New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-05
AMERICAN SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES.

Sr LOUIS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE Dec. 1.-THE
usual monthly meeting was held, with DIR. Engel-
man. the President, in the chair. Little business of
general interest was transacted at this meeting.
Some interesting specimens of ethnology were pre-
sented for its consideration, and some discussion
place in regard to the geology of the State Prof
Riley whose name is well known in connection with
the study OF the natural history of the Grapevine
Louise announced that in his opinion the blsulp1lde
of carbon is a certain remedy for tins destructive
pest. The death of Prof. Agassz announced IN
appropriate terms by the President, and commit
appointed TO draft series OF htting Iesolu-
lions.
TORONTO: CANADIAN INSTITUTE Dec ia paper
was read by Prof II. Alleyne Nicholson, entitled
Summary of Recent Researches on the Pai@on-
tology of Ontario. with Brief Descriptions of Some
New Genera" The author gave condensed ac-
count of his researches the fossils of the Cor
niferous Limestone and Hamilton Formation of
Western Canada He recorded l6O species of fossils,
of which 40 were entirely new, and 20 were now for
the first time described from Canadian specimens.
lie also gave brief descriptions of four and
narkable genera of Potyzod under the names of
CarinopOrd. TGniporG CryptopOrd and BotrsllOpord.
The paper merely preliminary to "a report which
would shortly be published, in which detailed de-
kcrptions of all the species met with would be given
NEw-YoRK: AMERICAN GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY:
Dec. l6-Chief-Justice DAY. the President. occupied
the chair and announced the death of Prof Agassz.
A committee of three was appointed to prepare APP
proprate resolutions Of regret on the part of the
Hocety. An account was given by Mr. Paul b. Du
Chailu of a visit to Norway, where he has been
for several years with the object of becoming &C
qnainted with the country in order to write work
upon il. His journey was extended as far to the
north as latitude 70o. Mr.. George KEENAN, read
paper descriptive of his recent travels through the
Caucasus, beginning with general sketch OF tne
mountain range with its principal geographical
features. The chronological pecuiartles OF the c0un
fFtryt aygT sSed m TpVfa
Its civil and political history. The Lecture was wei
ilustrated by stereOpticon views. lecture was
announced to he delivered on the sd OF 'ecenpsgr
upon the Aztec remains in Mexico, by Gen. j. II
Simpson cf the United States Engineers.
BALTIMORE: MARYLAND ACADEMY OF SCIENCES:
Dec 15-The meeting was held in the Chatard
Building Prof. Uhler, President, IN the chair. The
Rev. Dr. Dalrymple, in behalf of committee APP
pointed to examine the question of fish culture for
tie State of Maryland, reported that they had had
an interview with Gov. Wbyte, who promised his
hearty cooperation in any measures adopted by the
Academy for the purpose. DIR. Murdoch reported
that the new building MulbeTry-st would'be
ready for occupation ON the first Monday III Janu-
ary and that brilliant future was to be anticipated
1Or the Academy after taxing possession OF 1hese
new quarters. 4 paper 10y Mr.. John Feast OF Balti-
more upon the blight in grain and grapes was read
and elected some discussion. communication
from Thomas j. Brown OF Waynesvilie ONO, upon
the ancient earthwOrks at AeXandeTsvIle, on the
banks of the Great Miami, was presented, accom-
panied by a diagram. The eaTthwOTks were COM
posed largely OF adobe bricks. Prof. Christopher
Johnston made some remarks upon the silclOus
sponges. among them the bapIeCtetd and HyatoHemd
LAWRENCE KANSAS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE: Dec.
9-The paper entitled Speculations on the Nature
of Comets Tails, was read by Prof. f. W. Bard
well who took the ground that comets tan is no
more part of the comet than is a shadow part OF
the object which gives it form. He supposes that
the resisting medium surrounding the sun for
great distance is itself selfluminous in degree as
indicated by the zOdiaca light that the nucleus OF
q comet is merely large meteOrite; that IN its
rapid motion through the resisting medium near the
sun great heat is thereby developed, increased by
the heat of the sun, causing some of the elements
of the nucleus 10 become yOlatIllzed, and thus 10
present the phenomena of the coma with
its glowing gas; and, finally. that the bright
train called the tail is merely an effect of
an increased luminosity of that portion OF the
resisting medium behind the comet, caused by
The action of she sung ht and heat passing through
the glowing gas of the coma, and projected beyond
in form usually approaching that of cOnical sur
face He predicts that on the appearance ot comet
with a bright train. the tests of spectrum analysis
will show that this train is not nebuous, as BeSseI
and others have supposed, and not of meteoilc
character like that of the nucleus, as SchlapIelli
aud lie VerrieT suppose, but chiefly OF z0dlacai
nature and probably, IN slight degree, rejecting
sunlight.