Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-02-11
ne,heI Natural History Society.


The Bethel Natural History Society
met Saturday evening, Jan. sth, at DR..
True's. After election Of new members,
the evening was devoted to the reading
OF papers by lady members. Mrs. ID.
Hammons read IN elaborate paper on
THE PHENOMENA OF EARTHQUAKES.
The causes of earthquakes are not per-
ceptable TO our senses The direction Is
sometimes perpendicular al other times
horizontal and undulating or even whr!-
ing. The earthquake experienced in this
vicinity last October was horizontal, and
apparently running from north to south
At this pointa discussion arose among the
members in reference To the direction Of
earthquakes experienced in New Eng
land. The general impression was that
we are often deceived in regard to its di-
rcc,ion.
Sometimes the earthquake Is Felt over
n small territory; ut other times it cN-
tends over large portion OF the globe.
They 10 not proceed from external causes.
The opinion now prevails that they pro-
ceed from the same causes as volcanoes.
The volcano has permanent crater.
Earthquakes may cause the earth to open
and eject mud. stones, gases and flames,
and then they suddenly cease. They
must have grea. depth in the earth. The
tension OF the earth's crust in slowly cool
ing may cause earthquakes, on the same
principle rs the cracking OF a stove pipe
or stove when cooling. Tidal waves are
produced by earthquakes. some going
one quarter round the globe. These had
an important influence in the structure
Of the rocks in ancient geological times
The President remarked that the eldest
rocks on the globe bear marks ofvolcanoes
and earthquakes TO an extent far great
or than at present, and that the seat OF
earthquakes at present is in the regions
ofthe more recent formations. Professor
Forbes, in n recent paper, argues Tor the
connection Of all volcanoes with each
other, from the fact that the chemical
composition of al layas is nearly identi-
cal.
PAINTING.
Mrs. E. Foster next read paper on
painting. This may be defined the art OF
representing Nature. 1t is one of the
most difficult OF arts TO be an accomplish
ed painter Let person attemptto draw
chair, or any article Of furnit are, aud
he will soon expose himself to 4 blum
der. The drawing of simple straight
line, curves, shadowing and persp ectiye
constitute the principles of painting. A
good painting does not so much depend
on the smooth appearance OF colors, so
much as their proper arrangement. A
good idea of perspective may be had by
looking at the picture OF the object when
held before the mirror. Red, yellow and
blue are the primary colors from which
all others are formed. No combination
Of other colors can produce these three.
When black paint is used, it is said 10 be
shaded, when white, it is said to be tint
ed. In order to critisise painting, u
person must be familiar with perspec-
tive and nature. All pictures are found
wanting in something.
Several amusing incidents were related
bymembers on imperfections in paintings.
A painter last summer from New York
undertook to paint MULLEN stock grow
irg by the side of pond in Bethel, but
he was reminded by citizen that mul.
lien never grows by the side Of ponds.
THE CoNCH SHELL.
The next paper by Mrs. n. I. True
was on the Natural History of the Conch
Shell, (strombus gigas.) The word
strombus signifies top. 1t is distinguish
ed by having the right side projecting
like wing. There is a notch in the
wing near the canal but separate from it
which distinguishes the genus. Through
this notch the head is projected. 1t has
no distinct organs of sense except those Of
sight. The eye is highly organized. 1t
has an operculum, properly called the
eyestones, TO which the foot is attached,
so that when the foot is drawn into the
shell, the opcrculum serves as a door;
when extended it serves Is shield TO the
animal while moving about. 1t moves
by short leaps, first on one side and then
the other. 1t subsists on ,lecayed animal
food, hence it is sometimes called the
carTion she'll. 1t lives in the West Indies
and especially about the Bahamas. They
are shppedin large numbers TO Europe,
where they are ground up for the manu-
facture of porcelain. They are also
used in cameo cutting instead of onyx.
Taey may be readily distinguished from
The latter, which is much harder.