868 Personal and Scienfljie Xeirs. 
nary — the appearance of man, with all the existing fauna. In 
addition may be mentioned cosmic phenomena and an im- 
portant change in climate. He adopts for the Quaternary 
epoch the term Pleistocene and makes it begin in England, 
with the base of the Forest-hed. 
The fifth day was occupied with various mattert- — such as 
the choice of Philadelphia as the place of the next meeting, 
the presentation and explanation by M. Hauchecorne of the 
first sheet of the International geological map of Europe, the 
exauiination of rock specimens presented by M. Hull showing 
a remarkable double schistosity. The micaceous lamellae are 
oriented in two principal directions, in accord with two distinct 
periods of metamorphism. A general discussion of the origin 
and ages of the crystalline schists was then revived, participated 
in by Messrs. Hunt, Gosselet, Blake, Claypole, Renevier, Heim, 
Delgado, de Lapparent, Lapworth and Callaway. M. Heim 
stated that the trunks of trees cited as being in the gneiss of 
Switzerland are not in the true gneiss, but in the intercalated 
beds in the pseudo-gneissic sericitic rocks. Also the Belem- 
nites mentioned are in the schistose rocks, embracing albite, 
garnet, chlorite and mica. 
On the last day the president announced the names of the 
provisional committee of Americans to arrange for the Phila- 
delphia meetiug, as follows: J. D. Dana, James Hall, J. S. 
Newberry, Persifor Frazer, G. K. Gilbert, T. Sterry Hunt, C. 
D. Walcott, and O.C. Marsli.Dr. P. Frazer saidthat the Congress 
having agreed to meet next in Philadelphia in 1891, he had 
been requested to explain the nature of the quite remarkable in- 
vitation which his fellow-citizens, through him, accorded the 
Congress. Two reasons were urged why the Congress should give 
Philadelphia the distinction of being its host. The first reason 
was that in 1891 the University of Pennsylvania would cele- 
brate the 100th anniversary of the present organization. It 
was then intended to have savants from all parts of the world, 
upon some of whom would be conferred scholastic degrees. 
The University of Pennsylvania was among the five oldest 
universities on the continent of America and notwithstanding 
that it was already more liberally provided with buildings than 
any of the other universities save one,$3,000,000 was likely to be 
expended upon additional accommodation. The Provost of the 
University had authorized him to say that every facility and 
accommodation would be afforded members of that Congress. 
The centennial celebrations would not commence until Sep- 
tember 23, so that at any previous time the buildings would be 
free for the use of the Congress. In 1891 too, about the time 
of their meeting, there would be an International Medical 
Congress at Washington. The chief reason, however, for in- 
viting the Congress to Philadelphia was the fact that the 
