Search, under the direction of Gen. C. B. Comstock, Superintendent of the Lake Survey. Dredging was carried on from the shallow waters, especially along the north shore, down to 169 fathoms, the deepest point known in the lake. In all the deeper parts of the lake, the bottom, as shown both by the dredging and by the soundings executed by the Survey, is covered with an uniform deposit of clay, or clayey mud, usually very soft and bluish or drab in color. Water brought from the bottom at many points was perfectly fresh; that from 169 fathoms gave no precipitate with nitrate of silver. The temperature, everywhere below 30 or 40 fathoms, varied very little from 39°, while at surface (at the time of the observations, during August) it varied from 50° to 55°. The fauna of the bottom corresponds with these physical conditions. In the shallow waters, the species vary with the varying character of the bottom, while below 30 to 40 fathoms, where the deep-water fauna properly begins, the species seem to be everywhere very uniformly distributed. The deep-water fauna, as might be expected from the unfavorable character of the bottom, is meager, and seems to be characterized rather by the absence of many of the shore species than by forms peculiar to itself. Some of the more interesting species occurring in deep water were Mysis relicta Lovén, at various depths from 4 to 159 fathoms; Pontoporeia affinis Lindst., at nearly every haul from the shallowest to the deepest; a small undescribed species of Pisidium, down to 159 fathoms; several forms of dipterous larvæ, allied to Chironomus, down to the same depth; several species of Lumbricoid worms, of the genera Tubifex, Sænuris, and an allied genus; and a species of Hydra, which was found from the shore down to 159 fathoms. Of these, the Mysis, Pontoporeia, and Pisidium are identical with species found by Dr. Stimpson in his dredging in Lake Michigan, a short account of which was published in the American Naturalist for September, 1870. The species of Mysis and Pontoporcia I am unable to distinguish from specimens from the Lake Wetter in Sweden. In the Swedish lakes, these species were associated with Idotœa entomon and Gammaracanthus loricatus, marine species, and were supposed by Lovén to have been derived from ancient marine. species left in the lake basins by the recession of the ocean. The occurrence of these forms in Lake Superior, so far removed from the ocean, is certainly a very interesting fact in the geographical distribution of species, but one which I will not attempt to discuss

in this brief notice. In the shallow waters many interesting spe cies were obtained. Among these was a new species of Crangonyx, a genus closely allied to Gammarus, and heretofore known only from a few species found in the fresh waters of the old world, which occurred in 8 to 13 fathoms; and at the same depth, species of Lumbricus, Nephelis, Procotyla, Gammarus, Asellus, Limnæa, Physa, Planorbis, Valvata, Sphærium, Pisidium, etc. A full report will soon be published.

S. I. SMITH in Silliman's Journal,

MISCELLANEOUS.

AWARD OF THE WOLLASTON MEDAL TO PROF. J. D. DANA. -Geological Society, February 16.-Mr. Joseph Prestwich, F. R.S., president, in the chair.-The Secretary read the reports of the council, of the Library and Museum Committee, and of the auditors. The general position of the society was decribed as satisfactory, although, owing to the number of deaths which had taken place among the fellows during the year 1871, the society. did not show the same increase which has characterised former years. In presenting the Wollaston gold medal to the Secretary, Mr. David Forbes, for transmission to Prof. Dana, of Yale college, Connecticut, the President said :-"I have the pleasure to announce that the Wollaston Medal has been conferred on Prof. Dana, of Yale College, Newhaven, U.S.; and in handing it to you for transmission to our Foreign Member, I beg to express the great gratification it affords me that the award of the Council ha fallen on so distinguished and veteran a geologist. Prof. Dana's works have a world-wide reputation. Few branches of geology but have received his attention. An able naturalist and a skilful mineralogist, he has studied our science with advantages of which few of us can boast. His contributions to our science embrace cosmical questions of primary importance-paleontological ques tions of special interest-recent phenomena in their bearings on geology, and mineralogical investigations so essential to the right study of rocks, especially of volcanic phenomena. The wide range of knowledge he brought to bear in the production of his excellent treatise on Geology, one of the best of our class books, embracing the elements as well as the principles of geology, is well known. His

treatise on Mineralogy exhibits a like skill in arrangement and knowledge in selection. In conveying this testimonial of the high estimationin which we hold his researches to Prof. Dana, may I beg also that it may be accompanied by an expression how strongly we feel that the bonds of friendship and brotherhood are connected amongst all civilised nations of the world by the one common, the one universal, and the one kindred pursuit of truth in the various branches of science."-Mr. David Forbes, in reply, said that it was to him a great pleasure to have, in the name of Prof. Dana, to return thanks to the society for their highest honour, and for this mark of the appreciation in which his labours are held in England. It had rarely if ever occurred in the history of the society that the Wollaston medal had been awarded to any geologist who had made himself so well known in such widely different departments of the science, for not only was Prof. Dana preeminent as a mineralogist, but his numerous memoirs on the Crustaceans, Zoophytes, coral islands, volcanic formations, and other allied subjects, as well as his admirable treatise on general Geology, fully testify to the extensive range and great depth of his scientific researches.-The President then presented the balance of the proceeds of the Wollaston donation fund to Prof. Ramsay, F.R.S., for transmission to Mr. James Croll, and addressed him as follows:-" The Wollaston fund has been awarded to Mr. James Croll, of Edinburgh, for his many valuable researches on the glacial phenomena of Scotland, and to aid in the prosecution of the same. Mr. Croll is also well known to all of us by his investigation of oceanic currents and their bearing on geological questions, and of many questions of great theoretical interest conneeted with some of the great problems in Geology. Will you, Prof. Ramsay, in handing this token of the interest with which we follow his researches, inform Mr. Croll of the additional value his labours have in our estimation, from the difficulties under which they have been pursued, and the limited time and opportu nities he has had at his command."-Prof. Ramsay thanked the president and council in the name of Mr. Croll for the honour bestowed on him. He remarked that Mr. Croll's merits as an original thinker are of a very high kind, and that he is all the more deserving of this honour from the circumstance that he has risen to have a well-recognised place among men of science without any of the advantages of early scientific training; and the position he now occupies has been won by his own unassisted exertions. The

President then proceeded to read his Anniversary Address, in which he discussed the bearings upon theoretical Geology of the results obtained by the Royal Commision on Water-Supply and the Royal Coal Commission. The Address was prefaced by biographical notices of deceased Fellows, including Sir Roderick I. Murchison, Mr. William Lonsdale, Sir Thomas Acland, Sir John Herschel, Mr. George Grote, Mr. Robert Chambers, and M. Lartet. The ballot for the Council and Officers was taken, and the following were duly elected for the ensuing year :-President -The Duke of Argyll, K.T., F.R.S. Vice-Presidents-Prof. P. Martin Duncan, F.R.S., Prof. A. C. Ramsay, F.R.S., Warington W. Smyth, F.R.S., Prof. John Morris. Secretaries-John Evans, F.R.S., David Forbes, F.R.S. Foreign Secretary, Prof. T. D. Ansted, F.R.S. Treasurer-J. Gwyn Jeffreys, F.R.S. CouncilProf. T. D. Ansted, F.R.S., the Duke of Argyll, F.R.S., W. Carruthers, F.R.S., W. Boyd Dawkins, F.R.S., Prof. P. Martin Duncan, F.R.S., R. Etheridge, F.R.S., John Evans, F.R.S., Jas. Fergusson, F.R.S., J. Wickham Flower, David Forbes, F.R.S., Capt. Douglass Galton, C.B., F,R.S., Rev. John Gunn, M.A., J. Whitaker Hulke, F.R.S., J. Gwyn Jeffreys, F.R.S., Sir Chas. Lyell, Bart, F.R.S., C. J. Meyer, Prof. John Morris, Joseph Prestwich, F.R.S., Prof. A. C. Ramsay, F.R.S., R. H. Scott, F. R.S., W. W. Smyth, F.R.S., Prof. J. Tennant, Henry Woodward. "Nature," 29th Feb. 1872.

ADDITIONAL NOTE ON OBOLELLINA, &c.-Since the sheet containing my remarks on this genus was printed I have received a letter in which it is stated that Prof. Hall says his paper was in reality printed in March, 1871, and that he received from twenty-five to thirty copies, from the printer, at that time.""That he distributed these copies to some learned societies and individuals, having reserved three copies only, and that he sent one to the Geological Society of London, and to other parties whose names he can produce." I do not admit the whole of this statement. I have made extensive enquiries, among the most active and best geologists and naturalists in the United Statesmen who keep themselves fully informed, as to all books and papers on geology and paleontology published in the country. With a single exception not one of them ever saw, or even heard of the paper until I wrote to them about it. One gentleman, only, sent me a copy on the 12th Feb., 1872, but he did not

state when he received it, perhaps, becanse he did not wish to interfere in the matter. It was probably sent to him after Prof. Hall had seen my paper. The general opinion is that it was not circulated in the United States at all. There is some evidence, of a circumstantial character, to show that the two copies sent to England in September were printed after the month of July with important alterations. The principal objects of requiring a Naturalist to publish, are that others may obtain notice of what species or genera have been named and described; and, also, to afford the public a means of deciding questions of priority without depending upon the word of the author, who is always an interested party. Private distribution is not sufficient for either of these purposes. In this instance all of the six genera, noticed in Prof. Hall's pamphlet, might have been described and published, by as many different authors in the United States in perfect good faith, and without the least suspicion that they had been previously named by any one. Indeed, as he was aware that several were working at the same group, he seems to have concealed his pamphlet from them in order to give them annoyance. How otherwise can we account for the fact, that no copies were sent either to the Smithsonian Institution or to the Canadian Survey?

I am informed that Prof. Hall's genera are to be sustained by two distinguished authors in England. One of them having received a copy of the paper in October, 1871, and knowing that another copy had been sent to the Geological Society of London, about the same time, neither can realize that it was not published. But let us place them in Prof. Hall's position. Suppose that the paper on which they are now engaged relates to a peculiar group of Wenlock fossils. They borrow specimens from the Geological Survey, and are notified by the Director that the palæontologist of the Survey is at work on the same group. Instead of publishing their paper in the Journal of the Geological Society, or in any other scientific journal, they resort to the following extraordinary proceeding. They prepare an abstract of five pages. They send no copies to the Survey, to the Geological Society, to the Royal Society or to any other learned institution in England. They conceal it from the English scientific public altogether. About six months afterwards they send one copy privately to a friend in Russia, and one to the Mineralogical Society there. In consequence of this course, for ten months