SCIENTIFIC SUMMAKY. 
213 
vastly over estimated, and argued that the valleys down which the glaciers 
flowed existed before the glaciers occupied them. 
Gigantic Fossils of the order Dinoeerata. — Professor 0. Marsh gives an 
account of these in ^^Silliman’s Journal” (February), and points out 
some of the features which distinguish these fossils from the Frohoscidea. 
These are : — 1st. The absence of upper incisors. 2nd. The presence of 
canines. 3rd. The presence of horns. 4th. The absence of large air cavi- 
ties in the skull. 5th. The malar bone forms the anterior portion of the 
zygomatic arch. 6th. The presence of large postglenoid processes. 7th. 
The large perforated lachrymal, forming the anterior portion of the orbit. 
8th. The small and horizontal narial orifice. 9th. The greatly elongated 
nasal bones. 10th. The premaxillaries do not meet the frontals. 11th. 
The lateral and posterior cranial crests. 12th. The very small molar teeth, 
and their vertical replacement. 13th. The small lower jaw. 14th. The 
articulation of the astragalus with both the navicular and . cuboid bones. 
15th. The absence of a true proboscis. The last character may be fairly 
inferred from the short anterior limbs, the moderately lengthened neck, and 
the very elongated head, which rendered a proboscis unnecessary, as the 
muzzle could readily reach the ground. The small nasal opening — smaller 
even than that of the Rhinoceros or Tapir — also testifies against it, while 
the nasal horns and the sharp decurved canines would seriously have inter- 
fered with such an organ, had it been present. The horns of the Dinoeerata 
were a remarkable feature. Those on the nasal bones were probably short, 
I dermal weapons, somethiug like those of the Rhinoceros, but much smaller. 
Those on the maxillaries were conical, much elongated, and undoubtedly 
formed most powerful means of defence. The posterior horns were the 
largest, and their flattened cores indicate that they were expanded, and 
perhaps branched. All the horn cores are solid, nearly smooth externally, 
i and none of them show any indication of a burr. Whether both sexes had 
horns cannot at present be decided, but this was probably the case. The 
remains on which this description is based are all from the Eocene deposits 
, of Wyoming. A more complete description, with full illustrations, is in 
course of preparation. 
; MECHANICS. 
j An Atmospheric Coal-winding Machine. — In the Revue de Chimie " 
I (January 2nd, 1873), M. Z. Blanchet gives a detailed account of a mechanism 
j contrived to supersede the ordinary methods used for bringing to bank the 
' coal wrought in pits. We learn from the statistics here given, that this 
I atmospheric system saves a great deal of labour, and is far more effectual 
t than the plans now in use. 
' Professor Tyndall's Gift to the Anm'icans. — The Scientific American ” 
, has a highly appreciative article on this subject. It says (March 8th): — 
» “ Professor Tyndall has set us a noble example of unselfish liberality. He 
had every right to carry with him to his home all the money that had been 
cheerfully given by those who were instructed and enchanted by his lectures ; 
but instead of doing so, he prefers to hand it back for the benefit of those 
