360 The American Naturalist. [April, 
— W2 have received the first number of the New Journal of Geology 
published by the geological faculty of the University of Chicago, and 
printed by the press of the University. It is edited by six members 
of the United States Geological Survey, together with twelve associate 
editors, of whom five are Americans, and one resides in each of the 
following countries, viz.: Canada, Great Britain, Germany, France, 
Austria, Norway, and Sweden. The articles of the number are by 
Messrs Geikie, Holmes, Williams, Chamberlin and Salisbury, and are 
all of much interest. Editorials, Reviews, Abstracts, and Acknow- 
ledgments follow. The beginning of this new journal is auspicious, 
but it remains with the future to determine whether it can be contin- 
ued on its present basis. On the face of it the proposition is broad, 
but the basis is narrow. The names of the associate editors indicate 
cosmopolitan aspirations, but “the immediate editorship,” we are told 
in the announcement, “will rest with the geological faculty of the 
University of Chicago,” who are all members or ex-members of the 
U.S. Geological Survey. The leading article is by a foreigner, but 
this is appropriate in a city which has legal holidays in honor of 
William of Germany and Saint Patrick. We will observe with 
interest whether such a constitution can stand the test of time, or 
whether it will meet the difficulties which ‘befel the image of the 
prophetic vision, in which the geological order was reversed, since the 
head was of archean gold, but whose feet were of glacial clay. Not 
but that the precious metal may be found in the superficial stratum in 
this instance; but placer deposits in glacial drift are not as permanent 
as those of greater geologic age. We have an excellent geological 
magazine, the American Geologist, which is not identified with any 
institution or institutions, and whose editorial corps is not interested in 
supporting geological literature in other countries. While, therefore, 
we welcome all additions to scientific periodical literature, it is always 
with a reservation which requires that they shall be viable infants, 
endowed with a good constitution. i 
—A movement is on foot in New Zealand to secure an island not far 
from the coast as a preserve for the native animals and plants of that 
country. In view of the extreme importance to biological science 
of the preservation of the remarkable types of this ancient flora and 
fauna, and in view of the other fact that many of its representatives 
have become extinct within recent times, and others are disappearing, 
we sincerely hope that this effort will be successful. If there is any 
doubt about it, a concerted effort should be made by the scientific men 
of all countries to secure favorable action from the colonial legislature. 
a eras ahs Sateen eee 
