The soundings examined were as follows: 1080 fathoms, Latitude 42° 04′ North, Longitude 29° 00' West, 1360 LL As these soundings are believed to be the deepest ever submitted to microscopic examination, and were obtained at localities far remote from those previously noticed, they were studied very carefully, and the following are the facts ascertained: 1. None of these soundings contain a particle of gravel, sand, or other recognizable unorganized mineral matter. 2. They all agree in being almost entirely made up of the calcareous shells of minute, or microscopic Foraminifera (Polythalamia, Ehr.), among which the species of Globigerina greatly predominate in all the specimens, while Orbulina universa, D'Orb., is in immense numbers in some of the soundings, and particularly abundant in that from 1800 fathoms. 3. They all contain a few species of non-parasitic or pelagic Diatoms, among which Coscinodiscus lineatus, C. excentricus, and C. radiatus of Ehrenberg, are much the most abundant. 4. They all contain a few siliceous skeletons of Polycistineæ, among which are several species of Haliomma, Lithocampe, &c. 5. They all contain spicules of sponges, and a few specimens of Dictyocha fibula, Ehr. 6. The above mentioned organic bodies constitute almost the entire mass of the soundings, being mingled only with a fine calcareous mud derived from the disintegration of the shells. 7. These soundings contain no species of Foraminifera belonging to the group of Agathistegues (Plicatilia, Ehr.), a group which appears to be confined to shallow waters, and which in the fossil state first appears in the tertiary, where it abounds. 8. These soundings agree with the deep soundings off the coast of the United States, in the presence and predominance of species of the genus Globigerina, and in the presence of the cosmopolite species Orbulina universa, D'Orb., but they contain not traces of the Marginulina Bacheii, B., Textilaria Atlantica, B., and other species characteristic of the soundings of the western Atlantic. 9. Examined by chromatic polarized light, the foraminiferous shells in these soundings showed beautiful colored crosses in their cells, and the mud accompanying them also became colored, showing that it is not an amorphous chemical precipitate. It in fact can be traced through fragments of various sizes, to the perfect shells of the Foraminiferæ. 10. In the vast amount of pelagic Foraminifera, and in the entire absence of sand, these soundings strikingly resemble the SECOND SERIES, Vol. XVII, No. 50.-March, 1854. 23 chalk of England, as well as the calcareous marls of the Upper Missouri, and this would seem to indicate that these also were deep sea deposits. The cretaceous deposits of New Jersey present no resemblance to these soundings, and are doubtless littoral, as stated by Prof. H. D. Rogers (Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist. 1853, p. 297).* 11. The examination of a sounding 175 fathoms in depth, made in latitude 42° 53′ 30′′ N., longitude 50° 05′ 45′′ W. (near Bank of Newfoundland) by Lt. Berryman gave results singularly different from those above stated. It proved to be made up of quartzose sand, with a few particles of hornblende, and not a trace of any organic form could be detected in it. This exceptional result is important, as it proves that the distribution of the organic forms depends on something beside the depth of the water. 12. Connecting the results above mentioned with those furnished by the soundings made in the western portions of the Atlantic it appears that with the one exception above mentioned, the bottom of the North Atlantic Ocean, as far as examined, from the depth of about 60 fathoms, to that of more than two miles (2000 fathoms) is literally nothing but a mass of microscopic shells. 13. The examination of a large number of specimens of ocean water taken at different depths by Lt. Berryman at situations in close proximity to the places where the soundings were made, shows that even in the summer months when animal life is most abundant, neither the surface water, nor that of any depth collected, contained a trace of any hard shelled animalcules. The animals present, some of which are even now alive in the bottles, are all of a soft, perishable nature, leaving on their decay only a light flocculent matter, while the Foraminifera and Diatoms would have left their hard shells if they had been present. As the species whose shells now compose the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean have not been found living in the surface waters, nor in shallow water along the shore, the question arises, Do they live on the bottom at the immense depths where they are found, or are they borne by submarine currents from their real habitat? Has the Gulf Stream any connection by means of its temperature or its current with their distribution? The determination of these and other important questions connected with this subject requires many additional observations to be made. It is hoped that the results already obtained will induce scientific commanders and travellers to spare no pains in collecting deep sea soundings. If such materials are sent either to Lt. Maury, U. S. Observatory, or to myself at West Point, N. Y., they will be thankfully received and carefully studied. See also this Journal, vol. xvii, p. 131. ART. XV.-On some New Localities of Fossil Diatomaceœ in California and Oregon; by Prof. J. W. BAILEY, West Point, New York. SOME interesting specimens of fossil Diatomaceæ from California and Oregon having come into my possession, I am induced to publish the following brief notices of them, in hopes to direct the attention of travellers in those regions to those remarkable deposits, and thus acquire more information concerning their position and extent. It 1. The first specimen of fossil Diatomacea from California, I found among specimens of minerals collected two or three years ago in California by Washington Chilton, Esq., of New York. It was from Suisun Bay, 25 to 30 miles above St. Francisco, where Mr. Chilton says a large bed of similar material exists. consists of a light white claylike substance made up entirely of fossil marine Diatoms, many species of which are identical with species occurring fossil in the tertiary diatomaceous deposits of Virginia and Maryland, while a number of the species found in these latter deposits do not occur in the California beds. 2. In a box of minerals collected in Oregon and California by Lt. Robt. Williamson, of the U. S. Topographical Engineers, I found four specimens of fossil diatomaceous earth, evidently from different localities, although unfortunately the precise locality is mentioned for but two of the specimens. I will designate them as specimens A, B, C, and D. Specimen A.-This is a very light white substance, made up of the siliceous shells of fluviatile Diatoms. The predominant species are a small Gallionella, and a Discoplea mingled with a few species of Epithemia, Cocconema, Gomphonema and Spongiolites. This specimen was without a label, but is believed to be the specimen referred to in the following extract from a letter received from Lt. Williamson: "You will find some of the light white clay from Pit River, which I spoke of to you." This is, I believe, the same substance which has given rise to the newspaper accounts of cliffs in California composed of carbonate of magnesia. Specimen B.-This is a light white chalky mass, whose locality is not given. It consists of fluviatile species, among which various species of Biblarium are quite abundant. The species of this genus have been found living in Siberia, and fossil in Oregon. Lt. Williamson's specimen resembles the Oregon mass found by the U. S. Exploring Expedition under Capt. Wilkes, but presents a different group of forms and therefore must be from a different locality. Specimen C.-This is also a chalklike mass, whose precise locality is not marked. It is composed chiefly of a minute species of Gallionella, mingled with sieve-like discs which at first would be referred to the marine genus Coscinodiscus, but the entire absence of all other marine forms and the presence of several decidedly fluviatile species, makes me believe that the deposit is a fresh water one, and careful examination of these discs show that they are more nearly allied to the fresh water genus Stephanodiscus than to the marine Coscinodiscus. Specimen D.-Is an ash-colored earth, marked as from near the Boiling Spring, Pit River. It is chiefly remarkable for containing a great number of Phytolitharia, or remains of the siliceous portions of plants, mingled however with numerous minute fluviatile Diatoms. It is hoped that travellers in California and Oregon will keep a look out for specimens of light white, clay like substances, and carefully marking the locality at the time of collection, send them to me for microscopic examination. Even a minute portion sent by mail will be very acceptable. ART. XVI.-Analysis of Beryl from Goshen, Massachusetts; by Dr. J. W. MALLET. THIS Beryl from Goshen is the variety formerly called Goshenite by Prof. C. U. Shepard, but which in his latest work, is referred to Beryl. The specimen examined was part of a broken six-sided prism, with rough faces of one inch or one and a half inches in diameter, having a very faint tinge of rose color. Sp. gr. = 2.813. It yielded on analysis, ART. XVII. On the Silurian System of the Lake Superior Region; by JAMES HALL.* Chazy, Birds-Eye, Black River, and Trenton Limestones.— These limestones are so intimately connected, one with another, in the Lake Superior district, and each is so thin, that no advantage can be derived from treating them separately. It is true, however, that each can be recognized as a distinct member of the lower Silurian series, and is characterized by fossils peculiar to itself, as has been shown in New York. Reduced as these formations are in thickness, it will, nevertheless, be necessary to study them separately, and for the geologist, or collector, to preserve the fossils distinct. Commencing at the eastern limits of the district, these limestones are first seen upon the St. Mary's river; but they are better exposed upon the eastern side of St. Joseph's island, than upon the main land of the Michigan side. The sandstone, which is seen on Sugar island, plunges to the south, and passes beneath all these limestones, leaving, as far as observed, no trace of the calciferous; but an interval, covered by drift, occurs, where no rock is visible. In examining the shore of the island, the first rock seen, after the disappearance of the sandstone, is the Birds-eye limestone; but, further to the eastward, near a projecting point, some layers of the Chazy make their appearance, having, towards the bottom, an arenaceous character; while higher up, they assume an argillo-calcareous composition, and contain fossils characteristic of this member of the New York series. This limestone is also seen to pass directly beneath other beds, which, by their peculiar character, may be recognized as the Birds-eye. The fossils of the Chazy do not pass above the limits of the Birds-eye; but the respective limits of the two members are as well defined here as in any of their eastern localities. The Birds-eye limestone is, for the most part, thin-bedded, the layers being separated by shaly matter, which rapidly wear away under the influence of the atmosphere and the water, while the harder parts are brittle and easily fractured. This limestone appears to be more fossiliferous here than in New York, and, in the upper layers particularly, we found a great number of Orthoceratites. The Black-river limestone, or beds which may be regarded as the equivalent, seems to be intimately incorporated with the Birds-eye; so much so, that no line of demarcation could be detected. The following pages are cited from Chapters IX and X, of Messrs. Foster & Whitney's Report, on the Lake Superior Region, Part 2, and are in continuation of the part of the work from which we have cited on pages 11 to 33. |