, 1863-12-23
ACADEMY OF SCIENCE.
SPECIAL MEETING.
Professor Daniels on the Azolc Rocks
Robert Konntcott on the Fauna
and Flora Of tho PrzIrIes,

4 fpecial meeting Of the members Of the Acade-
my Of Science was held last evening in the rooms
Of the Association. In the absence Of the Pre5t-
dent Professor Jewett was called to the chair;
being special meeting the reading Of the min
utes%Fas dispensed with.
ADDRESS or PEoT. DAs1E1s.
Professor Daniels, Of Wisconsin, delivered
very interesting address, opening with critical re-
marks upon number Of specimens, principally
from Lake Superior, containing the fossils Of the
easlieet animal life. Theee occur iE the Pofcu-
pine range, and are commonly known as ttsap
rocks." This strata OF rocks is eimp1y lava,
poured out under the water End rapidly. cooled,
containing iron, ,homhlende.&c Along these ridges
We find the entire catalogue Of scientific rocks.
The axotc are found the slopes, In their laycrs,
very nicely stratifed. but bearing evidences OF
having been disturbed. These rocks arc purely
sedimentsry. This nzo1c series present no eyf-
deDccs OF Lie, hence represents period In the ex-
astence Of the world, when, 80 far as We are able
to 1esEn, there vas no animal life, no motion, no
Tie specimens under consideration take Us tas-
ther hack toward that point than any other in Ge-
oloey- The sand stone along the south shore Of
Lake Superior, 80 far as VIC know, lie made up Of
the 1irst sedinentary deposits. This same lower
T. s, s1st t. portion
sion or evidence hare OF lifc IL shown upon the
marine Eo1ns. in 1elIei. Where a9e on M those @ spe
cimcns evidences that that the movements Of the
waters wcsc OF tidal character, also pieces that
that tie shore vas ct times exposed to the action
of the suu. The nollasks and the Nagulae are
both represented on these specimens, audare most
Tic districtla which this ancient sand stone has
existed cxtcuda oscr great portion of Wisconsin,
and Of Iowa and the geat fertility Of soil In these
phatc Of lime and o:her ingredients IL those fos-
sif, OF which Euch an immense number hare be:n
mixed In the soil. It IL Of intense interest to &C.
bic evidence Of the physical condition or Tie globe
at that very remote period. There are few lo-ati-
tiee where Eeolog'.;s can pass fey d:ys Inorc
fior There the igneous rocks, Granites, ssenltes,
homb9ede trap rocks, &C. the primary. s1rati1ed
or azoac, are all exposed to view.
address, Or r. KESHtcoTT.
Robert kcnuicott was then introduced By the
chairman a::d delivered address upon the fauna
OF tic P1airies in eonGadistinctlon with those Of
The timtcred districts. He alluded to the dlner-
ent animals and birds which are peculiar to par
ticular countrics-pa1ticu1ar portions Of the
globe. The hn1nmipg bird for instanco is found
Iowhe1c else than on tins continent He illus
tsated 'hss eys creation h $, iSF IN
more abundant than elsewhere and, 70 where
you viii, from that point, in any direction, and
the @ vi ss
the centre, OF numerous species Of birds, and H.
Illustrated hts subject by showing specimens Of the
quail as found In this section, In Texas, and CALI
Bufalo snd antelope are found only on the pratt
rief; the grizzr bear and gray squirrels aaa nu-
merons otler animals arc seldom, II ever, found
on the prairies. The woodchuck Is found only In
the woods, and the pralie-dos, Its nearest repre-
sentative. found only on tbs praifics. Se7p:nts
are more closely confined to this 1ale. The p.ai-
Fuf@1n n ATA @1aa
found in the woods. The mountain rattlc-snaRc
md numerous other BeTpents, are ncEer fonnd eZ-
eept in the wood:. TT the1e are rspIe e. sentative
districts. he won}d not nndestake to explain this
Or account for these pecultarities, nut to- state
facts. He bel4eyeB there 3s class OF animals aud
plants peculiar TO EACH the prairie and timber DIS
tiets.
I'D ihe e5g wo Saad a
snakes, to some extent He explained the diff
renee between the representative species In noun
tain and prairie, and stated thAt the prairie
Winter, and comes to LIE again in spring not hav-
ing paTtakcn of particle of food for months and
not having lost over ono hundrcdth In weight.
REMARKS OF 7Ro1,: 1,:AxnREws.
Prof. Andrew. added that thorough iuyeshsa-
ton into the structure Of animals, and the adapta-
lion o1 the parts Of each animal, for the demands
That will be made npon them, will clearly demon
st.xte why animale are where they are. Their
homo, and several paIts ere adopted to their mode
Of lie, their mean. Of getting food, and the char
acter Of the food they are to subssst upon. There
is evidently fsason why animals limit themselves
Amer so1ae further discuas'on upen this and Kin
" The + e sSeiety ID adjonrned tiu the second ruesday
in january.
4 NEEDLESS ScARE.-It was rumored about
the city, yesterday afternoon, that some boya were
drowned while skating on tho South Branch. but
on inquiry, oCr reporter was unnbla to ascertain
tho fact- Several auxious papas and mammas, who
feared it might be their own yoong ''olivc plants
who had thus taken root in the fertile bsd Of tho
Chicago Rivcr, were rushing about the docks and
tunbling oge1 icy lumber and piles OF coal. One
Of our efficient and intelligent Germsn policemen
{the Germans are noted for their deep research IN
physical sdcnce,) ca1med their fears and assauged
ct than IN anchos could possibly sink In those pei
lucid waterB, and they departed to their homes
With Aeht.ncd hesr:s, to embrace anew their oa:-
spring rendered doubly dear to them bJ the spirit
Of parental affection evoked.
The CHICAGO SANITARY CoMM1ss1oN.-The
following testimony to the value Of the work being
wrought BY the Chicago Sanitary Commission
clipped from the Philadelphia Prssbnerlaa Of the
18th inst, will be read with pleasure by every loyal
man and woman:
Through Its Cairo Agency the chiesgo Sanitary
Commission is still carrying on its ascfuf srmy
work. The oljoct Of tlis work your readers A.
ready know, hut OF the far reaching operstiohs Of
conception till they look oYcr Its book Of ship
1uenta, and &c ths hundreds Of packages now 60
ing on board the Sanitary Bo;t, for transportation
desperation made Of every package forwarded,
after asserting and rep.eking from tbs I
Chicago rooras, md az taeso books arc o2on to
70 arc ii full liberty to hunt for rnIsapprppriaions
and to impoaeh tho action Of the 0Smmlss!oa Il
they can. Though hare ncrcr had i moments
for Two years hhd ample opportunities for uIness-
Ing Its extensive operations. and now. when an
pnrage IL work, wieh to boar NJ h1mblo ret IN
prompted and impartial testimony 10 it, ex;cntits
yalne. ~ economy, and sts eMaeuey. Nothing
tho most sacred obligations viii be violated oYeu
By membets Of our ehuschos. Il this valid aryu~