Astronomy.--Shooting Stars of August 10, 1856.-Astronomical Observatory at the University of Mississippi, 290. Miscellaneous Intelligence.-Observations on the climates of California, by GEORGE BARTLETT, 291.-Apparatus for taking specific gravity, by Messrs. ECKFELDT and DUBOIS, 294.-Discovery of Paleozoic Fossils in Eastern Massachusetts, by Professor W. B. ROGERS, 296.--Hailstorm in Guilford County, N. C., 298.-Monks Island or Colombian Guano, by Dr. A. S. PIGGOT, 299.--On the Monks Island Guano, by Dr. A. A. HAYES, 300.-Neo-Macropia: Artificial light for taking photographs, 300.-Waters of the Dead Sea: Density of the Waters of the Caspian Sea, by A. MORITZ: Well in the Desert of Sahara : Composition of the Water of the Delaware River, by HENRY WURTZ: Aluminium: Officers of the Academy of Science for St. Louis, for 1856, 301.-Obituary.-Professor John Locke, 301.--Manual of Coal and its Topography, by J. P. LESLEY, 301.-A Treatise on Land Surveying, by Professor W. M. GILLESPIE, A.M. Annals of the Astronomical Observatory of Harvard College, 302. --Manual of Blowpipe Analysis, for the use of Students, by Prof. WILLIAM ELDEKHORST Notices of new Publications, 303. NUMBER LXVI. Page. ART. XXIV. On American Geological History: Address before the American Association for the Advancement of Science, August, 1855, by JAMES D. DANA, 306 335 XXV. On the Plan of Development in the Geological History of XXVII. On the Relations of the Fossil Fishes of the Sandstone 349 to the Steam Engine; by R. CLAUSIUS, XXIX. Examination of the Meteoric Iron from Xiquipilco, Mexico; 357 364 XXX. On the Heat in the Sun's Rays; by ELISHA FOOTE, 377 382 XXXII. Review of a portion of the Geological Map of the United 383 XXXIII. On New Fossil Corals from North Carolina; by E. EMMONS, 389 XXXIV. Description of an Isopod Crustacean from the Antarctic Seas, with Observations on the New South Shetlands; by JAMES EIGHTS.-With two plates, . XXXV. Description of a large Bowlder in the Drift of Amherst, Chemistry and Physics.-On the wave lengths of the most refrangible rays of light in the Interference Spectrum, 400.--On the connection between the theorem of the equiva- lence of heat and work and the relations of permanent gases, 402.--On Ozone: Prepa- ration of Aluminum: On the conversion of carbonic oxyd into formic acid, and on the preparation of formic from oxalic acid, 403.--On the determination of chlorine by titri- tion, 404.--Reduction of aluminum from cryolite: Researches on the Fluorids, 405.- On two new methods of producing Urea artificially: On Acetylamin: The manufac- ture of Malleable Iron and Steel without Fuel, 406.-On some Dichromatic Phenomena among Solutions, and the means of representing them, by Dr. GLADSTONE, 412.--On several new methods of detecting Strychnia and Brucia, by T. HORSLEY, 413. Geology-On the Spongeous Origin of the Siliceous Bodies of the Chalk Formation, by J. S. BOWERBANK: On some Paleozoic Star fishes, compared with Living Forms, by J. W. SALTER, 415.--On the Physical Structure of the Earth, by Prof. HENNESSY, 416. -On the Great Pterygotus (Seraphim) of Scotland, and other Species, by J. W. SALTER, 417.--On the Bone Beds of the Upper Ludlow Rock, and the base of the Old Red Sand- stone, by Sir R. I. MURCHISON, 418.--On a Fossil Mammal (Stereognathus ooliticus) from the Stonesfield Slate, by Prof. OWEN, 419 --On the Dichodon cuspidatus, from the Upper Eocene of the Isle of Wight and Hordwell, Hants, by Prof. OWEN, 420.--On a range of Volcanic Islets to the Southeast of Japan, by A. G. FINDLAY, 421.—On the New Red Sandstone Formation of Pennsylvania, by ISAAC LEA, 422.-Descriptions of New Species of Acephala and Gasteropoda, from the Tertiary formations of Nebraska Territory, with some general remarks on the Geology of the country about the sources of the Missouri River, by F. B. MEEK and F. V. HAYDEN, M. D., 423. Botany and Zoology.-Alph. DeCandolle : Géographie Botanique raisonnée, ou Exposition des Faites principaux et des Lois concernant la Distribution Géographique des Plantes de l'Epoque Actuelle, 429.-Origin of the Embryo in Plants, 432.-Bentham, Notes on Loganiaceæ, 433.-The Flowers of the Pea-Nut, 435.-Martius, Flora Brasiliensis: L. R. Tulasne, Monographia Monimiacearum, 436.--Chloris Andina, Essai d'une Flore de la Region Alpine des Cordillères de l'Amerique du Sud, par H. A. WEDDELL, M.D. : Manual of the Botany of the Northern United States, by Prof. AsA GRAY, 437.--Report on the present state of our knowledge of the Mollusca of California, by Rev. P. CAR- PENTER, 438.-On the Vital Powers of the Spongiada, by Mr. BOWERBANK, 439.- Astronomy.-New Planets, Harmonia, 440.-Daphne: Isis, 441. Miscellaneous Intelligence.-American Association for the Advancement of Science, 441. -The Meteor of July 8th, by W. SPILLMAN, 448.--Sulphuric Acid Barometer: Can- tonite: British Association: American Geological History, 449.-Obituary.-Rev. Dr. Buckland, 449.--Geology of the Pacific and other regions visited by the U. S. Explor- ing Expedition under C. Wilkes, U. S. N., in the years 1838-1842, by JAMES D. DANA: A Chronological Table of Cyclonic Hurricanes, by ANDRES POEY, 452.-Description of some Remains of Fishes from the Carboniferous and Devonian Formations of the United States, by JOSEPH LEIDY: The Quarterly Journal of Pure and Applied Mathematics, edited by J. J. SYLVESTER, M.A., F.R.S.: Fossils of South Carolina, by M. TUOMEY and F. S. HOLMES: Abhandlungen der Kaiserlich Königlichen Geologische Reichsanstalt, 453.-Geognostiche Darstellung der Steinkohlen-formation in Sachsen mit besonderer Berücksichtigung der Rothliegenden, von HANNS BRUNO GEINITZ: Das Normal Verhältniss der chemischen und morphologischen Proportionen, von ADOLF ZEISING, 154.-Principles of Chemistry, by Prof. JOHN A. PORTER, M.A., M.D., 455. List of Works, 455. Index, 456. ERRATA. P. 1, line 2 from bottom, for *Dictyopyxis read Dictyopyxis; 1. 4 from bottom, for Dicladia, read *Dicludia: p. 2, lines I and 2 from top, for *Coscinodiscus, read Coscinodiscus ; 1. 2 from top, for Rhizosolenia, read *Rhizosolenia; 1. from top, for Difflugia, read *Difflugia; 1. 16 from top, for Eucyrtidium, read *Eucyrtidium, in both cases. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND ARTS. [SECOND SERIES.] ART. I.-Notice of Microscopic Forms found in the soundings of the Sea of Kamtschatka-with a plate; by Prof. J. W. BAILEY. IN the American Journal of Science, vol. xxi, p. 284 an account was given of some of the results of the microscopic examination of the soundings obtained in the sea of Kamtschatka, by Lieut. Brooke of the U. S. Navy. These soundings which ranged from 900 fathoms to 2700 fathoms in depth are, as was stated (1. c. p. 284), very rich in the siliceous remains of Diatoms, Polycistins, and Spongiolites, but have yielded no traces of the calcareous shells of the Polythalamia. A perfect agreement was also found to exist in the nature of their organic contents, almost every species noticed having been found, and in about equal abundance, in each of the soundings. The only difference noticed was in the proportion of the mineral matter, which was least in the deepest soundings. The organic contents of the above mentioned soundings as far as they have been determined are given in the following list. The species distinguished by a star are believed to be new and are described in the subsequent pages. List of Organic Forms found in the soundings of the Sea of Kamtschatka. Not even a fragment of any of the Polythalamia has been detected by me in these soundings. Description of the new species referred to in the above list. Asteromphalus Brookei B. Plate I, fig. 1. Discs slightly convex; umbilical rays (7 to 13 or more), flexuose, some simple others branched, or two or more uniting before reaching the centre. Diameter 2m to 4m, (=002" to 004"). This is a very beautiful species which I take pleasure in dedicating to Lieut. Brooke of the U. S. Navy, who by means of his ingenious device for obtaining deep sea bottoms, has added this and many other interesting forms to the treasures of the microscopist. This species appears to be distinguished from any of the Antarctic species described by Ehrenberg, by the branched character of a portion of its umbilical rays. The number of rays in my specimens varies from seven to thirteen, but specimens differing in the number of rays agree so closely in every other charac ter that I do not believe that the number of rays is a character of specific importance in this genus, and the same remark will apply to the allied forms of Asterolampra, Heliopelta, Actinoptychus, Actinocyclus, &c. The genus Asteromphalus may reach its maximum in the polar seas, having been found by Ehrenberg to exist in great * Ehrenberg refers the silicious spiculae of sponges to Phytolitharia, but the animal nature of sponges now appears to be generally admitted. The micro-unit which I employ is th of an English inch, and I express the dimensions in integers and fractions of this unit, thus 31='00325". |