Agassiz and Forbes first taught us to open our eyes to the truth on this subject. Those who have not visited the classic scenes of Wales will find the excellent woodcuts of this essay quite a valuable substitute for personal observation.

III. BOTANY.

1. Eulogy on Robert Brown; by Dr. VON MARTIUS (translated from the German by Prof. Henfrey, and published in the Annals and Magazine of Natural History for May, 1859).-An eulogy upon the greatest Pflanzenkenner,' the world has yet produced," pronounced by one of his most distinguished survivors and intimate friends. One so learned, so genial, and so philosophical as Von Martius, cannot fail to interest and instruct, although somewhat of the glow and animation which we expect in the original may be lost in the translation. We are pleased to learn the curious fact, that a humble but peculiar North American plant, which has somehow found its way to the Irish and North British shores, may be said to have fixed the destiny of the great Botanist. Upon the completion of his medical studies, Brown, as is well known, was attached as ensign and assistant surgeon to a Scotch militia regiment stationed upon the western coast of Ireland.

"An inconspicuous plant with which he there became acquainted-the Eriocaulon septangulare,-the only European representative of an especially American order-caused his life to be diverted into the exclusive service of botany; for, accompanying a recruiting party of his regiment to London, in the summer of the year 1798, and on the road visiting his friend Dr. Withering at Edgbarton, near Birmingham, the latter caused him to introduce himself, with that plant and his researches upon it, to Dr. Dryander. This learned botanist, librarian to Sir Joseph Banks, astonished at the minuteness of the investigation, and the fullness of the conclusions derived therefrom, recommended the young military surgeon as a future master in botany; and Sir Joseph Banks from this time forward showed him a paternal kindness. He welcomed him as a regular guest at the celebrated literary breakfasts, during his five months' stay in London, and in December, 1800, proposed him to the Government as Naturalist to the naval Exploring Expedition to New Holland, under Capt. Flinders, then fitting out. Robert Brown, at this call, gave up at once the military career, came again to London at Christmas, 1800, and on the 18th of July, 1801, sailed in the Investigator' from Spithead to the newly discovered quarter of the globe."

A. G.

2. Fragmenta Phytographia Australia, contulit FERDINANDUS MUELLER, Ph.D., M.D., Gubern. Col. Victoræ Phytologus, Hort. Bot. Melbournensis Director, etc., etc. Melbourne. Vol. I, fasc. 1-4, (pp. 96), 1858-9.-The British California in the southern hemisphere,― more enlightened and more spirited than our own,-has officially organized and promoted scientific research from the first. The colony has not only its Philosophical Institute, publishing memoirs of high character, but its Botanic Garden, Museum and Herbarium, under the charge of a Government Botanist, the able and indefatigable Dr. Mueller. Nor do they confine the energies of this officer to the Victoria Colony, but spared him to accompany, as botanist, the recent exploration by Capt. Gregory

of the northern part of the great Australian continent, where an extensive and interesting herbarium was gathered. A most enthusiastic and industrious botanist himself, Dr. Mueller awakes the interest and stimulates the activity of others; and vast collections, abounding in novelties, are rapidly accumulating in his hands. He has already published numerous scattered papers, in Germany, Eng and and Australia. The publication now commenced has the advantage of a more convenient, connected form, and contains the characters of new genera and species, and rectifications of those published before, with important critical remarks, &c.

A. G.

3. Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnæan Society (Botany), Nov. 12, (1859): contains, 1st, the latter half of Prof. Henfrey's Note on the Morphology of the Balsaminace. Balsams double [as do most blossoms] by an increase in the number of the whorls of the petals; and when merely one extra whorl of petals is developed, Prof. Henfrey finds these to alternate regularly with the five pieces which Roeper takes for the corolla; thus confirming Reeper's view (over that of Kunth) by evidence from within, of the same nature as that which Hydrocera normally furnishes from without. 2. On the Arborescent Ferns of New Zealand; by Thomas S. Ralph-an instructive, popular account of their trunks and mode of growth. 3. The Indian species of Utricularia; by Daniel Oliver. Apparently an excellent monograph; the Indian species reduced to about two dozen. 4. On five New Plants from Peru; by Richard Spruce.

The botanical contributions to the Journal having much exceeded the zoological in amount, the excess is to be issued in supplemental botanical numbers. The Supplement to Botany, No. 1 and No. 2 have appeared, and contain the Musci India Orientalis; an Enumeration of the Mosses of the East Indies; by Wm. Mitten. This paper fills 171 pages, including an index to the species, and introduces some bold reforms in bryology.

4. Synopsis Hymenophyllacearum, Monographiæ hujus ordinis Prodromus. Auctore R. B. VAN DER BOSCH, M. D. Leyden. pp. 79, 8vo. A separate impression from the Nedrl Kruidk Archief, Dec. 1858.-Dr. Van der Bosch, having in preparation a general monograph of this most elegant group of Ferns, illustrated by figures, has issued this precursory Synopsis. It contains a classified arrangement of the known species, the habitat, most important synonymy, and the characters of a few new species. The two old genera of this group-retained entire by Hooker, but divided into nineteen by Presl,-are here distributed into nine genera, with amended characters; viz:-Cardiomanes, Presl, Feca, Bory; Neuromanes, Trevis; Cephalomanes, Presl; Trichomanes, Smith (with about 114 known species); Didymoglossum, Desv.; Leptocionium, Presl; Hymenoglossum, Pres; and Hymenophyllum (140 species). Carrying his experience as a Bryologist into this analogous field of enquiry, our author finds available specific characters in the cellular structure of the frond. By such characters he distinguishes Trichomanes brevisetum from T. speciosum, and both from T. radicanes.

A. G.

5. The Botany of the Mexican Boundary. Introduction by C. C. PARRY. Botany of the Boundary, by JOHN TORREY, M.D. Cactace, by GEORGE ENGLEMANN, M.D. This forms the first half of that ponderous tome

(almost half as thick as it is wide), the second volume of the Report on the United States and Mexican Survey by Col. Emory, and it must be ranked as the most important publication of the kind that has ever appeared. Dr. Parry's interesting Introduction is brief. Dr. Torrey's systematic account of the general botany extends to p. 270, and is illustrated by 61 plates, most of them well-chosen as to the subject, and all admirably drawn by Riocreux, Sprague, and a few by Hochstein. Dr. Engelmann's important memoir on the Cactace occupies 78 pages of letter-press and is adorned by 75 plates of surpassing excellence. This and its counterpart, the Cactaceae of the Expedition under Lieut. Whipple (of which Dr. J. M. Bigelow was the botanist), published in the fourth volume of the Explorations and Surveys for a Pacific Railroad Route, and illustrated by 24 plates, elucidate a large, peculiar, and most characteristic order of our wide south-western regions in a manner which must command universal admiration, and must assign to the author a high rank among the systematic botanists of our day. The general Botany of the same expedition, by Dr. Torrey, founded upon one of the best collections ever made in such a journey, and illustrated by 25 plates, is worthy of equal praise. But all these memoirs are sadly marred by typographical errors. A government printing office is not well adapted for this sort of work, and proof-reading from a distance seems to be ineffectual. The zoological reports are much better printed, doubtless, because the author on the spot could insist upon a sufficient revision of his proofs, and see that his corrections were attended to. The disfigurements which we notice in these are prepense, and are caused by the depraved taste which writes the names of people with a small, instead of a capital initial letter; e. g. edwardsii, clarkii, ordii, henryi, and so on, usque ad nauseum. Though why they should be so decapitated when genitives after a generic name, although honored with a capital initial when they follow a specific name, passes ordinary comprehension. Consistency would seem to require uniformity like this: Chordeiles henryi, baird. Returning to the Botany, with which alone we are at present concerned, we remark that it would have been most convenient and acceptable to botanists to have cited the numbers of Wright's distributed collections throughout, and also, as far as possible those of Fendler, Lindheimer, and of Berlandier's posthumous distribution. A systematic catalogue of all the plants enumerated and described in these various Western Expeditions, or rather a complete catalogue of the species of the United States west of the 100th parallel of longitude, including those of the Mexican border, is now very much wanted.

A. G.

6. Catalogue of the Phænogamous and Acrogenous Plants contained in Gray's Manual of the Botany of the Northern United States, adapted for marking desiderata in exchanges of specimens, etc. New York: Ivison & Phinney. 1859.-A help of this sort in making exchanges has often been asked for, and the enterprising publishers of Gray's Manual have responded to the demand by publishing, at a low price, this neat Catalogue, for which good office they deserve the best thanks of our scattered botanists. The species are numbered consecutively, from No. 1, Atragene Americana to 2421, Azolla Caroliniana. The list, in double columns, fills thirty-two pages of the same size as those of the Manual

itself. A cent stamp will pay the postage of the pamphlet to any part of the United States; and the sender has only to indicate to his distant correspondent, by marking or by copying the numbers, the species which he desires to receive or is able to furnish. Moreover, the names of the orders, which are printed in bold type, and even those of the genera, may serve another useful purpose: they may be cut out and used for labels in the herbarium.

IV. MISCELLANEOUS SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE.

A. G.

1. The Thirteenth Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science was held August 3-9, 1859, at the City Hall in Springfield, Massachusetts.-The Springfield meeting of the American Association passed off with decided success; the greatest harmony and good feeling prevailed. A large gathering of members from all parts of the United States and Canada and foreign countries enjoyed the graceful hospitalities of one of the most beautiful cities in New England. The number of members in attendance was estimated to be about five hundred. The weather throughout was as fine as possible, and the excursion to Amherst College under the escort of the venerable and distinguished Dr. Hitchcock, was an occasion long to be. remembered as one of the golden days of life. Members seemed lost in admiration of the romantic loveliness of the scenery surrounding the College, and in the unexpected extent, richness, and high condition of the scientific collections, unequalled certainly by those of any other college in the United States. Here Dr. Hitchcock has built up a lasting monument of his original labors in the curious department of foot-marks on the Connecticut sandstone. This vast collection, vast both in the numbers and magnitude of its specimens, is now preserved in "Appleton Hall," a new building erected specially for its accommodation, and on the ground floor of which these curious records of lost races once denizens of this lovely valley are spread out to the inspection of visitors. No one can form an adequate notion of the interest of these remarkable collections without a personal inspection.

Whatever the Black stone of Mecca may prove to be, meteorite or porphyry, the scientific pilgrim to Amherst will be rewarded by an inspection of the largest and most important collection of meteoric specimens in the world, excepting that of the Imperial Museum of Vienna. By the untiring exertions of Prof. Shepard, 124 meteoric discharges are here represented, in choice and unblemished specimens. The Vienna cabinet is stated in Mr. Haidinger's paper of Jan. 7, 1859, to contain 137 localities. The mineralogical collection of Prof. Shepard at Amherst is worthy of most particular notice. In the richness and splendor of its selections, the mineral species are nowhere in America and seldom anywhere so well represented. Choice specimens seem to have come to this celebrated collector's hands like the fabled fish of the wierd fisherman. Whatever was most rare or choice from any locality appears to have found no rest until it was safely placed on his shelves.

No wonder then that amid such surroundings and with beauty and festive speech at the hospitable tables covered by the fair hands of Amherst ladies, the Association was beguiled to view the glories of a midsummer sunset over the picturesque ranges of the Northampton hills, or

that they returned to Springfield late in the evening full of the praises of the day and its rich entertainments.

We append a list of the officers of the Springfield meeting, and also of the papers registered.

Officers of the Association, Springfield meeting.-President, Professor Stephen Alexander.- Vice President, Prof. Edward Hitchcock.-Permanent Secretary, Jos. Lovering.-General Secretary, Wm. Chauvenet.Standing Committee, Professors Stephen Alexander, Jeffries Wyman, William Chauvenet, Joseph Lovering, Edward Hitchcock, John E. Holbrook, A. L. Elwyn, Alexis Caswell, W. M. Gillespie, Benjamin Peirce, A. D. Bache, B. Silliman, Jr., Joseph Leconte, Wolcott Gibbs, J. W. Foster, Esq.-Local Committee, Hon. George Bliss, Chairman.-Dr. George A. Otis, Jr., Secretary. R. A. Chapman, Esq., Rev. Francis Tiffany, George M. Atwater, Capt. James Barnes, Samuel Bowles, Ansel Phelps, Jr., Esq., Hon. C. C. Chaffee, Chester W. Chapin, Col. J. M. Thompson, George Walker, Esq., John L. King, Gen. James S. Whitney, Ethan S. Chapin, Josiah Hooker, Esq., A. D. Briggs.-City Committee, Mayor William B. Calhoun; Aldermen Roger S. Moore and Horace Smith; Councilmen Gurdon C. Judson, Reuben T. Safford, Joshua M. Harrington, Walter North.

List of papers registered for presentation to the Association.*

1. On the Origin of the Azoic Rocks of Michigan and Wisconsin; by Charles Whittlesey.

2. On the Drift Cavities, or "Potash Kettles" of Wisconsin; by C. Whittlesey. 3. General Account of the Results of the Discussion of the Declinometer Observations made at Girard College, Philadelphia, between the years 1840 and 1845, with special reference to the Eleven Years' Period; by A. D. Bache.

4. Distribution of Temperature in the Florida Channel and Straits; by A. D. Bache.

5. Comparison of the Amount and Frequency of Rain with different Winds on the Western Coast of the United States; by A. D. Bache.

6. Abstract of the principal results of the Observations of Temperature at Van Rensselaer Harbor, North Greenland, made by the second Grinnel Expedition under command of Dr. E. K. Kane, U. S. N., during the years 1853-4-5; presented by A. D. Bache, from a reduction and discussion by Charles A. Schott, assistant in the Coast Survey.

7. Abstract of the principal results of the Discussion of the Observations for the Direction and Force of the Wind at Van Rensselaer Harbor, North Greenland, made by the second Grinnel Expedition, under the command of Dr. E. K. Kane, U. S. N., 1853-4-5; presented by A. D. Bache, from a reduction and discussion by Charles A. Schott, assistant in the U. S. Coast Survey.

8. Abstract of the principal results of the Discussion of the Observations for Atmospheric Pressure at Van Rensselaer Harbor, North Greenland, made by the second Grinnel Expedition under command of Dr. E. K. Kane, U. S. N., during the years 1853-4-5; presented by A. D. Bache, from a reduction and discussion by Charles A. Schott, assistant in the U. S. Coast Survey.

9. On the Occurrence of Pot Holes, (or pot-shaped excavations, caused by the gyration of pebbles,) formed by the Drift Agency; by Oliver Marcy.

10. On the marks of Ancient Glaciers, on the Green Mountain Range in Massachusetts and Vermont; by Charles H. Hitchcock.

11. Lake and Pond Rainparts in Vermont; by Charles H. Hitchcock.

* The asterisk prefixed indicate papers not read, and should probably be attached to some others not certainly known to the Editors.