48 International Congress of Geologists. — Frazer. 
foreign specialists their collaboration and having printed the 
diiferent works sent in one volume which was distributed 
among the members of the Congress. 
The Congress began its session at 7 :30 p. m. on Sept. 17, 
a great number of geologists being present. On the same day 
the committee on the map of Europe, the committee on 
nomenclature, and the Council had prepared divers reports, 
amongst others the nomination of the officers of the Congress 
and the members of the new Council. 
The session was opened by Prof. Beyrich, the President of 
the last Congress, who, after a brief discourse called upon Dr. 
Hulke, one of the general secretaries, to read a letter from 
Prof. Huxley, Honorary President, in which the eminent nat- 
uralist regretted that the state of his health would not permit 
him to attend the session. Sir Douglas Galton pronounced 
an English speech of welcome on the part of the committee of 
organization to the geologists of the different countries con- 
gratulating them upon the large number of representatives 
who were present. Professor Capellini thanked the speaker on 
behalf of the foreign members of the Congress. The report of 
the council of the last Congress including the hst of members 
of the definitive bureau proposed by it, was received and elect- 
ed, including one vice-president to represent each country from 
which delegates to the Congress were present. 
Following this came the inaugural address of the President, 
Prof. Prestwich of Oxford, the Nestor of English geologists. 
After calling attention to the advantages of such gatherings of 
geologists coming from all parts of the world, he referred to 
the objects which were stated as the fundamental work of the 
Congress at its first session, viz : The uniformity of nomen- 
clature, of classification, and of coloration for geological maps.' 
The session of the 18th Sept. was consecrated to the discus- 
sion of the Cambro-Silurian,that is to say, the classification of 
the lower Paleozoic. These measures have been studied by 
different geologists and very important memoirs Avere present- 
ed on them by the English and North American Committees. 
In view of the divergent views of the English and American 
committees representing the countries most directly inter- 
ested in the subject, and of their adherents in the general 
^The address of Prof. Prestwich has been separately printed and very 
largely distributed among geologists of different countries. 
