Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-09-06
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! SCIENTIFIC ASSOCIATION.

4
NY last letter closed With ! brief notice Of Prof
Emmons paper on . formation in North Carolina,
not before credited to our country. The introduc-
ton by Prof Emmons of large collection OF fossils
hitherto unknown in the United States, left no 70 on
for disputation till the kind of fossils is settled They
appear to be clearly of the age assigned them BY
this excellent geologist. Prof. Agassz and others
highly commended the collection as the most inter
esting and the discovery as most important OF all
the geological developments hitherto made in our
country. 1t was gratifying to many to hear such
commentator, as it has not always been duly
made
Prof Dana, of Yale College, followed in the dis
cussion of the elevation of the rocks from the ocean,
and the confguration of our continent He startled
some by maintaining that the Gulf Of Mexico once
extended over vast proportion Of the Mississippi
Valley, if not over all the Appalachian Chain. But
there is no reason for wonder. That the Gulf OF
Mexico once extended over much that is now land,
has long been seen. Having begun to enlarge its
limits there need be no apprehension in extending
them far as is necessary to account for the appear
ances of the present surface. He did not adopt the
notion that the bottom Of the ocean was once con-
tinents.
In the evening there was an immense gathering of
the association and citizens at the hospitable mansion
of Robert Townsend, Esq. 1t was clear that there
is very little spare room in any ordinary mansion
when large association is invited and is present
To the honor of their host the members will unan-
lmOuSly award Tile praise Vi tuoI
could be expected. The whole party seemed to sail
of social and intellectual pleasure. 10 add
to the splendid affair." large number of ladies were
present. of the beautiful the gifted and social There
was enough of formalty to make the tone high, but
stiffness and GOODNESS found not place. This is an
episode in the work of science.
To-day the discussions have been very inter-
esting points in all the sections for there are three
now, the third being of Botany, Zoology and
Ethnology." This has arisen from the great num-
Der of papers presented. In the last that the
President of your University takes deep interest.
The first paper in this new section was by Dr. Wen
land, on the chronological relations of the name OF
the animals He developed some very curious points
one that animals are pamsl in the countries where
they exist naturally by the native inhabitants, and
that in other countries they are named by taking
the original name given, either without change or
WITH as the introduction of the name given required
some modification in the language where it is intro
duced Thus you have in our language, lion,
word slightly changed from the original language,
(Greek) leon-so of ass, camel, fox, &c. Then the
ways, or reasons for so naming, were striking. The
fish of Lake Ontario Muskeonge, as often spelled,
or Muskenonge held by Agassz to be altered French,
was showed by Prof Holderman, sustained by Mr..
Schoolcraft in part, to be an Indian word meaning
long or large snout. To your readers this may be
very minute but to the lovers of chronological rea-
tions it was captivating. Many visitors thronged to
the Court of Appeals room, where the section teld
its meeting.
Prof Agassiz led on the discussion to his doctrine
of distinct origins of the human family, and stated
its support from the names which few others could
see as he did. This subject will be discussed how
ever and have no doubt he will find some hard
heads to master. Yours, d.
Albany, Aug. %, 1856.