ee a 
1885. ] Recent Literature, 1079 
cestral form of historic man, whose skeleton has not yet been 
discovered, but who has made himself known to us in the clear- 
est manner by his works. A number of flints were exhibited 
from the strata in question which had been intentionally chipped 
and exposed to fire. 
It appears that M. Mortillet carried his audience along with 
him, for after a long discussion the almost unanimous opinion 
was expressed, “that after this meeting and discussion at Greno- 
ble, there can no longer be a doubt of the existence in the Ter- 
tiary period of an ancestral form of man!” 
It is to be doubted, however, whether the slight amount of evi- 
dence which jeaves no doubt in the minds of the French anthro- 
pologists will be altogether satisfactory to some of the doubting 
Thomases in this line of study. We shall want to examine the 
skull and bones, and other more conclusive evidences of human 
or semihuman art than those as yet discovered. Until then the 
truly cautious and scientific mind will hold itself in suspense. 
Sustaining its educational interests and progress. It is well- 
known that some branches of scientific research are too expen- 
Sive to be carried on by private individuals, excepting those 
of the greatest wealth, and that such persons are very rarely in- 
terested in science. Our neighbors of the Republic of Mexico are 
following in our own footsteps, in this respect, in the establishment 
of a Comision Cientifica. This body is composed of the most 
learned men selected from all parts of the country, and is under 
the presidency of Dr. Fernando Ferrari-Perez of Puebla. Its 
object is research in every department of human knowledge. It 
is making extensive collections of all the natural products of the 
country, and will be, as we anticipate, of great advantage to the 
best interests of Mexico. 
— o 
RECENT LITERATURE. 
WHITE'S REVIEW OF THE FossiL OYSTERS OF NORTH AMERICA," 
l Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey, J. W. Powell, Director. A 
Review of the fossil Ostreidæ of North America, and a comparison of the fossil with 
the living forms. By CHARLES A. WHITE, M.D., with appendices by Professor 
NGELO HEILPRIN and Mr. JoHN A. RYDER 
of the Director, 1882-1883. Washington, 1884. Large Svo, pp. 279-333, Pls. 34-82. 
Ji 
VOL, XIX.—NO. XI. 
