182 The American Naturalist. [February, 
New York Academy of Sciences, Biological Section.— 
Meeting of Dec. 12.—The following is a synopsis of the papers: On 
the Miocene Deposits of the White River, by Dr. J. L. Wortman; 
These deposits were arranged in three groups, lower or Menodus beds, 
middle or Oreodon beds, and upper or Protoceras beds. The Protoceras 
beds were regarded as in part contemporary with the John Day beds 
of Oregon. On the ileo-colic junction of Procyon lotor and allied 
Arctoids, by G. S. Huntington. The absence of cecum in Procyon 
was noted as repeating the condition found in Hyzena and the Urside. 
The provision for preventing return of contents of large intestine 
appears to consist in a series of constrictions in the terminal part 0 
the ileum together with increase in the circular muscular fibres in 
these situations as well as at the ileo-colic junction itself. There is a 
complete absence of an ileo-colic valve. On the Origin of West Indian 
Bird Life, by F. M. Chapman. Conclusions from study of bird and 
mammal life were (1) distinctness geologically of Lesser from Greater 
Antilles ; (2) independence of islands from mainland since the appear- — 
ance of the present fauna; (3) original connection of West Indies to 
Central America by way of Jamaica ; Central America at this time an 
archipelago created by passage leading from Pacific to Carribean Sea; 
(4) the older faunal forms of the West Indies represent survivors of the 
insular Tertiary species ; (5) the newer forms are immigrants and become 
differentiated under new conditions of living. H. F. Osborn reported 
the discovery in the Miocene of South Dakota of a horned artiodac- 
tyle represented by male and female skulls and complete fore and hind 
fect. The female skull is comparatively hornless and proves to be 
identical with Protoceras celer Marsh. The male skull exhibits no less 
than five protuberances upon each side or ten altogether. Two of these 
upon the frontals and sides of the maxillaries are very small ; the 
parietal, supraorbital and maxillary protuberances are very promi- 
nent and had apparently a dermal covering as 
are four toes in front and two behind as in the early 
types were found by Dr. J. L. Wortman, and are in 
tions of the Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 
Basurorp DEAN, See. Biol. Section. 
Tragulide. The 
the recent collec: 
Natural Science Association of Staten Isla 
1892.—The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows: 
President, Walter C. Kerr ; treasurer, Thos. Craig ; recording secretary» 
Joseph C. Thompson ; corresponding secretary, Arthur Hollick. A 
paper on Our Historic Landmarks, by Mr. Ira K. Morris, was by 
in the giraffe. There 
EA E, 
A E RERE ANT EE E E PEN 
a ea ee Su REY 
nd.—Nov. 1% 
