1 26 The America)! Geologist. Fobruary, i89» 
necessary to take certain precaution before the convening of 
the next congress at Paris, three years hence. While the 
French no doubt will see that the same condition of afTairs ' 
is not allowed to prevail, it is desirable for each nation to sup- 
plement this effort so far as itself is concerned. The first 
cause of it all, in the past, may be attributed directly to the 
local committees;though they are not to be blamed, however 
much future conmiittees may be open to criticism should they 
not take warning in time to avoid the same pitfall. 
The course to pursue is a simple one. notwithstanding the 
fact that the life of the congress is not continuous. As the 
next assembly, in 1900, is to be strictly a gathering of geolo- 
gists, it is only necessary for the local committee at Paris to 
send out invitations to those whom they know to be bona fide 
workers in the science. The list may be prepared sufBciently 
long in advance to be submitted for revision to the vice- 
president of each country represented in the previous con- 
gress. The application for membership of all others may be 
referred in the same manner to the respective nations. An 
ample as well as simple test of elegibility is found in the pub- 
lished wa-itings of the persons wishing to become members. 
so also the imm ediate members of the families of participants 
may be readily made associate members, with all privileges 
except those of voting and participation in the excursions. 
The suggestion of the last named restriction may sound some- 
what severe, but in order to accomplish one of the principal 
objects of the triennial gathering it is absolutely necessary to 
limit the number of participants in the trips to the least possi- 
ble number and to the strictly working geologists. The bur- 
dens of past congresses have become at last too heavy to be 
borne in the future. c. r. k. 
REVIEW OF RECENT GEOLOGICAL 
LITERATURE. 
Geological Survey of New Jersey, Annual Report for the Year j8g6. 
John C. Smock, State Geologist. Pages xxviii, 377, witli 24 |)latcs and 
a large map. Trenton, 1897. 
The administrative report, by Prof. Smock, in 18 pages, gives a com- 
prehensive outline of the work of the survey during 1896; and this is 
followed by eight reports of its separate divisions. 
