300 



SCIENCE. 



[X. S. Vol. XXI. Xo. 530. 



features by Ionian philosophers of the sixth 

 century B. C. Writers, however, are dis- 

 agreed as to which of these may properly 

 be considered as the earliest evolutionist. 

 A collation of the extant fragments of 

 Anaximander, with critical interpretation 

 of the same, reveals an acuteness and sug- 

 gestiveness on the part of their author 

 such as entitle him to high estimation 

 amongst the founders of the main theory. 



A paper entitled 'Recent Exploration of 

 a Pleistocene Fissure in Northern Ar- 

 kansas,' by Mr. Barnum Brown, describes 

 what might be termed a bone mine from 

 which nearly ten thousand identifiable 

 bones were taken. 



It is shown that a large number of the 

 animals entombed here have been dragged 

 in by weasels, which are actually found in 

 their lairs in the wall of the fissure. Other 

 carnivorous animals, such as the saber- 

 toothed tigers, probably inhabited this 

 fissure and brought in the remains of deer 

 and hogs. 



Thirty-four genera and fifty-five species 

 are recognized. A new genus of skunks, 

 Brachyprotonia, is described ; also nine new 

 species of different animals. 



The fauna is compared with recent and 

 fossil forms and tends to show that the 

 fossil forms are boreal types and that the 

 climate at this latitude was much colder 

 during the Pleistocene period than at pres- 

 ent. 



Although many of the fossil species can 

 not be separated from living forms, the 

 large number of extinct species places the 

 age of this fauna at some time prior to the 

 middle Pleistocene. q p jj^y 



Secretary. 



Till-: ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN OEOG- 

 RAPHERS. 



The Association of American Geog- 

 raphers was organized in Philadelphia, 

 December 29, 30, with about fifty members. 



of whom about twenty-five were present. 

 The following officers were elected : 



President — W. M. Davis, Cambridge, Mass. 



Vice-Presidents — G. K. Gilbert, Washington; A. 

 Heilprin, Philadelphia. 



Secretary and Treasurer — A. P. Brigham, 

 Hamilton, N. Y. 



Councillors — R. S. Tarr, Ithaca, N. Y. ; Cyrus 

 C. Adams, New York; H. C. Cowles, Chicago. 



The object of the association is "The 

 cultivation of scientific geography in all its 

 branches, especially by promoting ac- 

 quaintance, intercourse and discussion 

 amongst members, by encouraging and 

 aiding geographical exploration and re- 

 search, by assisting the publication of geo- 

 graphical essays, by developing better con- 

 ditions for the study of geography in 

 schools, colleges and universities, and by 

 cooperating with other societies in the de- 

 velopment of an intelligent interest in 

 geography among the people of North 

 America." No regular publication will 

 for the present be issued by the association, 

 it being the opinion of its members that 

 existing geographical journals atford suffi- 

 cient opportunity for bringing out their 

 essaj's. The annual meetings of the asso- 

 ciation will ordinarily be held in connection 

 with the winter meetings of the American 

 Association; but it is probable that the 

 meeting next year will be held in New 

 York city. A summer field meeting is in 

 consideration. 



The desire of the organizers of the asso- 

 ciation is to bring together the investigating 

 geographers of the country, and to lead 

 those who are working on the organic and 

 inorganic sides of geography on the human, 

 economic, zoological, botanical, climatic, 

 oceanographic and geologic sides of this 

 many-sided subject— to present their re- 

 sults in each other's presence. While full 

 membership is limited to those who have 

 already accomplished some original work, 

 it was suggested that inqiiiry be made to 



