1084 The American Naturalist. [December, 
The Neocene Sierra Nevada.—The observations recorded by 
Mr. Waldemar Lindgren in a paper on Two Neocene rivers of 
California appear to prove conclusively (1) that the Sierra Nevada in 
Neocene times, in the watersheds of the Yuba and American rivers, 
formed a mountain range as distinct as that of to-day, and that its first 
summit in general, coincided with the corresponding modern divide; (2) 
that the slope of this range has been considerably increased since the 
time when the Neocene ante-voleanic rivers flowed over its surface; (3) 
that the surface of the Sierra Nevada has been deformed during this 
uplift, and that the most noticeable deformation has been caused bya 
subsidence of the portion adjoining the great valley relatively to the 
middle part of therange. (Bull. Geol. Soc. Am., June, 1893.) 
Geological News. Paleozoic.—In Noteson some Devonian plants 
from New York and Pennsylvania, Mr. Penhallow describes a new 
species, which he refers to the genera Haliserites, Dictyotites (gen. nov.) 
and Psilophyton. From the data afforded by these plants the author 
gives a fresh definition of the characters which distinguish Haliserites 
and reintroduces the Dictyotites, once used by Brongniart, but which 
had been abandoned by authors. (Proceeds. U. S. Natl. Mas., Vol. X VI, 
1893.) 
Mr. C. S. Prosser calls the attention of geologists to lists of fossils from 
eastern New York and Pennsylvania, with statements of their strati- 
graphie position, which show that the fossiliferous zone underlying the 
Oneonta sandstone in Chenango and Otsego counties, New York, is not 
the top of the Hamilton but belongs to the Portage stage. (Proceeds. 
U.S. Natl. Mus., Vol. XVI, 1893.) : 
A new fossil sponge has been found in the shales of the Quebec group 
at Little Metis, Canada. It was probably of sac-like form and about 
14 inches in diameter. Its walls consist of rhombic meshes made up of 
delicate spicules loosely twisted together and apparently branching at 
the angles. This sponge is the largest and most complex yet found in 
formations of so great age. Dr. Hinde proposes to place it in the new 
genus, Palessaceus. (Bull. Geol. Soc. Am., Sept., 1893.) 
. Mesozoic.—In a contribution to the invertebrate paleontology of 
the Texas Cretaceous Mr. F. W. Cragin describes 151 species, of which 
1 Celenterate, 17 Echinoderms, and 86 Molluscs are either new species 
or varieties. This collection belongs to the Museum of the Texas Geol. 
_ Surv. and comprises the Cretageous fossils accumulated during the field 
Work of four years. (Fourth Ann. Rept., Texas Geol. Surv. for 1592.) 
* 
