New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-08-04

Waf eteD IN the very large Crystals turrt Iouuo'
Prof. Wifon sdduced proofs OF the igneousorign OF
trap from The rocks about Edmburgh they were 81
striking as to render the theory Of Hutton almost ne
ceesiy 10 him.
Prof Newberry also alluded to similar apr ear'nces
in New-Mexic0.
After some further discussion the Section adjourned.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
SECTION OF MATHEMATICS AND PHYSICS.
After dinner the Physical and Mathematical Section
wac called to orier by Capt X. b. Hunt, U. y.
The frat paper was by james Lewis, Mohawk,
n. Y, read by Prof. w. B.. Rogers. on nav self.
registering thermometer. The expansion Of bundle OF
brass and iron vSes is multiplied by levers, and re-
corded on ft Of paper, not by continuous, but BY
blows at definite intervals given by clock-work 70
pointer, which between the blows moves with litie
fiaon, end 90 being struck records dot on the het
Filles thu, marked exhibited and aso diagrams
ard aeTeoeraphs of the instrumeDt =,
In reply 10 sqnestion Of Mr.. D. +, Killyard Prof W.
b. Rogers said Dir. Lewss instIument was more sen
sitive than ordinary mercuIisl thermometers.
Prof. Jt In lie COnte read paper on the phenomena
of the Silver Spring. Marion County, Florida This
spring rises in basin about 30 feet deep, and pours ont
a stream large enough for steamers TO ascend Other
bssins along the showed nearly the same depth
10 the limestone crevices, from which new springs
boiled up The marvellous property Of the spring Is
the great transparency of the water 1t seemed on
looking down. as though the plumb bob could be seen
ut as distinctly under 36 feet of water could be
through as many feet of air. Experiments on reading
cards fastened to brcks proved that printing could be
read at great distance under the water ssip the air.
The vertical depth Of the water seems TO the eye very
much exaggerated especially under the boat, so that
without measurement the bottom appears continually
to recede under you as you float aud TO appear under
your boat about 50 feet deep aud to rise around on
every side.
The spring is very steadfast in its fow receives no
surface water and contains but little me in solution.
In reply to question of Prot. Coakley Prof lie Cone
sad that AT TIE time of his visit the temperature of the
spring wae about ~ which - nearly the mean tenn
peratuJs Of the place.
Prof. +. N. Horsford read paper on the question,
Can the sudden cooling Of one end Of metallic bar
develop heat at tie other endf After recouning the
observations and contradictory results If former expert
mfDts, he described his own apparatus. BY this, he
proved that the question must be answered in the mega
tive oIfirmirg the very accurate experiments OF
Betker and Schroeder. Next, he detailed the ,xperi
neDts by which he sought 10 expa the prevalent de-
usion of backsm BIS that the plungng of the heated
eId of bar into cold water makes tn, end held In the
hand hotter
Mr.. III. A. Cum exhibited barometer for common
rather than scientific II has movable strips,
marked " Fair" "Chanpeable" " Rain" &C., to be
rised lowered according to the hight of the place
above tdewater, and scale with fixed index also to
mark tie average hight of the barometer
No other paper being ready, the section adjourned
SECTION OF GEOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY.
The section met at AZ o'clock. DR.. Gibbes, Prof.
Wilson, Prof Worthen, and DIR. Gibbon, were elected
member Of the Nominating Committee.
Prof w. b. Rogers gave an account OF the recent
discovery by Mr. Norman Eason of fossils 10 the con-
e'onerste of Taunton River, near Fall River. Mr.
Eaton Lad found fossils in the pebbles fo ming parts
# the corglome,ate bouders about Fall River. In
COMPANY with Mr.. Esston he bad traced this cOngom-
crate 10 its beds in Dghton where they had found fos
sis in the pebbles IN stu. Within day or two Mr..
EastoD Rad found eueh fossils in the congomera'e
about Newport. Tn. fossils seemed 20 be allied to the
Lipgula prma OF the POsdam sandstone. This was
opening new field of fossils.
Col Foster said that this vas approaching the dawn
of life. He had little doubt that this was the Lingula
OF ths Potsdam sandstone. He had doubt that the
Potsdam sandstone existed in New-Eng and, covered,
perhaps BY the waters of the The geological
survey of New England was yet TO be made. He be-
LEV ed that the ps)azoic rocks would be found on the
Atlantic slope in full series.
Prof. Rogers thought this would be found sporadi
cally in any portions OF England but 80 enor-
nous had been the extent OF the denudaon, that he
feared that in place could the continuous series be
found.
Prof Agassiz thought the specimens were sufficient
for comparison with the fossils of the Potsdan sand
stone. TIE discovery of the Paradoxdes corrected
general statement, that the coDgomerates of New
England were of the Csrboniferous p Rod. This
another itep in the same direction and very interest
ing one. -.
Prof Rogers spoke of the singularity of the fact
that the PaIadoxds found also In the Oldest rocks
Of Bohemis, separated from its fellow in NewEng-
land by such ide extent Of sea and land.
Prof Rogers then gave some account Of his geology
cal observations in the northeastern part Of Name.
He believed that there would be found there rocks OF
tie Upper Siberian, corresponding TO the Chaton
group. and ring il TO the Devoniau and Lower Car
bcDiierous towards tie coal meadows of New Bruins
wick.
Prof Agassiz reported that he could not tax his
eyes enough to determine that fossil. He believed
now, though he could only wink at it, that il was
cOniferous and that it was voltfa, and proved the
rock TO be Trsssc. Should this prove true, it would
be az great discovery as Parsdoxides
Prof Rogers said be had thought of that, but from
comparison of great number OF specimens had con-
oed that il was not that
Prof Agassiz-Look at the stems the little scales on
the stems!
Prof Rogers said be knew that, and was quite will
ling that il should be determined to be Triassic. lie
thought, however that they underlay the sub-Carbon
ferrous.
Prof. Apassiz said that about six mouths ago he re-
ceived very foe impressions of fishes from the coal of
the Albert mines; and, from the slight examination he
had been able TO make, he inclined TO Thick that
they were 1riassic. He should, however, be obliged
to examine them more closely before giving any de-
cided opinion.
Mr.. Newbery thought the fossil was fern rather
than confer, and that il belonged 10 the DevOnian
rather than the Triassic.
Prof Rogers presented also some specimens of what
at first sight appeared to be Mica slate, which he lad
found st st. Johns, Me-, but which proved to be full
of fragments of Gngula. BY and by he hoped to be
able to determine what particular lngua they were.
Mr. j. s. Newberry then spoke OF the origin aud
distribution of the sediments composing the stratiied
rocks of North America He believed that mechanical
deposllon by the ocean took place only along shore,
and that in the deep sea the sediments entirely
organic He had found this TO be proved by the deep
lead. II had been supposed that every great river
carried its sediment far out to sea- but the .oundngs
off the moush of the Mississippi showed that the de-
posits were confined to a very limited space Appa-
reDty all the sediment which not deposited within
few miles of the mouth Of the river were taken into
chemical solution. He adduced many instances of
rocks from New.EDgland to NewMexico going to
prove this theory of mechanical deposition. he
fbluQlt fOuud The OF the w ludl-
cations that it deposited during period OF de-
preston and he believed that the tertiary of that por