Gould) is C. substriata (Gr.). Nucula tenuis of Gould is N. expansa Reeve, and not the tenuis of Europe. Leda tenuisulcata of Stimpson is L. pernula. Leda sapotilla is L. hyperborea Lovén (?) One new genus is described, Dacrydium, for a shell which is supposed to be the Modiola vitrea of Möller. It differs from it in its "dentes crenulati, antico tuberculiformi, postico elongato, cristis suffulti decurrentibus," etc. The occurrence of an Arca (Ă. glacialis) in so high a latitude is noteworthy.

W. S.

9. Videnskabelige Meddelelser fra den naturhistoriske Forening i Kjöbenhavn for Aaret 1858. With 2 plates. Copenhagen, 1859.-This number contains the following articles:-Plante Centroamericanæ ; A. S. Oersted. Ad Bryologiam Norvegicam annotationes aliquot; Th. Jen

sen.

Some remarks on the northern species of the genus Aega, and on the proper limits of the genus; C. Lütken. On Stegophilus insidiosus, a new fish from Brazil, and on its habits; J. Reinhardt. Description of a new species of Serolis, S. Schythei; C. Lütken. Annulata Oerstediana, etc.: Enumeration of the Annelides collected by Oersted and Kroyer in the West Indies and Central America; E. Grube. Description of the "Gallernosen" at Lolland; Kostrup. Supplement to my conspectus of the Danish Echinodermata and to my catalogue of the West Indian and Central American serpent-stars; C. Lütken. Winter-flora of Nice; C. Vaupell. On the dwelling of the true Cymothoc in the mouths of various fishes; C. Lütken. Proceedings of the scientific meetings of the Natural History Society in the year 1858.

are new.

W. S.

10. Bidrag till Kännedomen om Skandinaviens Amphipoda Gammaridea af R. M. BRUZELIUS. (Kong. Vet. Akad. Handl. 1858,) pp. 104 and 4 plates.-A most valuable contribution to our knowledge of that difficult order the Amphipoda. 77 species are described, of which 18 The new genera are Lætruatophilus (fam. Dulichida), Autonoe (fam. Corophidae), Eriopis (fam. Gammarida), Paramphithoe, for Amph. panopla, hystrix, bicuspis, etc., (why reject Amphithonotus Costa,) and Nicippe, near Pardalisca. Nineteen species are figured. The descriptions in Swedish are very elaborate, and a Latin character is given for each species.

III. ASTRONOMY.

W. S.

1. Supposed planet between Mercury and the Sun.-At a session of the French Academy of Sciences, Sept. 12, 1859, a paper by M. LeVerrier was read, giving the result of his researches undertaken in order to ascertain the cause of the discrepancies between the places of Mercury as determined by observation of its transits across the sun and as required by theory. He finds that by adding 38 seconds to the secular motion of the perihelion of Mercury, these observations will be represented within about one second. The cause of this disturbance he presumes to be either one planet or a group of small planets within the orbit of Mercury; and calls on observers to watch the sun's disc in order to detect the transit and also during total solar eclipses to scrutinize the vicinity of the sun.

NOTE. In this connection it may be worth while to state that there are already on record observations which make it highly probable that there exists an intra-Mercurial planet with a satellite. Wartmann reports

(Bibl. Univ. Avr. 1837, p. 409; Quetelet: Corr. Math. et Phys., Ang. 1837, p. 141) that Pastorff, of Buchholz, an attentive observer of the solar spots, saw twice in 1836 and once in 1837 two round black spots of unequal size, moving across the sun, changing their place rapidly, and pursuing each time routes somewhat different. He found that the two bodies observed Oct. 18, 1836, traversed an arc of 12' from 2h 20m to 3b 12m; that the two observed Nov. 1, from 2h 48m to 3h 42m traversed in this time an arc of 6', and that the two observed Feb. 16, 1837, traversed an arc of 14', between 3h 40 and 4h 10m. In 1834 Pastorff saw two similar bodies pass six times across the disc of the sun. (Bib. Univ., t. 58.) The larger was about 3" in diameter and the smaller 1" or "25. Both appeared perfectly round: sometimes the smaller preceded the larger, sometimes the contrary. The greatest observed distance between them was 1' 16". The bodies were often very near each other and their transit then occupied only a few hours. They had the appearance of a dull black spot, like that of Mercury in its transits.

On further search the following statements were found, which may perhaps bear on the case. Flaugergues mentions (De Zach: Corresp. Astron., vol. 13, p. 17, 1825) that Pastorff saw two remarkable spots on the sun Oct. 23, 1822, and also spots July 24 and 25, 1823. Olbers (in Tilloch's Phil. Mag., vol. 57, p. 444, 1821) cites Gruithuisen's observations of three solar spots June 26, 1819, viz., one near the middle of the sun, and two small ones without nebulosity near the western limb.

M. LeVerrier's new Tables seemed, (by the Report made to the French Academy, Aug. 4, 1845, C. R. 21: 316.) to show that Mercury suffered no unexplained disturbance. Nevertheless, in the hope of finding this presumed planet I undertook in the year 1847, in conjunction with Mr. Francis Bradley, to observe the sun's disk twice a day when practicable, and also to explore the neighborhood of the sun with a telescope armed in front with a long pasteboard tube blackened inside. These efforts, made with an instrument badly mounted, in an inconvenient place, proved fruitless, and were finally given up on account of the pressure of other work. Such observations ought to be resumed by those who can command suitable means. The fact that for twenty years past no such bodies as those seen by Pastorff have been detected by the numerous observers of solar spots may perhaps be due to the large inclination of the planet's orbit. E. C. HERRICK.

2. Shooting Stars of August 9-10, 1859.-The following observations by Prof. A. C. Twining at Boston, Mass., and by Mr. Francis Bradley and others at Chicago, Ill., show that the usual meteoric display of August 9-10 occurred this year, but on a scale somewhat reduced.

E. C. H.

(1.) Observations at Boston, Mass., by Prof. Twining.—“From 2h 15m A. M. to 3h 30m (10th) I observed 45 conformable and 11 unconformable meteors in a space around the radiant whose radius would be about the are from the Pole to a Tauri. The sky clear; paths of meteors not long nor brilliant; two left visible traces for about six seconds. The average place of the radiant during the time of observation was near 38° 30′ A. R. and 57° 15' N. decl."

(2.) Observations at Chicago, Ill., by Mr. Francis Bradley and others.— July 29, 1859, 104 to 11 P. M.-watching alone, looking chiefly to the northeast, Mr. B. observed in the hour sixteen shooting stars, of which

five or six only were conformable to the August point of radiation. Aug. 5, 11 to 12 P. M.-nineteen shooting stars were observed during the hour, seven or eight of which were conformable.

Aug. 9. Observers-Messrs. F. Bradley, Wm. Dickinson, E. P. Marsh, and after 1 of the 10th, Mr. L. Baird. The sky was nearly clear, and the moon interfered until about one o'clock.

Shooting stars observed:

11 to 12 P. M.,

The meteors were plainly increasing in frequency during the latter part of the time. Few of them were large, and only a small number of all were unconformable to the point of apparent radiation usual at this date.

IV. MISCELLANEOUS SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE.

1. Earthquakes in California during 1858; by J. B. TRASK, M.D.— During the past year we have had occasion to note the occurrence of eight shocks of earthquake in this State. This number is one half less than that in 1857, and one third less the number in 1856. The shocks with one exception have been unmarked by anything like violence, being little else than mere vibrations or tremors unnoticeable by the great majority of the people. They are as follows:

Feb. 10th.-A smart shock at Kanaka Flat, Sierra Co. No time noted. Feb. 15th.-A light shock in San Francisco at 4h 20m. Was observed in the county of San Mateo ten miles south of the city.

Aug. 19th.-A light shock in San Francisco at 22h 10m. The motion was east and west and undulatory.

Sept. 2nd.-A smart shock at Santa Barbara, no time given. Sept. 3rd.-A sinart shock in San Jose at Oh 40m. This shock was felt at Santa Cruz 25 miles west, and was evidently more marked in strength at that locality. No damage.

Sept. 12th. A smart shock at San Francisco at 19h 40m. The motion was from north to south. There were two vibrations with undulatory movements lasting about fifteen seconds.

Sept. 26th.-A light shock at San Francisco at 1h 26m.

Nov. 26th.-A heavy shock at San Francisco at Oh 34m. This shock was by far the heaviest during the year, it awoke most people from slumber and created no little alarm, persons left their beds and sought cooler

situations with less attire than is usually worn. The iron pillars in the second story of the custom house have separated from the ceiling above about half an inch, and are supposed to have settled from the effects of the shock: I much doubt the alleged cause of this displacement, as the pillars below present no indications of similar disturbance. This shock was felt at Oakland ten miles east of the city, but was not felt at Stockton, Sacramento, or Marysville. It was evidently confined to an area of ten or twelve miles.

Up to this date, (Aug. 10th, 1859,) there have been but three shocks during the present year.

2. Eruption of Mount Hood. (Extract from a private letter dated San Francisco, Sept. 4th, 1859).—" On the 15th, 16th and 17th of August, 1859, the atmosphere at this place (Portland, Oregon,) began to grow quite sultry, on the 17th the air very soon after ten o'clock became exceedingly hot, a very unusual circumstance here. The sky up to noon was nearly cloudless, but after meridian the heavens assumed an unusual aspect; on directing our attention toward Mt. Hood we all observed a most singular collection of clouds hovering over the summit, having a light silvery aspect, mingled with others of darker hue, heavy and apparently lowering. Up to the close of the following day nothing else unusual had occurred, the clouds still hanging over the mountain. On the evening of the 18th flashes of light were frequent from about the summit, and a full volume of illuminated vapor at times would ascend. On the 19th and 20th heavy volumes of cloudy vapor continually poured out from the crater, and on the evenings of these days the shafts of flame were almost constant, the light was continuous through the night. On the 20th the smoke cleared up for a short time affording a view of the summit, it was observed to have changed its aspect to the naked eye, but with glasses the upper northwest side of the summit had disappeared entirely, it had the appearance of an immense gap, the presumption is that it has fallen in. There are parties on their way to the mountain to explore it, and on their return I will write you again."

3. Improved mode of preparing Diatomacea; by CHRISTOPHER JOHNSTON, M.D. (In a letter to the editors dated Baltimore, Md., Sept. 14th, 1859.)-Allow me to offer an improvement in the preparation of guano, diatomaceous earth, &c., for mounting either dry or in balsam. It consists in the substitution of chlorate of soda for the chlorate of potash employed according to Bailey's method; and the whole process may be thus summed up. 1. (Say for guano) wash in water. 2. Boil in nitric acid. 3. Pour off the acid from the sediment, add fresh acid, boil for fifteen minutes, pour in a little muriatic acid and boil for five minutes. 4. After complete washing out of the acids, carbonize the residue with strong sulphuric acid; effect the combustion of the carbonized portion with chlorate of soda; wash perfectly with water, and the diatoms need no further

treatment.

Two things are gained by this method; 1st. Sulphate of soda is very soluble and may easily be removed by washing-this is not the case with sulphate of potash. 2d. It renders unnecessary a new boiling in acid of the residual sand, diatoms, &c., as recently proposed by a distinguished practical microscopist of this country for the perfect removal or destruction of sulphate of potash remaining in or about the diatoms. Protracted

boiling in strong acids injure the valves of diatoms, and especially those which have delicate markings; Bailey's method as modified by your subscriber subjects them to the least possible risk of being broken or defaced.

*

4. Proposition for a Humboldt Fund for Scientific Investigations and Travels. We have received from the venerable and distinguished Carl Ritter, the illustrious Geographer of Berlin, the following "Proposition," and take pleasure in laying it before the American public in the hope that the appeal which it impliedly contains for American contributions may not be in vain. We shall be very happy to receive and transmit to Berlin any contributions to the HUMBOLDT FUND which the friends of science may entrust to us.-EDs.]

"In the course of centuries there springs up here and there a man who, uniting powers of investigation and generalization, like Aristotle or Leibnitz, represents in himself the multifarious science of his time. Among these few powerful minds belongs ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT; bold and cautious, profound and comprehensive, alike fertile and brilliant, a pride and a joy to his contemporaries of both hemispheres. What he brought to life in science will never die, but will continue bearing fruit by its own inherent power. But his place in the world is left vacant, and that prompt and helpful love, that unwearied and fostering zeal which the struggling scientific talent of every land found in him are departed. No one can render aid productive of such results as that rendered to science by Alexander von Humboldt. Nevertheless it is a natural wish to perpetuate beyond his life through an Institution, this noble department of his activity.

"It is therefore proposed to found an institution under the name of the Humboldt-Stiftung, having for its object to afford assistance to rising talent, wherever it may be found, in those directions to which Humboldt devoted his scientific energies, viz., scientific labors, and extensive journeys of exploration.

"It is proposed to confide the distribution of any means obtained for this purpose to the scientific body of which he has been a faithful and efficient member for sixty years, and which only a few weeks before his death listened to his animating voice, viz., the Royal Acad. of Sciences at Berlin.

"This body upon the proposal being made, has declared itself ready to draft and in conjunction with the Committee to establish the statutes of the Association, adapted to the amount of capital subscribed, and to apply its resources worthily in assisting promising or already developed talent. In pursuing such an aim we recognize the hindrances which arise from the circumstances of this particular period. But we do not shrink in these excited days of war from quietly carrying forward the everlasting mission. of peace entrusted to science, which binds all nations in one.

"It is due to the memory of Alexander von Humboldt, and it seems to us no impracticable thought, to unite in one efficient body the Princes who honored him, the members of that Nobility to which he by birth belonged, the scientific litterateurs who admired him, learned men who were enchained by his cosmopolitan spirit, the circle of trade who profited by his discoveries, the prominent persons in cultivated European circles where he worked, as well as in other lands of both worlds-to unite them all so as to form a living monument to his name, which shall work on for science from age to age.

* Whose demise we have to lament since writing these lines. See p. 451. SECOND SERIES, Vol. XXVIII, No. 84.-NOV., 1859.