. 8. Co 
sioner for the year ending June 30, 1895. Washington, 1896. 
804 The American Naturadist. [September, 
but that now, as in Darwin’s time, many most valuable data are to be 
gleaned from such serials as are enumerated above. It would be well 
if the new annual could undertake this work also. 
We welcome the news that America is at last to have a representa- 
tive Journal of Physiology ; and it is especially gratifying that it is 
~ to embrace all fields of physiology, including bio-chemistry, physiolog- 
ical morphology and the physiology of invertebrates. The Journal 
will be edited by a representative Committee of the American Physio- 
logical Society, and will be under the immediate charge of Dr. W. T, 
Porter of the Harvard Medical School. The price has been set at five 
dollars per volume of about five hundred pages. The editors modestly 
suggest that not more than one volume a year will be necessary; we, 
however, confidently expect that in a few years the American Journal 
of Physiology will be rolling up as many volumes a year as Pfliiger’s 
Archiv does. To enable it to do this, however, it will need the subscrip- 
tions of all who are interested in its success. The subscriptions may be 
sent to Dr. Porter. 
Prof. Baur’s Observations on the Origin of the Galapagos Islands, 
begun in the August number, will continue in October. 
RECENT LITERATURE. 
Tarr’s Elementary Geology.'—A small octavo volume intended 
by the author as a text-book for use in secondary schools. The main 
facts of structural and dynamic geology are given in a graphic, concisé 
way that will best impress a young student. Stratigraphic geology 18 
somewhat curtailed in treatment in accordance with the author’s views 
as to the need of the average high school student. We notice in the 
time-scale that Pleistocene is adopted instead of the older Quaternary 
and Eocene and Neocene used in place of Tertiary. 
The illustrations are numerous, many of them being original. They 
comprise 25 page plates and 485 reproductions from photographs and 
diagrams in the text. 
Mr. Tarr is to be congratulated upon having chosen judiciously 3 
a mass of material the facts necessary to a good foundation for further 
study of the history of the earth. 
U.S. Commission of Fish and Fisheries.’—The report of 
oc Elementary Geology. By R. S. Tarr. New York, 1897. 8vo, MacMillan & 
USC mmission of Fish and Fisheries, Pt. XXI. Report of the Commis 
from 
