426 
‘POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
GEOLOGY AND PALAEONTOLOGY. 
The Ceratodus ; a Fossil , and not a Fossil. — At one of the recent meet- 
ings of the Academy of Science of Philadelphia, Professor Leidy said 
that, “Of certain specimens presented to the Academy, one of these is a 
specimen of the Ceratodus Forsteri , from Queensland, presented by Dr. John 
Belisario, of Sydney, Australia, through Dr. McQuillen. The fish is a 
representative of the Dipnoi, or double-breathers, like the Lepidosiren, being 
provided with both lungs and gills. The genus was long ago named 
by Agassiz, from isolated teeth found in the Triassic and Jurassic rocks of 
Europe. The C. Forsteri was discovered only a few years since, and was 
referred to Ceratodus by Dr. Giinther, from the near resemblance of the 
teeth of the fish to the fossils described under that name. Another 
specimen, presented by Dr. S. C. De Vesy, of AYilliamstown, Dauphin Co., 
Pa., appears to be a fitting companion to the former. It consists of a frag- 
ment of coal shale, from the coal mines of Williainstown, with an impres- 
sion which looks as if it might be that of the tail of a relative of the 
Ceratodus, or of a huge tadpole. Among the many enigmatic impressions 
occuring in the coal shales, is better defined than usual. It is 8f inches 
long and 6 inches at the widest part. Toward the upturned end of the 
specimen there are many strongly impressed conical pits, looking as if pro- 
duced by prominent scale-like appendages, in the interspaces of which there 
are many minute impressions of the same form. The character of the fossil 
is very uncertain ; it may be that of a batrachian or fish allied to Ceratodus. 
The coal period is well characterised by abundance of remains of both kinds 
of animals. Perhaps, however, the impression may be of vegetable origin.” 
Ancient Cave-dwellings in Kentucky. — Mr. F. AV. Putman (in the eighth 
annual Report of the Peabody Museum of Ethnology, 1875) remarks : “ That 
some of the caves were used as places of, at least, temporary residence was 
conclusively shown by my exploration of Salt Cave, which proves important 
in revealing a new phase in American archaeology. This cave approaches 
the Mammoth Cave in the size of its avenues and chambers. Through- 
out one of the principal avenues, for several miles, were to be traced the 
ancient fire-places both for hearths and lights. For the latter purpose, small 
piles of stones were made with a hole in the centre of the pile to receive the 
bundle of dried fagots, perhaps smeared with grease. Bundles of these 
fagots, tied up with twisted bark, were found in several places in the cave ; 
and canereeds, probably the remains of ancient torches of the same 
character with those found in the Mammoth, Short, and Grand Avenue 
Caves, were also very abundant. The most important discovery in this 
cave, however, was made in a small chamber, about three miles from the 
entrance, first noticed by my guides, Messrs. Cutlip and Lee. On the dry 
soil of the flocr were to be seen the imprints of the sandalled feet of the 
former race who had inhabited the cave, while a large number of cast-off 
sandals were found, neatly made of finely-branded and twisted leaves of 
rushes. 
Earthquake Phenomena of South Italy . — “ The Academy ” says that 
after studying the earthquake phenomena of South Italy, Professor Suess 
