1890.] American Invertebrate Paleontology. 131 
REVIEW OF THE PROGRESS OF AMERICAN INVER- 
TEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY FOR THE YEAR 1880. 
BY CHARLES R. KEYES. 
si INOUGH the number of titles is somewhat in advance, 
the results of studies in American invertebrate paleontology 
issued during the past twelve months do not compare as favor- 
ably as might be expected with those of previous years. Works 
of a monographical character have been numerically very lim- 
ited; but a goodly proportion of the briefer papers foreshadow 
important publications now in a more or less advanced stage of 
preparation. 
A very considerable number of reprints continue to appear 
entirely repaged. It is to be hoped that where this is found 
desirable the original pagination will also be allowed to remain 
for convenience in reference. The time and patience consumed — 
in looking up the correct citations of repaged authors’ editions 
detracts greatly from the value of these excerpts by thwarting the 
very purpose which they were designed to serve. 
The small number of species described during the past year is: 
rather surprising, but it clearly indicates that the species from 
the most accessible localities have been already described. It 
is with considerable satisfaction that the present trend of thought, 
as disclosed in the papers of the year, is noted; and that paleon- 
tologists have begun to appreciate more fully the direct bearing 
and close relations of the science to those branches dealing with 
the structure of animals and their distribution in time and space. 
The few morphological facts already brought out by the investi- 
` gation of fossil forms is only suggestive of the vast and fertile 
field open to the student who directs his energies along these 
lines. Thus intimately connected with biology, the results of the 
study of the material already accumulated cannot but give most 
valuable aid in making out the phylogenetic history of the living 
zoological groups. And, indeed, the importance of this consid- 
Am, Nat.—February.—2. 
