New-York tribune., 1874-02-21
AMERIC1N SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES.


CINCINNATI: CGNCINNATI Zo0LoGIcAL SOCIETY:
jan 2O-This Society has specially for its object the
establishment of Geological Garden in Cincinnati,
and one of its members during a recent visit to
Europe was requested to investigate the subject of
gardens and to ascertain whether some experienced
Superintendent of such an establishment might not
be secured tor the new enterprise. In the report
presented at tins meeting the duties ana anls 9 9i
Geological gardens in their nroper form were dwelt
upOn and the directors were assured that 1t was
task requiring many years to bring nch an eStaD-
l,hment to a satisfactory condition, but that there
was no doubt that sufficient support would be
welded by the public TO make IL more than pay eX
penses after being fairly started
BALTIMORE MARYLAND ACADEMY OF SCIENCES:
Feb. 2-President Uhcrin the chair The Committee
on the Building reported that the new ediGce was
completed and the key placed in their hands. 1t was
then ordered that the property of the Academy be
removed to the new hall as soon as practicable
second communication was read by John Feast
upon the Eucalyptus 0l0balus and its therapeutic
and other values. A letter was read from Prof.
Martin of New-lOrk in reference to the importance
Of united action on the part of learned scientific
bodies 70 induce the Secretary of the Navy t. have
one or more naturasts sent with the forthcoming
expedition for observing the transit of Venus.
paper was read from Prof ID. s. Martin upon the
economical resources of Cornwall, embracing one of
the most remarkable deposits Of iron ore in America
and forming three large banks. These are situated
on a narrow outcrop of the Primal Series which
rises to the surface southwark of the wide belt of
Auroral limestone that forms the sO-callcd Lebanon
Valley. aud adjacent TO the oveIlyng lrlassc Sand
stone on the south. The banks themselves are these
same primal states raised aud netamOrphosed by the
upheaval of igneOus dykes. Reference was made in
the paper to the immense development of the mag
netc oxide of iron in these mines, ana to the fact
that some of the ore exhibits marked magnetic
polarity (natlve l0de-Stonel The weld Is 10000
tons annually but the capacity is double claimed
by Mr.. Boyd, the Superintendent of the mines
each ton being worth from s. TO $40. The
minerals Of unusual interest found here, with
the magnetic, are lodeS and coatings of cuprite,
chrysocOla, azurite, malachite, and brocantte the
last named being found in no other locality IN East
ern North America Several specimens of the above
were exhibited, and also box of crystals of iron
pyrites from the same source. In one of the hills
there iron and copper sulphuItts, instead of
the oxides found in the Others. The first patent
for working these mines was issued III 1882 During
the Revolution, cannon and ball were cast at the
Cornwall Furnaces and curous item in the history
of these mines is that the Government sold a num-
ber of HesSian prisoners for term of years TO work
in the mines as part payment. This singular trans
action il on record in the old books of the Com
pany, thus linking these mines with the feeble |
beginnings and heroic struggles OF our country.
NEw-HAvEN: CoNNECTICUT ACADEMY OF SCI |
ENCE: Jan. 2l.-President Lyman in the chair |
Prof. Verril gave account Of the Gigantic Cuttle
Fishes found recently on the coast of Newfound- !
land, which substantiate the statements long con-
sidered fabulous in regard to these monsters Sew
eral have been taken Off the coast of Newfoundland
and portions transmitted TO the National Museum at
Washington and other American establishments.
Prof. Eaton read paper on the MelanOsperms or
Fucoid Alge of the California Coast. The species
are few in number. only fourteen being yet
known: but three of these reach a gigantic
size Nereocusts Mdc0cyStS and Phyllosp0rd Rooted
to the bottom the upper part ioats on the surface
in very deep water, and the largest vessels sail
through miles and miles of these great seaweeds In
safety Prof Eaton Is anxious to secure ample col
lectiOns of all kinds Of alge from the Pacific coast
All but the most delicate may be roughly aI-dried
and sent in small bundles by mall
Prof. Verril also presented paper on the Changes
in the Climate of w-Engand, in which attempts |
were made to show that at one time the fauna
OF the coast of Maine was Of much more southern
character than at present, identical indeed with |
that which prevails oil the south side OF Cape Cod
Ihe conclusions which he reaches are, first, that in
eVeI and the water temperature of CascO Bay in |
% %MaIne was colder than at present. probably much |
IKE lhaI OF Newfoundland and Labrador in modern |
times. second. that at a subsequent period when |
Ine cos. was nearly OF quite at its present level the
marine temperature considerably higher than at
present: Third, that the Temperature of these
waters has gradually decped but was still some |
what higher ct the period when the she'll heans ara
formed than it is now. ''' "''0
Prof Brewer read paper on the on gin NJ the |
name Rocky Mountains, the first approach In ,his
name being found in Bellions map of North Amar'
lea, published in Chareyox's History OF New
France in l743 where they called W0ntoon1s des
Pierres Brilidnts. The name of Rocky Mo,ntains |
first appears Map in Morse's American Geog. |
raphy dated 1894 while in the text Of that of 1850
they are still called the Shiuing Mountains. The
name, however, seems TO have been firmly estab- |
llslel ln he tllne of Lewis and Clarke