New-York daily tribune., 1859-08-08
ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT
OF SCIENCE.
FOURTH MORNING SESSION.

The Association met in sections this morning, at 81
O'clock.
NATURAL HISTORY AND GEOLOGY.
Prof. Asa GRAY spoke on the similarity between
he Flora Of North. Eastern Asia and Eastern Nof'h
America. I, was not remark able to find CREST sim-
hrity and requept identity between the Arctic FLORES
Of the two continents. Nor was It very remarkable
70 find come species in Japan, in the north Temperate
zone, which we're also found IN America ana many
.r;a. veYe fonpd extending various dIstsnces soog
Az bnr Of the Aleniian and Karile Islands But the
su,;ons fact was that the Flora OF japan vas mncn
more ike our own, .hsn like the Florss OF countries
adjacent TO Japan. Inrowing ous tpe cosniopoIVes
nd examining only tbose species which ~ere pecnfs
there were only species peculiar 70 Europe aod Ja-
DaD against Sc peculiar TO North Eastern America aud
japan. Some plants which hsd limited hao'ts, 10
tls United States also found 10 Japan. Onr pol
con ivy and fox grape chokeoeny, one or Two OF
eur sIiTes there, ginseng, and many other COM
mon planv. There were very many plants TOO, IN
japan which went toward completing the rIors o ths
country; in fact the CHARACTERISTIC plants OF our oTn
country were found in Japan. And these piabs we're
spread over Eastern AHA, the upper country OF tae
Hmm alayas being special seat OF them Inc tbeOry
sf Agsssiz was that these species we're
they now are; another theory tha. while generally
species originated In q single locality there were
special exec ptioDs. third, that while the higner
forms Of life probably originated IN single pars
the loW er forne originated in masses. be -
Inclined 10 this last He was inclined TO believe aIsO
that mott of preseDt plants we're originated In tne
PIsicceDe Tertiary, or at least before the Dnrt; A.
hast il was 10 the glacial epoco, sod TINS ne
th1 would readily account for the spread Oh these
.lsnis Prof Gray wept into lengthy discussion OF
the probability Of tins, and Of rse OF Temperature
which ,houd carry the temperate Flora up az Tar -
Bebrips q Straits and there oomnnghng the florss oi
the c0btDents. A., ".
ssiepation hike that advanced by Prof. Gray the
hefer plants should be compared with the higher AMI
mall, and the lower plants with the lower animals.
Dr. GIBBos mentioned that IN an old geology he
bsa ~ en- the sta that ole Of the Fossil Elephants
Sound in Northern America was 10 80 good state oi
pseserv alton that plants now natives OF virginia were
discovered III his stomach. -
Wm Z. BLAKE, eeq., read paper describing some
geological explorations made among tue ROCKY moup
tains about Santa Fe. The description was minute;
fAe DISCOVERY Of coal there is important he found
coal plApts, which prove the age OF The coal TO be
that Of the Anthracite Of Iinos Anthracite coal oi
very good quality had been dug, and he thought It OF
great importance as furnishing an iDe1useS'aols sup
Div Of fuel for the locomotives of the Pacific Railroad
thai 10 to be. lroD copper, lead god and silver are
also found. He suggested that the gold pl.cers OF
Northern Mexico connected with those OF Plke
Peak ard the head waters of the Arkansas.
X. FIELD, esq., gave short paper, IN when ne op,
postd the idea senerslly attouing the great fo-si
Footprints 10 buds aud maintaI ed that they
we're the tracks of sort of kangaroo reptile, walking
generally their hind legs, but occasionally orbgng
down their compaI ativey small fore legs He showed
several specimens which sustained bis theory, AMI
pointed out grooves caused by the dragging of the tail
of The reptile, Mr. Field is the owner Of farm from
Which most Of the footprints have been taken.
The tseeton Of fossil wosle found in Vermont, and
brought down for exhibition by l.. Hitchcock, jr at
Nscted great deal of attention.
MAJBHaATIcs.
The Section, having voted not TO subdvide chose
Dr. b. A. GoULD, jr, Chairmsn of the day.
Prof. Il. SlLLIMAN, lr., offered an abstract OF
hper by Pres. f. A. p Barnard, ON the means ct pre-
veptrg the alter alton of metallic surfaces EN- loyed TO
close and break voltaic circuit. This means con-
ssts in the employment of Fezesus condenser, suCh
q 10 used in the kuhnkofff apparatus.
Dr. bAcBE spoke of the importance OF this subject
n connection with the determua atiOn OF l0ngtddes on
The Coast Survey by the electromagnetic mode.
Prof HEsRY ipdOrsed, on theoretical grounds, the
invention Of Prcs. Barnard. The readers OF rHE
TRIBuSr will recollect that Prof. Henry's puohshed
pspers show by their date Of publication, that he was
She original discoverer of those principles which lie at
the fouooatiop of Fezeaus and Rahmkorfs apparatus
Pnf B.cBE of the Coast Survey, presented Me-
NOR on the Distribution of Temperature in the Gulf
Sire sm in the Florida Channel
The resuts of the explorations Of the Gulf Stream
have been commubicaed 10 the Association from
time 10 time as facts of peculiar interest baVe been
discovered. Tne original plan of these explorations
Vas carefully studied and having been fouad success
fuI has been steady adhered TO, Recent observations
have been directed 10 TINT part Of the stream between
Havana and Cape FloIids, known as the Channel and
STRAIT Of Flonds. The present communication con-
tanned the results obtained four sections IN this
locality by Commander b. +. Sands and Lieut.. Com
msnding A. A. Craven, L. g. M assistants 10 the Coast
geographical positions Of the sections the tempera
tures al different depths the depths corresponding TO
certain specified temperatures, and the form OF the
bottom, and other par lculars OF the sections. Inc
sections were perpendicular to the coast at distances
respectively Of about 80, i00 and $50 miles west Of
Cape Flonds. The strait funnel shaped being about
80 mics wide at Havana, and about 40 at Cape
FLORIDA
The descent Of the bottom of the sea from the
FLORIDA ride is for the most part gradual bat from the
opposite sic quite abrupt that the greatest depth
h on the Cuba side. At Havana there is an abrupt
descent Of nearly miie within five miles OF the snore
while toe ToItueas and Key West SIDE the water
comparatively shaow, ard the descent grsdusl Tuis
fact goes TO confirm the conclusion that the stronger
current Of the Gulf Stream makes the circuit of the
6ef OF Mexico since, If II impnged directly on the
chores OF the Tortugas and the other Florida heys,
We should find its effects in the wearing OF deeper
cham in the soft Of the bottom on that side.
The Law connecting the temperature with the depth
ct different positions the stream, nesrer 10 the shore
and beyond the stream, had been already derived from
the Atlantic sections, and merely received conhrna
zion in these. The cold wall was shown 10 exist here
ako though at and near the surface the overflow of
the Of the speam prevents the cold water
from appearing at the surface.
TIE section from Cape Florida to Bemin sho Fed
distinctly the warm and cold bands into winch the
Gulf Stream is divided, and the figure Of the bottom
corresponds 10 these, the colder water following the
bottom and being raised up when 1t Is elevated and
the revere, the warm bands corresponding 10 deep
water and the colder TO less depths. The figure
Of the bottom the sections west Of Cape Florida has
no such elevations and depressons, the bottom having
Has 10 divisions into warm ana cold bands. The
Warest water is further from the Florida side than
from the opposite shore.
An examination of the longitudinal section of the
Calf Stream from the sacre part between Cape Florida
and BemiLi, northwsid and south stward, shows
the influence Of the figure of the bottom IL
throwing the cold suocuuent upward. Temperatures
of 3So 59o and 40o Fahrenheit found a. depths
AM and IA of TArfn Snna