of all agents in terrestrial degradation, and by the mechanical action and transporting power of its waves, the materials of its shores are brought under the local influences of the shifting streams of tidal current, and are arranged in bars, island-beaches, and salient points or shoals, which have often a progressive increase on one hand, while undergoing degradation and removal on the other. These effects, as seen at Cape Cod, Block Island, Fire Island, Sandy Hook, Hatteras, &c., may be traced along our whole coast, from Massachusetts Bay to Mexico.

Such were the general views he had been led to entertain, on a subject which hitherto had received but little of that attention to which it was justly entitled; and he trusted that the inquiry now so happily commenced, would be unremittingly pursued, under the favourable circumstances and auspices which were afforded by the general survey of the coast now in progress.

Dr. GOULD, in allusion to a statement, that substances are found drifted in opposition to the course of the wind, mentioned a fact, well known to persons resident on the coast, that, when the wind blows off the coast, the waves throw up shells in greater abundance than when it blows in the opposite direction.

Prof. AGASSIZ adverted to the necessity of comparing the results of all observers, in order to arrive at important data for the guidance of geologists.

Prof. PEIRCE gave an account of the views of E. DESOR, Esq., "On the Local Distribution of Marine Animals," an abstract of which has not been handed in for publication.

Prof. AGASSIZ now interested the Section with his observations

ON THE FISHES OF LAKE SUPERIOR.

Prof. A. remarked that it had been his good fortune, the past summer, to have opportunities, in company with several friends, some of whom he now saw before him, to explore the northern lakes, and more especially Lake Superior. His attention had been called particularly to the fishes-a subject which has possessed for him, for many years, very great interest. His object was not so much to draw a comparison between the fishes of the United States and those of Canada, as to ascertain their geological distribution, and to satisfy himself whether they were indiscriminately distributed through all these lakes, or whether there were differences in their identity. Upon

carefully comparing them, he had found that they were entirely different that there are particular families in some of these lakes, and other families in others, and that they never leave their peculiar localities. There are families in Lake Huron, which cannot be found in Lake Superior, and that those in the latter do not move down to the lower lakes. He is satisfied that these fish originate in the localities in which they are found. It is a singular fact, he remarked, that these families are found in the same relative positions with the fish in lakes of Northern Europe, yet, although they agree, generally, with the European species, in their zoological classification, they are entirely different in structure and variety. The salt waters of Europe contain fish which the salt waters do not contain here; and among the fresh waters, although they generally agree, none are entirely alike-showing that there can be no transportation of the different varieties from one country to another, as it would be contrary to the laws of nature.

There is no convenience for the fish of our lakes to travel into the lakes of Northern Europe; and he proceeded to inquire whether these inconveniences were trifling or serious in their character. The subject, however, was too complex to arrive at a definite conclusion. In Lake Huron there are a great variety of fishes, belonging to the Perch family, which he classified under appropriate heads. It is well known, from geographical data, that North America is the oldest continental land known upon earth; and the general ancient character of this country is deeply impressed upon the mind of the geologist. He could not avoid the influence of this feeling when exploring the northern shore of Lake Superior. Is it not remarkable, he asked, that animals now exist, which are "old-fashioned" in their external zoological character, of the same type with those of the antediluvian periods? North America is the only place where the Garpikes live, and the Garpike is the only representative of the period when that fish alone existed!

Among the fishes there are two types-one with smooth, the other cerated scales. Those with cerated scales have usually two dorsal fins, but he had found in Lake Superior a new fish, with spines upon the opercular bones; and all the scales are hard and cerated. What has never before been observed in hard scale fishes, this species has, like the Salmon, an adipose, or fatty fin. Here, then, in Lake Superior, we have this old-fashioned fish, upon this old soil! He considered it important to trace our living animals in their relation to the fossils, as also that their geographical distribution should be noticed.

The whole number of fishes he had collected from Lake Superior, was 33, about a dozen of which were entirely new varieties.

Prof. AGASSIz then read Prof. J. W.. BAILEY'S paper "ON MICROSCOPIC FORAMINIFERA, FROM THE SOUNDINGS OF THE COAST SURVEY,” to decide whether of importance in navigation. He spoke of the figures given, as valuable from being given as seen, and not drawn with any attempt to give them with precision, as supposed to exist.

Dr. S. G. MORTON submitted the following letter from Prof. M. TUOMEY on the results of his observations in the Tertiary region of South Carolina.

Alabama, Sept. 5, 1848.

Dear Sir, I sent you, some days since, as I once promised, a specimen of A. placenta and T. thoracica, from the Eocene of Wilmington, N. C. Of the former species I think there is doubt, the latter I must leave to you. You may recollect, that on another occasion I sent P. Gregale and T. Harlani from S. C. I intended to have accompanied the specimens with a paper on the Eocene of N. and S. Carolina, but as my report on the geology of the latter State will soon be published, I have thought it better to postpone it for the present, particularly as I am on the way towards St. Stephens, to examine the orbitoidal limestone of that place.

Should this reach you in time, may I ask the favour of you to state to the Geological Secretary of the Assistant Geologists, the following results of my investigations in the Tertiary of South Carolina, provided that you find them of sufficient interest.

1st. That the Eocene of S. Carolina is composed of three well characterized divisions: of these, the lowest in the series is the burrstone formation, consisting of beds of sand, clay, gravel and grit, resting upon the cretaceous beds.

The fossils, which are all silicified, occur in the upper part of the formation, and along the verge of the superincumbent calcareous strata; they are for the most part identical with those of Claiborne, and represent a littoral fauna. The Santee beds, which overlie the burrstone, consist of limestone, marl and green sand, being an extension of the Eocene of Wilmington. These are again overlaid by the marls of the Ashley and Cooper rivers.

2d. Although the fossils of these beds include nearly all of those considered characteristic of the Eocene of the United States; never

theless, there are among them well characterized cretaceous forms,* such as

46

Ammonites placenta, De Cay, Loc., Wilmington, N. Carolina.

3d. That the fossils of the Middle Tertiary of S. Carolina contain per cent. of recent species; I have therefore referred that formation to Mr. Lyell's Older Pliocene. The proportion of recent species seems to increase from north to south.

4th. That the Post Pliocene contains several forms no longer found living on the coast of the State, but belong to the living fauna of Florida and the West Indies.

5th. That the coast of S. Carolina presents no evidence of very recent subsidence, as stated by some visiters; but that all the phenomena attributed to that cause, are the result of the horizontal changes going on at this moment.

I am, dear sir, with sincere respect,

Yours, &c.

M. TUOMEY.

Afternoon Session.

In addition to the officers chosen for this Section, Dr. A. A. GOULD was appointed an additional Secretary, and Prof. SAMUEL HENRY DICKSON and Prof. J. HALL were added to the Standing Committee, which now consists of the following members:

Prof. L. AGASSIZ, Chairman; Dr. R. W. GIBBES, Secretary; Dr. A. A. GOULD, Assistant Secretary; Prof. S. H. DICKSON and Prof. J. HALL.

The Section then proceeded to business. Several specimens of the tracks of Mollusca upon sandstone were exhibited by Prof. Hall, who gave his views upon them, as evidences of beaches in the Silurian period. From these tracks of the Mollusca, he was led to believe that sea beaches formerly existed far in the interior of the land. He also exhibited and described some fossils from the Onondaga salt group.

* Mr. Lyell admits O. cretacia among the fossils of the orbitoidal limestone of Alabama.

E

Dr. LECONTE expressed his views "On the Geographical Distribution of Coleoptera," which will be published at length in a work now in preparation for the press.

After an animated discussion on the subject of the geographical distribution of animals, in which many members took part, it was moved and seconded, that an election be held for Chairman, when Dr. S. G. MORTON was unanimously chosen.

The Section then adjourned to meet to-morrow at 10 o'clock, A. M. R. W. GIBBES, Sec'ry.

September 21.

SECTION OF GENERAL PHYSICS, &c.

Morning Session.

Pursuant to the order of business, the Section for General Physics met at 10, A. M., in the Chemical Hall of the University.

A programme of business was submitted by the Committee, and the first page read was

A REPORT ON THE WINDS OF THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE. BY PROF. J. H. COFFIN.

After some remarks upon the importance in investigations of that kind, of lengthened periods of observation, for the purpose of eliminating accidental errors, and of extending the field of research over as wide a field as possible, he proceeded to classify the observations which formed the basis of the report according to the regions or countries in which they were taken. These were widely scattered over both continents, and the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic Oceans, and embraced an aggregate period of over two thousand years, at 550 fixed stations, beside numerous voyages and tours. A more extensive collection, he remarked, than had ever before been brought together for the purpose.

He next proceeded to point out the method he adopted to determine from these observations, the mean course of the wind, which was the same as that by which the traverse of a ship at sea is resolved. By the aid of extensive diagrams, he then proceeded to establish the fact that between lat. 331° and 60°, there is a general current