The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-05-06
ASS collation. OF American CeoIorists and

NaturAlists.
NEw HAVEN, Saturday, 81, An
Professor DEWEY took the chair this morning. at
half-past nine o'clock. The minutes of the previous
days transactions were adopted.
The Business Committee presented list of nomi-
nations of MEMBERS which was ordered for the pre-
sent to lie on the table.
Professor SHEPARD proceeded to address the So
ciety on "new locality of Meteoric IRON"
He was indebted for the information to Lieut..
Flagg, of the navy, from whom he read letter, dat
ed November 18th, 1874. The locality is st. Angus
tines Bay, the southwest coast of the Island OF
Madagascar. The writer of the letter having visited
this place, gave interesting account of the appear
ance OF the natives, through whom having observed
the prevalence of weapons of iron among them, he
ascertained the locality ofthe IRON Professor Shepard
observed thai having procured spear-head used by
these people, he tested and found tito be of meteoric
iron and gave detail Of the analysis. II might be
doubted that such a wonderful mass of meteoric
ron is said to be in the locality under consdera-
ton, amounting Is feet in diameter, existed, whilst
the largest hitherto known to exist was one of
I6 900 lbs
Whatever there was incredible in the repre-
sentation, might be explained from the possibility of
not perfectly understanding the statements of the ma
tives in their little known tongue; at all events it
was certain that in whatever quantity it existed, it
was decidedly meteoric. The spear-head spoken
of, was here handed round for examination
After concluding this topic, the Speaker next adj
verted to his discovery of marine animal, last win
ter, which he regarded as the ancient sea hare
Concerning this animal, variety of curious state
ments were quoted from Pliny, the younger, in
whose days the sea hare was considered one of the
most noxlous in creation Here followed a techni-
cal description of the animal, of which, before the
discovery of this specimen, none was believed to
exist in our seas. After adverting to the classified
ton of Lamarc, a French naturalist, he observed
that this specimen Of the LEpws MariaMs, did not
fully correspond with the description given by the
author quoted; it differed in many important points,
which he would point out to any gentleman who de-
sired it. In this state of the case he would call this
animal Apiysia Caroliniana, being found on the
Caronian Coast. In reply to. a question of Mr..
could not have been drifted from the West Indies,
as it was of different kind from the animal found
there.
The gentleman then proceeded to mako some
observations elastic sand stone of which he
beautiful specimen found in North Carolina. When
he first became possessed of it, he became impressed
with the idoa of its being similar to the celebrated elias
tic sand stone Of Brazil In the of some time he
happened to meet with German naturalist of high repu.
taton, named Won schrver who had been in this
try exploring its mineralogy and geology to whom he
introduced the subject Mr. Won s. was in possession Of
abundant samples Of the Brazilian but hesatcd to sub
init his views tho substance to writing but promised
to write to Professor s. from Germany This no did and
in his letter ead by Professor 81 concurred in the
opinion of its being similar to the Brazilian quoted
the authority of German gentleman Of science, named
Eckhardt, that the production was found in the
gold region Of the Ura q, well as that Of Brazil from
all which circumstances he professor 81 confirm
cd in the opinion that gold mine existed in North Ca
rolina This could be supported by several facts, such
tho finding Of gold in Lincoln County and other To-
calities In winding up his remarks the speaker in
mated his intention of drawing up account of the
Brazilian gold and Platinum region from an excellent
work published in France by NJ Pessis in is4o as It
of consequence to ascertain how far there was
analogy between that and the region of North Carolina
port of the presence Of platina in North Carolina.
Professor OLMrED spoke of a specimen no had seen
and underworld to procure which found in Line DIN
county North Carolina
An interesting conversation ensued the subject Of
gold discoveries in several parts of tho Union
the nominating committee and adopted Thomas Pea
body, Esq; Horny Wheaton, NJ. D.; Thomas Cole Esq
John E. Lee ESQ.,, all of Salem; Andrew Nichols NJ d.
William Otis, Esq, Ipswich; Professor g. w. Keely
Honorable Levi Woodbury.; Lieutenant H. w. Haleck
Engineer Corps; s. T. olmy; George Thurber; Perkins
York; NJ. c. Levenworth, Waterbury, Connecticut
Lieutenant H. Flag United States Navy Edward R.
The chair next proceeded to nominate the committee
to draft the memorial to the Secretary Of the Navy
The names were follows with powerto add to their
number Professor Rogers DIR. Jackson and Mr.. Hayes
DR.. JAcKsor addressed the society on tho siceoul
matter in plants with analysis Of the method of re-
moving it from the fbrous and cellular matter. A de-
tailed account Of the process given and the practca
benefits stated to be considerable, aordng means
procure the pure brous vegetable matter Of plants fo
The same gentleman continued to give the result o
his experiments on the Rosendale, New York, an,
which it is made" In concluding detailed statcmc en-
Of an analysis he said that the presence of potash soda
s.lpharc acid and manganese in these csments hitherto
A resolution proposed and Withdrawn on Friday BY
Professor johnston for the appointment of committees
all tho principal N. E. Rivers for the purpose O
determining the quantity of matter conveyed annually
into the Atlantic Ocean, brought up again by ths
President.
Of enquiry, that report by Captain Dcnham, n. NJ hat
been made on the River Mersey in England and Tho
failacious calculations founded the ebb and fooe
tides whose respective actions tended to very deren
and in some measure opposite results.
PRrsIDENr-Has any other gentleman any remarks Il
make You don't seem to be agreed first principles
as to what is tide water and what is sedcmenary de
posts The subject again laid ON the table, when
Professor RocERs gave illustrated course of no
marks on the changes Of the slate strata Of the Apaa
chan range This was pleasing discourse and wa
Professor OLMsrED moved that Professor Rogers b,
requested to deliver an. address Monday evening
Adopted.
Dr. BIsrrr Of Boston presented a voluminous repor
the society voted to the author Adjourned till
O'Clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
THREE O'CLOCK, Pm.
The President on taking his seat, announced the FRS
business in order to be remarks on the prevailing wind
Of North America"
Professor COFFIN stated, that no had intended to make
only an oral communication, but would read paper
One of the greatest difficulties and that which long de
TERED him from experiments, was the occurrence o
winds, from all points of the compass in circle Of
hundred miles diameter and the result of thu
common mode Of in pronouncng that the pro
valent wind which predominatcd slightly, regard
less Of the rest He Of opinion that observations
determine the specific gravity and velocity well the
prevalence of winds would be valuable; but for want
means this was at present hardly practicable yet wha
he could do, wc found worth attempting He then ex
hbitcd an ingenousy constructed chart representing
various circular sections Of the carhs surface whose
winds represented by shaded margin of breadth
proportionate 10 the prevalence Of those winds These
founded upon experiments made in 400 local.
ties in this country, the British possessions and the
West indies The winds Of this country could be
demonstrated to prevail very uniformly from lit
tie south Of NJ Wcstany great variation from this di
rcction being caused by eddics in the air. Mr.. c. il
conclusion thought the subject not that coulc
be Investigated.
The President said that gentlemen were aware of the
M (oo IF he If