The litho- and biostratigraphical subdivisions of the Tremadocian-Arenigian succession of the southern Montagne Noire are hereby revised. The Lower Ordovician diversity patterns are estimated through statistical analysis of 27 families, 64 genera and 132 species of trilobites across nine interval zones; from bottom to top: the Proteuloma geinitzi, Shumardia (Conophrys) pusilla, Euloma filacovi, Taihungshania miqueli, Taihungshania shui landyranensis, Colpocoryphe maynardensis, Neseuretus (Neseuretus) arenosus, Apatokephalus incisus and Hangchungolithus primitivus zones. Maximum trilobite diversity occurred within the E. filacovi and A. incisus zones, alternating with two sharp declines (S. (C.) pusilla and T.shui landyranensis zones), in both cases drastically related to transgressive-regressive trends. Trilobites attained their highest diversity in muddy outer-platform settings, decreasing in fine-grained sandstones and siltstones of shoreface environments, where trilobites could still be numerically abundant. Four major trilobite turnovers are recognised at the bottom of the P. geinitzi, S.(C.)pusilla, E. filacovi and T. shui landyranensis zones, in which survivors from previous intervals are not reported at specific level, and important generic replacements took place. Despite the relative incompleteness of the Lower Ordovician trilobite record, envisaged after analysing the high proportion of monotypic taxa and discontinuous ranges of some families, the trilobite record is representative enough to estimate diversity patterns, although a better understanding of the palaeoenvironmental control will greatly enhance biodiversity resolution.

An investigation of the peat mosses in some districts of the Scottish Highlands was made in 1905, with a view of comparing the features found there with those already recorded from the Southern Uplands in 1904. The salient feature met with in the Southern districts was the existence in all the older mosses of an upper and lower forest-bed, with a zone of Arctic plants intercalated between. The existence of this Arctic plant bed, stretching at the same horizon through the peat in districts widely separated, indicates a lowering of temperature which must have obtained over much greater areas; for the conditions implied by the presence of an Arctic vegetation at low levels in the South of Scotland would suffice—precipitation being great enough—to produce glaciation in the Highlands.

1. The following paper is a contribution to the theory of non-alternate ± knots, together with a census of these knots for Order Ten; that is, all the knots are given which have in reduced form just ten crossings, and in which the thread does not proceed alternately over and under.

The census was begun in the fall of '93, and carried so far that the forms were drawn. The matter was then laid aside and taken up anew in the spring of '99.

2. Having postulated an endless one-dimensional continuum which may change its length and form in any way, subject only to the condition that it can never have a double point, and consequently no one portion can be made to break through another, I understand by a knot a continuum which can not be brought to a circular form.

Since 1966, when the last major work on fossil scombroid fishes (Scombroidei, Perciformes) from England appeared, our knowledge of the taxonomy and systematics of Recent scombroids has been thoroughly updated, improved and studied in the context of cladistic methods. In comparison, our knowledge of the fossil taxa has lagged much behind. As part of a revision of all fossil and Recent scombroid fishes, the present paper describes an updated systematic palaeontology of the English fossil taxa. These are a subset of taxa subject to a cladistic analysis of Recent and fossil genera combined, the results of which will appear in future papers. Three new genera are erected, two species transferred to other, already existing, ones and a new species is described (in a new genus). The author follows the opinion that Eothynnus Woodward, 1901 is a carangid. Several individual specimens are re-identified. The systematic affinities of Tamesichthys Casier, 1966, Eocoelopoma Woodward, 1901, Scombramphodon Woodward, 1901, Sphyraenodus Agassiz, 1844, Wetherellus Casier, 1966 and Woodwardella Casier, 1966, and a few new taxa, are here considered unknown. Aglyptorhynchus Casier, 1966 is probably a billfish, and Cylindracanthus Leidy, 1856, is possibly one as well, even though there are serious objections to this.

Deviations from the usually described arrangements of the parts, of which the human body is composed, have from time to time attracted the attention of the anthropotomist. In many anatomical text-books, as well as in sundry memoirs specially devoted to the subject, numerous examples of such variations have now been recorded. To the scientific anatomist these have always had a certain value, but of late years this department of anatomical inquiry, more especially in connection with variations in the muscular system, has had additional importance and interest attached to it, on account of the attention which has been directed to the correspondence, or want of correspondence, in the muscular arrangements in man and the other mammalia, more particularly the apes.

The high-dT/dP-type Hidaka Metamorphic Belt in Hokkaido, northern Japan, represents a tilted crustal section of a magmatic arc of Tertiary age. The highest metamorphic grades reached are granulite facies, and the syn-metamorphic granitic rocks are widely distributed in this metamorphic terrane. The granitic rocks are mainly tonalitic and granodioritic in composition, and are classified into peraluminous (S-type) and metaluminous (I-type) granitoids. A large amount of pyroxene-bearing S-type tonalites (garnet-orthopyroxene tonalite) is distributed in the Niikappu river region in the northern part of the Hidaka Metamorphic Belt. Pyroxene-bearing I-type tonalite (two-pyroxene hornblende tonalite) bodies are also distributed in this area.

The pyroxene-bearing tonalites are classified into several sub-types on the basis of their field occurrence, texture, mineral assemblage and geochemical features. Homogeneous IH- and SH-type tonalite are thought to represent original magmas, i.e. those which have been generated by partial melting of mafic metamorphic rocks and pelitic-psammitic metamorphic rocks, respectively. Model calculations assuming batch partial melting indicate that possible restites are garnet-two-pyroxene mafic granulite for IH-type and garnet-orthopyroxene aluminous granulite for SH-type. The unexposed lowermost crust of the ‘Hidaka crust’ is thought to be composed of garnet-two-pyroxene mafic granulite, garnet-orthopyroxene aluminous granulite and metagabbros.

The skull roof, palate and lower jaw of the seymouriamorph Utegenia shpinari (?Upper Carboniferous–Lower Permian; Kurgalin Formation, Kazakhstan) are described in detail, and a new cranial reconstruction is presented. Important features include: skull slightly longer than broad; elongate nasals; deep, elongate posterior cheek region; long, dorsoventrally deep posterior jugal ramus; flat, recurved, blade-like tabular process; denticle-covered anterior ventral part of pterygoid quadrate ramus; transverse pterygoid flange; low radiating ridges with denticle rows on pterygoid and parasphenoid cultriform process; incipient anterior wedge-like process on posterior end of parasphenoid cultriform process; distinct, robust posterolateral processes of posterior plate of parasphenoid. Degree of skull ossification, ornamentation, and absence of ossified quadrate, articular and endocranium suggest that large Utegenia specimens correspond to larval Discosauriscus. In such specimens, dentine infolding extends for almost half of the crown in premaxillary and largest maxillary teeth, as in late larval/metamorphic Discosauriscus. Preliminary results of a regression analysis through some simple skull measurements indicates that, although the preorbital and interorbital regions elongate isometrically relative to the posterior skull table, they do not show a particularly strong linear correlation with the widening of the skull during ontogeny.

Numerical taxonomic methods are applied to the Encrinurinae (Trilobita). Thirty-five cranidial and pygidial attributes are defined of which some (e.g. those relating to the glabellar tubercles) are specific to encrinurines and cybelines while others have application to non-encrinurids. Of nearly 200 named species of Encrinurinae only about one-third have been described in the literature in sufficient detail for their cranidial and pygidial attribute states be coded: a much smaller proportion of species is well enough known for librigenal, rostral, hypostomal and thoracic attributes to be coded. A comprehensive numerical taxonomy of the subfamily must therefore await detailed description of most of the known species. A list is given of encrinurine species in need of re-investigation. Meanwhile, 63 species can be coded for 34 attributes, and 75 species for 28 attributes. Principal components analysis is used to produce ordinations of these species. The minimal spanning tree superimposed on the ordination suggests possible evolutionary lineages. Ordination of the attributes is by non-linear mapping based on a distance matrix derived from the inter-attribute correlation matrix by the transformation (tanh−1 |r|)−1. The ordinations compare well with subjective assessments of relations and phylogenies.

An account is given of the distribution and zonation of the moie important plants and animals found on rocky shores. Particular attention is directed to the variation which occurs in the dominant midlittoral communities of exposed shores, and to the wide range of low-level populations found in the sheltered sea-lochs.

Lower Carboniferous eurypterids are rare, and consequently the Scottish eurypterid fauna is of importance, in a world setting, because of the number of species of that age which it contains. Since the Scottish forms were originally described, great advances have been made in our knowledge of the Eurypterida which have made necessary the present critical re-examination of all available Scottish Carboniferous eurypterid specimens. Five species, belonging to four genera, are described and illustrated. Fresh evidence of the anatomy of Campylocephalus scouleri (Hibbert) is presented and the wider issues of eurypterid morphology raised by homology with this specialised species are discussed.

Representatives of the Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha, Fulgoromorpha, Cicadomorpha and Heteroptera from the Late Eocene of the Isle of Wight, UK, are analysed and discussed. Psylloidea were reviewed and a key to the described taxa is given. Aphidoidea were studied, previously described taxa revised and new taxa described. New taxa of Aphidoidea are Hormaphididae: Hormaphis? longistigma Wegierek sp. nov.; Eriosomatidae: Eriosoma gratshevi Wegierek sp. nov. and Colopha? incognita Wegierek sp. nov.; Drepanosiphidae: Panfossilis anglicus Wegierek gen. et sp. nov. and Betulaphis kozlovi Wegierek sp. nov. Previously described Fulgoromorpha were revised and new taxa are described. The homonym Hastites Cockerell, 1922 (Cixiidae) preoccupied by Hastites Mayer-Eymar, 1883 is replaced by Catulliastites Szwedo nom. nov. for Catulliastites muiri (Cockerell) comb. nov. New taxa described are Cixiidae: Klugga gnawa Szwedo gen. et sp. nov., Klugga regoa Szwedo sp. nov., Liwakka gelloa Szwedo gen et sp. nov., Delwa morikwa Szwedo gen. et sp. nov., Kommanosyne wrikkua Szwedo gen. et sp. nov., Kernastiridius nephlajeus Szwedo gen. et sp. nov., Margaxius angosus Szwedo gen. et sp. nov., Dweivera reikea Szwedo gen. et sp. nov., Samaliverus bikkanus Szwedo gen. et sp. nov., Komsitija tuberculata Szwedo gen. et sp. nov., Langsmaniko marous Szwedo gen. et sp. nov., Komnixta jarzembowskii Szwedo gen. et sp. nov. and Worodbera nimakka gen. et sp. nov.; Tropiduchidae: Reteotissus hooleyi Szwedo gen. et sp. nov., Phatanako gen. nov. for Phatanako wilmattae (Cockerell) comb. nov., Senogaetulia kwalea Szwedo gen. et sp. nov., Dakrutulia mikhailkozlovi Szwedo gen. et sp. nov., Keriophettus atibenus Szwedo gen. et sp. nov. and Sognotela emeljanovi Szwedo gen. et sp. nov.; Issidae: Krundia korba Szwedo gen. et sp. nov., Breukoscelis vadimgratshevi Szwedo gen. et sp. nov., Breukoscelis phrikkosus Szwedo sp. nov. and Uphodato garwoterus Szwedo gen. et sp. nov.; Nogodinidae: Ambitaktoinae Szwedo subfam. nov., Ambitaktoa stoumma Szwedo gen. et sp. nov., Phariberea gurdonika Szwedo gen. et sp. nov., Wixskimoa torxsea Szwedo gen. et sp. nov., and Nadrimini trib. nov. with Niadrima yulei Szwedo gen. et sp. nov.; Lophopidae: Ankomwarius brodiei Szwedo gen. et sp. nov.; Ricaniidae: Ankwlanno bluga Szwedo gen. et sp. nov. Previously described Cicadomorpha were revised and new taxa are described: Cicadidae: Kintusamo boulardi Szwedo gen. et sp. nov; Aphrophoridae: Blenniphora Szwedo gen. nov. for Blenniphora woodwardi (Cockerell) comb. nov., Blenniphora skaka Szwedo sp. nov. and Blenniphora bikkanoa Szwedo sp. nov.; Luisphantyelus briwus Szwedo gen. et sp. nov., Natajephora lijanka Szwedo gen. et sp. nov.; Cercopidae: Berro enissuextaensis Szwedo gen. et sp. nov.; Cicadellidae: Mileewinae: Teniwitta andrewrossi Szwedo gen. et sp. nov. Formerly described true bugs (Heteroptera) are revised and several new taxa are described – Nepomorpha: Corixidae: Diacorixites szwedoi Popov gen. et sp. nov.; Cimicomorpha: Tingidae: Parasinalda wappleri Popov sp. nov., Viktorgolubia Popov gen. nov. for Viktorgolubia seposita (Cockerell) comb. nov.; Miridae: Gurnardinia herczeki Popov gen. et sp. nov.; Pentatomomorpha: Lygaeidae: Gurnardobayini Popov trib. nov., Gurnardobaya rossi Popov gen. et sp. nov.; Cydnidae: Eocenocydnus lisi Popov gen. et sp. nov.; Pentatomidae: Podopinites coloratus Popov gen. et sp. nov. and Podopinites acourti (Cockerell) comb. nov. An overview of the Late Eocene fauna of the Hemiptera is presented. Ecological and biogeographical patterns of the Hemiptera from the Isle of Wight deposits are discussed.

The main deformation of the Carboniferous sediments of north-east Northumberland took place in Armorican times. An analysis of minor structures shows that they occur in three distinct structural environments. These are, (i) as accommodation structures to large folds, (ii) as structures produced by transcurrent movement along lateral shearfaults, and (iii) as minor structures formed in direct response to the regional compression. The detailed interrelation-ships of these minor structures are described for selected areas.

In the neighbourhood of Berwick-on-Tweed a major east-facing monocline has been recognized. It appears that the large-scale folding of the Carboniferous strata was directly controlled by the configuration of the Lower Palæozoic and Lower Old Red Sandstone basement. Major folds have been generated by an east-west compression and are deflected around the Cheviot and Southern Upland masses. A regional fault pattern is interpreted as a conjugate system of strike-slip and oblique-slip shears. The nature and influence of structural control on the emplacement of the Whin Sill suggests that it was intruded during this same tectonic episode.

Analysed compositions of coexisting phases from cordierite-amphibole-bearing rocks (cordierite-orthoamphibole-cummingtonite-garnet-staurolite-spinel-opaque ores) and mica schists (garnet-staurolite-biotite-muscovite-plagioclase-andalusite-quartz) have been used in conjunction with experimentally determined equilibria to estimate pressures and temperatures of metamorphism for the rocks of the Outokumpu district. The data do not determine a single point in P-T space, but bracket an area such that T ≈ 600 ± 50°C and P ≈ 3·5 ± 1 kb. These conditions represent the maximum temperature attained by the rocks, and the associated sulphide ore bodies, during the Svecokarelian orogeny and are consistent with a regional palaeogeotherm of c. 50°C/km.

Assessment of the composition of the coexisting phases in the cordierite-amphibole-bearing rocks, particularly the Fe-Mg-bearing phases, indicates that it is unlikely that either iron or magnesium was mobile during metamorphism and that the equilibrium assemblage represents essentially isochemical metamorphism of a rock composition that predates the metamorphism. A similar genesis is considered likely for the cordierite-anthophyllite rocks of Orijärvi in southern Finland which forms the basis of the classic statement of the magnesium-metasomatism hypothesis.

The area examined in the course of this investigation comprises parts of Perthshire and Forfarshire fringing the Grampians and Strathmore from Stenton on the Tay, 2½ miles east of Dunkeld, to Auchnacree, a mile north-east of Noran Water, an easterly tributary of the South Esk. It is represented on a scale of 1 inch to a mile on Sheets 48, 56, and 57 of the Ordnance Survey of Scotland. The field mapping of over 130 square miles was carried out on a scale of 6 inches to a mile, and the results are embodied in the appended map on a scale of 1 inch to a mile.

Within the last twenty years our knowledge of the structure and distribution of the armoured Placodermi (including Arthrodira, Ptyctodonta, Phyllolepida, Macropetalichthyida, Rhenanida, and Antiarcha) has increased tremendously. The writer is engaged on a morphogenetic analysis of the group, early publication of which is uncertain. A recent paper by Gross (1941) deals among other matters with the nature of the Antiarch pectoral limbs, and since my own conclusions partly support and partly oppose his very interesting hypothesis, it seems desirable to discuss separately the nature and possible evolution and morphogenesis of these unique vertebrate appendages. To do so it is necessary to review the paired limbs of other placoderms and of Acanthodii, with special reference to their functional significance.

This paper presents recently collected swath bathymetry from the Firth of Lorn. 553 km2 of data were collected during 2012–2013 as part of the INIS Hydro (Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland Hydrographic Survey) programme.

The area proves to consist of bedrock-dominated seabed, divided into narrow, stratigraphically-constrained and glacially-over-deepened basins. The bedrock is composed of late Proterozoic Dalradian metasediments overlain unconformably by Old Red Sandstone (ORS) sediments and lavas of ?Silurian-age. The central region of the Firth of Lorn is dominated by a vertical cliff, up to 150 m high and extending for approximately 24 km. This feature, here termed the Insh Fault, may have originated as a Dalradian extensional fault, been reactivated as an ORS feature and now forms a fault-line scarp with resistant ORS rocks on the downthrown side, flanking the more deeply eroded metasediments exposed in the basin. Tertiary intrusives are common, in particular, swarms of Paleocene dolerite dykes exposed on the sediment-free bedrock surfaces, and can be traced for many kilometres.

Evidence for past glaciation is widespread, manifest in the extensive erosion of the bedrock platforms and the abundance of well-preserved moraines and over-deepened basins. The survey region includes the Corryvreckan Whirlpool and Great Race, beneath the tidal flows of which occur submarine dunes.

Antarctica has been known as the “keypiece” of the Gondwana supercontinent since publication of Du Toit's 1937 classic book Our Wandering Continents. It is also important to reconstruction of the early Neoproterozoic supercontinent Rodinia. Laurentia, with its circumferential late Precambrian rifted margins, can be regarded as the ‘keypiece’ of Rodinia. The Southwest US–East Antarctica (SWEAT) hypothesis suggested former juxtaposition of the Pacific margins of Laurentia and East Antarctica. Several new lines of evidence support this hypothesis in a revised form, but must be reconciled with opening of the Pacific Ocean basin predating amalgamation, not only of Gondwana, but even of today's East Antarctic craton. The sequence of events is envisaged to have been: (1) formation prior to 1·6 Ga of a craton, including Laurentia and the Mawson craton, that extended from South Australia along the present Transantarctic margin to the Shackleton Range; (2) suturing of southernmost Laurentia to the Kalahari craton along the Grenville, Namaqua–Natal–Maud orogenic belt ca. 1·0 Ga; (3) rifting of the East Antarctic margin (Mawson craton) from western Laurentia ca. 0·7 Ga; (4) pan-African suturing of the Mawson craton to southernmost Laurentia as Gondwana amalgamated, forming the ephemeral Pannotia supercontinent; and (5) end-Precambrian separation of Laurentia as Iapetus opened.

The Briar Creek Bonebed (Artinskian, Nocona Formation) in Archer County is one of the richest sources of Dimetrodon bones in the Lower Permian of Texas, USA. Based on size, a small (D. natalis), an intermediate (D. booneorum), and a large species (D. limbatus) have been described from this locality. It has been proposed that these traditionally recognised species represent an ontogenetic series of only one species. However, the ontogenetic series hypothesis is inconsistent with the late ontogenetic state of the small bones, as suggested by their osteology and degree of ossification. Histological analysis of newly excavated material from the Briar Creek Bonebed has resolved some of the discretion between these two competing hypothesis, confirming the coexistence of a small (D. natalis) with at least one larger Dimetrodon species. An external fundamental system is present in the largest sampled long bones identified as D. natalis. The histology of D. natalis postcrania is described as incipient fibro lamellar bone. This tissue is a combination of parallel-fibred and woven-fibred bone that is highly vascularised by incipient primary osteons. The species status of D. booneorum and D. limbatus remain unresolved.

The Viséan sequence at East Kirkton was deposited in a shallow lake, set within a richly vegetated landscape formed of volcanic cones a few hundred metres high. There was little volcanic activity, however, while the lake existed, and the many tuff horizons within the sequence were washed in during weathering. The lake may have been generally cool, though of unusual water chemistry, as a result of which the spherulitic East Kirkton Limestone precipitated. At times, however, water temperatures may have risen sharply through localised hot-spring activity; both factors deterred ‘normal’ aquatic life.

The bulk of the preserved biota consists of plants (permineralisations and compressions) and dominantly land-living animals, including the oldest terrestrial tetrapods (amphibians and reptiliomorphs), large terrestrial-aquatic eurypterids, the first harvestman and rare millipedes. All these animals lived close to the lake, in a fire-prone forest dominated by gymnosperms and pteridosperms.

At a late stage in the history of the lake, deposition of spherulitic limestones was replaced by black shales, bearing a ‘standard’ Oil-Shale fish fauna, suggesting that the isolated lake had linked with a larger fish-bearing water body. This is coupled with a shift to a lycopod-dominated flora and may indicate a climatic change to wetter conditions. Finally the lake silted up with tuff, ending an existence of only a few tens of thousands of years.