The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-08-13
SCIENCE.
AMERICAN AOADEmr OF SCIENCE

THE FIsHKs OF THE AMAZON, AND OTHER INTE-
RESTING PAPERS.
NORTHAMPTON, Mass August 1O.-The fifth
scientific session began at o'clock this morning.
Admiral G.. III. Davis took the chair. Professor
Henry, OF the Smithsonian Institute. then offered
II paper "On Sound in it's Economic Applica-
tions." He gave an account of the organization
" of the Lighthouse Board OF this country. This
Board consists of two officers OF the army, two
OF the navy, and two civilians of high scientific
attainment. Three members of this Academy
. are on the Board. He spoke of the committees on
Lighting, experiments, etc. Being member OF the
Committee on Experiments, he gave an account
# OF some which had been made at the lighthouse
near New Haven, with view TO selecting the
best means OF using sound for giving warning to
r ships They had tried steam whistles, fog.bclls
etc, steam-whistle which had been presented
made very great sound which was said 10
have been heard at the distance of thirty miles
The instrument they found best adapted TO their
purposes was a togtrumpet, which gave the
= most sound in proportion TO power, in the best
way. Professor Henry stated, as the most sur
4 prising fact observed, that the sound was found
#to reach to the greatest distance in
H1irecton at right angles to the course
the wind instead OF in the direction of the
wind, as would naturally be supposed. He
Thought at drst that he must be mistaken, but
pn 1ndIng something similar in French
#scenilhc magazine, he constructed an instru-
!, nent by which he verified hls previous observi-
" lions. His experiments we're still very incom-
plete, out ne hoped with his instrument TO work
~ put some valuable results. Professor Henry
bhered to the Board. None had been adopted
sXcepl one invented by Colonel Bache OF the
: army by which the waves dashIng into the
over end OF hole in the ROCK made trumpet
'#ound at the upper end by the column OF air
iriven up. He asked for any suggestions the
Academy might have TO offer that would be of
- lse to the Board
: The subjects OF interrupted sound and change
4 nd variety of pitch, were brought up; as also,
x he question whether sounds OF different pitch
#aVelled at different rates of speed. DR.. b. A.
M hp pN mo nnfg nf II.
~ Boston, IN this line, ana then took occasion
b pay tribute TO MIR. Boyden's genius, which
y as little known because OF his modesty. Others
s. poke similarly of his inventive mind careful
bservatlOn, etc, and OF the great importance
per, uaoing MIR. Boyden to publish hls results
Professor A5asslZ next spoke "On the Geo
3raphlcal Distribution of the Fishes in the
NJ aters OF the Amazon" He found. when ne
fent there, that about $50 species had been de-
Drlbed. We have Trustworthy Information that
ne greatest number seen was not over 2}0. Now
himself haO collected specimens OF over 1900
)ecles, and he was convinced that the whole
umber OF species was at least 5000. He spoke
the facilities extended by the Government of
rail, the Amazonian Steamship Company,
- nd Dv every one whom he met, without which
Ue could have accomplished little. Even the
EheImen were ordered by the Mayors or Presi.
fnts OF the provinces to 90 fishing for mm.
- Rten five or six boats would be about his
lp, bringing fish when had been speared shot
tn arrows, caught in nets or with hooks, or
pisoDed. He thought, therefore, that such a
llecJlOn OF nsleS as ne nad brought home
ould not soon be seen again. The Emperor of
'azil returning from the army on the Paraguay,
mt tor hlm to talk with him OF the Amazon.
nagine his delight at finding the table covered
tn dishes filled with the fishes of the Uraguay
llch the Emperor himself had gathered, and
flich he then gave him for comparison. He
HeVed he was not wrong in saying that the
sin OF the Amazon is the largest treshwater
SIN IN the world. 1t flows through country
ice thousand miles long, with a fall of only
feet. As result Of this, the time
filling up of the Upper Amazon is six months
II rlier than that Of the mouth. The tributaries
the south side supply it most in December
pile those on the north take their turn in June
is is the economy of power in this grand river
H which its rise and fall are very much
81 1nteracted. Many OF those rivers are tinged
MA th some solution, which he thought to be
tgetable, and which had a blackish color.
lose, however, which took their rise in tro-
3f al forests we're clear. The Amazon is so
,3 lite in color that when the Rio Negro pours
|1 Its black tide it does not change the Anna.
b. The white rather Overles the black,
the two colors flow side by side ior many
.3 les. The average temperature of all these
frS is n deg. Centl9rade, and the range only
deg. Centigrade. 1t would be hard to find
in OF such equable temperature. The known
les OF the Amazon are more than the kno wn
es Of the AtlartiC, while, he might add, the
nber of aquatic birds Is amazing. He then
ke of the characteristics of our fishes and
se OF the Amazonian fishes in comparison.
most characteristic class is that of the gonio-
ks, which corresponds to our hornpouts, but
BIN more nearly our surgeons. There is a
of sturgeon in the Mississippi river which
cry closely allied to them. 1t is family OF
Dical distribution. 1t may be said, is it not
sble that these fishes migrate? so that
hing could be inferred from their pre-
~ &ce in certain localities only. He had
fseen this difficulty, and had divided mis-
ty, maxim collections ON different parts of the
Ter Tor many months at the same time; so that
elt that his conclusions were not based on
efficient knOwledge. Another family, which
j. quite numerous, is that OF the sluroids He
<.4l w OF no lake or small river in the country
- ch furnished more than 62 species; but in
ferry small lake in Brazil he obtained 800
ri PIES, ana from larger lakes and rivers he
n cured still larger numbers. The next
lily is that of the chromids. 1t is almost
usivelY South American, with few species
Africa. He believed the number OF these
wn to exist in the Amazon was IL. He
z-H self had added 10. Where the boun-
W es OF transition in geographical dis
ltiOn of these fishes were, and what were
-. causes of this distribution, he could not say.
lad spread his assistants about so that he
sure OF the fact, but he could not yet go
)nd it. Every prominent type OF the ocean
hts type among these same Chromlds. He
bit speak or the habits OF these fishes. Many
les carry their eggs in the sides OF the
III ike food, or tobacco, II you please,
r.. rs bury them in holes. There are Others in
,h the eggs become attached TO the lower
OF the abdomen, others sit upon their eggs
+ Ia bird, one class covering them with the
.I.ft th; the aerated water thus helps 70 hatch
Another family is the carasids, cores
ing to our minuoWs and herring. But there
q ONE kinds OF fish which range all along the
kon aud its tributaries We cannot tell
they should have general distribution any
than we can at present explain the local
budon or the others. He spoke OF the
rrence OF skates, OF eels, of swordish, etc.