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which, if the measurements of the entrance be correct, must have been at least 9 feet long and 7 feet high, placed, according to M. Lartet, to keep the hyenas from the corpses of the dead. It need hardly be remarked that the access of these bone-eating animals to the cave would be altogether incompatible with the preservation of the human skeletons, had they been buried at the time. The enormous slab was never seen by M. Lartet, and it is very hard to understand how it could have been removed by one workman cutting a trench after a few hours' work. And it certainly did not keep out the hyenas. In the collection made by the Rev. S. W. King from the interior, there are two hyæna's teeth, and nearly all the antlers and bones bear the traces of the gnawing of those animals. The cave, moreover, has two entrances instead of one, as M. Lartet supposed, when his paper in the Annales was published. There are also in the collection above quoted -now presented by Mrs. King to the Christy Museumtwo metacarpals of sheep or goat-animals which, as yet, have not been proved to have been living in Europe during the quaternary period, and which, probably, were introduced by neolithic races of men, as well as a fragment of pottery of precisely the same kind as that in the superficial deposit in Kent's Hole.

In a word, the evidence in favour of the interment in Aurignac being of a later date than the occupation seems to me to be overwhelming, and it does not afford the slightest ground for any hypothesis as to the belief of palaeolithic men in the supernatural. On that point, up to the present time, modern discovery is silent, and negative testimony is valueless. W. BOYD DAWKINS

DAYLIGHT AURORAS

WE have published several letters lately on this subject,

in some of which doubts are suggested as to the reality of the phenomenon. The following extracts from a paper which we have received from Mr. Glaisher, will put the matter to rest :

The Aurora of Feburary 12, appearing in Daylight.

The accounts of aurora appearing by daylight are very few indeed, yet the following reports made by two of the observers in the magnetic department of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, who called my attention to the appearance of the sky and to the fixity of the arch, as well as to the apparent avoidance by the clouds of the clear space, together with the disturbed state of the magnetic elements at the time, seem to decide that the appearances were really due to an aurora appearing by daylight.

At times

"Mr. Wright says that at about noon the clouds in the north began to break, and soon after an almost perfect arch of clear sky, with its apex in the magnetic meridian, was visible. This space of clear sky kept its shape more or less perfect for more than an hour-a remarkable fact, as the clouds in the remaining portion of the sky were being driven rapidly across by a strong N.E. wind. The clouds immediately above the top of the arch seemed to be charged with electricity, the edges assuming the ragged appearance common to thunder-clouds. these clouds were slightly tinged with a reddish colour. About o 45 P.M., a very remarkable cloud of a reddishbrown colour passed slowly across the clear space from E, to W., being apparently much nearer to the observer than the ordinary clouds. Apart from the ordinary motion of the clouds from N.E. to S.W., caused by the wind, there seemed to be an apparent vibratory motion from E. to W. "Mr. Marriott says:-'About noon the clouds in the north began to break, and shortly after, there was a perfectly clear space of blue sky in the form of an arch, the apex of the arch being in the magnetic meridian. At the circumference of the arch were very fine cumulus clouds, the edges of which were tinged with a reddish colour; and along the whole of the north horizon there stretched

a bank of cumulus clouds to the altitude of 10° or 15°. At about oh 20m, just below the apex of the arch, I observed something like steam shooting up and moving from east to west; this, I imagine, is what streamers would be like in the daytime. At oh 45m a small cloud of a brick-red colour traversed the clear space; a few other clouds which passed over at the same time were not tinged. The arch was very well defined for about an hour or an hour and a half; and although the wind was blowing a gale from the north-east, and the clouds passing rapidly over the other portions of the sky, this space was not encroached upon by clouds. The altitude of the arch was about 50°, and the point at which the supposed streamers first appeared was about 7° below the apex. I also observed auroral light at night. "On the 11th day and till 6h 35m P.M. the movements of the several magnets were those of the ordinary diurnal changes, and at this time the western declination was 19° 55'. At 6h 40m a sudden disturbance began; the declination decreased 19' by 7h 19m, then increased to 19° 56′ by 8h; at 8h 12 it was 19° 47′, increased to 20° 4' by 8h 29, was 19° 45′ at 9h 11m, was 20° 6' by 9h 58m P.M., then there were several small movements of 3 or 4' both to the east and to the west; at 11h 30m the declination was 19° 58', and by midnight had increased to 20° 12'.

"The magnet still continued to move through small arcs, but gradually decreasing to 4h 10m A M. on the 12th. to 19° 47'; then there were frequent changes of position, but such that the declination generally increased, and was 20° 3' at 8h 45m A.M.; by 10h 40m it decreased to 19° 55'.

"There were frequent movements of the magnets between this time and till after noon. On the 12th day, at oh 30 P.M, the declination was 20° 12', at oh 45m it was 20° 3'; this movement of the magnet towards the east is remarkable as having taken place immediately before the passage of the reddish-coloured cloud from east to west across the clear space of sky, and attained its maximum at about the time of the passage of the cloud. The movement of this cloud was not that of all other clouds, viz. from N.E. to S.W., and it would seem to be of auroral origin.

Authentic instances of auroral displays by daylight are very few.

"The first instance I can find is recorded at p. 189, vol. ii. of the 'Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy,' from which the following extract is made :

"An account of an Aurora Borealis seen in full Sunshine. By the Rev. Henry Ussher, D.D., F.R.S., and M.R.I.A.

"On Saturday night, May 24, 1788, there was a very bright aurora borealis, the coruscating rays of which united, as usual, in the pole of the dipping-needle. The next morning, about 11, finding the stars flutter much, I examined the state of the sky, and saw whitish rays ascending from every part of the horizon, all tending to the pole of the dipping-needle, where at their union they formed a small thin and white canopy, similar to the luminous one exhibited by an aurora in the night. These rays coruscated or shivered from the horizon to their point of union.'

"The only other account is extracted from the 5th vol. of the Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh,' and is as follows :—

666

"An account of an Aurora Borealis observed in daylight at Aberfoyle, in Perthshire, on the 10th of February, 1799. By Patrick Graham, D.D., minister of Aberfoyle.

"On the 10th of February, 1799, about half an hour past 3 o'clock P.M., the sun being then a full hour above the horizon, and shining with an obscure lustre through a leaden-coloured atmosphere, I observed,' says Dr. Graham, 'the rare phenomenon of an aurora borealis by daylight. The weather for several days before had been intensely cold, and during the two preceding days much snow had fallen. On this day a thaw had come on, and the temperature of the air was mild. The general aspect of the

sky was serene. Some dark clouds hung on the horizon between S.W. and W. I was intensely observing a large halo about the sun, of about 20° in semi-diameter. It exhibited the prismatic colours, though obscurely, except in one quarter, where it coincided with the skirt of a dark cloud on the horizon, almost directly west. In that portion of the halo the colours of the iris were very distinctly exhibited.

"Whilst I was attending to this appearance, the whole visible hemisphere of the heavens became covered with a light palish vapour, as I at first imagined it to be. It was disposed in longitudinal streaks, extending from the west, by the zenith, and all along the sky towards the east. On examining this appearance more narrowly, I found it to be a true aurora borealis, with all the characters which distinguish that meteor when seen by night, excepting that it was now entirely pale and colourless. The stream of electric matter issued very peceptibly from the cloud in the west, on the skirts of which the halo exhibited the prismatic colours; thence diffusing themselves, the rays converged towards the zenith, and diverged again towards every quarter of the horizon; and the coruscations were equally instantaneous, and as distinctly perceptible as they are by night.

"This appearance continued for more than twenty minutes, when it gradually vanished, giving place to thin scattered vapours, which, towards sunset, began to overspread the sky. Through the ensuing night, I could not discern the smallest trace of these meteors in the sky.""

NOTES

OUR readers will learn from another column that an appeal is about to be made to Government to aid another Eclipse Expedition, this time a very small one. Seeing that another so favourable opportunity will not occur for some time, it is to be hoped that the Government will respond to the call, and deserve as hearty thanks from all lovers of scientific progress as it earned for its efforts last year.

THE American Association for the Advancement of Science will be opened at Indianopolis, Indiana, on August 17. The president for this meeting is Prof. Asa Gray.

It is with great regret that we have to record the death of Mr. Alexander Keith Johnston, LL.D., to whose eminent services in the promotion of meteorological and physico-geographical science we had occasion to refer but a few weeks since on the occasion of the medal awarded him by the Royal Geographical Society. Dr. Johnston was president-elect of the geographical section of the British Association at its approaching meeting at Edinburgh. He died on Sunday last, at Ben Rhydding, in Yorkshire.

THE Natural History Society of Montreal, with the aid of the Government of Canada, is sending an expedition to dredge in the deeper parts of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The Hon. Mr. Mitchell, Minister of Marine and Fisheries, has taken much interest in the matter, and has placed the government schooner La Canadienne at the disposal of the party. The gentlemen selected are Mr. Whiteaves, F.G.S., secretary of the Society, and Mr. G. F. Kennedy, B. A. Principal Dawson, the president of the Society, sends the latter gentleman on behalf of the museum of M'Gill University. It is hoped that the deepest parts of the gulf will be searched, and that much interesting information will be obtained, bearing both on zoological and geological questions, and also on the prosecution of the fisheries.

MR. W. S. ALDIS, of Trinity College, Cambridge, Senior Wrangler in 1861, has been appointed Professor of Mathematics at the College of Physical Science at Newcastle-on-Tyne.

WE are enabled to state that the scheme proposed for the institution of the Sharpey Scholarship at University College, London, has been adopted by the Council. Its principal features are that the scholarship may be held for three or a greater num

ber of years, and that the holder of it shall act as an assistant to the Professor of Practical Physiology, having opportunities afforded to him of pursuing original investigations, and having the right to use the laboratory and its apparatus for that purpose.

THE Brown Institution which has just been founded by the University of London, will comprise, in addition to a hospital for the treatment of animals, a laboratory for the study of pathology on the model of the Pathological Institutes of Germany, which have been already described in these columns. In this laboratory those who desire to learn the methods of exact research, or, after having learnt them, to carry out pathological or therapeutical investigations of their own, will have the opportunity of doing so under the guidance of the new Brown Professor, Dr. Burdon Sanderson. As we before announced, Dr. E. Klein, of Vienna, is expected to have the direction of the microscopical work of the laboratory, for which his numerous researches show him to be so pre-eminently fitted.

We have to record the death of Mr. George Tate, of Alnwick, Hon. Secretary of the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club, which took place on June 7, at the age of 66. His treatises on the archæology of his native borough and county entitle him to take rank among the best of local historians; and his articles on Archæology and Geology, published in the "Transactions of the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club," show powers of observation and clear habits of thought of no ordinary kind.

A REPORT on the progress and condition of the Royal Gardens at Kew during the year 1870 has just been issued by the director, Dr. J. D. Hooker. The number of visitors was not quite so large in 1870 as in 1869. The improvements in the laying out of the grounds of the Botanic Gardens, which have been in progress for the last five years, are now nearly brought to a close. The pleasure grounds have suffered severely from the long and severe drought of last summer, acting on the excessively poor natural soil; very large numbers of trees have perished, especially the older elms, ashes, beeches, and sycamores. These are being replaced, and preparations have been made for the formation of the new Pinetum, which will be immediately commenced. Notwithstanding the rage for planting Conifers which has prevailed in England for many years, and which has almost supplanted the growth of hardy deciduous trees, no complete public, arranged, and named collection of hardy conifers exists in this country. The interchange of living plants and seeds with foreign and colonial botanic gardens has been vigorously prosecuted, especial attention having been paid to the promotion of the growth of the cinchona, and the introduction of the ipecacuanha into our Indian possessions. The museums, herbarium, and library have been enriched by numerous purchases and dona

tions.

AT a recent meeting of the Scientific Committee of the Horticultural Society, Mr. Andrew Murray read a paper on the blight of plants, in which he combated the ordinary theory that the lower forms of vegetable organisms, which constitute ordinary blight, are developed from germs existing in the plant or floating in the air. The extraordinary rapidity of their propagation, frequently after a few hours' east wind, when no trace of them has been visible for many months, the prodigious numbers in which they appear, and the great variety of species developed sometimes on the same plant, and other considerations, have led him to the conclusion that these lowly organised fungi are evolved out of previously-existing organic materials, without the intervention of a germ, by the process erroneously called spontaneous generation.

A VERY interesting collection of paintings is now on view at the Langham Hotel, Portland Place, being delineations of Arctic scenery, by Mr. William Bradford, of New York. In company with Dr. J. D. Hayes, Mr. Bradford spent four months of the

summer of 1869 in an expedition to the coasts of Labrador, Greenland, Melville Bay, &c., for the express purpose of studying the pictorial effects of Arctic scenery. A very large number of photographs were taken, as well as many sketches, from which the finished paintings were afterwards completed. The collection is, therefore, unique of its kind. Among the most striking of the paintings is one representing sunset among the icebergs.

THE Geologists' Association organised excursions of its members to Ilford on the 17th of June, and to Riddlesdown on the 1st of July. In the former the chief objects of attraction were the famous mammaliferous brick-pits of Ilford, to which Mr. Henry Woodward acted as cicerone. Mr. Woodward and Mr. Searles V. Wood consider the Ilford beds to be older than those at Grays. The distribution of the fossils is remarkably different; Elephas primigenius, for instance, being the common species at Ilford, and E. antiquus at Grays. The party were afterwards kindly invited by Sir Antonio Brady to inspect his magnificent collection of mammalian remains. The excursion to Riddlesdown gave a good opportunity for examining the sections of the Upper Chalk, and the sequence of the formations of the Cretaceous system. This was the last excursion of the season.

It

THE "Working Men's Club and Institute Union" has just issued a paper recommending the establishment of classes at each institution for the study of one or more of such branches of Natural History as Botany, Geology, and Entomology, according to the circumstances of the several localities. is propo-ed that these classes shall on Saturday afternoons sally forth into the fields and woods for the collection of speci mens illustrating the particular subjects of their studies. With the view of encouraging such pursuits, a member of the Council of the Union offers two prizes of three and two guineas respectively to the best collection made during the present season by members of workmen's clubs. It is hoped that this suggestion may lead to the formation of museums of natural history at the clubs-the contents being collected and arranged by the members. The adoption of such pursuits in leisure hours will not only be productive of much mutual enjoyment to the working people of this coun ry, but afford a powerful argument for the more general adoption of the Saturday half-holiday by employers.

College; Haileybury College; Harrow; Hurstpierpoint ; Liverpool College; Liverpool Institute. London: Charter House; Christ's Hospital; City of London School; King's College School; St. Paul's; University College School; Westminster School; Royal Naval School, New Cross. Manchester School; Marlborough College; University School, Nottingham; Repton; Rossall; Rugby; King's School, Sherborne; Shoreham; Shrewsbury; Stonyhurst College, Blackburn; Uppingham School; Wellington College; Winchester School. Scotch Schools Aberdeen Grammar School; Edinburgh Academy; Edinburgh High School; Glasgow High School. Irish Schools: Royal Academical Institute, Belfast; Dungannon Royal School; Ennis College; Portora Royal School, Enniskillen; Foyle College, Londonderry; Rathfarnham, St. Columba's College.

THE part of the "Proceedings of the Geologists' Association" just published contains an interesting article by Mr. H. Wood. ward "On Volcanoes," and reports of the excursions made during 1870.

THE last number of Petermann's "Mittheilungen" contains an admirable physical map of the region covered by Hayward's journey from Leh to Kaschgar in 1868-69.

UNDER the title "The Geographical Distribution of Seagrasses," Dr. P. Ascherson gives an account in Petermann's "Mittheilungen," of the distribution of the phænogamous plants native to sea-water. Of these he enumerates twenty-two, belonging to eight genera, and two natural orders. The area of each species is generally very limited, its distribution being dependent on the present condition of the sea in which it is found. Those which grow in temperate regions are frequently represented by closely allied species in tropical seas. Although the Isthmus of Suez is of comparatively modern geological date, the nine species of the Red Sea are entirely distinct from the four species of the Mediterranean, and, with one exception, belong to different genera. A map accompanies the paper.

We have on our table the Astronomical Register for June, and have much pleasure in calling the attention of astronomers to this magazine, which is rapidly improving in usefulness.

THE December number of the Canadian Entomologist concludes the second volume. It is intended to be increased on the commencement of the third volume, without any correspond

THE Leicester Literary and Philosophical Society has recently ing increase of subscription, to twenty pages each number, and

revived its old custom of instituting geological excursions to some of the many objects of interest in the county. One of these took place last month under the guidance of the veteran geologist, Mr. J. Plant, and was an eminently successful one.

THE Liverpool Naturalists' Field Club has issued its Report of Proceedings for the Session 1870-71. The address of the president, the Rev. H. H. Higgins, refers chiefly to the interesting paleontological discoveries made during the last two years in the neighbourhood of Liverpool, and is illustrated by a plate of fossils from the Ravenhead Collection in the Free Public Museum. An epitome is given of the results of each of the summer excursions and of the papers read at the evening meetings, including one on the microscopic structure of the plants of the Coal Measures, by Prof. Williamson. A unique feature of this Society is that at each Field Meeting five prizes are competed for, for the best flowers gathered or collected during the excursion. We are glad to see the Report published at so low a price as one shilling, or to members, sixpence, and commend this laudable practice to the notice of other similar societies.

The following schools have been invited by the Royal Geographical Society to take part in the competition for prize medals for the ensuing year :-English Schools: St. Peter's College, Radley, Abingdon; King Edward's School, Birmingham; Brighton College; Cathedral Grammar School, Chester; Cheltenham College; Clifton College; Dulwich College; Eton

will remain under the editorship of the Rev. C. J. S. Bethune.

THE volume of lectures delivered at the Industrial and Technological Museum, Melbourne, during the spring session of 1870, shows great activity in scientific matters in Victoria. Among the subjects discussed are the Circulation of the Blood, the Conservation of Energy, the Application of Phytology to the Industrial Purposes of Life, Chemistry applied to Manufactures and Agriculture, the Preservation of Food, the common Uses of Astronomy, and On Methods of Diffusing Technological Knowledge.

WE have before us the number for May of the "Journal of the Franklin Institute," containing several valuable articles. We may notice in particular the continuation of a series on "Iron Manufactures in Great Britain," by Mr. R. H. Thurston, and "A Method of Fixing, Photographing, and Exhibiting the Magnetic Spectra," by Dr. A. M. Mayer.

We have received the first volume of an important continental flora, "Flora der preussischen Rheinlande," by Dr. P. H. Wirtgen, including as far as the end of thalamiflora. Descriptions of each species are given, with physiological and morphological annotations, and a copious list of localities of the less abundant species. Independently of its scientific value, the book will be very useful to the numerous summer visitors to that district.

A NEW port has been opened in Southern Chile in the Depart

ment of Constitucion. It is called Curanipe, and it appears that already the population is 1,186, and the tonnage in and out 7,867 in 1870.

On May 11 two distinct shocks of earthquake were felt at Peshawur, in India.

On May 22 an earthquake was felt at Landour, Meerut, Agra, and Nynee Tal. At the latter place it was severe. An earthquake was felt at Hayti on May 30.

ON June 16 a severe storm assailed Constantinople. During its he ght three waterspouts swept across different parts of the Bosphorus in great volume and with unusual fury. By one of them a caique was destroyed. The lightning struck the light ning-conductor on the great Gulata Tower in Pera, and also the wire at the Observatory connecting it with the arsenal at Tophaneh. On the other side of the Bosphorus, at Scutari, a house was struck.

A REPORT has been published in the Hong Kong press of March 25 by Captain Frost, of the Noord Brabant. He says he sighted Tinakoro, or Volcano Island, one of the Santa Cruz group, in lat. 10, 23 S., 155 long. E., and lay becalmed there five days. The island is a cone of perfect symmetry, resting on a base of three miles in circumference, and, except about the base, destitute of vegetation. The volcano, estimated to be about 2,500 feet high, was in constant activity, presenting the appearunce of a great flame vent. Captain Frost denies the description of Captain Wilson, of the Duff, that there are several low islands there, at least on its south and west quarters, about seventeen miles off.

an

A REPORT has been sent in by the Governor of the Province of Leon in Ecuador as to the condition of the volcanic region of Cotopaxi in his province. He states that the principal moun tains which stand forth in the great circle formed by the two branches of the Andes are Cotopaxi, Quillindana, Puchalagua, and the Calpon. Of these Cotopaxi alone is known as a volcano, which a ter many years of inaction became active in June 1851. These eruptions continued and became gradually weaker until 1867, when they ceased. In 1868 subterranean noises were again heard, and a slender column of smoke appeared. In May 1868 there were some earthquakes, which ruined Palate and Pelileo. In July 1869 noises were again heard and awful flood took place, but without earthquakes and subterranean noises. Abundant fountains of water burst forth, hundreds of immense rocks were rent and thrown down, and the rivers were flooded. The Governor, who was at the time in the Cordillera, considers that the landslides were not owing to the action of water, but rather to a pressure upward from below, as if from accumulated gases seeking an exit. The most curious effect reported by him is a variation in the climate. Many plants, such as the sura, flowere, which had not done so before. After this premature ripening the surales all closed up again, and have not revived. After this event it was noticed the sugar cane could be cut in twenty-four months instead of thirty. At present Cotopaxi is inactive, but its condition is looked upon

with dread.

FROM the Australasian of April 22, we learn that Mr. Russell, the Government astronomer at Sydney, has visited Deniliquin and picked up there something which astonished him, in the shape of the greater portion of a meteoric stone which fell some years ago at Barratta, thirty-five miles below Deniliquin. The stone (Mr. Ru-sell secured about one-half of it, weighing about 150 b.) was originally about 300lb. in weight, but has been broken, and parts of it given away as curio ities. Mr. Russell made provision for despatching the stone to the Sydney Museum.

SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE FROM
AMERICA *

AT a recent meeting of the New York Lyceum of Natural History, Professor D. S. Martin described the remarkable deposit of magnetic iron at Cornwall, Pennsylvania, and exhibited the group of minerals found in connection with the iron. The ore is a soft, often pulverulent magnetite, associated with copper, and often pyrites. It is found in three hills which owe their relief to the erosion of their surroundings, and are composed mainly of iron ore embraced between walls of trap, the whole mass lying at the junction of the Triassic red sandstone and older metamorphic series. The yield of the Cornwall mines is 160,000 tons per annum. Prof. Martin exhibited beautiful specimens of allophane, brochantite, and other minerals collected at Cornwall. lignites from the Far West, with ultimate analyses of each. He -Prof. Newberry, at the same meeting, exhibited a series of said these modern coals were the only mineral fuels found west of Omah. The Los Brances (Sonora) coal is Triassic anthracite, Most of the New Mexico and Arizona coals are Cretaceous, the beds sometimes thirty feet in thickness. The Placer Mountain coal is a Cretaceous anthracite. The coal of Colorado is both Cretaceous and Tertiary; the coal of Mount Diabolo, California, is Cretaceous; and that of Vancouver Island, Coose Bay coal, is Tertiary. Alaska furnishes some of the best Western coal-1 Tertiary lignite. A Cretaceous anthracite found in Queen Charlotte's Island is nearly as good as that of Pennsylvania. All these anthracites are caused by volcanic action baking lignites. The calorific power of the Western coals is generally greatly im pared by the large percentage (ten to twenty per cent. each) of oxygen and water they contain. The average Western lignite has about half the heating power of our best coals. The gas and coke made of some of them, however, are excellent furnace fuels, though they are generally worthless.-Prof. Davidson, of the United States Coast Survey, his lately devisel an apparatus for recording the temperature at different depths by means of an electro thermal pile. He proposes to register the depth by breaking the circuit of an electric current passing through two insulated wires in the sounding line at about every one hundred fathoms by means of the wheel-work of the Massey or similar apparatus. In the changes of temperature an electro-thermal pile eighteen inches long, insulated, surrounded by a non-conductor except at one end, is used in combination with a Thomp son's reflecting galvanometer, not liable to derangement on ship. board. At every one hundred fathoms, when the chronograph registers the depth, the observer notices the readings of the gal vanometer, which readings are reduced to Fahrenheit degrees. -One of the most original and important contributions to the zology of the day is that constituting the third number of the Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Cambridge, treating upon the mammals and winter birds of East Florida. The author, Mr. J. A. Allen, an assistant of Prof. Agassiz, is well known for the thoroughness of his research into the vertebra a of America, and the critical attention paid by him to the proper limitation of species, both in their relationships to each other, and in their geographical distribution. In the present work he gives a summary of the views to which he has bee led within a few years past by his studies of the immense collection in the Cambridge Museum, and makes numerous important generalisations. Among these he corroborates the conclusion previously announced by others, of the diminution in size of the American birds in proportion as their birthplace is more southern, and also that there is a similar difference existing between the animals of the higher and lower altitudes. He also finds that with the more sou hern locality of summer abode there are corresponding differences in colour and proportion, as well as in habits, notes, and song, the vivacity of the bird decreasing as its size increases. The principal difference in colour with the more southern localities consists in the darker tints and the reduced extent of any white markings, with other features that our space will not permit us to give at the present time. The entire work is one eminently worthy of careful study, and is destined to exercise a very important influence upon the methods of zoological research. Late advices leave Ogden, Utah, on June 9 for Virginia City and Fort from Prof. Hayden's expedition announced that he was to Ellis, in Montana, a distance of about 430 miles, with the special object of proceeding from the last-mentioned place to the explo ration of the Yellow Stone Lake and its immediate vicinity. It * Contributed by the Scientific Editor of Harper's Weekly.

is an interesting fact that the head waters of tributaries of the Columbia, the Colorado, the Missouri, and the Yellow Stone rivers rise within a short distance of each other in this mysterious region; which, in addition, is characterised by the extraordinary development of hot springs, spouting geysers, mud volcanoes, extensive beds of sulphur, gypsum, the silicates, &c. The party, as at present organised, embraces thirty-two persons, including specialists in all branches of science, and accompanied by several artists, who take advantage of Dr. Hayden's protection to visit the interesting region referred to. The party carries materials for a boat, which is to be launched on the Yellow Stone Lake, and used in a thorough hydrographical and topographical survey of it. As the expedition will probably remain in that vicinity during the summer, we may hope for a complete solution of all the remaining questions in regard to its physical features and natural history. A competent photographer with the expedition expects to make instantaneous views of the spouting geysers, so as to enable those who cannot visit the locality to have a correct idea of their character. A company of cavalry will escort the expedition into the Yellow Stone Lake region, although no trouble from the Indians is anticipated. In the course of the journey from Ogden to Fort Ellis it is proposed to make an accurate map of a belt fifty miles wide, so as to furnish a basis for reference in subsequent explorations.— In the monthly report of the Department of Agriculture for March and April of the pres nt year, we find a valuable paper upon the cultivation of the Cinchona in Jamaica, by Dr. C. C. Parry, the botanist of the Department, who accompanied the San Domingo Investigating Committee, and in returning spent some time in Jamaica. As the general result of his inquiries in regard to the cultivation of this plant, and the possibility of introducing it into any portion of the United States, he states, first, that the peculiar conditions of soil and climate suitable for the growth of the best varieties of cinchona plants cannot be found within the present limits of the United States, where no suitable elevations possessing an equable, moist, cool climate, free from frost, can be met with; second, that the island of San Domingo, located within the tropics, and traversed by extensive mountain ranges attaining elevations of over 6000 feet above the sea, presents a larger scope of country especially adapted to the growth of cinchonas than any other insular region in the western hemisphere; third, that the existence of successful cinchona plantations in Jamaica within two days' sail from San Domingo, would afford the material for stocking new plantations in the latter island at the least possible expense of time and labour.--In a recent communication to the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, by Prof. Leidy, attention was invited to certain teeth of fossil mammals, forwarded to him for examination by Prof. Whitney. One of these was a fragment belonging to the Mastodon americanus, obtained from a depth of eighty feet beneath the basaltic lava of Table Mountain, Tuolumne County, California, where it was found associated with the remains of human art. There was also a molar of a large fossil horse, found sixteen feet below the surface on Gordon Gulch. Two other teeth, somewhat similar in character, were determined as belonging to the species of Protohippus. In other specimens Dr. Leidy found evidences of the existence of a gigantic animal of the camel tribe, allied to the llama.

I

CORRESPONDENCE OF NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN AURORÆ

TAKE the liberty of sending you a paper containing corresponding observations of Aurora Borealis and Australis, with the request to insert them in your valuable journal.

Corresponding Observations of Aurora Polaris, made in

the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. In the years 1859-65 I kept up a correspondence with the active director of the Flagstaff Observatory at Melbourne, (Australia), Mr. George Neumayer, in order to make observations concerning the contemporaneous appearance of aurora polaris in the northern and southern hemispheres.*

⚫ See Results of the magnetical, nautical, and meteorological observations made at the Flag staff Observatory, Me bourne, and at various stations in the colony of Victoria, Melbourne, 1860 Heis," Wochenschrift für Astronomie und Meteorologie," 1859, 1860, 1861, 1863, 1865.

Some years since, when Dr. Neumayer returned to his native country, this correspondence was interrupted. But the numerous appearances of aurora borealis which occurred last year, induced me to recommence this correspondence with the present director of the same establishment, Mr. C. Moerlin. Sending him a list of all the appearances of aurora borealis and magnetical disturbances in the year 1870 known to me, I begged him to favour me with the corresponding observations viewed by him. I subjoin the answer of Mr. Moerlin.

I received your letter of December 2, 1870, and in reply shall be most happy to comply with your request, of informing you periodically of the occurrence of the aurora australis, and of magnetic disturbances observed here.

To this end I have made out a list, which is enclosed, of auroræ observed since January 1, 1870, containing the dates and times (Melbourne mean time) of their occurrence, from which it appears that at most of the dates you mention in your letter, as having observed the aurora borealis, the aurora australis has been observed here. The greatest magnetic disturbances occurred on April 5 and October 25; on the latter day the disturbances continued during two days; the minimum of easterly declination occurred about 5 A. M. on the 26th, and the maximum about 6 A. M. on the same day, the range being 51′ of arc, with corresponding dis:urbances in the other two elements. Unfortunately the sky was completely overcast during the night, with a slight break only at midnight, when the display was very beautiful, but visible only for a few minutes; but during the evening of the 25th an intense, but ever varying, luminosity only of the whole southern sky was the sole indication of aurora.

I would remark that at all the dates on which aurora were observed, magnetic disturbances invariably took place of a greater or less extent; but disturbances occurred also at other times, of the very same nature as took place generally during aurora displays, on which, however, no aurora were observed. These dates I give you enclosed also, separately, as these may be of interest to you in connection with the possible occurrences of the aurora borealis on one or the other of those dates.

I shall continue from this date to send you periodical notice of the occurrence of the aurora australis and magnetic disturbances at Melbourne, and shall be happy to furnish any information respecting physical phenomena, which you may desire, and I may be able to give. C. MOERLIN

Melbourne Observatory, Feb. 7

Date and time of occurrence of the Aurora Australis observed at Melbourne during the period from January 1, 1870, to February 21, 1871, during which, at the same time, great disturbances in the magnetic elements generally took place. LAT. 37° 49′ 53'5" S. LONG. 9h 39m 54.8 E. 1870, January 8.-During the evening the aurora was seen at Adelaide, South Australia, as reported by Mr. Food, Superintendent of Electric Telegraph.

February 1-A fine display between 8 and 10 P.M.; shortly after nine some magnificent streamers.

April 5-Became visible shortly after 7h P.M., and lasted all through the evening and night. The display at times was most brilliant, particularly at 10h 30m P.M., and again at 12h 30. Slight disturbances in the magnetic elements occurred during the afternoon, which increased shortly before 7 P.M. At 10h 45m P.M. a rapid decrease of easterly declination and increase of horizontal force took place, which lasted until a few minutes before 11h P.M., when both elements as rapidly returned to their former state. Comparatively slight disturbances until 12h 30m, when a similar movement to the above mentioned took place, but to a smaller extent. The minimum of easterly declination took place a few minutes before 11h P.M., and the maximum at 10 minutes before 6h A.M. on the 6th, and the range of the disturbance amounted to about 54' of arc, while the range in the horizontal force was oo6273 of the absolute (English) unit, =0'02892 Continental unit.

May 20.-Faint display, most distinct at 10h 30m P.M. August 22.-At 6h 40m P.M. some fine streamers visible, but not for long.

September 21.--Visible from about 6h to 8h P.M., but not

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