The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-05-10

very NIslOnaTy
Professor RoorRs. after the conclusion of the reading
of the paper moved for the appointment Of the general
committee, which was carried and the Chair named the
following to compose the Committee =
Professor Dewey b. Silman, jr; The Treasurer; Dr.
c. Jackson, Dr. Binney; H. D. Rogers; Professor Sill
John L. Hayes J. ID. Dana 4. c. Herick.
Professor HrcHcocR and said, that mt the last
meeting held Boston, he read paper entitled notes
in the transactions of the Society Since then he had re-
ceived large number Of specimens N natural history
sea formed the sub ect OF long oral communication IN
which he detailed the results OF its chemical analysis
both by him and another operator in New York. which
unfortunately proved inconsistent and very different He
read an extract from the letter of Mr. Abbott the British
Consul at Cairo, announcing his having procured the
Caspian water through Russian Commodore COM
handing at Astrabad. Another specimen, he also had
but as was from the Bay OF as,laDad ana esseniaiy
These abounded in sulphurated hydrogen, and
study of the subject was important, and he believed
would lead to the conclusion that those vrient fevers
and dangerous malaria prevalent the Coast of Africa,
and certain regions of Asia would be found to be gene
rated by sulphuraed hydrogen He had long series of
observations from the Rev, Mr. Merrick, from Persia
but as there were a number OF specimens coming, ne
would not follow the subject now.
Professor BoorH said that the opinions presented by
Professor Hitchcock were plausible He spoke OF an
examination made of the Schuylkill and Croton water
at period the former slightly the purest but the
Croton contained less solid matter He called at
enton to the existence of silica in water and recon-
mended those who tested water to attend to this the
best German authorities had said that silica held i'm
portant place a solvent in water.
".
upon the foreign matter in water the former concurred
with Professor Booth that the presence Of shell FISH in
and calcarous matter held in solution
HALF PAST o'cLocK.
At the opening Of the session this evening the College
lecture room presented gay and lively appear
than it has hitherto worn; was very well lighted
and several ladies and occupied the transverse
seats on the left of the rostrum.
The first paper to be read was announced from the
stone rocks of the valley Of the Connecticut river"
DR.. BARRArT took his stand and proceeded with the
the track OF animal which he considered was Bird
sketch was of foot mark bearing no resemblance to
that of any species of animal extant, but the author
thought was like that Of the Hppopotamus Another
was equally singular, and was regarded like an
elk than any Others this was found in soft sand stone
and becoming every year more distinct by the
gradual removal OF coat of blue grit which had
ed them. All the most interesting marks that from
Middletown, were found in quarry about mile distant
ed would be fruitful like curosities Several other
tracks of birds were found there some OF which were
found track four inches long and dozen smaller ones,
showing that the animals must have been numerous
there.
Professor HIrcHcocK read naper on the "fos.
sill footmarks of New England" his paper to be
accompanied by sketches Of the Marks but they not
ready at that time long classification Of the genera
aud species Of these animals follow cd of the there
were twenty, of the latter THIRTY fve Several of the
names bestowed on them were boz, owed from members
of the association, and many OIL ers groesque
enough but in giving them the author said that he had
endeavored to be explicit and comprehensive and above
all to be consistent with the principles Of comparative
anatomy
Professor srLLlMAs next submitted paper the new
fossil foot marks found in sand stone In the
speaker observed that when first these discoveries
submitted to him, he teacher of science and the ed-
tor of scientific journal felt bound to take up the mat
Ter and accordingly had made eXerton bring them
the notice of other countries The first who adopted his
communication Professor Buckland in his Brdewa
ter Treatise where he had regularly given credit to
Professor Hitchcock for the discovery, important
light thrown on the progress of life Globe Pro-
lessor Silliman preaced the reading of the paper by
interesting remarks to make it Ineligible in
reference to the age in which the animals making the
tracks existed as to their class He was Of OPT
Mon that they Of the Sauran tribe which the
exclusive denizens OF this globe in the age preceding
that of the coal formaonthe redundant terrestrial
getation and the creation fquadrupeds.
Professor ROGER made some remarks the Pennsyl-
vania foot marks and their position in the appalachian
nation doing he had occasion to speak the great
coal field which extended in that and other central and
Southern States over 90, 600 square mesan equal
to that Of all England, and the half Of Scotland He
in committing themselves the subject Of these tracks
until more facts known
After few words from Mr.. Hademan and Professor
Rogers Professor Sman moved that a committee be
appointed to follow up the investigation of the Phlade
phia tracks
The CHAIR named Professor Rogers Mr. Haldman and
Professor Hitchcock and the society unanimously
imed the nomination.
DR. BARRATr followed in reply to Professor Rogers He
appeared to doubt the reality Of these oomark and said
that in all his researches he could find any such
marks.
Professor ROGERS acknowledged the ingenuity of some
remarks that had fallen from Mr. Barrat and said he
garded part of the duty the committee to attend
it. He opinion that any ofthcse tracks were in
| relief, it proved fatal to the theory.
Professor HIrcHcocK agreed with the last speaker
the force othe tracks being found in relief On this
he had conversed with Mr. Lyel the Geoogist and con-
essed to him that out of the two thousand tracks he
had seem he had found one in relief which he did
he would give up his theory; to which Mr. Lye replied
that if he found only he would prefer striving to ac
count for it, rather than foego the testimony of the
1899.
Dr. BISSEy would ask il our knowledge of the past his
tory oiour globe depended upon acquaintance with
dead birds how long would require to become
SAINT with the subject for out OF the thousands of species
OF birds he was certain not one there had eight
different kinds OF dead birds, unless on the table.
The Society adjourned here till half past nine o'clock
on Friday.
New HAVEN, FRIDAY, May 2, 1S45.
The Association met at ten this morning, and
were busted for half an hour with the usual routine
business. few slight alterations being made in
the record of the minutes,
DR.. BARRArr read paper entitled Evidences of
Congelation in the Red Sandstone, exhibited by
regular triangular and rhombc Marks of great dis
inctness." After noticing the bearing of this congo
ation question on the temperature of the EARTH at
the earlier periods of animal life, and his finding ice
In the form OF rhombs and triangles, in February
Ioll ne added, IN regard to the sandstone that the
marks were produced by pressure of lines in cor
responding figures when in a soft state. For long
time he had recorded every appearance of ice, for the
purpose OF throwing light upon the past action of
congeation IN the production of these imprnts in
rocks. DIR. Barrett concluded by inviting gentle
men to accompany him to building alluded to by
HIM, where certain marks were to be seen, in va
rious forms, and which he regarded as decidedly of
an icy origin.
Is SLLIMAN, Jr., arose to say, that in certain soft
argiilaceous beds in Pennsylvania he had observed
marks such as described by DR.. Barrett but he did
n9t ascribe It to the same causes, but rather regard
ed 1t as the effect of causes which act in the orma-
ton of such species of rocks
Mr. JOHNSTON thought that the rhomboidal struc-
tnre talked OF by DR., Barrett was entirely distinct
from that alluded to by Mr.. Silliman.
The PRESIDENT asked Dr. B. fhe regarded the riangu
lar diagram as possessing any thing peculiar; he OBJ
served that he had represented them as Of about 60 de-
grees.