1890.] Geology and Paleontology. 165 
The report concludes as follows (p. 138): ‘Thus our prelim- 
inary observations suggest the movements, and in some cases the 
positions, of the Cenozoic and Mesozoic shore-lines, and enable us to 
say that the breaks in stratigraphic and paleontologic continuity in 
these formations are apparent rather than real, and are due to simple 
and readily determinate continental movements. ”? 
Professor Smith has for many years studied and reported on the 
geology of Alabama, largely at his own expense. He had already 
planned and partly finished the explorations recorded in this report, 
when the U. S. Geological Survey, in the face of promises made by the 
director to the contrary, sent a new and inexperienced man to do the 
same work ; a highly improper proceeding, whether viewed from the ` 
standpoint of justice or of economy. The resilt is the double author- 
ship which appears on the title page, although the work was really 
done by Smith, Langdon and Aldrich. The only part of the report 
in which the views of Professor Smith were not adopted is the colora- 
tion of the geological map (p. 134). Here the Mesozoic and Ceno- 
zoic beds are colored with tints employed by all other geologists for 
certain paleozoic formations, in accordance with the method adopted 
by the present U. S. Geological Survey. This system, which reverses 
the coloration at present in use by other civilized nations, has no 
reason for existence, and has already received the condemnation of all 
disinterested critics. Professor Smith will issue a copy of the map 
with the conventional colors at some future day. 
The memoir is illustrated by a large number of process-cuts of good 
quality. 
A. Smith Woodward on Cclorhynchus! Agassiz.—Among 
the most interesting of undetermined Ichthyodorulites are some 
straight, long, slender, round, ribbed spines, met with in the Upper 
Cretaceous and Tertiaries, and originally described by Agassiz as the 
rostral bones of sword-fishes under the names of Ceelorhyncus. Their 
dermal nature was first pointed out by Williamson, who published a 
detailed microscopical description; and the fragments of the fossil 
have since been recognized from various parts of the world. 
It seems evident that Coelorhynchus is the spine of a cartilaginous 
fish, that probably occupied a forward position upon the back; and, if 
the interpretation of Mr. Willett’s fossil be correct, the genus must 
pertain either to the sharks or to the Chimzroids. The microscopical 
structure of thee fossil accords with this supposition, although some- 
1 Annals and Magazine of Natural History, September, 1888. 
