126 The American Geologist. February, 1891- 
Drepanopterus (D. pentlandicus) is introduced, based upon the propor- 
tionally great width of the carapace, but the respects in which this fos- 
sil differs from Eusarcus and Eury soma are not indicated. 
The evidence adduced by the author brings out more forcibly than 
ever the relations of the Eurypterina to Limalus; and if Limulus and' 
the merostoms are arachnids, as argued with much force by Lankester, 
VanBeneden, Peach and others, including the author, then the euryp- 
terids must also be regarded as arachnids. The splendid argument of 
Thorell against this position has, however, yet to be counterpoised. It 
is shown that Limulufs is probably no direct descendant of these ancient 
merostoms, but has been derived along a lateral stem, differentiated 
contemporaneously with that of the Eurypterina from the early ances- 
tral stock of both. What this primitive stock may be is not known. 
The author, whose investigations were made before the recent elucida- 
tion of the ventral anatomy of Triarthrus by Matthew, Jr., and Beecher, 
thinks that the trilobites may have been the point of departure, but 
this view is no longer tenable and it is very doubtful now if the Trilo- 
bita and Arachnida (or even the Merostomatai should be regarded as 
equivalent sub-classes of the Poecilojioda. 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
Additional Facts aboct Nicollet. The name Nicollet is synon- 
ymous in American history with the terms pioneer, explorer, scientist 
and cartographer. In Canada and the Northwest especially we meet 
with reminders of early explorations in the frequency with which the 
name is applied to counties, islands, post offices and city thoroughfares. 
It is a fact which may not be generally known, however, that there were 
two French explorers who bore this name, and that they have not al- 
ways been clearly distinguished. They lived two centuries apart, and 
yet their given names have been confounded even by historians. 
Jean Nicollet, or Nicolet (for his name was spelled in both ways in 
the Jesuit "Relations"), came to North America at about the age of 
twenty, in the year 1618. His birth-place is supposed to have been at 
or near Cherbourg, and the year 1598. "He was a man full of spirit, 
daring and at the same time deeply religious,*' and well fitted by these 
qualities to take a prominent place in the new world. 
In a short time he was sent (about 1620) a hundred leagues from Que- 
bec up the Ottawa river, among the Algonquins of Alumette island to 
learn the language. There he stayed two years without seeing- a single 
European, "always accompanying the barbarians on their expeditions 
and travels, amid fatigues that can not be imagined except by those 
who have seen them; several times he passed seven or eight days with- 
out eating anything. He was seven whole weeks without other nour- 
ishment than a little bark." (Relation of 1643.) 
