(almost half as thick as it is wide), the second volume of the Report on the United States and Mexican Survey by Col. Emory, and it must be ranked as the most important publication of the kind that has ever appeared. Dr. Parry's interesting Introduction is brief. Dr. Torrey's systematic account of the general botany extends to p. 270, and is illustrated by 61 plates, most of them well-chosen as to the subject, and all admirably drawn by Riocreux, Sprague, and a few by Hochstein. Dr. Engelmann's important memoir on the Cactace occupies 78 pages of letter-press and is adorned by 75 plates of surpassing excellence. This and its counterpart, the Cactaceae of the Expedition under Lieut. Whipple (of which Dr. J. M. Bigelow was the botanist), published in the fourth volume of the Explorations and Surveys for a Pacific Railroad Route, and illustrated by 24 plates, elucidate a large, peculiar, and most characteristic order of our wide south-western regions in a manner which must command universal admiration, and must assign to the author a high rank among the systematic botanists of our day. The general Botany of the same expedition, by Dr. Torrey, founded upon one of the best collections ever made in such a journey, and illustrated by 25 plates, is worthy of equal praise. But all these memoirs are sadly marred by typographical errors. A government printing office is not well adapted for this sort of work, and proof-reading from a distance seems to be ineffectual. The zoological reports are much better printed, doubtless, because the author on the spot could insist upon a sufficient revision of his proofs, and see that his corrections were attended to. The disfigurements which we notice in these are prepense, and are caused by the depraved taste which writes the names of people with a small, instead of a capital initial letter; e. g. edwardsii, clarkii, ordii, henryi, and so on, usque ad nauseum. Though why they should be so decapitated when genitives after a generic name, although honored with a capital initial when they follow a specific name, passes ordinary comprehension. Consistency would seem to require uniformity like this: Chordeiles henryi, baird. Returning to the Botany, with which alone we are at present concerned, we remark that it would have been most convenient and acceptable to botanists to have cited the numbers of Wright's distributed collections throughout, and also, as far as possible those of Fendler, Lindheimer, and of Berlandier's posthumous distribution. A systematic catalogue of all the plants enumerated and described in these various Western Expeditions, or rather a complete catalogue of the species of the United States west of the 100th parallel of longitude, including those of the Mexican border, is now very much wanted. A. G. 6. Catalogue of the Phonogamous and Acrogenous Plants contained in Gray's Manual of the Botany of the Northern United States, adapted for marking desiderata in exchanges of specimens, etc. New York: Ivison & Phinney. 1859.-A help of this sort in making exchanges has often been asked for, and the enterprising publishers of Gray's Manual have responded to the demand by publishing, at a low price, this neat Catalogue, for which good office they deserve the best thanks of our scattered botanists. The species are numbered consecutively, from No. 1, Atragene Americana to 2421, Azolla Caroliniana. The list, in double columns, fills thirty-two pages of the same size as those of the Manual itself. A cent stamp will pay the postage of the pamphlet to any part of the United States; and the sender has only to indicate to his distant correspondent, by marking or by copying the numbers, the species which he desires to receive or is able to furnish. Moreover, the names of the orders, which are printed in bold type, and even those of the genera, may serve another useful purpose: they may be cut out and used for labels in the herbarium. IV. MISCELLANEOUS SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE. A. G. 1. The Thirteenth Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science was held August 3-9, 1859, at the City Hall in Springfield, Massachusetts.-The Springfield meeting of the American Association passed off with decided success; the greatest harmony and good feeling prevailed. A large gathering of members from all parts of the United States and Canada and foreign countries enjoyed the graceful hospitalities of one of the most beautiful cities in New England. The number of members in attendance was estimated to be about five hundred. The weather throughout was as fine as possible, and the excursion to Amherst College under the escort of the venerable and distinguished Dr. Hitchcock, was an occasion long to be remembered as one of the golden days of life. Members seemed lost in admiration of the romantic loveliness of the scenery surrounding the College, and in the unexpected extent, richness, and high condition of the scientific collections, unequalled certainly by those of any other college in the United States. Here Dr. Hitchcock has built up a lasting monument of his original labors in the curious department of foot-marks on the Connecticut sandstone. This vast collection, vast both in the numbers and magnitude of its specimens, is now preserved in "Appleton Hall," a new building erected specially for its accommodation, and on the ground floor of which these curious records of lost races once denizens of this lovely valley are spread out to the inspection of visitors. No one can form an adequate notion of the interest of these remarkable collections without a personal inspection. Whatever the Black stone of Mecca may prove to be, meteorite or porphyry, the scientific pilgrim to Amherst will be rewarded by an inspection of the largest and most important collection of meteoric specimens in the world, excepting that of the Imperial Museum of Vienna. By the untiring exertions of Prof. Shepard, 124 meteoric discharges are here represented, in choice and unblemished specimens. The Vienna cabinet is stated in Mr. Haidinger's paper of Jan. 7, 1859, to contain 137 localities. The mineralogical collection of Prof. Shepard at Amherst is worthy of most particular notice. In the richness and splendor of its selections, the mineral species are nowhere in America and seldom anywhere so well represented. Choice specimens seem to have come to this celebrated collector's hands like the fabled fish of the wierd fisherman. Whatever was most rare or choice from any locality appears to have found no rest until it was safely placed on his shelves. No wonder then that amid such surroundings and with beauty and festive speech at the hospitable tables covered by the fair hands of Amherst ladies, the Association was beguiled to view the glories of a midsummer sunset over the picturesque ranges of the Northampton hills, or that they returned to Springfield late in the evening full of the praises of the day and its rich entertainments. We append a list of the officers of the Springfield meeting, and also of the papers registered. Officers of the Association, Springfield meeting.-President, Professor Stephen Alexander.- Vice President, Prof. Edward Hitchcock.-Permanent Secretary, Jos. Lovering.-General Secretary, Wm. Chauvenet.Standing Committee, Professors Stephen Alexander, Jeffries Wyman, William Chauvenet, Joseph Lovering, Edward Hitchcock, John E. Holbrook, A. L. Elwyn, Alexis Caswell, W. M. Gillespie, Benjamin Peirce, A. D. Bache, B. Silliman, Jr., Joseph Leconte, Wolcott Gibbs, J. W. Foster, Esq.-Local Committee, Hon. George Bliss, Chairman.-Dr. George A. Otis, Jr., Secretary. R. A. Chapman, Esq., Rev. Francis Tiffany, George M. Atwater, Capt. James Barnes, Samuel Bowles, Ansel Phelps, Jr., Esq., Hon. C. C. Chaffee, Chester W. Chapin, Col. J. M. Thompson, George Walker, Esq., John L. King, Gen. James S. Whitney, Ethan S. Chapin, Josiah Hooker, Esq., A. D. Briggs.-City Committee, Mayor William B. Calhoun; Aldermen Roger S. Moore and Horace Smith; Councilmen Gurdon C. Judson, Reuben T. Safford, Joshua M. Harrington, Walter North. List of papers registered for presentation to the Association.* 1. On the Origin of the Azoic Rocks of Michigan and Wisconsin; by Charles Whittlesey. 2. On the Drift Cavities, or "Potash Kettles" of Wisconsin; by C. Whittlesey. 3. General Account of the Results of the Discussion of the Declinometer Observations made at Girard College, Philadelphia, between the years 1840 and 1845, with special reference to the Eleven Years' Period; by A. D. Bache. 4. Distribution of Temperature in the Florida Channel and Straits; by A. D. Bache. 5. Comparison of the Amount and Frequency of Rain with different Winds on the Western Coast of the United States; by A. D. Bache. 6. Abstract of the principal results of the Observations of Temperature at Van Rensselaer Harbor, North Greenland, made by the second Grinnel Expedition under command of Dr. E. K. Kane, U. S. N., during the years 1853-4-5; presented by A. D. Bache, from a reduction and discussion by Charles A. Schott, assistant in the Coast Survey. 7. Abstract of the principal results of the Discussion of the Observations for the Direction and Force of the Wind at Van Rensselaer Harbor, North Greenland, made by the second Grinnel Expedition, under the command of Dr. E. K. Kane, U. S. N., in 1853-4-5; presented by A. D. Bache, from a reduction and discussion by Charles A. Schott, assistant in the U. S. Coast Survey. 8. Abstract of the principal results of the Discussion of the Observations for Atmospheric Pressure at Van Rensselaer Harbor, North Greenland, made by the second Grinnel Expedition under command of Dr. E. K. Kane, U. S. N., during the years 1853-4-5; presented by A. D. Bache, from a reduction and discussion by Charles A. Schott, assistant in the U. S. Coast Survey. 9. On the Occurrence of Pot Holes, (or pot-shaped excavations, caused by the gyration of pebbles,) formed by the Drift Agency; by Oliver Marcy. 10. On the marks of Ancient Glaciers, on the Green Mountain Range in Massachusetts and Vermont; by Charles H. Hitchcock. 11. Lake and Pond Ramparts in Vermont; by Charles H. Hitchcock. * The asterisk_prefixed indicate papers not read, and should probably be attached to some others not certainly known to the Editors. 12. On the so-called Talcose schist of Vermont; by Charles H. Hitchcock. 13. Dykes of Trachyte and Conglomerate in Shelburne, Vt.; by C. H. Hitchcock. 14. Conglomerate Syenite Porphyry and Granite in Vermont; by Charles H. Hitchcock. *15. On the Circulation of the Ocean; by Charles Wilkes. 16. Some Observations on Ozone; by John Brocklesby. 17. Contributions on the subject of Frozen Wells and Cold Springs; by John Brocklesby. 18. On cutting the Threads of Male and Female Screws, so that they shall commence and terminate at any desired points with precise uniformity and correspondence; by Cyrus Buckland. *19. A method for discharging the Leyden Jar, by employing an Imperfect Conductor; by C. B. Chapman. 20. Origin, Direction, and Progress of Storms in the United States, east of the Rocky Mountains; by Chester Dewey. 21. On the Mass of the Moon; by Stephen Alexander. 22. A question as to the Earth's Dimensions and Metre; by Stephen Alexander. 23. A brief note on Comets; by Stephen Alexander. 24. On the Harmonies and the Ancient History of the Solar System; by Stephen Alexander. 25. On the Common Origin of the Asteroids, and also of some of the Comets of short period; by Stephen Alexander. 26. On the Causes of the Variation of Temperature of the Seasons; by G. W. Burnap. 27. On the Theory of the Comet's Tail; by Benjamin Peirce. 28. On the History of the Investigation of the Physical Constitution of Comets; by Benjamin Peirce. 29. On the Personal Peculiarities of Astronomical Observers; by Benj. Peirce. 30. On the Possible Causes of the observed Geological Changes in the Earth's Temperature; by Benjamin Peirce. 31. On the Secular Perturbation of four of the Asteroids; by Simon Newcomb. 32. On the Mathematical Theory of Music; by T. H. Safford. 33. On the Determination of a Comet's Orbit; by T. H. Safford. 34. On a new method of investigating Plane Curves, with its application to Evolutes and Caustics; by William Watson. 35. On Meteorology; by Joseph Henry. 36. An Analysis of the Laws which determine the Action of the Centrifugal Governor; by Charles J. Porter. 37. The Indian Mode of bestowing and changing Names; by L. H. Morgan. 38. Researches on the Platinum Metals; by Wolcott Gibbs. 39. A Systematic Reference Catalogue of all the described North American Lepidoptera; by John G. Morris. 40. The complete Semicircle of the Zodiacal Light, as seen at night recently by various observers; by George Jones. 41. The occasional luminousness of the Atmosphere at night, as observed on the summit of the Andes; by George Jones. 42. On the European Storm of Dec. 25, 1836; by Elias Loomis. 43. On the alleged Lunar Origin of Aerolites; by B. A. Gould, Jr. 44. On the occurrence of bones and teeth in the lead-bearing crevices of the Northwest; by J. D. Whitney. 45. On certain Curves treated by new Coördinates; by Thomas Hill. 46. On the Scope and Method of Linguistic Science; by W. D. Whitney. 47. Certain Arts which distinguish Nations of the Eastern World from the Abo rigines of this Western Continent; by J. H. Gibbon. 48. Is Indian Corn (Zea Mays) a native of three continents, like Cotton and Tobacco by J. H. Gibbon. 49. Winds of the Southern Hemisphere; by James H. Coffin. 50. On the Hindu Astronomy; by W. D. Whitney. 51. On the Lasso-Cells of Polypi and Acalephæ; by H. J. Clark. 52. On the Facetted Eyes of Acalephæ, especially of Aurelia flavidula; by H. J. Clark. 53. On apparent equivocal Generation; by H. J. Clark. *54. On a supposed Meteorite of a new Chemical Constitution from North Carolina; by C. U. Shepard. *55. On an Examination of the Matter of a supposed Shooting Star that fell on the eve of November 16th, 1857, at Charleston, S. C.; by C. U. Shepard. 56. Vibrations in the Water-fall at Holyoke, Mass.; by E. S. Snell. 57. System of Consanguinity of the Red Race, and its relations to Ethnology; by Lewis H. Morgan. 58. On a Frozen Deposit of modified Drift in Brandon, Vermont; by Edward Hitchcock. 59. On the Conglomerate near Newport, R. I., with elongated pebbles and transverse joints; by Edward Hitchcock. 60. On a Deposit of Fossiliferous Limestone beneath Granite and Mica slate in Derby, Vermont; by Edward Hitchcock. 61. An attempt to prove that the younger Metamorphic Rocks have been in a plastic or semi-plastic state since their original consolidation; by E. Hitchcock. 62. On the Amount and Proofs of Erosion in Vermont, with special reference to Peaks of protrusive rocks; by Edward Hitchcock. 63. Recent Discoveries in the Devonian and Carboniferous Flora of British America; by J. W. Dawson. 64. The means of preventing the Alteration of Metallic Surfaces employed to close and break a voltaic circuit; by F. A. P. Barnard. 65. On the sudden Disappearance of the Ice of our Northern Lakes; by J. G. Totten. 66. On Nitride of Zirconium; by J. W. Mallet. 67. On the Atomic Weight of Lithium; by J. W. Mallet. 68. On Osmious Acid, and the position of Osmium among the Elements; by J. W. Mallet. 69. On the Vertical Planes in Bituminous and other Coals; by E. B. Andrews. 70. On the Terraces along the Rivers in Southern Ohio; by E. B. Andrews. *71. On the Zoomorphic Sandstone of the Connecticut Basin; by Joseph Barratt. *72. On the Discovery of a Creature (Kamdactylus sub-humanus), the Antetype of Man; by Joseph Barratt. 73. Ornithichnites; by Roswell Field. *74. On the Geometrical Construction of Curves of degrees higher than the second, having given multiple points; by H. A. Newton. 75. The Correlation of Physical, Chemical and Vital Forces, and the Conservation of Force in Vital Phenomena; by Joseph Leconte. 76. On the Formation of Continents and Oceans; by Joseph Leconte. 77. Observations on the Geology of the Rocky Mountains in the vicinity of Santa Fe, New Mexico; by William P. Blake. 78. Physical Constitution of Comets; by W. A. Norton. 79. On the alleged occurrence of Sand in Maple Sugar; by E. N. Horsford. 80. On the Source of Carbonate of Lime in Organic Structures occurring in Seawater; by E. N. Horsford.. 81. On some recent Determinations of the Carbonic Acid in the Waters of the Congress Springs of Saratoga; by William E. Hughes, presented by E. N. Horsford. *82. Some experiments made at the Lawrence Scientific School, on the heating powers of luminous and non-luminous Flames; by G. A. Gould, presented by E. N. Horsford. #83. On the Prevention of Fermentation in the Juices of Fruits, by means of Sulphite of Lime; by E. N. Hor-ford. 84. Theoretical Explanation of the similarity between the Flora of Northeastern Asia, and that of Eastern North America; by Asa Gray. 85. Note on the Discharge of Atmospheric Electricity through Gas Mains; by Benjamin Silliman, Jr. *86. On the application of Electric Conductors to Buildings; by L. F. Locke. 87. Remarks on the Restored Skeleton of the Fossil Whale of Charlotte, Vt.; by Edward Hitchcock, Jr. 88. On some applications of the principle of Relative Motion to the determination of the Areas of Closed Curves; by George Eastwood. |