American Association Meeting. 265 
several other forms. The Upper Cambrian is represented in this dis 
trict only by erratics containing Lingula and Scolithus. 
26. Diamonds in Meteorites. By Mrs. E. M. Souvielle, Jackson- 
ville, Florida. 
2T. The Periodic Variations of Glaciers. By Prof. Harry F. 
Ketd, Baltimore, Md. (Read by title). The Journal of Geology, 
in its recent issue for July-August, contains an article on this sub- 
ject by Prof. Reid (vol. vi, pp,473-476), giving records for Europe, 
Asia and Greenland, in 1896, and for the United States in 1897. A 
general retreat of the glaciers is noted, excepting a slight tendency 
of advance in Greenland. 
28. Note on the Occurrence of Tourmalines in California. By 
C R. Orcutt, San Diego, Cal. Near San Diego an enormous 
bed or vein of lepidolite (lithia mica), 60 feet or more in width where 
best exposed, contains rubellite (pink tourmaline) in large amounts. 
As a source of lithia and potash, this deposit must soon take first 
rank commercially. It is now being worked as an open quarry, and 
1,500,000 tons are estimated to be available. Much of the rubellite has 
been distributed to museums. Tourmalines of gem quality were first 
found during the present year. Black tourmalines are frequent, but 
green tourmalines occur only sparingly at this locality. 
29. The Agassiz Geological Explorations in the West Indies. By 
Robert T. Hill, Washington, D. C. This paper, which, with 
several preceding, was presented in Cambridge on Friday forenoon 
in the Museum of Comparative Zoology (largely founded through 
the labors and munificence of Louis Agassiz and his son. Prof. Alex- 
ander Agassiz), described briefly the expeditions made during recent 
years by Alexander Agassiz, with his assistants, for observations in 
zoology and geology, on sea and land, in the West Indies and on the 
isthmus of Panama. Within late Tertiary and Quaternary time, many 
parts of this region have undergone great epeirogenic movements, 
perhaps more interesting than those of any other part of the world 
in such late geologic periods. A brief outline of the geological work 
already done and to be done was given, and the conclusion presented 
that it would take many years of serious research and study before 
final results could be reached concerning the remarkable history of 
the region and its relations to continental development. 
Dr. J. F. Whiteaves, paleontologist of the Canadian Geological 
Survey, Ottawa, Canada, was elected to be the vice president for Sec- 
tion E, and Prof. Arthur Rollick, of Columbia University, New York 
City, to be its secretary, in the Association meeting at Columbus, 
Ohio, next year. Geology is also represented and honored in the 
election of Prof. Edward Orton, of Columbus, to be the president of 
that meeting. Wakren Upham, 
St. Paul, Mitin., Sept. igth. Seci'etary of Section E, i8q8. 
