1136 General Notes. [ November, 
spite the closest similarity in the marine inhabitants of the two 
areas at the period, will probably go far to give the death blow to 
an hypothesis that rests upon no solid ground of observation 
In a vast number of instances it has been assumed that similarity 
between fossil terrestrial faunas and floras proves identity of geo- 
logical age; and by arguing in a vicious circle, the occurrence of 
similar types, assumed without sufficient proof to belong to the 
same geological period, has been alleged as evidence of the exist- 
ence of similar forms in distant countries at the same time— 
Science. 
, THE Graciers or New Zearanp.—The June issue of Peter- 
manns Mittheilungen is occupied with an elaborate description of 
the Tasman glacier of New Zealand, and of its surroundings, 
Dr. R. V. Lendenfeld. A map is given of the central part of the 
Alpine region of New Zealand, showing the glaciers, water-part- 
ings, rivers and lakes. Of these glaciers the Tasman escends 
lowest, the river of the same name flowing from its foot at an 
elevation of 730 meters. From the foot of Murchison eur 
(1120) meters, the Murchison river flows beside the lower part : 
the Tasman glacier, and unites with the Tasman river neat hs 
foot. A little lower down the Tasman river is joined by 
Hooker, flowing from the foot of Hooker glaciers ($02 her’ 
The network of streams forming the Tasman debouch a m 
Pukaki at an elevation of 523 meters. From the Godley ost ' 
at an elevation of 1031 meters, flows the Godley, which umititg 
with the McCauley from an elevation of 1333 meters, ee 
Tekapo at a height of 743 meters. This lake receives pet 
Cass, flowing from the foot of the Huxley glacier. The ni 
and Pukaki, flowing from the lakes of the same nam a 
form the Waitangi, which receives also the Ohau, itsel 
spring of the Hourglass and Richardson glaciers 1n i 
1239 meters respectively, and the Ahuriri. The Want a À 
taroa, Waiau, Weheka and Karangarua flow from the gla ide ol 
the western coast. The rivers and glaciers of the we Syn 
the Alps are shorter and smaller than those of the easter ® 
The Tasman glacier is twenty-eight kilometers long, 
largest of the glaciers of New Zealand. : 
Tue OrIGIN oF THE Mammatta.—The question as wae" : 
gin of the Mammalia has remained unsettled, and ape 
have been divided as to whether the class has arisen by oes ; 
cation of the Batrachia or of the Reptilia. Although er class 
cogent reasons why the descent should be from the ee jg it 
the evidence obtained up to this time from paleonto. 6 The 
favor of the hypothesis of derivation from the Repti . 
first evidence of this kind has been empirical and not conei a 
* Synopsis of a paper read before the Amer. Assoc. Adv. Sci., Phila» ? 
