Geology and Paleontology. 



GEOLOGY AND PALEONTOLOGY. 

 Phylogeny of the Dipnoi.— In a memoir recently published, M. 

 Dollo adduces fresh evidence for the theory recently advanced by vari- 

 ous English scientists that the diphycercy among the Dipnoi is in 

 reality a secondary diphycercy or gephyrocercy. The author regards 

 this as an important fact, and uses it as a basis in developing his theory 

 of the origin and evolution of the order. The results of his researches 

 are as follows: 



I. Dipteru* ralcnc'x n„t*U is the most primitive of the Dipnoi known. 



II. In a general way, the evolution of Dipnoi, since the lower De- 

 vonian, is represented in the following series in the order of the enum- 

 eration of its terms. 



Dipterus valendenuex'n—Dipterus ntwroph rus—Seuu,,), nana — Plutn- 

 eropleuron — Uronemus — Cten odus — Ceratodus — Protopterus — Lepido- 



III. The origin of the Dipnoi must be looked for among the Cros- 

 sopterygia. 



IV. The Batrachians are not in the line of the Dipnoi. 



V. The specialization of the Dipnoi has been from a pisciform type 

 toward an anguilliform type. 



This order is a terminal group, derived from the stem that gave ori- 

 gin to the Batrachians. 



In conclusion the author gives the phylogeny of the gnathostome 

 vertebrates in a tabulated form. (Bull. Soc. Beige de Geol. T. ix, 

 Fasc. 1, 1895, Bruxelles, 1896). 



Fauna of the Knoxville Beds. 1 — The Knoxville beds are a 

 Cretaceous series confined to the coast ranges of California, Oregon 

 and Washington. They are characterized by the great abundance of 

 Aucella, usually without associates, but, through the explorations of 

 Mr. Diller and other geologists, a rich and varied invertebrate fauna 

 has been discovered in the Aucella-bearing series of the Pacific States. 



The description of this fauna was assigned to T. W. Stanton, and is 

 now published as Bulletin No. 133 of the U. S. Geological Survey. 

 The author recognizes 77 distinct species and varieties, of which 50 are 

 new. All but 7 of the species are Mollusca, including 33 species of 

 bulletin United States Geological Survey, No. 113. Contributions to the 

 Cretaceous Paleontology of the Pacific Coast ; The Fauna of the Knoxville Beds. 

 By T. W. Stanton. Washington, 1895, [issued Feb. 3, 1896]. 



