Personal and Scientific News. 363 
to the late iaternational scientific Congress of Catholics, in 
Paris, a resume of the doctrine of evolution, written in Latin. 
]tis indicative of the enlightenment of the Catholic clergy on 
the important phases of modern science that this document, 
which in the main sustained the theory of evolution, excepting 
only some of the "grave errors" of Herbert Spencer, was fav- 
orably received and commended by the great assembly . 
The inter^tational congress of geologists — London ses- 
sion. The last session convened at London, September 17, and 
closed September 22, The positive results of the meeting are 
less numerous and less conspicuous than those of former ses- 
sions. This is on account of the nature of the later work of 
the Congress, which includes some questions which, on account 
of disagreement, had been, by common consent, postponed. 
Former sessions have put the approval of the Congress on 
many things concerning which there was greater, or even com- 
plete concord of opinion. The chief value of the session will 
be found to consist in the presentation of facts and the ex- 
pression of views sometimes in lengthy memoirs of some of 
the principal geologists of the world on these unsettled ques- 
tions of nomenclature. The full effect of these able communi- 
cations could not be expected to appear at once and the con- 
servative and wise recommendation of M. Capellini in the 
case of the Cambrian-Si' urian-Taconic controversy that vote 
thereon should be deferred to the next session, will afford op- 
portunity for those who are interested to study the subject 
fully in the light of these memoirs and discussions. In this 
sense the London meeting may be considered a successful one, 
and perhaps to be more memorable than any of the former. 
The first day's session was devoted to the election of the 
Bureau of the Congress and the delivery by president Prest- 
wich of his opening address which rehearsed the history of past 
meetings of the Congress and indicated the work that re- 
mained to be done. The members of the Bureau, as recom- 
mended by the Council, were elected as follows: 
BUREAU DU CONGRES. 
PRESIDENT D'HONNEUR: 
T. H, Huxley. 
. ANCIENS PRESIDENTS: 
O. Capellini, 18S1. E. Beyrich, 1883. 
PRESIDENT: 
/. Prestwich. 
vicp:-presidents: 
AUemagne . . K. von Zittel. I Hongrie . . .J. von Szaho. 
Australie . . F. Liveksidge. Indes . . . . H. B. Medlicott, 
