- 
turned to near its old place. No such cumulation is possible, however, 
with respect to the obliquity of the ecliptic. It is suggested that pos- 
sibly the glacial period may not have been really one of great cold, but 
that Europe and North America may have been then in a much higher 
latitude, and that on the pole retreating they were brought back again 
to the warmth. There seem to be, however, certain geological objec- 
tions to this view. 
