332 The American Naturalist. [April, 



tiii- and the [mi ; i_i:inh [(receding it that the term had been originated 

 by the U. S. Geological Survey. The article then goes on to say ; 

 " the attempt at a detailed correlation of American formations with 

 European, so often made in the past on insufficient data, is greatly to 

 be deprecated." This is the language of a strati grapher, but not of a 

 paleontologist. The correlation of horizons the world over is one of 

 the raisons d'etre of the science of geology, and it is chiefly to be 

 accomplished by the aid of paleontology. The paleontologic correla- 

 tion of the American Wasatch with the French Suessonien for instance 

 is so clear, that some day, in a comprehensive system they may be 

 called by the same name. Various other cases are equally clear. 

 In fact the language quoted is the expression of a chauvinism which 

 has been characteristic of the U. S. Geological Survey, but which we 

 hope it will outgrow. A favorable symptom is the very full consider- 

 ation given to the work of its predecessors in America, as exhibitep 

 in this able monograph by Prof. Clark. 



In conclusion, an alphabetical list of the leading articles upon the 

 Eocene of the United States is presented. 



A Florida Lake Basin.— In a recent letter from Gainsville, 

 Florida, Mr. Henry Bomford gives the following description of an 

 interesting phenomenon : 



"There is a prairie within three miles of this place that is fifteen 

 miles in length, with an average width of five miles. Twelve years 

 ago it filled with water to a depth of eight to twenty feet, varying 

 according to high and low ground. This water stood undisturbed for 

 this twelve years space of time until last August, when it suddenly 

 disappeared in two days, leaving two small holes of water not exceed- 

 ing ten acres area, and a few ponds here and there of sizes too insig- 

 nificant to mention. 



"The soil here is principally sand, underlaid at varying depths by 

 very soft sand and limestone. There is some flint at great depths. 



" Near the location where the water is thought to have made its 

 exit the country is literally dotted with deep holes, varying from ten to 

 forty feet in depth ; the sides are steep and precipitous. These holes 

 are commonly known here as sinks, and are sometimes formed in a 

 single night. 



" For days after the escape of the water from this prairie the stench 

 of putrid fish was intolerable. The farmers hauled them off in wagons 

 for fertilizers. 



"On the prairie anywhere turtle shells can be seen, with here and 



