1896.] Geology and Paleontology. 583 
ing erratic boulders, to a depth of not less than 80 feet, and these sandy 
beds rest on the Kolguev clays. These in turn are 50 miles long by 
- 40 wide, with a thickness of not less than 250 feet, probably more. 
This great mass is evidently a glacio-marine deposit. A few molluscan 
remains were found in it, all well known boreal forms existing at the 
present time, but no vertebrates nor drift-wood. A collection of 
erratics made by the author are identified by Prof. Bonney as rocks of 
Mesozoic age, either Jurassic or Wealden. (Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc., 
1896.) 
Palezontologia Argentina.—Vols. I (1891), II (1893), and III 
(1894).—The Museo de la Plata of Argentina has progressed thus far 
with the publication of monographs illustrative of its magnificent col- 
lection of fossil vertebrata of that country. The style of the publica- 
tion is worthy of the subject; the size selected being folio, and the 
plates phototype reproductions of the originals, often of the natural 
size. The whole is issued under the supervision of the director of the 
Museum Dr. Francisco P. Moreno, who contributes some of the articles 
in connection with M. Mercerat; while Dr. Lydekker, of London, fur- 
nishes the greater number. 
The first volume, on the extinct birds of Argentina, consists solely of 
plates, with pages of names referring to the figures. These plates 
depict objects of great interest, many of the bones belonging to the 
extraordinary family of the Phororhacide of Ameghino, which seem 
to be nearly allied to the existing Cariamide of South America. Most 
of these birds are of gigantic size, and their powerful legs and hooked 
beaks indicate that they were quite competent to maintain their place 
in the fauna of which they form a part. We have waited for some 
years before noticing this valuable publication, in hopes that the text 
would appear. It seems, however, that there is no intention of pub- 
lishing a descriptive part. Under the circumstances we must regret 
that names were attached to the figures, for, although figures may give 
currency to specific names, they cannot do so for names of any higher 
grade, and a considerable amount of synonymy has been thus created. 
Dr. Ameghino has also subsequently shown, that in this atlas a good 
many duplicate names have been given to the same species. 
In the second part are published three memoirs by Dr. Lydekker. 
These include figures and deseriptions of Dinosauria and Cetacea from 
Patagonia, and mammalia Ungulata from the same region. The mag- 
nificent plates are accompanied by descriptions, and this volume is 
therefore more valuable than its predecessor. Unfortunately the de- 
