Page images
PDF
EPUB

made a determination of the difference in longitude of Cambridge and Greenwich by means of the Atlantic cable. At his suggestion, the series of transcontinental triangulations have been run connecting the surveys on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, — triangulations which are serving for some of the statesurveys now in progress. Professor Hilgard was especially interested in the study of the Gulf Stream; and many will remember his paper upon that subject read at Philadelphia last summer, but not yet published. The success of the coast-survey is largely due to his work; and, since 1881, he has been the superintendent, from which position the misfortunes of ill-health compelled him to resign.

- Mr. Bosworth Smith has been appointed mineralogist for the Madras presidency. The local government order says he is "to create in the Central museum a perfect index to the mineral wealth of the presidency, and to begin a mineralogical survey in consultation with Dr. Bidie and such other officers as government may instruct him to communicate with."

The commander of the German gunboat Prinz Adelbert reports that on the 10th of February last, at half-past one A.M., in the roadstead of Aucon, two short earthquakes were felt which lasted ten seconds, and were noticed very perceptibly on board ship. The disturbance seemed to travel from south-west to north-east. The first sound heard was like that of steam let off under water, and escaping to the surface. This soon increased to a thundering, rolling noise, like the sound of river-ice breaking up. The damage done by this convulsion of nature was very insignificant on shore, and no casualties have been reported at sea.

The German Seewarte has received a bottle which was set afloat by the German bark Suahali, Capt. Fröhling, on the 18th of November, 1883, in 0° 40′ north latitude, and 21° 40' west longitude. On the 4th of February, 1885, four hundred and fortyfour days later, this was picked up in the neighborhood of the life-saving station at Fort Laundersdale in the Straits of Florida, in about 26° 10' north latitude, 80° 05′ west longitude. The end of the bottle's drift was about thirty-seven hundred and forty nautical miles distant from where it was set afloat, in a N. W. by W. W. direction. It is more probable that instead of taking that direction which leads through the Providence Channel, and then across the strongest part of the Gulf Stream, the bottle first drifted with the equatorial current west-north-west, then north from Trinidad into the Caribbean Sea, south of Jamaica, and by Cape San Antonio into the Gulf of Mexico, and finally with the Gulf Stream through the Straits of Florida to the place where it was found. According to this hypothesis, the drift was about forty-five hundred and fifty nautical miles for the four hundred and forty-four days, which makes an average daily distance of ten miles and a quarter. The Seewarte has also received a bottle which was thrown overboard from the German bark Suahali, on the 9th of December, 1884, in 44° 02′ north latitude, and 13° 16' west longitude. It was found on April 8, 1885, at

Buen in Ponte Vedra Bay, west coast of Spain, in about 42° 19' north latitude, and 8° 45' west longitude. So the bottle had probably drifted, in a hundred and twenty days, two hundred and twenty-three miles S. E. by E. E.

-The crystalline form of quartz grains in some sandstones has been seen by many observers, while especial attention was called to these forms in the Wisconsin sandstones by Rev. John Murrish in 1870 and later. Mr. H. C. Sorby, in 1880, showed that such crystal forms were produced by the deposition of secondary quartz upon the irregular rounded surfaces of worn quartz grains. For the Wisconsin sandstones, the subject was taken up by Rev. A. Young, and later by Messrs. R. D. Irving and C. R. Van Hise, who have published an extended and valuable paper (Bull. U. S. geol. surv., No. 8), with full illustrations, relating to the enlargement both of quartz and felspar grains; and for this the thanks of all micro-mineralogists and lithologists are due. Our authors conclude that their results prove that most, if not all, of the ancient quartzites, as well as many of the quartziferous schists, are composed in the main of fragments cemented together by a secondary siliceous cement.

- By the gift of the Hon. Elbert E. Fairman, LL.D., of Warsaw, N. Y., all that remains of the collection of birds made by the famous John J. Audubon is now in possession of Amherst college, Massachusetts. There are about six hundred skins of birds in the collection, some of which are labelled in the handwriting of Audubon himself, and many of which are the typical specimens by which the species were determined. As the collection has been stored in camphor chests for the last few years, and the skins were unmounted and old, many of them could not be advantageously mounted. About one hundred of them, however, have been handsomely put up by Prof. H. A. Ward of Rochester, and are now well exhibited in the Appleton cabinet of the college. Also there have been added to this collection by the same donor several of the rarer California birds, which have been discovered since the death of Mr. Audubon.

-The Paris students, according to Nature, are making extensive preparations for celebrating the one hundredth birthday of Chevreul, the veteran chemist, who has been a member of the Academy of sciences since 1826.

A movement is on foot in Christiania, says Nature, at the instance of the Society for the promotion of the Norwegian fisheries, for the establishment in the Christiania fiord, near Dröbak, of a biological station for the hatching of sea-water food-fish and salmon, in consequence of the great success of other stations along the coast.

The American ornithologists' union will hold its next meeting in New York on Tuesday, Nov. 17.

-The expedition which the Norwegian government despatches this summer to the coast of Finland is to ascertain whether there are banks or fishinggrounds far from the coast. Hitherto all fishing has been confined to the shore.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 1885.

COMMENT AND CRITICISM.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT IS MADE in another column, by Dr. C. S. Minot, that Mrs. Elizabeth Thompson of Stamford, Conn., has given to a board of trustees the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars" for the advancement and prosecution of scientific research in its broadest sense." It is a generous gift for a noble purpose. With a degree of wisdom which is fortunately more and more evinced by those who make endowments, the methods to be employed for the accomplishment of these ends have been left by the donor to the judgment of those whom she intrusts with the fund. They are men in whom the public will also have confidence. One of them is a physiologist, one an astronomer, one a political economist, and one a biologist. The income will soon be available; and the founder may hope to see within another year good work in progress, which her liberality has made possible.

It has been suggested that the fund thus established should be administered by an international association of science, if such a body is initiated by the British and American associations. This would doubtless give éclat to the new organization, but diffused responsibility is by no means essential to the success of the fund. A small body of trustees, such as that now instituted, is quite adequate to the direction of the project, particularly if its endeavors and its results are made known to the public by annual reports, which may evoke the comments and suggestions of other scientific men. But whichever form of direction may be finally adopted, the far-sighted and generous gift will be everywhere recognized as deserving the gratitude of all who believe in the progress of science, and the endowment of research. We welcome as a new agency in

No. 133.-1885.

[ocr errors][merged small]

WITHIN A FEW YEARS a change has been effected in the organization of the American association, through a considerable increase in the number of its sections. In its present composition, it resembles much more than formerly its prototype, the British association. The change was a necessity of the immense recent growth of our association. There is another desirable change, not so radical, but in its future significance quite as important, which would be in keeping with the example of the British association, and which, even if entirely within the province of the standing committee to carry into effect, should receive the countenance of the members at large. This concerns its annual volume of proceedings. Means of publication have now so vastly increased in all parts of the country, that there is no longer need of this one additional channel of communication with the outer world; and the publication in full of all the papers read at any meeting (which has never been attempted in recent years) would absorb at once all the increasing income of

the association. A considerable number of the papers are printed only by title, most of the remainder only by abstract; but the abstracts are apt to be of undue length, and a considerable number of papers are printed in

extenso.

The change which we would advocate is, that all papers should be printed in the proceedings' either by title, or by brief abstract only. Should any papers prove of such exceptional interest that they should be printed in full (and desirable, as would then be the case, that they should appear under the auspices of the association), it is also manifestly important that they should be published by the association without delay; which, under the

present arrangements, is impracticable, as no volume of proceedings has been issued in recent years under ten or eleven months. This year it is twelve. Let such papers then be printed in quarto form under the title of memoirs' (a series already commenced), and issued one by one as fast as printed: even with this elimination and restriction, the volume, with the growth of the society, will become quite as large as should be issued by the association with its limited funds and its liberal rules of distribution. The members would receive an acceptable quid pro quo, containing a fair statement of the work of the association and the industry of its members. Such an action would, as it should, elevate the presidential addresses to a higher dignity; while, more important than all, it would free the association from a heavy monetary burden, and enable it, as it otherwise could not, to devote a not unimportant part of its annual receipts to annual subsidies for special research. The association would thus be enabled to take the place that belongs essentially to it of fostering the advancement of science' in the most effective manner.

6

[ocr errors]

ANOTHER EVIDENCE of the necessity of restriction, in expenses of astronomical establishments, comes from abroad. In his last report, Admiral Mouchez, director of the Paris observatory, noting the fact that the publication of the Bulletin astronomique entails great outlay of the resources of the observatory, expresses his apprehension, that, unless the list of subscribers to the periodical is largely augmented, the journal must soon be discontinued. Bulletin astronomique is a monthly of the highest value; and, although very young, it would be greatly missed. The first number was that issued for the month of January, 1884.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. ***Correspondents are requested to be as brief as possible. The writer's name is in all cases required as proof of good faith. Meteoric activity, Aug. 10.

ON the 10th of August last, the date of meteor activity, it was noticed about ten o'clock in the evening, that meteors issued very frequently from the

constellation of Perseus. They increased in number hourly, until about two o'clock in the morning they attained their maximum frequency, which was about one hundred and fifty every hour. After this the number per hour grew less frequently until four o'clock in the morning, when they fell, as in the early evening, about fifty each hour. The majority of meteors were of the third and fourth magnitude, and from two to three degrees in length. The finest meteor of the evening issued from the constellation Perseus, took a north-westerly course, and disappeared behind the horizon. It was of the first magnitude, and silvery in color. The passage of the meteor was marked by a train resembling steam, which did not disappear for over a minute. Many other meteors were observed during the evening, but all were less brilliant than the one described. Two were seen directly south, and a few south-west; but the majority issued from the constellation of Perseus. DARWIN MYERS. Fort Wayne, Ind.

Color associations with the months. Noticing in Science of July 31 a letter on 'color associations with the months,' I would call attention to a geometrical association that I have unconsciously acquired, and that is ever present in my mind when thinking of any date, or period of the year. The curve is represented in the subjoined sketch. The divisions represent months. Several, as you observe, appear longer than others. The plane in which this curve is described appears to me inclined at an angle of about 40° with the vertical. Its longest diameter is perhaps two hundred yards. From day to day I seem to move along this imaginary line to positions corresponding with the date.

Notable days, as Christmas and Fourth of July, stand out as distinct marks in the curve. It appears, not as a black line, but as a portion of space only

[blocks in formation]

defined by marks here and there denoting days on which something occurred that I remember. My supposition as to the origin of this unnatural and rather unpleasant notion of the months, is, that, when a child at school, the impression made upon my mind by my every-day duties was similar to the emotions one would feel in walking around a curve arranged as this is. Entering school the middle of September, there was, until Christmas time, hard, up-hill work. Then for one week, until Jan. 1, a period of rest, after which things would go easier by my being accustomed to them, and looking forward to the spring. During June the curve begins to bend down; and, through July and August, there is perfect rest, as though one were sliding down with no exertion, until towards September the thought of again assuming the duties of school-life puts a stop to the downward motion, and the curve begins to ascend in September. On this supposition it is hard to explain why July and

August are so much longer than the other months. This impression of the months applies only to the current year.

When thinking of any event that occurred more than one year ago, I have an entirely different scheme presented. The second figure illustrates it. The centuries are arranged in columns, decreasing in length until the Christian era, beyond which the lapse of time is denoted by an inclined line here shown.

Important dates I think of as lines crossing these columns; and the life of a noted man, or a war, as the space included between two such lines.

[blocks in formation]

The classification and paleontology of the U. S. tertiary deposits.

In the issue of this journal of June 12, Prof. A. Heilprin condemned the second part of my article on the genealogy of the tertiary mollusca of the United States before it had been published. Since its appearance, moreover, he has again recurred to the subject in a note in Science of July 31. I would here beg permission to defend myself from the charges that he brings forward.

I have shown that the literature affords no evidence, either paleontological or stratigraphical, that the Vicksburgian is the most recent formation; and have given a number of reasons, based upon profiles which I have observed, showing that this bed is most probably the oldest. Professor Heilprin, however, has nothing whatever to say on these subjects. What, then, does he say?

1. "It might appear

that the paleontological evidence was in conflict with that derived from stratigraphy. As a matter of fact, however, the paleontological evidence. . is, as we now know it, absolutely confirmatory of the pregnant facts which the stratigraphy of the region presents; and, indeed, it would be difficult to find a region of similar deposits where it is more so." When he wrote this, Professor Heilprin must have entirely forgotten what he himself had published on the fossils from Wood's Bluffs, (Proc. ac. nat. sc. Phil., 1880, 364-375). There he points out, in spite of certain wrong determinations, clearly and in extenso, the conflict between paleontological and stratigraphical evidence (see pp. 368, 369).

2. "The absence or scarcity of forms of a distinctively old-type facies in the Vicksburg beds, and the introduction there of new forms whose equivalents or immediate representatives are known only from the newer horizon, are sufficient in themselves

to establish the position." This statement of Professor Heilprin is new and wholly without proof. My studies lead me to precisely the opposite view. In the Vicksburgian are contained the old forms, while in the Claibornian the new ones make their appearance. The facts upon which I base this statement will be given in another place.

3. I have contested the right to consider and map all localities with Orbitoides as oligocene. Professor Heilprin objects to the older authorities, hence I will here quote the following very recent one. Zittel's Handbuch, vol. i., Munich, 1876-80, p. 103, says, "Orbitoides . . In der obersten kreide, sehr verbreitet im eocän, im miocän selten." If Professor Heilprin can cite any authority, stating that Orbitoides occur only in the oligocene, I shall be very glad to have him do so.

[ocr errors]

4. Then Professor Heilprin speaks of Zeuglodon. He argues, Zeuglodon is leitfossil' for the Jacksonian; it is known in Europe in late eocene or miocene deposits, hence the inference is that the Jacksonian must be late eocene (or miocene?); the Claibornian is middle eocene (Parisian), consequently the Jacksonian overlies the Claibornian. To give to this argumentation some weight, it will be necessary for Professor Heilprin to prove: First, That Zeuglodon occurs only in the Jacksonian, and not elsewhere in America. Having studied the known facts which have been published, and having myself seen and collected Zeuglodon at different localities in the South, I have as yet not found evidence to convince me of the truth of this statement. Second, That he has a right to parallelize the Jacksonian with any European bed from the presence of a single genus. I found a small bivalve in Jackson, which I should compare with specimens of the genus Kelliella, Sars. If, however, a genus (not a species) can be determined from figures and descriptions alone, there can be no doubt that this fossil belongs to this genus, hitherto only known as recent (and pliocene ?) in Europe. Has any one a right to draw from this the conclusion that the Jacksonian bed is recent or pliocene ? Third, That the Claibornian is middle eocene. My studies and comparisons have demonstrated to me that it would be a laborious and difficult task to parallelize the sub-divisions of the American old-tertiary with those of the European. So far as I am aware, my material for this purpose exceeds that of any other collection. Hitherto I have ascertained nothing to prove that the Claibornian is middle eocene, although it may yet be proved. If Professor Heilprin can prove two of these three-mentioned points, without the third one, there will be nothing convincing in his argument to the mind of any unprejudiced paleontologist.'

5. In that which relates to the oligocene (Orbitoide, Nummulite) rock of Florida, whose existence appears to give Dr. Meyer a considerable amount of anxiety, and which would better suit the requirements of the new theory were it cretaceous, our author need entertain no doubts. The rock is there," etc. I have not the least doubt about the existence of orbitoidic limestone in Florida, observed by E. A. Smith, nor have I anywhere expressed such. This limestone causes me no anxiety whatever. I fail to see why this limestone, if Vicksburg is the oldest bed, should be cretaceous. I have nowhere expressed this belief, nor do I think it will prove to be of this formation. All that I have said is, that there is no reason to map as oligocene localities where orbitoidic limestone is observed, or the larger areas, where nothing at all has been observed.

6. "In such inquiry, it is necessary, however, to

know the relative positions of the different deposits with which one is dealing, and not to proceed, as Dr. Meyer has done, from top to bottom, believing that top was bottom, and bottom top." Professor Heilprin has confounded the limestone at the top of the profile in Claiborne with the limestone at the base, because he has studied the literature regarding it superficially, and because he himself has never seen it in nature. If he puts no faith in the observations of Conrad, Lyell, or my own, he may go there and observe for himself.

7. I fail to see what the fact, that Professor Heilprin has been six years curator of the tertiary shells in Philadelphia, has to do with any conclusion which I have drawn, based upon my larger material. It may be that he has studied these shells attentively; although I have pointed out paleontological mistakes of a surprising nature in his publications on tertiary fossils, and although I had published my regrets that he had not utilized the Philadelphia type-specimens for the benefit of science. The fact, that he once sent me an undescribed tertiary form of the collection as a duplicate in exchange (see 'Terebra trilirata Conr.,' Proc. ac. nat. sc. Phil., 1884, 105, 106) makes me doubt whether this study was as thorough as he inti

mates.

8. "Pseudo-science, of the kind to which we are here treated, should be exposed." After having worked for years in the old-tertiary formation in Europe, I studied the literature of the corresponding formation in America, following the different opinions from their origin, and tracing out contradictions. Then I went to the spots, observed for myself, and from all these studies I have been forced to conclusions, which, indeed, throw a peculiar light on some publications. Professor Heilprin's way has been to study the literature, and then to write a book on this formation: even to map it, without ever having seen it. He calls my way pseudo-science!' Without having pointed out one single mistake in my papers, Professor Heilprin uses the expressions, "geological and paleontological fancies . . . monstrous disregard or ignorance (or both) of the literature. . . misconception of the numerous species vagaries... amusing .. pseudo-science," and warns paleontologists not to accept my species. I have here fully answered Professor Heilprin's objections, in order to show his method of argumentation, and how useless and how disagreeable discussion with him is. I will not, however, enter into any further controversy with him upon this subject; at all events, not until he has made some examination of the region under consideration, in person, and then confines himself strictly to the discussion of observed facts.

[ocr errors]

New Haven, Conn., Aug. 12.

[ocr errors]

OTTO MEYER.

A NEW ENDOWMENT FOR RESEARCH. It is usually the case that private endowments for public purposes are made subject to narrowing restrictions, and then it too often ensues that with the lapse of time the very object of the gift is defeated by the restrictions the letter kills the spirit. It must therefore be a matter of congratulation when

a great public donation is left as free as compatible with the general object for which it is made. This is remarkably the case with a noble and munificent endowment established by Mrs. Elizabeth Thompson of Stamford, Conn., an American lady well known for her public benefactions. Her long experience with churches and various charitable enterprises had led her to question whether the money spent in them achieves the greatest possible good. She finally reached the conviction that knowledge is the real source, the impelling power of human progress; and it became her desire, from motives of the highest philanthropy, to contribute to the promotion of science.

When the plan for the establishment of an International scientific association was brought forward at Montreal, and again at Philadelphia, before the great national associations, Mrs. Thompson considered that the proposed international society would be the fittest body to assume the trust she wished to establish. Accordingly she placed in my hands the sum of five thousand dollars as the nucleus of a fund to be controlled by the International scientific association when organized.

Not long since, Mrs. Thompson communicated to me her desire to transfer the abovementioned sum to a board of trustees, and to add to it at once twenty thousand dollars more, making a total permanent fund of twenty-five thousand dollars. Mrs. Thompson has been as liberal in the conditions she has established as in the amount she has given. According to her letter of conveyance, "The income of the fund is to be devoted to the advancement and prosecution of scientific research in its broadest sense; it being understood that to provide for, and assist in, the maintenance of an international scientific association, is a method of application which seems to me very desirable."

The trustees are left with very great discretionary powers, which are to be guided by certain general directions. It is, above all, expressly understood that the prime object is to contribute from the income towards defray

« PreviousContinue »