New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-11-26

face OF the continent without being detected or innu
or Geo eet produced no effect upon the course OF
that sheet ice than pebble In the courso OF river
" IA Mia opnion that the whole OF the ROCKY
Mountains had been under ice that all our mountains
below 900 feet all scored oy the great sheet OF ICE
lie that the ice sheet which covered the North
ern Continent could certainly not have been less than
10 400 feet thick Tho evidences OF glacial action ID Can
forna were equally clear. The Sierra Nevada nad peen
under ice Al Snmmt, the Central Pacific, tue signs
Prof Woeott Gibbs OF Harvard followed with paper
prof j. D. whitney state Geologist o. OalIiorPs'
Reliability OF the Barometer az Hypsome1ne IhS'ru'
ment." :, -, 49,. ,,,.,,., -, ,ho
Coast Of New England by Prof A. T.. Verrlll OF 1ae
showed interesting and valuable results Inc
tons had added at least $50 species TO the fauna AMONG
tho noys prior 10 this Investigation but II species were
known they had added seven species. vi Ine aealSP,
IS species were previously known they mad added
four had been added the star shers II 70 the NOR
usks; 125 to the worms 20 70 tine sS The st
was final the collection had not yet been workeu ~;
In the afternoon session Prot Hgard read paper D
Tho farSe SSerod barometer" To give Prof Mayer an
opportunity to exhibit his Acoustic Pyrometer, tIe
Academy accepted an invitation OF PToI Lowering 70
physics ara delivered. Prof Mayer DEVOTED nan an
of an Acoustic Wave Surface" with very delicate in
strument OF his own invention, through wncn, UD
exhibited a revolving mirror the serratlons 10 wave
surface visible, and the length OF the waves 1s
mined. The experiments were followed Dy paper I ~
Prof Mayer on the Determination Of the Ke'atV9 In
tenses OF Sounds, and on the Measurement OF Sne
er OF Various Substances Transmit and Renee oOhOIOus
VbrationsU Mr. VIM. Ferre OF the United States Coast
Survey followed with accounts OF Tidal Researches
PROF AGAssIzs POSITION AS TO THE DEVELOPMENT
THEORY.
Thursday session closed with broadside delivered by
Prof Agassiz at the development theory aud warm dc
fense OF his position scientist His subject was an
nounced as "Crtca Remarks about Scientific views en-
tertaned upon Theoretical grounds The Professor a'
tho outset promised be brief and observed his prom
Use he left doubt upon the minds OF any one as 10
his position grow older in the ranks OF sclenee;
said the Professor feel and more the danger OF
stretching differences from few observations 70 wuo
field. that the younger generation among M %
ists are al this moment falling into the mistake OF max
ing assertions and presenting views as scienInc pC
pies which not oven based upon rea oDseI 90
think 1t is time that some positive remonstrahee oe nauS
against that tendency. Tue manner III VIII" which
the evolution theory In zoology Is u eaaio
gists TO suppose that observations nave Doen
made by which can be inferred that there y 10 naS
taking place. There Is no such thlng on Ie.glu' US
shifting the GROUND IRON OnT and when the assertions
90 40 far exclude from the domain OF science os
who will not be dragged into this mre OF mere assertion
beD n ia time 10 Dr0test He thought 1t int0leran5
TO say he was notion scientific grounds because ne was
not falling into the path which was occupied by those
who maintain that all organized beings have been de-
rived from few original progenltOrs OtheI suPPoat
the changes have taken place by show
ing certain degrees OF resemblance Dul WAe MY
genitors from which they were evolved They assume
that they contained all that IS necessary 10 eyoFe Wnt
FOR n these rst prototypes contained the principle
Of evolution we should know something about them
from observation. and IL should be shown that mere are
such OF ganized beings as are capable OF evolution !
ask Whence these propertiesi II this power anu
capacity Of change Is not nherenI 10 inc nst
tOrs then ask, Whence came the impulses ny wnlch
those progenltors which have not TINS power Oh 0nnge
in themselves, acquire themt what Is the power ny
which they are started in directions which are not de-
ermned by their primitive FI tue on
these and other points he did not THINK ~ worm Inei
evolution his scientific considerations; Hs aeknowi
edged what the eyOlutOnlsts had done incuentah III
scientiac research; had done more than MI OAR
win He believed he had been injured wofuiy by his
adherents. lilo was far better man than must Vi hiS
WbaeyeT may be the opinion of other members of the
Academy on the evolution theory, it has been carefully
~ them have taken up the glove There seemed
be general desire 90 avoid discussion PfOI AVisslL
listened 10 with attention. Out BIS postum was hO'
pulicly assaed
EXPANSION BY NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. TOPOGRAPHIC
CAL WORK
Nov 2s-This morning the Academy met for its third
days work at the Museum, and by close attention TO
business succeeded in bringing all the papers within the
regular session hours, aud adjourned at 81 O'clock to
meet again in Washington in April. The papers read
Yesterday we're as follows; "A1nites OF Echinoderns
and Worms" by Prof Alexander Agassz; Embryo
logical Fragments Concerning the Voluteda" by Prof.
Louis Aglssiz; /" Observations on the Nature and
Colnmbia College; ION the Specific Identity of
Some Animals Along the Atlantic and Pacific
Researches on The Changes OF Dimensions OF IRON and
steel Rods aud Of Hooy Iron Cylinders by Magnetic
ton" by Prof. A. NJ. Mayer; "Pedcearia OF Eehino-
derms," by Prof Alex Agasslz Notice OF the Progress
Of the ropographica work OF the Geo!9SS Sgpyy OF
gans OF the Seachans Compared with One Another and
with !4Sse 81 0 CoTona by Prof young a
the Changes Selaehians Undergo with Age by Proi
Louis Agassiz; Mathematical Reversal anu semi
Reversal" by Prof. Benjamin PIERCE -
These ii papers were all brought within the compass
OF ~ hours In breyty and dreeness they were models
OF statement The speakers always stOpp5d W1ea tey
got through and the absence OF all apology ana Useless
was psrSSTy prf RSd ppeseS s S
results Of the previous experiments ot9 Araso Dover,
Paraday anu " aped with Faraday that
there were some flashes OF lightning nllly second IN
Duration while other flashes he measured were as snort
as the six hundrodth part OF a second.
Prof Mayer in his paper gave abuated results OF his
cred that rods OF iron suffered permanent eongaton
magnetiZatiOn or hundred ana nftyInlonths OF
eiongStioni Scrap iron the minimum. Whether the
current was gradually increased IN intensity whether
gree of eIopSaton with one cei the eongation took
place In six-tenths of seeOndi with Is cells It took
place IN two-tenths OF second Prof Pierce though II
tho elOngatiOn OF iron under INAUGURATION were true
IL might make IN its effect on the earth an appreclaDe
difference IN the length Of the day This could be- de-
tected by astronomy A change N the day or seven
hundredths OF second would DC perfectly easy " dis
Prof Whitnoys remarks on the California geological
survey and his exhibition OF maps drew forth com
Agassz had been looking at these maps, aud was sur
prsed at their extent their beauty and accuracy The
geological survey Of France had been going for more
than 80 years but has not produced much IN the way
OF typographical work as had beeq dope IN the short
time or tho geological survey OF California. Prof.
PIERCE thought IL work Of immense national i'm
pOrtance, and should not be interrupted Pr0 WHIT
ney had worked through much adversely and dhculty,
but he had been rewarded by magnificent results
In his remarks on the identity OF animals along
the Atlantic and Pacific shogeS OF Amerlea Prof Agas
siZ thought that the fact could not be explained until
we shall have explanations the diversity of the ami
NAL creation over the whole surface OF the globe. The
possibility OF water communication between the two
oceans Will not account for it.
The telegraph will apprise OF the resolution upon
menOriazing Congress concerning action upon scien-