712 The American Naturalist. [August, 
A Region of Environmental Change.—One of the most impor- 
tant geological changes which has taken place along the Atlantic coast 
in recent times was the closing up of the Currituck Inlet, North Caro- 
lina, by drifting sands in 1828. Previous to that year this inlet formed 
such a passage from the ocean through a narrow outer beach into the 
waters of Currituck Sound as is formed by either the new or Ocracock 
Inlet to Pamlico Sound now. With the closing of the Currituck Inlet 
there was the conversion of upwards of one hundred square miles of 
shallow salt and brackish. water to fresh water; and it is within the 
memory of men now living that the resultant changes were immediate 
and striking. 
Previously the sound had been a valuable oyster bed. Within a 
few years the oysters had all died out and their shells may now be seen 
in long rows where they have been thrown out in dredging for a boat 
way in the Coinjock Bay, a southwestern extension of the Sound. Fur- 
ther there were such changes in vegetation as brought countless thou- 
sands of ducks of species that had been only occasional before. The 
salt water fishes were driven out and fresh water fishes took their place. 
(Amer. Journ. Sci., IV, 1897, p. 76). 
Geological News.—Grnrra.—Mr. J. C. Branner questions the 
somewhat prevalent idea that rock decay is, like organic decay, a pro- 
cess of bacterial growth. He cites a number of authorities who are all 
agreed as to certain conditions favorable for the growth of bacteria, 
and quotes experiments to show that these conditions do not exist below 
certain limited depths of the soil. Since granites are often decomposed 
to depths of more than 100 feet, it is not probable that bacteria are re- 
sponsible for this deep;decay, or for any considerable part of it. (Amer. 
Journ. Sci., Vol. III, 1897.) 
Crenozoic.—The jaws of a true monkey have been found by Mr. 
Forsyth Major in the Æpyornis beds of Madagascar. From their size- 
M. Gaudy infers that the animal was about as large as a man. the, 
molar teeth recall Mesopithecus and Semnopithecus. In general ap- 
pearance the teeth resemble those of the Old World monkeys, but their 
number corresponds with those of the New World. For this new fossil 
Mr. Forsyth Major proposes the name Nesopithecus robertit. (Revue 
Scient. (4) VI, 1896.) 
Dr. J. C. Merriam notes the occurrence of marine Tertiary horizons 
at two localities in Vancouver Island—Carmanah Point and at the 
Sooke District. Thirty-three invertebrate species are identified from 
