Geology and Faleontology. i 37 
which have few parallels in the history of science. In the pres- 
_ ence of Professor Baird’s immense services to science in America, 
_ We can nevertheless pause to pay a tribute to the worth of his 
4 character. Perhaps his leading trait was a comprehensive be- 
 nevolence which knew no distinctions, but embraced all in its 
__ benefactions to the limit of possibility. 
Professor Baird’s disinterested love of science will not be lost 
_ tousby his death. To his foresight is due the fact that he will 
_ Probably be succeeded by men equally catholic with himself, 
_ and equally able to maintain the dignity of science at the 
-national capital. We refer to Professor S. P. Langley, the pres- 
ent assistant secretary, and Mr. G. Brown Goode, assistant 
director of the National Museum. 
GENERAL NOTES. 
GEOLOGY AND PALÆONTOLOGY. 
„On the Morphology and Origin of the Ichthyopterygia.™—- 
ere is no group of reptiles, the Testudinata perhaps excluded, 
of which igi 
ien: Of the otic bones two are sepa- 
_ Teptiles € third,-the epiotic, if ever free, is coossified as in all 
large a ha € supraoccipitals. The opisthotic is a pretty 
ay nical bone, touching the exoccipital and supraoccipital. 
A Paper read 
+ 12,1 before the American Association for the Advancement of Science, 
. 
