Volume VII. No. 163 * March 19, 1886 



SCIENCE 



Comment and Criticism. — The probable failure of the Pennsylvania oil and gas wells -within twenty 



years. — The remarkable growth of Cornell in the last few years . . . . . . .251 



Botanical instruction in this country . . . . . . . . . .251 



Deep-sea soundings in the South Pacific . . . . . J. R. Bartlett 252 



The distribution of rainfall in New England, Feb. 10-14, J 886 . . Winslow Upton 254 

 Some work of the government surveys . . . . . . . . . -257 



Health of New York during February ......... 258 



Railroad transportation ......... F. W. Taussig 258 



Minor book notices ............. 260 



Si. Petersburg Letter. — The reception to Prjevalsky and the results of his explorations. — The growth of 



the St. Petersburg university, and the large proportion of students dependent upon scholarships . 261 



Notes and News. — Egyptian exploration. — The early advent of mackerel upon our coast. — A proposed 

 memorial to Oswald Heer. — The work in paleobotany of the U. S. geological survey. — The topo- 

 graphic features of lake shores. — The existence of large glaciers in the Rocky Mountains . . 263 



Letters to the Editor. 



The trade in spurious Mexican antiquities. — W. 



H. Holmes ....... 264 



The anachronisms of pictures. — C. G. . . 264 

 Is the dodo an extinct bird? — W. S. Symonds . 264 



SCIENCE SUPPLEMENT. 



Views of economists on the silver problem S. Newcomb ; E. J. James ; J. L. Laughlin 265 

 The sense of touch, and the teaching of the blind . . . . . . . -271 



Public health improvement in England . . . . . . . . .272 



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