land, Maryland, but the typical salt and gypsum-bearing Salina beds, such as furnish the salt of Syracuse, have characters which seem explicable only on the supposition that all this region was a desert country, with much evaporation and comparatively little rainfall, and that the basins in which salt accumulated were shallow pools, rarely, if ever, flooded by the sea, the salt being bleached out of the surrounding marine sediments by the occasional rains and left by the evaporation of the water. But here, as in the case of the Medina, much detailed study of the lithic character of the formation is necessary before we can do more than make provisional hypotheses. We know, however, that marine conditions were reestablished over all New York towards the end of Siluric time. As Hartnagel and Schuchert have shown, the sea invaded eastern north America by a transgression of the Atlantic waters. At the same time a trangression from the southwest appears to have occurred, which brought with it a different type of fauna, the two together constituting the Cobleskill. The Manlius limestones represent typical marine conditions; but you will have noticed that many of the lime mud-beds or calcilutytes show mud cracks, which indicate water so shallow that occasional emergence was possible. The Manlius beds grade upwards into the fossiliferous calcarenytes, which, as the Colymans limestones, form the basal Devonic beds of the New York section. This and the higher beds of the Helderbergian series are now no longer found, except as remnants, in this region, erosion having removed most of them. You will bear in mind that this erosion was a pre-Onondaga erosion, for the Onondaga rests everywhere in this region upon the eroded surfaces of the Colymans or the Manlius. This erosion belongs to Oriskany time, for continuous deposition into the Lower Oriskany is shown by the section at Becraft Mountain. What the amount of erosion was and what the length of time during which it was accomplished, we have at present no means of judging. There is every reason to believe that the highest Helderberg strata extended at least as far as Syracuse, and there is reason to suppose

that they extended farther and overlapped the lower ones. But the Oriskany erosion has removed all this. The hiatus, though pronounced, is scarcely noted by the casual observer, because the formations are perfectly conformable, so far as position of strata is concerned. We need a term to express the relation where two formations thus conform in their bedding but comprise between them a time break of greater or less magnitude. To speak of such strata as unconformable, without qualifying the term, is misleading, since it suggests that the older strata have suffered folding and erosion before the deposition of the later. Until a better term is proposed, we might speak of such formations as disconformable, leaving the term unconformable for cases in which discordant relationship of bedding occurs.

The disconformable relation of the Onondaga upon the Manlius or Colymans is sometimes qualified by the occurrence of lenses of Oriskany between them. The relationship of the Oriskany and other overlying formations is best brought out by the consideration of a few sections. In the Hudson Valley the lowest Oriskany-that of Becraft Mountain-is a direct successor, without break of deposition, of the uppermost Helderbergian, the Port Ewen. It is succeeded by about three hundred feet of dark argillaceous silicilutytes, the lower part of which are the Esopus and the upper the Schoharie. Above this come the Onondaga limestones, the transition being a complete, though rather rapid, one. In the Schoharie Valley later Oriskany rests on eroded Helderbergs, and is followed by about 100 feet of the dark lutytes, mostly of Esopus or Caudagalli age. West of this region the Oriskany occurs at irregular intervals, while the Esopus has thinned away. Finally, at Cayuga Ontario, half-way between Buffalo and Detroit, the uppermost Oriskany alone occurs, resting on eroded lower Manlius and intimately related with the overlying Onondaga. Here, then, is no room for Esopus or Schoharie, for Onondaga is the direct and immediate successor of latest Oriskany. This indicates a westward transgression of Oriskany sediments, the later beds overlapping

the earlier ones. The dark mud rocks, therefore, are the shore equivalents in the east of the highest Oriskany limestones of the west, and not an independent unit in the time scale.

But I must not carry my discussions further, since my time, unfortunately, is limited. I hope you agree with me those of you, I mean, who are not stratigraphers, for stratigraphers require no conversion at my hands— that the study of the physical characters of the strata, even of the thickness of sections, gives, when rightly attacked, a view of the history of the earth, full of dramatic intensity, and that only by a careful study of such physical characters can we arrive at a true interpretation of the history of the earth.

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY.

A. W. GRABAU.

EXTIRPATION AND REPLANTATION OF THE THYROID GLAND WITH REVERSAL OF THE CIRCULATION.

WE have successfully removed and then replanted a thyroid gland with reversal of the circulation on a dog.

A transplantation of the thyroid with anastomosis of its vessels to a suitable artery and vein was previously made in 1902,' but no permanent successful result was obtained, owing to the obliteration of the vessels by clots and the subsequent development of gangrene. A careful investigation of the literature has revealed no other mention of similar experiments having been performed hitherto. The present observation is also the first successful replantation of a gland with reversal of the circulation.

Summary of the Technique and of the Observation on the Results of the Operation.The right thyroid gland of about a 20 K. dog having been dissected, all its vessels were ligated, except the superior thyroid artery and vein, which were cut near the carotid artery

'A more detailed discussion of this problem appears in my forthcoming bulletin on the Schoharie Valley (Bull. N. Y. State Museum).

1A. Carrel, ‘La Technique operatoire des anastomoses vasculaires et la transplantation des visceres,' Lyon Medical, 1902. 'Les anastomoses vasculaires, leur technique operatoire et leurs indications,' 2e Congrés des Médecins de langue francaise de l'Amérique du Nord, Montreal, 1904.

The gland

and the internal jugular vein. was then extirpated and put in a glass of isotonic sodium chloride solution.

After a few minutes, the thyroid gland was placed in the wound in the neck, and the peripheral end of the thyroid artery was united to the central end of the thyroid vein, and the peripheral end of the thyroid vein to the central end of the thyroid artery.

The circulation was reestablished about half an hour after the extirpation. The circulation through the gland was in a direction reverse to the normal. The red blood entered through the thyroid vein, and the dark blood flowed from the gland to the jugular vein through the thyroid artery. The hue of the gland was normal, and the circulation very active.

Eleven days after the operation the wound. was opened and the anterior portion of the gland directly observed. The gland was somewhat enlarged, but its hue and consistency were normal.

Twenty-five days after the operation it was again directly observed. It still appeared enlarged, and in hue and consistency the same as before.

Thirty-two days after the operation, the wound being almost closed, it was not possible to examine the gland directly. But by pressing it between the fingers through the skin, its systolic expansion was easily detected.

At the present time forty seven days after the operation the animal is alive and in good condition. The replanted gland appears to be practically normal, being only slightly enlarged. ALEXIS CARREll, C. C. GUTHRIE.

THE HULL PHYSIOLOGICAL LABORATORY,
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO.

EXHIBITION OF EARLY WORKS ON
NATURAL HISTORY.

FEW people are aware that the Natural History Museum in Cromwell-road contains one of the finest and most complete libraries on natural history ever brought together. The collection had its origin in the several libraries attached to the departments of zoology, geology, mineralogy and botany while these were

in Bloomsbury. After the removal to South Kensington, the four departmental libraries were considerably supplemented by extensive purchases, for which a special vote was obtained from parliament. At the same time a 'general library' was formed to receive those works the subject-matter of which concerned more than one of the departments. The collection has been further increased by many generous and munificent donations and by exchange.

The library, of course, contains many very early books on natural history; and from these a selection has been made for the purpose of an exhibition intended to illustrate the origin and progress of the study of natural history up to the time of Linnæus. The exhibition, which occupies two table-cases in the Central Hall, has been arranged by Mr. B. B. Woodward, the librarian of the museum.

We are told that the study of natural history began with the dawn of civilization, and doubtless had its origin, so far as animals and plants were concerned, in the primitive observations of the hunter and of the medicineman, or priest-physician, while the search for stone, and subsequently for metals, with which to fashion weapons and tools, served to draw attention to the nature and structure of the earth. That the hunters of the stone age were not unobservant of the quadrupeds they pursued is evinced by the carvings and the incised outline representations on bone, as well as by the remarkable pictures, drawn in manganese and red ochre, on the chalk walls of the caves in the Dordogne. Examples of the carvings and reproductions of these drawings are shown in the present exhibition. Turning to books proper, we may note a copy of the oldest popular natural history book, the 'Historia Naturalis,' or 'Historia Mundi,' of Pliny the elder, printed by J. de Spira's press at Venice in 1469. This was one of the first, if not the first, of natural history books printed. It presents an epitome of the state of Roman knowledge on the subject, and in this connection it is of interest to note that the number of known plants recorded in it is about 1,000. Mention may also be made of a

copy of Vincent of Beauvais's 'Bibliotheca Mundi,' compiled by that learned Dominican at the instance of Louis IX. of France. This work is not only one of the earliest of encyclopedias, but the greatest of the middle ages. It was first printed at Strasburg about 1473. The Royal Society is represented by a copy of the first volume of the Philosophical Transactions, the earliest publication of any scientific society. It was issued in monthly numbers, of which the first appeared in March, 1665, and for the most part deals with physics.

A special interest attaches to an edition of the 'Stirpium adversaria nova' of Pena and L'Obel, printed at Antwerp by Plantin and finished in England in 1570–1. It contains one of the earliest figures of the tobacco plant and an illustration of the method of smoking of the North American aborigines. The pipe is drawn as being somewhat straighter than the Atlantic coast ones generally were.

The earliest illustrations of the potato plant are seen in a work by Charles de Lécluse, the 'Rariorum Plantarum Historia,' printed at Antwerp in 1601. Lécluse traveled extensively in western Europe making collections, and wrote several books on the botany of the districts he visited. The figures of the potato plant in the work named are from drawings made by him in 1589 from actual specimens. The plant, we know, was growing in Italy in 1586, about which time it was also introduced into England.

Harvey's doctrine that every living thing came originally from an egg, afterwards expressed by the aphorism,' 'Omne vivum ex ovo,' is symbolized in the engraved title-page of the second edition of his 'Exercitationes de Generatione Animalium,' printed at The Hague in 1680. The original edition was issued in London in 1651.

Space will allow us only to mention briefly one or two other works in this extremely interesting exhibition. Note should be made of John Ray's greatest botanical work, the 'Historia Plantarum,' published at London in 1686, containing the description of some 6,900 plants in systematic order. The museum copy was the property of Sir Hans Sloane, and has

shire' (Oxford, 1705), the first edition of which appeared in 1677. This work was the forerunner of the numerous County Histories' that have been subsequently issued.

Finally, attention may be drawn to the earliest figure and description of that flightless bird, the solitaire, in a book by the French traveler François Leguat, printed at London in 1708. The solitaire formerly inhabited the island of Rodriguez, and became extinct about the end of the eighteenth century.

STATISTICS OF EASTERN, STATE AND FOREIGN UNIVERSITIES.

IN an address before the University of Michigan, printed in the Atlantic Monthly, Dr. Henry S. Pritchett showed a table giving

THE EIGHTEENTH SEASON OF THE MARINE BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY. 1905.

THE regular season for investigators opened June 1 and continued through most of September. During this period there were in attendance 71 investigators, of whom 63 occupied private rooms with an average period of attendance of about six weeks to two months.

Students receiving instruction were in session from June 28 to August 9, and the total attendance was 57, a much smaller number than in the years previous to 1903, owing to the raising of the standard of admission at that time. The work of collection of material was again under the charge of the curator of 1 Omitting $875,575 in special gifts.

the supply department, Mr. G. M. Gray, who had eight assistants during the busiest part of the season. Each investigator was supplied with his material on demand and the service gave great satisfaction.

For some years the necessity of a larger steamer has been felt and this year the laboratory chartered the steamer Genevieve, about 100 feet over all. The range of collecting expeditions was thus increased very materially and the work facilitated in many other ways. Another welcome addition to the equipment was a gasoline launch assigned to the supply department.

In the fall of 1904 the laboratory renovated and remodelled the interior of the old stone building known as the 'candle factory' and equipped it with heating apparatus and running salt water. It now forms the headquarters of the supply department, and two investigators' rooms are available for use at all seasons of the year.

The annual meeting of the trustees and corporation was held on August 8. Reports of the assistant director and treasurer showed a very satisfactory condition of the laboratory as to equipment and finances. Messrs. S. F. Clark, Charles Coolidge, C. R. Crane, T. H. Morgan, L. L. Nunn, John C. Phillips, Erwin F. Smith and E. B. Wilson were reelected trustees to serve until 1909, and Messrs. A. P. Mathews and H. S. Jennings were elected to fill vacancies in the board. Seventeen new members were elected to the corporation.

The following is the list of investigators who worked at the laboratory during the

season:

I. ZOOLOGY.

1. Occupying Rooms.

Budington. Robert A., instructor in zoology, Wesleyan University, Conn.

Clapp, Cornelia M., professor of zoology, Mt. Holyoke College, South Hadley, Mass.

Colton, Harold Sellers, graduate student, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa.

Conklin, E. G., professor of zoology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa.

Drew, Gilman A., professor of biology, University of Maine, Orono, Me.

Fielde, Adele M., New York, N. Y.

Foot, Katherine, 80 Madison Ave., New York, N. Y.

Gardiner, E. G., 131 Mt. Vernon St., Boston,

Mass.

Glaser, Otto Charles, instructor, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.

Goldfarb, Abraham J., graduate student, Columbia University, New York, N. Y.

Hargitt, C. W., professor of zoology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, N. Y.

Hargitt, George Thomas, instructor in biology, Syracuse High School, Syracuse, N. Y.

Jennings, H. S., assistant professor of zoology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa. King, Helen Dean, graduate student, Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, Pa. Lambert, Avery E., instructor in biology, State Normal School, Framingham, Mass.

Lefevre, George, professor of zoology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo.

Lewis, Warren Harmon, associate professor of anatomy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md.

Lillie, Frank R., associate professor of embryology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Ill.

Loeb, Leo, assistant professor of experimental pathology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadel phia, Pa.

Lombard, Guy Davenport, assistant instructor in histology, Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y. Lommen, Christian P., professor of biology, University of South Dakota, Vermilion, South Dakota.

McClellan, John H., graduate student, Harvard College, Cambridge, Mass.

McGregor, James Howard, lecturer in vertebrate zoology, Columbia University, New York, N. Y. Morgan, T. H., professor of experimental zoology, Columbia University, New York, N. Y. Morgan, Mrs. T. H., New York, N. Y. Murbach, Louis, head of department of biology, Central High School, Detroit, Mich.

Putnam, Margaret, student, Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, Pa.

Reed, Margaret, graduate student, Columbia University, New York, N. Y.

Retzer, Robert, assistant in anatomy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md.

Richardson, Harriet, Washington, D. C. Shippen, L. P., graduate student, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa.

Snowden, Louise Hortense, graduate student, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa.

Smith, Grant, teacher of biology, Chicago Normal School, Chicago, Ill.