58 Tlic American Geologist. January, looo 
The Discovery of A New Cambrian Fauna in the 
Boston basin by H. T. Burr, Austin Fellow at Harvard Uni- 
versity, described in this number of the American Geolo- 
gist, is regarded by local students as the most important 
contribution to our knowledge of the region since the dis- 
covery of Paradoxides. 
Dr. Henry Hicks, F. R. S., a well known geologist of 
England, died on November i8th, at the age of sixt\-two 
years. Dr. Hicks was secretary of the Geological Society 
of London from 1890 to 1893 and president from 1896 to 
1898. His name appears on the present list of ofificers as 
vice-president and as member of the council. 
Of the Men Working in Prof. Pirsson's Labora- 
tories, Dr. J. E. Gregory spent the season in areal work for 
the United States Geological Survey in northern Connecticut. 
Mr. J. Barrell was in Montana, engaged in areal work in the 
Marysville and Elkhorn districts under Mr. W. H.'Weed. 
Dr. C. H. Warren worked in Prof. Iddings' party during 
part of the season, in Yellowstone park. Mr. H. H. Robin- 
son worked in western Connecticut on areal problems, as 
assistant to Prof. Hobbs. 
The Discovery on Dec. ist 1899 of a Portion of a 
Human femur in the Trenton gravels was announced at the 
winter meeting of the A. A. A. S. at New Haven. The bone 
came from a portion allowed by both parties in the unfortu- 
nate controvers)' to be undisturbed glacial overwash from 
the bottom of the soil downward, and was taken fi'om cross- 
bedded sands several feet below the surface of this admitted 
glacial part. 
Prof. G. F. Wright, of Oberlin College, has been 
granted fifteen months leave of absence, and will start in 
Februar}' for a trip around the world. It is his plan to go 
first to the Hawaiian islands, then to Japan, China, and Sibe- 
ria. On January 3d he lectured before the Boston Societ}' 
of Natural History upon the rate of erosion at the mouth of 
Niagara gorge, based upon measurements made in the inter- 
ests of the New York Central railroad, and used the results 
in interpreting the length of post-glacial time. 
A Letter From Mr. Alexander Agassiz from Tahiti 
island, published in Science for Dec. 8, gives an interesting 
account of the work of the Albatross up to Sept. 30. A 
distinct new basin has been discovered, covering about 30* 
north and south, and named by Mr. Agassiz Moser basin. 
Its deposits are chiefly red clay, manganese nodules, sharks' 
teeth, and ear-bones of whales. On the islands thus far 
visited, the same evidence appeared as in the Fiji group — 
that the modern reefs are but a coating over Tertiary- coral 
limestone. 
