unrolled, presents the vertical columns in even minutes, and the hori zontal in seconds.

The clock signals are also readily connected with the lines of the telegraph offices, by means of properly arranged switches, so that in effect the beats of the Cambridge clock are as distinctly heard at the offices in Boston, Lowell, Burlington, and elsewhere, as they are within a few feet of the clock, the only limit being the power of the battery; by commencing at the even minute, the time is given all along the line, and this is found very convenient in regulating the starting of the Railroad trains. This method has been subjected to a long and satis factory trial, and is now considered as a permanent regulation in this Observatory.

The instrument is mounted according to the German form, which has been objected to from the fact that it requires reversal whenever the object under examination crosses the meridian. This is felt as a prac tical inconvenience in the Cambridge equatorial, only in small zenith distances, since in most instances the telescope passes the meridian by more than an hour of right ascension, and always by more than two hours in southern declinations.

There are but one or two points in which the instrument has been found susceptible of improvement. The arrangement of both the declination and hour circles is inconvenient, causing some needless trouble in reading off the angles.

3. The Solar Eclipse.-The solar eclipse of July 28, was observed at Cambridge, Mass., as follows:

For the beginning, expressed in mean solar time of the Observatory. By R. T. Paine, using a refracting telescope of 54 in. focal length and 3 in. aperture, power 40-7h 49 35-283.

By S. C. Walker, equatorial refracting telescope of 4 in. aperture and 5 feet focal length, power 50-7h 49m 35-343.

By W. C. Bond, Daguerreotype telescope with achromatic eye-piece, focal length 9 feet, Sun's image thrown on a white field-7b 49m 38.979.

By C. W. Tuttle, comet-seeker equatorially mounted, 4 in. aperture, power about 15-7h 49m 44.083.

By T. H Safford, with screen of blue tinge without a telescope-7b 50m 358.

At the end of the eclipse the sun was obscured by clouds. To the unwearied and skillful exertions of J. A. Whipple, we are indebted for a series of daguerreotype impressions of the progress of the eclipse, taken in the small dome of the west wing of the Observatory.

W. C. BOND, Cambridge. Observations were made at Burlington, N. J., with a 5 feet equatori al telescope, and from the very favorable state of the weather were quite satisfactory; beginning 70 31m 54s, and ending 9h 5m 32. Lat itude of the observatory 40° 4' 516. SAML. J. GUMMERE.

4. Science of Pisa.-Pisa is a fine city, and its university contains the best general collection in zoology, geology, mineralogy and botany in all Italy. It is justly celebrated at home for the high character of its scientific men, and deserves to be generally applauded for their sakes. Chas. Matteucci,-the two Savi, sons of the renowned G. Savi,

Professor of botany at Pisa until his death,-Joseph Meneghini professor of mineralogy and geology,-Piria, the chemist, are all names of just celebrity, and we found them most agreeable and enthusiastic men. Prof. Meneghini is a young man and has held his office only two years in place of his unfortunate predecessor Prof. Pila, who was shot in one of the republican battles of 1848. He is also a zoologist and botanist, and has edited "Observazione Postume di Zoologia Adriatica del Prof. Stefano Andrea Renier, Venezia, 1847, containing 16 plates in folio, principally occupied with figures of sponges."-Correspond. of B.S., Jr. 5. Fish of Mt. Bolca.-At Padua we found the most complete collection of the fossil fish of Mt. Bolca, probably in the world; over 500 specimens, generally presenting both sides, some of them five or six feet long, and all remarkably perfect. We visited this celebrated locality last Friday. It is in a very wild and romantic region, surrounded by lofty mountains. Mt. Bolca itself is 2000 feet high; and to the north and east, the Tyrolese Alps rise abruptly, leaving a profound and steep valley between them and the base of Bolca. Columnar basalt in regular forms crowns the summit and intrudes between the vertical fishbeds. Correspondence of B. Silliman, Jr., dated Milan, June 30, 1851. 6. The Werner Festival at Freyberg, (Architect; from the Athenæum, June 21, No. 1234.)-The memory of the great founder of geology is becoming dearer to his numerous disciples every year. Thus, the late commemorative festival was very numerously attended. After the procession had been formed in the halls of the Mining Academy, it proceeded by torchlight to the ancient cathedral. Passing the venerable piles of the huge cloister, it arrived at the monument of Werner, richly decorated; and by the portal of Byzantine origin entered the wide halls of the church. Prof. Breithaupt, as senior of the professors, delivered an oration in honor of the man whose pupils are now spread over the whole globe. The procession was then joined by 700 miners, attired in their mediæval costume. When Werner became professor in Freyberg, it was exclusively a Saxon institution; but, under him it embraced, besides 981 natives, 700 foreigners, and amongst them 236 not Germans, and 33 pupils from all parts of the globe-some among them now occupying the highest rank in the mining profession. 7. Monticelli's collection of Minerals at Naples for sale.-This collection, now in the hands of a nephew of the late Monticelli, the distinguished Italian mineralogist, is offered for sale. It contains 4000 specimens. There are over 400 Vesuvian specimens, containing the largest and finest suite of Vesuvian species and varieties extant, all thoroughly labelled. Besides these, it includes also a beautiful series of Elba and Sicilian minerals, and a general collection rich in the species of the most celebrated European localities. Farther information may be had by applying to the editors of this Journal.

8. Correction. The following note has been received for publication from B. A. Gould, Jr.-Prof. Airy has most kindly called my attention to an important error in the publication of my Report on the Velocity of the Galvanic Current in Telegraph Wires, and which is due solely to my own inadvertence. On page 92 of the Proceedings of the American Association at their New Haven meeting; page 156 of the last volume of your Journal, and page 20 of the extract in pam

phlet form, the tables for the St. Louis and the Louisville signals have been mutually interchanged. The correctness of the published results is however not affected, as the error occurred during the preparation of the manuscript for the press.

9. Letters from Christiania announce that the Swedish government is fitting out an Expedition for the circumnavigation of the world.

OBITUARY.

Sir JAMES GRAHAM DALYELL, the eminent naturalist, and President of the Society for Promoting the Useful Arts in Scotland, died in Edinburgh, on the 7th June, at the age of seventy-seven.

VI. BIBLIOGRAPHY.

1. Reports of the Secretary of War, with Reconnaissances of Routes from San Antonio to El Paso; by Brevet Lt. Col. J. E. JOHNSTON, Lieut. W. F. SMITH, Lieut. F. T. BRYAN, Lieut. N. H. MICHLER, and Capt. S. G. FRENCH of the Quartermaster's Department. Also the Report of Capt. R. B. MARCY'S Route from Fort Smith to Santa Fe; and the Report of Lieut. J. H. SIMPSON, of an Expedition into the Navajo Country; and the Report of Lieut. W. H. C. WHITING'S Reconnaissances of the Western Frontier of Texas. Senate Ex. Doc. No. 64, 31st Congress, 1st Session; 250 pp. 8vo. Washington, 1850.-Like other reports from officers under the Bureau of Topographical Engineers, of which Col. J. J. Abert is at the head, these Reports contain many ob servations of interest to science, and especially to the Geological and Ethnographic departments. The volume is illustrated by 75 litho graphic plates and maps, the former containing views of scenery, of Trap dykes and other geological phenomena, of both individual natives and groups in their sports, of ancient hyeroglyphical inscriptions, and numerous other subjects of interest. We reserve further notice for a

future number.

2. The Banker's Magazine and Statistical Register, edited by J. SMITH HOMANS, Esq. Published at Boston in monthly Nos. of 84 pages, at $5 per year.-Under the editorship of Mr. Homans, the Banker's Magazine is a work of general learning and research, and of wide and philosophical views with regard to moneyed relations and institutions at home and abroad. It also contains much detailed information respecting the production of the precious metals in different countries as well as their circulation, besides facts and opinons on various collateral topics.

The August number, among its many excellent articles, contains a sketch of the early history of banking, with a variety of details which render the magazine of the first importance to bankers, and to well informed merchants.

The publisher of this able periodical gives notice that the following important and interesting works will be embodied in the volume for the year beginning July 1851, and ending June 1852-1. New varieties of gold and silver coins and bullion, with important details relating to the coinage, rules of the Mint, &c.; by Jacob R. Eckfeldt and W. E. Dubois, Assayers of the U. S. Mint. 2. The American Law of Bank. ing, a synopsis of the decisions of the higher courts of every State in

the Union upon the subjects of banking, bills of exchange, promissory notes, damages of bills, usury, notaries public, &c.; the decisions of each State will be arranged by themselves commencing with Maine, to be followed in order by New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, &c. 3. History of Banking and Currency, by W. J. Lawson, Esq.; a recent English work. 4. Historical sketches of the Early Currency among the American Colonies. 5. Gilbart's practical Treatise on Banking, concluded. The second American edition of this work entire (470 pp.) may be had of booksellers throughout the United States.

3. A Guide to the Scientific Knowledge of Things Familiar; by Rev. Dr. BREWER. From the London edition. 426 pp. 16mo. New York. 1851. C. S. Francis and Co.-This work consists of questions and answers on familiar applications of science and the various physical phenomena of every day life. The questions are such as naturally arise in the mind of a person of ordinary observation; and the work gives simple yet sufficient explanations. The reader will gather a great amount of information from this little volume, and will find it ready to solve many doubts and queries that are suggested by operations in nature around him.

4. Elements of Latin Pronunciation, for the use of Students in Language, Law, Medicine, Zoology, Botany, and the Sciences generally, in which Latin words are used; by S. S. HALDEMAN, A.M., Prof. Nat. Hist. Univ. Penn. 76 pp. 12mo. Philadelphia, 1851.-Prof. Haldeman through extensive intercourse with the Indians of this continent and the natives of many other regions, has studied with great success the science of phonetics, and has thus prepared himself for his researches into the true pronunciation of the Latin language. The work therefore commends itself to scholars not only as a treatise on this particular language, but also for its classification of sounds, and for general views on their force, modes of combination, and relations.

5. The Fourth Annual Report of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution; showing the operations, expenditures and condition of the Institution during the year 1849. Washington, 1850.-Besides the other topics of this important report, it contains a detailed descriptive and historical catalogue of the various libraries of the country, made out by Mr. C. C. Jewett, the very able Librarian of the Institution. 6. Ausführliches Handbuch der Analytischen Chemie, von HEINRICH ROSE. In two volumes; the first of 968 pages 8vo on Qualitative Analysis, and the second of 1070 pages, on Quantitative Analysis. Braunschweig, 1851.-The Analytical Chemistry of Rose is so well known and so highly appreciated, that we need only announce here that a new edition has appeared in Germany, greatly enlarged. It is the most learned work extant on the subject and the most convenient for the student.

7. The Journal of Agriculture, a monthly of 32 pages, edited by WM. S. KING and J. J. MAPES. Boston. The first number of this new Agricultural Journal appeared on the 2nd of July last.

8. Iconographic Encyclopedia.--No. 21 of this valuable work published by Rudolph Garrigue, New York, has been issued. The plates sustain the high character promised by the earlier numbers.

Prof. S. ST. JOHN: Elements of Geology. 1851. G. P. Putnam.

E. HITCHCOCK, D.D.: The Religion of Geology and its connected Sciences. Boston. 1851. Phillips, Sampson & Co.

Prof. C. B. ADAMS: Contributions to Conchology, No. 9, containing new species of land shells from Jamaica, and Catalogue of the land shells of Jamaica, pp. 153-188. From the Annals of the N. Y. Lyceum, vol. v, No. 3.

W. R. BIRT: The Hurricane Guide; being an attempt to connect the Rotatory Gale or Revolving storm with atmospheric waves. London. J. Murray.

W. B. CARPENTER: Principles of Physiology, General and Comparative. From the 3d London edition, in one 8vo volume of nearly 1100 pages with 321 wood-cuts. Philadelphia.

R. W. MYLNE, F.G.S.: A new map of London and its environs, Topographical and Geological. London.

RICHARD LAMING: Matter and Force, their nature and laws analytically derived and synthetically applied, a new system founded on the gravitation of electricity, and proving the universe to be sustained by a moral power, with an essay on the Philosophy of Physical Science. 8vo, with 5 plates. London. R. Taylor. 48.

SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO KNOWLEDGE: An ephemeris of the Planet Neptune, for the year 1852, by Sears C. Walker. 9 pp. 4to. Washington. 1851. SIXTY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT of the Regents of the University of the State of New York. Made to the Legislature, March 1, 1851. 382 pp. 8vo. Albany. 1851.

THE MAGAZINE OF BOTANY conducted by Thos. Moore, Esq., F.L.S., and W. P. Ayres; assisted in Botany by A. Henfrey, Esq., in Chemistry by Dr. Voelckner, in Entomology, by J. O. Westwood. London. Wm. S. Orr & Co. Part 17 was issued in May. 2s. 6d. each.

MM. RAYER, SOUBEIRAN ET BOUILLARD, Memoires sur la Digitaline par MM. Homole et Quevenne. 55 pp. 8vo. Paris. 1851. L. Martinet, Rue Mignon, 2.

Dr. CHARLES ROBIN: Rapport a la Société de Biologie par la commission chargée d'examiner les communications de M. Souleyet, relatives à la question désignée sous le nom de Phlébentérisme. 132 pp. 8vo. Paris. 1851. J. B. Baillière.

p.

170.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACAD. NAT. SCI. PHILADELPHIA, vol. v.—APRIL. Note on the Palæotherium Proutii; J. Leidy.-p. 171. On the bones of a Reptile supposed to be from the new red sandstone, in the S. E. corner of Lehigh county, Pa.; I. Lea. pp. 172, 173. New Fossil Tortoises, (Stylemys nebrascensis, Leidy, Testudo lata, L., and Emys hemispherica,) from Nebraska Territory; J. Leidyp. 173. On the paucity of half caste children in New Holland; Dr. Morton.-p. 175. On some Caprimulgida in the collections of the Academy; J. Cassin-MAY. p. 201 and 212. On the transferring of a portion of tissue of a scirrhous mamma from a female to a frog; J. Leidy.-p. 201. On the plants affording gamboge and camphor; Rev. F. Mason.-p. 204. A Gryllotalpa americana destroyed by the growth of a Fungus; J. Leidy-p. 205 and p. 224. Contributions to Helminthology; J. Leidy-p. 213. On the Habits of Birds of Western Texas, and descriptions of undescribed species; Col. G. A. McCall.

PROC. BOST. SOC. NAT. HIST. JAN., 1851.-p. 1. Remarks on the " Aztec children;" Dr. J. M. Warren.-p. 2. New Fossil Echinoderms from the Lower Tertiary of Georgia; TT. Bouvé. p. 5. New Holothuria of the coast of the United States; W. O. Ayres, (New genus Sclerodactyla proposed.)—p. 7. Two new shells of Massachusetts Bay, Spirialis Gouldii, Thracia Couthouyi, and a new Holothuria, Anaperus unisemita; Wm. Stimpson.-p. 9. List of fossils of the Post-pliocene of Chelsea; Wm. Stimpson.-p. 10. Observation on the shell and sternum of the Trionyx ferox; J. Wyman.-FEBRUARY. p. 11. New species of Synapta; W. O. Ayres-p. 12. Species of shells new to Massachusetts Bay; Wm. Stimpson, (includes the new species, Rissoa eburnea, R. multilineata, R. Mighelsii, R. exarata, R. pelagica, Turritella acicula, T. areolata, Chemnitzia modesta, C. interrupta, C. seminuda.)

PROCEEDINGS OF THE AM. PHIL. SOCIETY, vol. v, No. 46. January to July, 1851p. 177. On a large specimen of Gold from California; Mr. DuBois The gold of the specimen weighed 265 5 ounces troy; fineness 902.-p. 187. Observations on Mollusca; I. Lea. On the size of certain Naiades from near Cincinnati; I. Lea. On the Electro-chronograph; J. Locke.