Personal and Scientific yews. 439 
upon by Lake Superior geologists, of an erosion interval between the 
Animikie and Keweenawan; and ii also, if we provisionally assume thai 
the Grand Portage island conglomerate represents the earliest pari ol 
the Keweenawan, points to the intrusion of the greal gabbro or diabase 
dikes of Pigeon point and Grand Portage and the consequent modifica- 
tion of the Animikie si rata at a dale earlier than the Keweenawan. verj 
probably during the period of elevation in which the Animikie sedi- 
ments were raised above the sea. Although il is likely that the clastic 
rocks of Grand Portage island represent the earliest part of the Kewee- 
nawan, Still this is not proven. 
Prof. X. H. Wrhchell, whom the writer accompanied to the locality 
above described under the auspices of the Geological and Natural His- 
tory Survey of Minnesota, fully agrees with the opinion here expressed 
in regard tot he age of t lie clast ics of < Jrand Portage island. 
Mi/i in TfyW/x. Minn., \fiifl Stli. AS'.''.;. I'. S. (iKANT. 
PERSONAL AND SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 
Handbook of the Brachiopoda. There probably was never 
a more striking and admirable illustration of persistence and 
success in a tedious scientific research, crowned at last with a 
perfect finale, according to the long* cherished design and am- 
bition of its author, than the Hand booh- of tin- Brachiopoda 
lately issued by Prof. James Hall. From time to time Dr. 
Hall has given, in his papers, glimpses of his work and of his 
success, and all students of the paleozoic faunas have taken a 
keen interest in his progress, and have lamented the occasional 
and very discouraging delays which lie has experienced. Only 
the first part of the work lias been issued. It illustrates the 
educational value of the long researches in which Prof. Hall 
has been engaged. When it is completed, which is promised in 
the next annual report of the state geologist, it will be a valu- 
able book to put into the hand of every student of geology, 
and its publication will be a most fortunate event for American 
geology. The book in every respect maintains the creditable 
position which New York state has long held in geological 
science. The authorship is essentially that of Prof. Hall, but 
he has had various assistants, and latterly Prof. .1. M. Clarke 
has been closely associated with his work. Without attempt- 
ing a review of the work, we can here only express our eon 
viction that this manual has nowhere its equal as an exposi- 
tion of the brachiopoda. We hope that the veteran geologist 
will meet with no further obstacles to the completion of his 
plan. 
