The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-08-31

y ",
which there are three different groups with different
thods OF bringing forth their young Some
oWlarous, tum vvpaus ma again some OF tne v,vl-
parous sharks carry their young about in pouch after
parturon until their full development. But in all
the deyeopement Of the egg in the evary the sans;
in all the embryo developed itself above the sur
face Of the yolk of the egg, and a. certain stage,
some threw OF while others retained the envelope
Now the process Of development which he had do
SCI bed in the shark took place in ali families in which
there both oviparous and vvipsrous types there's
fore proper infer that no CHASE aon could pos
siby be based on ovpsrity and vivparity long
the development, which was typical OF the mode OF
thought so TO speak, impressed on each animal in ~
Nor was il possible TO establish classification OF ami
mails on the basis OF pecnliartes Of structure aud 70
later be abandoned II seemed at arst sight backward
step to recede from the old classification OF the primary
groups upon pecuarites OF structure but he trusted
hat il step forward and in the right direction.
The section then adjourned.
SUBSECTION OF PHYSICS, CHEMISTRY, Irc.
Prof BARNARD In the chair.
Dr. WoicoIT GiRRs presented paper researches on
the ann oLia cobalt bases by himself and Dr. J. A.
Genth
cal in iis character.
The paper read was the plan of the reduction OF
the meteorological observations reported to the Smith
sonian Institution by JAMES H. CofFIy.
The Section then adjourned.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
There was no general meeting this afternoon; on
assembling the members dispersed into the several
sections.
GEOLOGICAL SECTION.
Or. HAMErIy OF Maine, presented remains OF
fossil cetacea, with the following remarks
have the pleasure Of presenting TO the notice OF the
section some fossils Of cetacean which were discovered
more than year ago. upon the banks OF the Penobsco
in the city OF Bangor. They found 10 post pocene
deposit forty feet below the surface Of the earth,
and about eighty miles distant from the opsn sea- As
they lay in the clay they observed that inclination 70
wards the north which has been before observed by
naturas especially by NJ Cortesi in his discoveries in
Italy. In many respects this cetacean resembles very
closely described by Prof Eschrcht and before ven
ystrsp V<rty hare np0ht nr0nQ
cate with him. would also present 10 your notice some
verebre from North Carolina from Mary land, and
think identical with described by Owen These
sos ss found in tertiary and duvia deposits, and
oen n ~ bas been written this
subject Nearly oil that has been done Ia by Cuver, but
Prof Ischrcht, Of Copenhagen, promises to supply the
deficiency.
The next paper read was
AGENCY STREAM IN THE FORMATION or
TIE PENINSULA AND KEYS or FLORIDA BY JOSEPH H.
In the winter OF 1851 and during the months OF Janu
airy and February enjoyed the rare opp 81 Tors "
company with Professor Agassz. then and there be-
deeply interested In subject which has continued
10 occupy my thoughts from time TO time until now
viz, the mode OF formation OF the peninsula Of Florida
Until the time referred to nothing definite was known
Ct the geology Of Florida but was supposed to consist
Of southwark prolongaton of the Of Georgia and
Alabama and its shell limestone to bear some general
resemblance 10 the white limestone OF these states But
the observations OF Professor Tuomey during the
OF 1850 and the fall end careful observations Of
roe:sor AgsssS dSrrg he & wn aN ore 20
portion Of .hs peninsula Of Fiorfa are OF recent origin
and could be examined me work Of coras st'
living in the vicinity and still engaged 10 the work OF e1
tensonhst they are in TACT specifically al least the re-
sui Of the grow CT successive coral reefs concenricay
ARRANGED orc de OF the other from north 10 south
Ny Object in INC present paper will be TO show that coral
agency alone not sufficient TO account Tor the pnenome
ou, that there has been another and sa more pow
crul sgent work. preparing the ground and laying the
foundation for these builders and that this agent has
been the Gulf stream clear understanding Of the sub
tni tha nj
Now. we have the best evidence that the Everglades
the Southern coast and the Keys all formed by
coral agency. The evidence is briefly as follows -
II Is well known fact that corsls cannot grow above
The surface Of The water Inc ssocs SO con
agency OF the animals alone, but are due 10 tue violent
action Of waves breaking of huge COZ beads and over
turning trees, bearing them from the outer and
exposed SIDE and putting them on the middle and
inner sde or the reef These coral bonders form the
nucleus around which cluster smaller fragments aud
coral sand the whole Is there firmly cementod by
Donate OF lime solution in the water, and the island
thus formed is finally covered with vegetation and in.
habted by animals and maa. The whole embryonic
development, II might use the expression OF coral
islands may be observed upon the keys and reef Of no
rda On the outer or living reef few have corantnced
10 form y few years ago, and exst as yet ody the
fern isolated bouide,s Of deaf coral and notyct dig
nifed with the Of keys. Others formed Of smi
lar boucers mingled with smaller fragments aud coral
sand, and firmly GENE nted by carbonate Of lime but The
anger bouders are sun CONSPICUOUS aoo. the sarroun
covered with coal sand that the bouders are no,
observable, except by excavation or by examination
the outemost portion OF the island towards the sra tn
coral sand always affected with the add o5li,
qualification 80 common in materials exposed y tar
violent action Of waves All the Stands the cater
very small OF very recent origin, (some only few
years DID, and, therefore as yet entirety barren.
The examination Of the larger and older Inhabited
they have been formed in . similar manner. We have
here also the tame coral boulders, mingled with smaller
fragments aud coral sand and the whole lrmly cement
ed INTO solid rock the same oblue sterilization
indicating tire former action OF waves on an exposed
shore. The boulders here also sometimes stand
above the surrounding current exposed in TIER
superior portions. Mt Key yaca and at others con
pletely covered with coral sand, az at Key West and
other keys. This exposure OF the larger bouders
above the surrounding current in which they nrmy
fixed led Tuomey into the error Of suppong that ley
were the prominent points Of me original reef eleyate1
above the level by agency and that the keys
were omed by gneous rather than by aqueous ageDy
That such Is not the case is proved by more atenveex
animation and comparison with the smaller keys Of the
outer reef there be doubt therefore, that tn
inner line OF Islands Ia the position OF former roe.
changed into keys BY the action OF the waves alone
In similar has been pointed o9t by Tuomsy
and proved by Agassz that the southern coast Of Florida
the position OF stll another and earlier reef Inc
character OF the rock the that OF the keys o.
the range. of the smaller the living rect
Here also Tuomey has seen he spposes the eyiien
OF eevstory forces while Agassz sees nothing but the
7hcre to be reasonable doubt therefore that
at some former period The northern shore Of y,
everglades the position Of the southern coast and
the time the present southern coast the pos
ton Of a reef. The general sequence OF cnanges
gradually converted into line OF keys, ana finally,
added 10 the mainland and the shoai wator,
became the everglades and is mangrove islands. tn
hamnocks which overdot TINS swamp. In the meantime
1. e, while the present southern coast was still line
Of keys another reef was formed further out THIS be
time converted also In the line OF keys aud wi
eventually be added IL turn 10 the land and be
the southern coast-the shoal water between TIC
reefs with mangroye Islands, becoming another
glade with ts hammocks. In the meantime stu
other rect has been formed still further out (viz
present or living reef and upon ih too e process Of
key formation has already CONNIE need Any further
tension, however in this direction, by the growth OF still
another reef precused by the proximity Of deep
water. Standing upon the reef the blue waters OF the
Gulf Stream distinctly nj the distance Of but
few hundred yards.
Thus appears that not only the keys, but the main
land OF Florida cerssbiy tar north the northern
shores OF the everglades, has been formed specifically
az least, by coral agency The evidence in favor OF
similar origin for that portion Of the peninsula lying north
OF this line Is less abundant and perhaps less conclusive
and have every 10 believe that the greater
portion OF this also was formed 10 similar manner al
though the geology OF this part has not lar know
examined by capable OF decd