‘ 4 = 4 e3 pr ae SCIENCE AND ARTS. ar CONDUCTED BY — BENJAMIN SILLIMAN, M.D. LL. D. Professor of ee Paget — in Yale Bap orresponding Member of the Saeciety of Arts, Manufactures, and f London ; Member of the a Mineralogical Society o ot Desens of of a Imperial Agricultural So- ciety of Moscow ; ber of the Linnzan Soci aaa ae the ieee ao Belfast; 2 ‘i its ae ae VOL. XL—OCTOBER, 1826. - _ AoamnaemrRNRRAE - 2 = NEW-HAVEN : PUBLISHED AND SOLD BY A. H. MALTBY ANP CO, os PRINTED BY T. G. WOODWARD AND co. = 1 826. = on @ CONTENTS OF VOLUME Xi. » NumBer 1. Au L. spi of be Volcanic Character of the en fawaii, and h | acts connected wit ae Observations of the Gan Missionaries in snes Cou il. t Weceriteole he Eruption of Lang ae and Mud Laake in t, in vie summer of 18 wight, Hl. Practical Remarks on the Shell Marl Region of the Piateus f Virginia and Maryland, and on the Bituminous rmation in Virginia, &e. By James Pierce iv. ae tle a 4 Oviersatte ons. By Prof. C. Dewey, : - n Fuel. Elisha North, M. D. of New-Loudon, C Vi. Auta Coal 4 Rhode- Island—Remarks upon its Properties ses: with an additional Notice cies tan of Peunesiventn, &c. By the Editor oY “VIE Proot« That t general and tire orn Soe sree. ra et vider INTELLIGENCE AND MISCELLANIES. i8 erful Carrents have ‘swept and OnE VU. An. Account of a Engine; generating that may be substan yi suet of the de vm reine oBy Sam rel More, 61 rford, New-Hamps KX. Metnorial on the Upward Forces-o f Plusds, and their ‘aiiglics, ility to the several Arts and Sciences, a2 bite Snape seilae By Edm = Charles Ge net. 5. iby Felix Pas = calis, M. D, &c.j - - eS rs ion on ometers. E jare _ tice 7 Hiai it rseen 2 Bay Eton wae a he © eve- : wae ac of April }4th, - 186 By George W- ct, 20. XII. On Specifie Gravity ; several pew Pit for the oa = Laboratory. By Robert Hare, ences fo Da XIU. Description of a new species of Dory led the Crinited Zeus, | from Block-Island. By a = sith LL.D. &e oe _XIV. Caricography, (continued) “By Prof. Dewey, 2 mV. Co airibations Ase the Boas Bs the States of ilinois ‘and ; : issouri. By Lewis C. é = 167 ' XVI. Description of the Gr sviliteans err: genus, be- = eaabe to the order Musci. as & Bec a )? and ; es Ebenezer En give . a > XVI. ae tess 293 on two late Meteors = at New Haven, is ; “Alexander C. Twining, chu Daas - 184 ¢ a of Mr. Owen’s E steblishiment 1 in allen: By Mr. Wittig g 189 “8 ? 2. Tope 0 henietcat — Dana’s eeinue of Chemical Philosophy, Trees 6. Unprecedented Cold, - ‘at of July, 1825, > % * Wie Os a ae aes 4. ieee UC a a) ‘ ond Ped 8 7. Sea Setpent, . = 8. Reliquiz Dilu ee eS - ro Ss 9. Colle of Foreign Minerals, ee = 197 20, Anti ues of Bs ar ‘its 8 Compo -in a Let +. = av a CONTENTS, NUMBER 2. Page. ART. = The Divining Rod Observations on the Geol logivat Features of the south side * ‘Ontario Valley. By James Geddes, Ill. On the P and Advantage of studying Natural History. | is 2 By fs a IV. Facts and Remar ks es to ie Cli inate; Diseassk, Geslog aa aa oe of pers of the sory of Ohio, &c. By ¥: Notes on Sriaia parts ¢ of the State of Ohio. By } ‘De: s. P. Hil. ret VI. A Revie Sof the Pri rinci Heed of New VII. Notice of a recent Discovery of the ‘Fossil nesibins of the Mas- todon. By Jeremiah Van Rensselaer, M. D. 246 ‘VIII. Account of some new:Vesuvian Minerals. By Sigg. Monticelli i 2) 231 and li. (Translated by D Van Retguslas TX. An Arrangement Bask enera of Batracian sie veith a he oo tion of t ore remarkable Species, including a Menogra aph of he Doubtful a By D. H. Barnes, 268 X. Bue nincd of a Specimen of Gold f suid to _ alloyed. mith Bhoeee um. By Pr of del Ri 0, of Matisie 7 XI. Caricography, et By Prof. C C. Dewey, XII. History and Description of some remarkable Atmospheric Ap- neés kage ; , and Sept. 8, 1816, 3293 XU. On Pitch back and Breast-Wheels. By Mr . Quinby, - Problem to determine the Position of the Crank nen ae ten- dency of the Power to Broduce: Rotation is a Maxi nb XV. Pre’ Lice to earner ea application to ‘Mechant cal Indus- try of the upward Force ad Fluids. send s Memori ot bs Felix Pascalis, MW. D. - XVI. On the present state of Chemi By Denison Olm . ~ sted ey of — =) Natural Emmephy: in Yale eS XVH. Particalars of the. Effects of a Stroke of Et hining i in he house of ior set sd sal ane late ni. we .D.in es) wate hergfeld - - XVHI. Volcano of Ki a : " s -< INTELL IGENCE AND MISCELLANIES. 1. Notice of Dr. Webster's Text Book, atest gy - 2. Linnean Sse of Pari oh eRe z - 380 8. On the cutting of Cast fori by Soft Iron, . - : - 384 “ Correction by Gen. Martin Field, - . z é ee . Collection of Minerals—Double < = 885 efraction, Forcig Literature ang. ciara Gacatend aed translated he J. Ss * 1m. 4 a. Printing—Soot, ration and use off Pas tils of bi-carbona Pes 388 — 5, 6. Crystalline Substances from the Juice of Plante The Butterfly - Collector's Vade Mecu 91 7, 8,9: ey for , charg Water with Irou—Reduetion of Sul- __phurous A —Rus. __ rink: 392 10. Exp Mari ¢ Acid: See Ui. Di sappearance e of the Br catia goer by Iodine, —- - 895 shee, 12, 13. Sugar from Beets—Treatise on ring See - : 4 - 396 sey 14, 15. Nourishment of Horses—Pr rese ering Skins - ~ - 397 16. Natural — of the Grub, - 398 rrection of an { ight in Lagrange’ s Formule, ib. Pee... a ut a2 ERRATA.—VOL. XI. . 5, line 16 from bottom, for make rea 16, line 13 from bottom, for directed aid direction. 42, bottom line, for luiguage read language. 65, line 9 from bottom, for makingt 0 = eeges to. 160, line 20 from top, for fllacca read ** fine 4 from bottom, for sibcy vitndes © ceis read sub- aipegraceis- “line 3 from bottom, for fredunculata read pedun- 7 eulata, line = = bottom, for subloxifloris read sublaxi- uta line 4 “from bottom, and bottom line, for stameni- feris read staminifcris P. 243, line 16 from bottom, for acienaiisa read increments. DP, 244, line 7 from top, for de read dependent. 4 43 4 ” = . 245, ae eee eC y=a ©. Kr, and y P _ P. 246, line 5 from top, for De Lambert ah D'Alem- bert. P. 384, line 22 from top, for dix read disk. fn a part of the edition, p: 259; line 10 from top, for due ‘vead zo, and expunge the note at bottom. + 394, line 17 7 from hottom, for Elizur read Elijahs 2 . : : quid lava bie that the Java still. pmatnued ts flow along the outside te Volcanic Charttcter of the Island of Hawaii. 13 arch thus formed, into the plain below, as we observed, in sev- eral places, the course of unbroken streams, fromthe top of the | cliff, to the bed of smooth lava, that covered the beach for sev- eral miles. The space at the bottom, een the ancient rocks and more recently formed lava, was from six to twelve feet. On the one side, the lava rose perpendicular and smooth, — showing distinctly the variously coloured strata, of which it Was composed; some of a bright scarlet, others brown and pur le. ‘The whole mass appeared to have undergone, since its formation, the effects of violent heat. he cracks and hol- lows, horizontally between the different strata, or obliquely through them, were filled with lava, of a florid red colour, and much less porous than the general mass. It must have been brought to a state of most perfect liquefaction, as it had filled e that was more than half an inch wide. It appeapetlaslity @ lazed, and in some places we could discover small round nebbiet from thé size of a hazel nut to that of a hen’s egg, of the same colour, and having the same polish, yet seeming to have remained solid, while the liquid a with which they were mixed, had been forced by subterranean fire, into all the fissures of the ancient rock. pile on trast, but nota teen aneectinl & scene. It a Seni oot dark purpie, or ae Mesto colour, ae in the rays of the sun, as if glaze t with a beautiful vitreous varnish. breaking any ‘idirtachie of it, we Sunil them very porous, and considerably lighter than the ancient lava, on the other side. ts forms bafiled description, and were equal to the con- ons of the most fertile imagination. The archway thue Sea extended for about half a mile, occasionally i interrupt- ed by an opening in the pes of lava, as eit by <— project- or elevation in afl sublime and fori“ must vir 2s ch eS when this burning stream rolled in one wide sheet, a fiery cascade, from the lofty steep, down upon the smoking plain. With what consternation and horror must it have filled the afflicted inhabitants of the surrounding villages, as they beheld its irre- sistible and devastating course, im impressed as they were, with the abode in the volcanoes, and was in person visiting them with thunder, oe tees ‘and liquid fire, the imstru- ments of her po and vengeance: © As we passed along this 14 Volcanic Character of the Istand of Hawaii. vaulted avenue, called by the natives Keanaee, we beheld a number of caverns and tunnels, from some of which, streams of lava had flowed. The mouths of others being walled up with stones, we supposed were used as sepulchres. Mats ings, were used as worksh« , mats, or ing cloth. Some we also saw used as store-hous- _€8, or depositories of sandal wood. In many places, the wa- ter filtered through the lava, and around the spots where it had dropped upon the ground, we observed a quantity of very fine, white, spear-shaped crystals, of a sharp nitrous taste. Having walked a considerable distance along the covered way, and collected as many specimens of the lava as we could conveniently carry, we returned to the sea shore, the path a- long which was often tedious and difficult. The lava frequently presented a mural front, from 60 to 100 feet in height, in ma- ny places hanging over our heads, apparently-every moment ready to fall; while beneath us the long rolling billows of the Pacific chaffed and foamed among the huge fragments, along which our road lay. In many places, the lava had flowed-in vast torrents over the top of the precipice into the sea. Broad flakes of it, or masses like stalactites, hung from the project- ing edge in every direction. The attention was also atiract- ed by a number of in the face of the rocks, at differ- } . be 5 = “ so ‘tunnels, from which streams of lava had gushed out, and fal- en into the ocean below, probably at the same time that it had rolled down in a horrid cataract from the rocks above, », On the 25th, Messrs. Thurston, Goodrich and Bishop con- ee <3 wore the most rugged aspect imaginable. About 2 P. M. Sy paseedt apres iors, pares pillars of lava, about feet sc : or I » Standing in the D fe a — nding in water ) 2 parently by an earthquake, when it was in a semicfuid Volcanic Character of the Island of Hawii. 15 State. About noon they passed a sinve crater. Its rim, on the side towards the sea, was broken down, and the streams of lava issuing thetigins marked the place by which its contents wi ipally discharged. that of Keanaee ; but, like much in the immediate vicinity of and but partially glazed over.’ For a mile along the coast, they found it nis sae to eich without makings a consider- able circuit inland, ey continued to pursue their we over a broken and pudiged tract of lava. In this volcanic country, the want of fresh water is severe-_ ly felt, and was often experienced by the missionaries during their tour. On the 26th, at Kapua, they hired a man to go about se+ pe miles i into the mountains, for fresh water ; but he return- one calabash full, a v inade sae su for ce pee oe had much | su ; Peles of'brackish water. They now entered the district and turning the southern point of the ae found es the itself in every direction, from the sere to dhe mountains. Here and these at distant intervals they passed a lonely house, or a few wandering fishermen’s huts, with a solitary shrub of thistles struggling for existence among the crevices in the blocks of scoria and lava: all besides was one vast de- sert, dreary, black and wild. Often all traces of a path entire- ly disappeared. For miles together, they clambered over huge Pieces of vitreous scoria, or rugged piles of iy which like several. of the tracts they had passed in Kana into its present confusion by some violent santo of the Their narrative proceeds : a From the state of _the lava, pas- sed, we should be induced to think, that eruptions and earth- quakes had been almost without exception, concomitants of each other ; and the shocks m: must have been exceedingly vio- in Saiueser, were sea piled ep Stee wise, or stood ee —— Ate others, piled up in a similar manner.” “ Some were six, ten, or twelve feet ee — ae Pot louie te the lava below, which 16 Volcanic Character of the Island of Hawaii. appeared to have flowed round their. base, and filled up the interstices occasioned by the separation of the different pieces. = of these rugged slabs generally presented a compact, oth, glazed, and gently undulated surface, while the other appeared rugged and broken, as if torn with violence from the viscid mass, to which it hac tenaciously adhered. Probably these slabs were raised by the expansive force of heated air, or of steam, beneath the sheet of lava.” ‘A number of conical — 150 to 200 feet high, rose immediately in our rear, One The company were much distressed for want of water, but were relieved by the natives, who appear to have been uni- formly kind and hospitable. 3 After leaving Keavaiti on the 27th, “ Messrs. Thurston, Bish- op, and Goodrich travelled over the rugged lava, tillthe moon ing obscured by heavy clouds, they were obli- ged to halt under a high rock of lava, and wait the dawn of day; for, they found it impossible to proceed in the dark, without being every moment in danger of stumbling over the sharp projections of the rocks, or falling into some of the deep and wide fissures that intersected the lava in every di- rected. During the whole of the 27th, a most beautiful ¢p, threw up a volume of water with considerable noise, ing effect, to the height of thirty or forty feet. The lava at this place was very ancient, and much heavier wa that at Kona. The vesicles were completely filled with olivin. substance was often the missionary’s pulpit, when he preach- Volcanic Character of the Island of Hawaii. 17 ’d, and the seat of the people while they heard the tidings of salvation, and at night, the pilgrims ois sought repose upon this rough and pointed bed. Incessant almost, as was its ie it often presented something new or more striking than what had appeared before. On the 30th they cw elled over another tract of lava ** about 200 rods wide, which had been violently torn to pieces, and thrown up in the wild- est confusion. In some places it was heaped forty or fifty feet high. ‘The road across it was formed of large, smooth, round stones, Placed i in a line two or three feet apart.” On these the missionaries passed over, by stepping from one to another, but not without considerable fatigue. They were shown the place where, in one of the wars of ‘Tamehamaha, a party of his enemies, about 80 men, being the warriors of two villages, were, during their repose at night, destroyed by a vo. eruption. In their pitiren's south-eastern side of the island, they arrived at the allan ri Milone, celebrated on of a short pebbly beach called Shoroa. Of these stones they ad been accustomed to form, not only cutting instruments, but to fabricate gods. _It required considerable skill to select those which would answer, and as they were supposed to be endowed with sex, one of ok kind was selected, when they were about to be transforme were wrap- ped up together in a piece of och and after a certain time, a small stone was found with them, which, when grown to the size of its parents, was een. to the heiau and made after- wards to preside at the gam Although the climate of Hawaii 3 is hot, and the thermome- ter on the evening of July 31st stood at 70°, the air from the mountains soon became so keen that, although i in a tropical climate, se found a fire very comforts As upon tie high lac they perceived a number of Yedkinns of smoke and vapour rising at a consid- erable distance, and also one large steady column that seem- ed little affected by the wind, and th as they were told, arose from the great crater of Kira The next day three of the party | tial the eos where they had seen the columns of smoke rising the day before. led five miles over a considerably fertile and composed surface of a bed o ancient lava, upon which shrubs and trees had grown to a considerable height, As they VOL. L.—=-No. 1. 18 Volcanic Character of the Island of Hawait. approached the places from which the smoke issued, they assed over a number of fissures or chasms, from two inches to six feet in with. ‘ The whole mass of rocks had evi- dently been rent by some violent convulsion of the earth, at no very distant period,” and when they came in sight of the ascending columns of smoke and vapour, they beheld, imme- diately below, a valley or hollow, about half a mile across, formed by the sinking down of the whole surface of ancient ava to the depth of fifty feet below its original level. “It was intersected by narrow fissures, running in every direction, and two ran from the mountain towards the sea, as far as the eye - could reach. From the wider portions of these fissures, where they were about ten or twelve feet in width, the smoke arose.. As they descended into the valley the ground sound- ed hollow, the lava cracked under their feet, and soon grew (as they proceeded) so hot that they could not stand more than a minute or two in a place. ; Their guide, terrified by the smoke and vapour that issued from one of the apertures, refused to go any farther, remon- strating against the audacity of the strangers, who presumed thus to provoke the anger of the goddess Pele, the local deity of the volcano, although the guide retreated to the bush- es at the edge of the valley, while the travellers proceeded. they great, that it was difficult to look long. Their hands, legs, at the lava | been thrown out only a few days before. It Wen of, a different kind, from the ancient bed of which the whole valley Yelcanic Character of the Island of Hawai. 19 bright variegated lustre, brittle and porous; while the an- cient lava was of a gray or reddish colour, compact, and bro- ken with difficulty.” The heat varied at the surface, which they attributed to the varying thickness of the lava, beneath the whole of which, the heat was still in great activity, as was evinced by the vol- umes of smoke and vapour every where issuing. Of this place Mr. Ellis took a drawing.— : It appeared from the statement of the guide, that about eleven moons ago, the two large chasms were formed, and that the great hollow had been formed by the subsidence of the earth, about two moons ago, in consequence of an earth- quake. The missionaries regarded this as an infant volcano, which seems, however, te have remained mainly undisturbed for a long time, perhaps for ages ; for “‘ the lava is decompo- sed to a considerable depth, and is mingled with prolific soil, fertile in vegetation, and profitable to its proprietors.” We felt, they observe— a melancholy interest in witnessing th first exhibitions of returning action, after so long a repose in this mighty agent, whose irresistible energies will probably, at no very distant period, spread desolation over a district, now smiling in yerdure, repaying the toils and gladdening the heart of the industrious cultivator.” The place which the missionaries had visited, is about 10 or 12 miles from the sea shore, and about 20 from the great volcano, at the foot of Mouna Roa, As they returned, they ‘ passed several hills, whose broad base and irregular tops, showed them originally to have been ey must have been very ancient, as they were covered with shrubs and trees. From them must have come the then molten, but now indurated floods, over which the par- ” ving made every preparation to visit the great crater of Kirauea, the party set forward at 5 P. M. of July 31. Ata place called Kapuahi, they “ stopped at the entrance fragments of lava, without. Although very poor, they im- parted to the travellers both fresh water and taro root. The progress of the party was new over a most beautiful yt 20 Volcanic Character of the Island of Huwau. country, which, to the right, sloped gradually for ten or fif- teen miles to the ocean, and rose abruptly to the left, ‘* where it was crowned with the woods, which extend, like a vast belt, round the base of Mouna Roa. At the distance of three or four miles they came to another cavern in the lava, called Keapuana, which is often used as a lodging place for benight- ed travellers. ‘ The entrance, which was eight feet wide and five high, was formed by an arch of ancient lava. The interior of the cavern was about fifiy feet square, and the arch that covered it was ten feet high. There was an aperture at the northern end, about three feet in diameter, occasioned by the falling in of the lava, which admitted a current of keen mountain air, through the whole of the night. While they were cleaning out the small stones between some of the blocks of lava, that lay scattered around, a large fire was kindled near e entrance, which, throwing its climmering light on the dark volcanic sides of the cavern, and illuminating one side of the huge masses of lava, exhibited to our view the strange features of our apartment, which resembled in no small degree, scenes - From the higher regions in the vicinity of the cave, the light of the volcano illuminating the clouds, was distinctly vis- ible. and f e high, and so heavily laden with dew, that before we had ch drawn through a river. The morning air was cool, and the singing of birds enlivened the woods. After travelling a short distance over the open country, we came to a small wood, into which we had not penetrated far, before all traces of a path entirely disappeared. We kept on some time, but After s a hing about half an hour, they discovered a track, which led considerably to the southward, in order to avoid the chasm in the lava. Near the place where we crossed over, was a cave of considerable extent. In several places, drops Volcanic Character of the Island of Hawan. 21 of water, beautifully clear, constantly filtered through the arch, and fell into calabashes placed underneath to receive it. Unfortunately for us, these were all nearly empty : ahr waghaiet of died aoolsa tae and drifted by the constant trade-winds from the vast tract of lava to the eastward, we could not determine. Having refreshed ourselves, we resu- med our journey, taking a northerly direction towards the columns of smoke, which we could now distinct] perceive. Our way lay over a wide waste of ancient lava, of a black co- lour, compact and heavy, witha shining vitreous surface, fre- quently thrown up by the expansive force of vapour or heated air, into conical mounds, from six to twelve feet high, which were rent in a number of instances from the apex to the base. The hollows between the mounds and long ridges, were with volcanic sand, or fine particles of decomposed lava. It presented before us a sort of island sea, bounded by moun- ains in the distance. Once it had certainly been in a fluid pal but appeared to have become suddenly petrified, or assy stone, while its agitated billows were roll- nd Wh and fro, Not only were the large swells and hollows disiingtly marked, but in many places the surface of these billows was covered by a smaller ripple, like that observed on the of the sea, at the first springing up of a breeze, or the passing currents of call a “‘ cats-paw.” The sun had risen now in.his strength, and his bright rays reflected from the sparkling sand ; an un- dulated surface of the vitreous lava our eyes, and caus- ed considerable pain, particularly as the trade wind fresh in our faces, a ly drove particles of sand i ict our eyes. This part of our journey Was unusually lal not only from the heat of the sun, and the reflection from the lava, but also from the unevenness of the surface, which obli- ged us constantly to tre: ned plain, in some pla- ees as smooth, and heat” 4 as | "y as glass, where the 22 Volcanic Character 0) the Island of Hawai. atest caution was necessary to avoid a fall: frequently we % chose to walk along on the ridge of a billow of lava, though leading from the volcano to the shore, The surface of the lava on both sides was considerably heated, and the vapour had a strong sulphureous smell. We continued our way, beneath the scorching rays of a vertical sun, till about noon, when we reached a solitary tree, growing in a bed of sand, and spreading its roots among the crevices of the lava. We threw ourselves down, stretch- ed out our weary limbs beneath its grateful shade, and drank poe water left in our canteens. kage “Yn every direction around us, we observed a number of pieces of spumous lava, of an olive colour, extremely cellu- jar, and as light as a sponge. They appeared to have been drifted by the wind into the hollows which they occupied. The high bluff rocks on the north-west side of the volcano, were very distinctly seen ; the smoke and vapour driven past us, and the scent of the fumes of sulphur, which, as we ap- proached from the leeward, we had perceived ever since the wind sprung up» were now very strong, and indicated our ap- ‘oach to Kirauea. Impatient to view it, we rose, after rest- ing about half an hour, and pursued our journey. By the way-side we saw a number of low bushes, bearing beautiful red and yellow berries in clusters, each berry being about the size and shape of a large currant. The native name of the nt is 0. Ve travelled on, clearing every Ohelo bush that grew near the patl i, till about 2 P. M. when the great CRATER OF Kiravea all at once burst upon our view. We expected to Volcanic Character of the Island of Hawaii. 23 ourselves on the e ge of a a Nees precipice, with a vast plain be- ore us, fifteen or sixteen miles in circumference, and sunk from 200 to 400 feet below its original level. The surface of the plain below was uneven, and strewed over with large stones, thd volcanic rocks ; and in the centre of it was the eat crater, a mile or a mile and a half distant from the pre- je ie on which we were standing. Our guides led us round ds the north end of the ridge, in order to find a place by which we might descend to the plain below. As we passed along, we observed the natives, who had hitherto refused to ouch any of the ohelos, now gather several bunches, and af- Ks offering a part to Pele, they eat them freely. They did not use much ceremony in their sckiowledgement, but ‘whith they had plucked a bunch containing several clusters of ber- ries, they made a stand, with their faces turned towards the place where the greatest quantities of smoke and vapour is- sued, and breaking the branch fee held in their hand in two apes bait less steep, a descent to the plain below seemed practicable. It required, however, the greatest caution, as the stones and fragments of rocks frequently gave way our feet, and rolled down from above ; and with all our care we did not reach the bottom without several falls and slight The steep. which we as descended, was formed of volcanic ’ gray | l of lava, vesicular, and lying in sfortontal strata, in thickness from one to forty feet. In a small number of pla- ces, the different strata of lava were, also, rent in perpendic- alar or oblique directions from the top to the bottom, either earthquakes or other violent convulsions of the earth, con- ~ with the action of the adjacent volcano. © walk- ing some distance over the sunken plain, which, im ‘Several on sounded hollow under our feet, we came suddenly to great crater, where a 5} cle, sublime and ‘ial “preselited itself before us. Astonishment and awe oo a 24 Volcanic Character of the Island of Hawaiss for some moments deprived us of speech, and, like statues, wd stood fixed to the spot, with our eyes rivetted on the abyss be- low. Immediately before us yawned an immense gulph, in the form of a crescent, upwards of two miles in length, about a mile across, and apparently eight hundred feet deep. The bottom was filled with lava ; and the south-west and northern arts of it were one vast flood of liquid fire, in a state of terrific ebullition, rolling to and fro its *‘ fiery surge,” and flaming bil- lows. Fifty-one sides, into the boiling mass below. The sides of the gulph before us, were perpendicular for about 400 feet, when there was a wide horizontal ledge of black, solid lava, of irregular breadth, but extending quite around. Beneath this black ledge, the sides sloped towards the centre, which was, as near- ly as we could judge, 300 or 400 feet lower. It was evident that the crater had recently been filled with liquid Java up to this black ledge, and had, by some subterranean canal, emp- tied itself into the sea, or inundated the low land on the shore. The gray, and in some places, apparently calcined sides of the great crater before us ;. the fissures which intersected the banks of sulphur, on the opposite side ; the numerous col- umns of vapour and smoke, that rose at the north and south end of the plain, together with the ridge of steep rocks, by which it was surrounded, rising probably, in some places, 400 feet in perpendicular height, presented an immense volcanic panorama, the effect of which was greatly augmented by the constant roaring of the vast furnaces below. ground in the vicinity was perceptibly warm, and rent by sev- eral deep, irregular chasms, from which steam and thick va- pours continually arose. In some places these chasms were two feet wide. From thence a dense volume of steam as- cended, which was immediately condensed into small drops of — Character of the Island of Hawaii. 25 water, vy the cool mountain aff, and driven like drizzling rain into hollows in the lava, at the leeward side of the ger ‘The pools, which were six or eight feet from the chasms, , surrounded and covered by flags, rushes, and tall grass. -Nourished by the moisture of the vapours, these plants y ished luxuriantly, and, in their turn, sheltered the pools from the heat pected to cot the water warm ; but in this respect we were also agreeably disappointed. When we had quenched our thirst with wants thus distilled by nature, we directed the na- ives to build a hut for us to pass the night im, in such a situ- ation as to command a view of the burning lava ; and while they were thus employed, we prepared to examine the many interesting ober aroundus. Mr. Thurston visited the east- the geen acne and Messrs. Ellis and Goodrich went to examine some extensive beds of sulphur at the north- east end. After erste about three quarters of a mile over atract of decomposed lava, covered with ohelo: «ame to a bank about 150 yards long, and, in some . places up- wards of 30 feet high, formed of volcanic sulphur, with a small proportion of red clay. “The ground was hot, its surface rent by fissures ; and they were sometimes completely enve ped apertures were vi of sulphur ; smoke and vapours arose from these fissures ; ve: the heat around them was more intense than im any o part. They climbed about half way up the bank, and endea- -voured to detach some parts of the crust, but soon fou too hot to be handled. However, by means of their walki sticks, they broke off some curious specimens. ‘Those procured near the surface were crystallized in beautiful circular prisms of a light te a eo cars aa gle or double tetrahedral pyramids, and full an inch in Tenge A singular hissing and cracking noise was heard among the crystals, whenever the outside crust of sulphur was Siritatie and the atmospheric air admitted. The same noise was pro- duced among the fragments broken off, until they were quite cold. The adjacent stones and pieces of ieee were. 1 ly incrusted, either with sulphate or volcanic sal ammoniac. A considerable iano’ was 0 found in the crevices of some of the neighbouring rocks, which was —VOL, I. NO. L- 4 26 Volcanic Character of the Island of Hawaii. much more pungent than that’exposed to the air. Along the bottom of the sulphur bank, they found a number of pieces ~~ of tufa, extremely cellular and light. A thick fog now came over, which being followed by a shower of rain, obliged them to leave this interesting laboratory of nature, and return to their companions. They saw flocks of wild geese, which came down from the mountains and settled among the ohelo bushes: they were in- formed that they were numerous in the interior, but were nev- er seen on the coast. At sun-setting, stihousle the thermometer was as 69°, 'eX- pecting a cold night upon the mountain, they collected fuel, and removed from a dangerous place, which the natives had superstitiously chosen for them, upon the very edge of the crater. ‘The ground sounded hollow in every direction, fre- quently cracked, and in two instances actually gave way as they were passing over it, and exposed the persons, whose limbs sunk through the lava, to great danger and to some in- Mr. r: Tharston, who had been benighted at some Saas, found his way back, directed by the fire, but not without ex- wires great difficulty from the ‘ unevenness of the path, the numerous wide fissures in the lava.” They now par- took with cheerfulness of their evening repast, and afterwards, senidst the: > Lintlinacal the winds around, and the roaring of the furnace beneath, offered up their evening sacrifice of —_- ** Between nine and ten, the dark clouds and heav og, that, since the setting of the sun, had hung over the pe cano, gradually cleared away, and the fires of tthe hee dart- ing their fierce light across the midnight gloom, a a sight terrible and sublime beyond all they had yet se “The agitated mass of liquid lava, like a flood of nede metal, raged with tumultuous whirl, The lively flame that danced over its ae surface, tinged with sulphureous mineral red, cast a broad aling cht: on oo indented sides of the dens phen whose bellowing mouths, amidst ' rising flames and eddying streams of fire, shot up at frequent intervals, with loudest de- tonations, spherical masses of fusing lava, of bri ignit stones. ‘The dark, bold outline of the perpendicular and jutting around, formed a striking contrast with the luminous lake below, whose vivid rays, thrown on the rugged promopr ‘olcanic Character of the Island of Hawaii. 3% iories, and reflected by the overhanging cree Seinen to complete the awful grandeur of the imposing scene.” They sat * gazing at the magnificent caeachen for seve- ral hours, w! laid themselves down on mats, to observe more leisurely its varying aspect ; for, although ing had travelled upwards of ara miles ‘Since the ives said, that neem to ig the volcano had been burning from chaos, or night tll iE fer the origin of the. worl d, and e ven of their gods, to chaos, er night ; and the creation. was, a view, a transition to light. They pace that, in earlier ages, the volcano “ used to boil up, to overflow its banks, and. in- undate the adjacent country ; but that, for many kings’ reigns ants it had kept below the level of the surrounding plain, continually extending its surfaee, and increasing its depth, and occasionally throwing up, with violent explosion, huge rocks, or red hot stones. ahaen eruptions, they said, were always accompanied by dreadful earthquakes, loud claps of thunder, and vivid and quick one setine ligh nates No great explosion, they added, had taken place since: days of Keona, but many places near theace-shors had been o flowed ; on which occasions, they supposed that Pele we by a road.under ground, from from her house in the crater shore. The mythology of Hawaii is te interwoven with the phenomena of their volcanoes and earthquakes, and with the thunder and lightning by which they are i oItis easy to trace in their absurd and extravagant fables respect- ing the contests of Pele, the goddess: of volcanoes, with op- posing powers, the physical conflict of fire and water, and of 28 Volcanic Character of the Island of Hawaii. the various elemental agents, and certainly these fables are’ recommended to a poetical imagination, by much that is splendid and grand Whenever the natives spoke of those gods of fire, it was as ‘ dreadful beings.” They reside imall the volcanoes, but chiefly in that of Kirauea. They never travelled on journies of mercy, but always on those of wrath. Earthquakes, thun- der and lightning their h: sacrifices were rauea with lava, and spouted it out; or taking a subterrane~ ous passage, marched to some one of their houses (craters) in the neighbourhood, and thence came down upon the delin- of Mr. Goodrich, mentioned in his letter, makes it 74. depth of the crater, they estimated at. 700 or 800 feet ; but Mr. Goodrich fixes it at more than 1000. | ~The travellers ‘threw down several large stones, which, to the bottom, where they were lost in the lava. Some of _ Phe party separa path along the edge of the crater, towards the sea shore. The path was in many places dangerous, lying along narrow ridges, with fearful precipices om each side; or across deep chasms and hollows, that required the utmost care to avoid falling into them, and where a fall would have been certain death, as several of the chasms seemed precipice. the i towered some hundred feet above them on bahia and the 2 flood of lava rolled almost beneath on the right. On side they descended to small craters on the declivity, and Volcanic Character of the Island of Hawaii. 29 also to the black ledge; where they collected a number of beautifi Ci lour, light, cellular, brittle, and shining. They also found « a a a € natives rouoho o Pele, (hair of brittle, though some of the filaments were several inches long. vigorous action but a short period before, marks of very re- cent fusion presenting es on every side. Their size and height were various, and many, which, from the top, had appeared insignificant as mole-hills, they now found twelve or twenty feet high. The outsides were composed of bright shining lava, heaped up in piles of most singular form. ‘The lava on the inside was. of alight or dark red colour, with a glazed surface, and in several places, where the heat had ey— ig aa ata rinse of small and beauti- crater, They “entered several small craters, that had been in vi : nels, down which the lava had flowed into the large abyss. They were formed by the cooling of the lava, on the sides and surface of the stream, while it continued to flow on un- derneath. As the size of the current diminished, it had left a ‘he in- -was beautiful beyond description. In many places they _ were ten or twelve feet high, and as many wide at the bot- tom. The roofs formed a arch, hung with red and © brown stalactite lava, in every imaginable shape; while the > chambers to the edge of the precipice, that bounds the great crater, and looked over the fearful steep down which the fiery cascade had: rushed... n the space where it had fallen, the la- va had formed a spacious basin, which, hardening as it cooly -30 Volcanic Character of the Island of Hawaii. ed, had retained all those forms, which a torrent of lava, fal- ling several hundred feet, might be expected to produce on the viscid mass below.” rocks were scattered around, of four or five tons weight, which appeared to have been thrown out in the vol- eanic eruptions. ose Within one hundred yards of the great crater, is another of i illed little Kirauea. ‘Its sides were Ascendin arty enjoyed an extensive view of this interesting country—of Mouna Roa and Mouna Kea, in the distance; and they could ed craters, with brown and black streams of lava, over the whole-extlent ‘fila sibweec: Ee Here they took their last view of the wide-stretched sunken plain, with all its hills and banks of sulphur, its blazing cra- ters, and its igneous lake. “The uneven summits of the steep rocks, that, like a wall, many miles in extent, surrounded the crater, and all its into the vast furnace, where, reduced a second tinre to a liquifi- ed. State, they had again been vomited out.on the adjacent anf But. the magnificent fires of Kirauea, which they had “iewed with such admiration, appeared to dwindle into taper Volcanic Character of the Island of Boni. 31 when they contemplated the possible, not to say pra ietiean of immense subterranean fires immediate+ th them. ‘The whole island of Hawaii, covering a space of 4000 square miles, from the summits of its lofty mountains, perhaps 1500 or 1600 feet “tag the level of the sea,* down to the beach that is washed by ee elas is, according to every observation that the tradelierd could make, one complete mass of lava, or other volcanic matter, in dif- ferent stages of decomposition, and, perforated with innumer- able apertures (or craters,) forms, perhaps, a stupendous arch, over one vast furnace, situated in the heart of a huge subma- rine mountain, of which the island of Hawaii is but the apex. Or possibly, the fires rage with augmented force, at the un- toahie depth of the ocean’s bed; and reared through the t weight of waters, a ‘hollow mountain, form- ing Viedinansbilanmees and at the same time a pyraisidal fun- nel, from the furnace to the ai It seems rather remarkable that strawberries and raspher- ries, which usually flourish best in moist situations, should be found in Hawaii around the volcanic ir ee and even in some Cases in the vicinity of the crater. a few miles of Kirauea the travellers passed three or Seasititatat ham —_ One of them was said by the natives to have in- = country about fourteen generations back. The sides of these craters are generally covered with verdure, while the broken irregular rocks on their surface ‘¢ frowned like the battlements of an ancient castle in ruins.’ descend more or less decomposed. One descent was 400 feet, and —s 500, which brought them to ‘‘a tract of lava consid- erably aE RE at the end of =hiab: another this descended i c — current of lava, for am 800 feet perpendicular depth, when they arrived at the plain below, which was one extended sheet of lava, without shrub or bush, stretching to eye could reach, and from four to six miles across, from the foot of the mountain to the sea.” They crossed att scion c. neh of 14, 14,00 fet, it was press ed that this this oe es oe Their lava, and contain numero’ ie 32 Volcanic Character of the Island of Hawaii. lava in about two hours, and arrived at a village, whose inhab- itants were unwilling to believe that the travellers had not on- ly been to Kirauea, but had broken the sulphur banks, eaten ~ the ohelos, descended to the craters, and broken fragments of lava from them, for Pele, they said, was adreadful being, and would certainly have avenged the insult. They were howev- er convinced by the sight»of the specimens, but said that the travellers had escaped because they were foreigners. Pele, they said had, only five moons ago, issued from a subterrane- an cavern—overflowed the low land of K: ied in- to the sea some of the inhabitants, and a huge rock nearly 100 feet high, which, a little while before, had been separated an earthquake from the main pile. They stated that it now stands in the sea, nearly a mile from shore, its bottom fixed in lava, and its summit rising considerably above the water. ‘The missionaries thought it probable that the eruption here alluded to, arose from “ the body of the lava, which-had fil- led Kirauea up to the black: ledge—between 300 and 400 feet above the liquid lava—that it had, at the time spoken of, lage of Kaimn, where they heard from the people, a confirma- eye witnesses of the statement as to the-transporta- so ; y : . tion of the great rock—“ they recapitulated the contest hen i , they were not inclined to handle them. ie missionaries observed the cracks in the ground and in the houses, produced by a recent earthquake. « Earthg 3 “ rally _ exe eruption of a volcano.” The path from Kaimu had been smooth and pleasant ; but shortly after leaving Kaima- li, they passed “ a very rugged tract of lava, nearly four miles across. . The lava seemed as if broken to pieces while cool- ing ; it had continued to roll on like a stream of e scoria or cinders, progress across it was slow and fatiguing.” Volcanic Character of the Island of Hawaii. 33 As the party travelled out of Pualoa, “ the lava was cov- ered with a tolerably thick layer of soil, and the verdant plain, extending several miles towards the foot of the moun- tains, was agreeably diversified by ps of picturesque hills, originally craters, but now clothed with grass, and ornament-* ed with clumps of trees. The natives informed them that three of these groups, Honuaura, Malama, and Maria, being contiguous and joined at their base, arrested the progress of an immense torrent of lava, which in the days of Taiaiopu, the friend of Capt. Cook, inundated all the country beyond them.” After traversing another tract of rough lava they arrived at Kapoho, situated in an amphitheatre, once evidently a era- ter, but now filled with people and cottages, and smiling with ure and cultivation. The centre was occupied by a child peat brackish Jake in which the re swimming, sporting and diving, . : ; On the 13th of August, near Waiakea, t three The face of the country near Waiakea is rendered very itiful by the frequent long repose which this region has enjoyed from the desolating effects of volcanic eruptions. As the travellers occasionally avoided the roughness of the land by coasting along the shores, they had opportunity to _ observe the bold volcanic rocks, springing up sometimes 600 feet perpendicularly from the sea—and displaying various strata of vesicular lava—from which the water was frequently of the inhabitants were involved in the consequences. : On the 25th of August, Mr. Goodrich enced his as- VOL. L.—No, 1 5 34 Volcanic Character of the Island of Hawaii. cent up Mouna Kea. The soil was formed of decomposed lava and ashes. Atnoon he dismissed his native companion, and taking his great coat and blanket, began to ascend the more steep and rugged parts. The way was difficult, on ac- count of the volcanic reeks and pmanen shrubs that covered the sides of the mountain. On his. way up he founda num- ber of aoe and white raspberry. bushes, loaded with delicious fruit. 5 P. M- having reached the upper boundary of the trees and leashes, that surround = mountain, he erected a hat, kindled a small fire, and prepared for his gts repose. The eee shatty after sun setting, stood at 43°, and the magnet, though it pointed north when held in the hand, was drawn two or three degrees to the east- ward, when placed on the blocks of lava ; owing, probably, to the — quantity of iron in the mountain. ew hours rest, he arose at eleven o’cloc “ at night, and a moon shining brightly, he resumed his j wards the summit. At midnight hesaw the snow sihicins three miles distant, directed his steps towards the place, and reach- ed it abou ae the i ts as frozen over, and the thermometer stood at 27°. e now directed his ae towards a neighbouring peak, which fs mm one of the highest, but when he had ascended several others still higher. ~He proceeded towards the hi re north- of Mouna ~ ame seemed composed sth of iesinaie matter, prineipally cinders, pumice, and sand. Mr. Goodrich did not discover any aperture or crater on either of the summits he visited. Probably there is a large crater somewhere on — summit, from whence the scoria, sand and pumice, have with snow. ‘There were only frequent patches, apparent! several miles in extent, over which the snow was shoint night - ‘ish ot . = in thickness, The ocean to the east and west was visible, ut the ‘highland on the north d d "its being seen_in those directions. ee a pate. Mr. Goodrich commenced his descent abont deinio *clock, and after travelling over large beds of sand, and cinders, inte Volcanic — the Island — 38 . The natives said ‘en were informed by their fathers, that all the land had once been overflowed by the sea, except a small peak on the top of Mouna Kea, where two hum = were preserved from the destruction which overtook the rest. The senivils and abstract which we have now given of the jourial of the missionaries, as regards the volcanic appear- ances in Hawaii, nts a series of facts, in the highest de- gree interesting and instructive. In'vol. 4, at page ee we ave.a similar exhibition of the leading: facts observed i. W.. Webster; and recorded in his very valuable and enter- taining account of the Azores. ‘Those observ ations were made and crimination. ‘It is with great pleasure that we it eure warm commendation of the late effort of the missionaries. Situated in a remote island, in the vast expanse of the Pacific, intense- _ dy and ardently oceupied i in their great object, the moral im- provement and civilization of the natives ;—remote from the fights of science, arid sire to physical privations both fre- quent and severe, we c we them many thanks for the coe amount of sae i fr namie which they have, inci- contributed, ‘history of They. lave, “ina very TV nleatay manner. tific imstruction with moral; and both # religious world will unite in expressin. ments to * missionaries. Tt is a happy illustration of | the good instruments to illustrate the different branches of natural * 36 * Volcanic Character of the Island of Hawaii. history and of physical science. Itis no offence to the higher and more appropriate objects, to add, that dignity is thus shed on the mission, both in the view of the natives and in that of the civilized communities of christian countries. We are confi- dent that many persons will peruse the late Journal of the Mis- sionaries, in Hawaii, because it imparts so much incidental in- formation, while no intelligent person, of whatever feelings or sentiments, will wish the amount of that information dimin- ished. Mineralogy and geology, botany and zoology, astronomy and geography, philology, antiquities and history, may de- rive very important aid from the missionaries, as indeed valu- able information has often been obtained from them in years thatare past. : ; We are gratified also with the Journal of the tour around Hawaii, on acccount of the manner in which it is written. It is amanly, perspicuous, common-sense book, and (very judi- ciously in our view) omits the colloquial epithets of personal afiection, with which missionaries are wont to clothe their nar- ratives, and which, although perfectly proper in private com- , by I tor, and strove by every means in their power, to subvert their super stitious belief i in the agency “3 demons of fire and ae quakes, whom it was necessary to propitiate by penances, sa- crifices and privations, mingled with habitual slavish fear. We conclude by expressing the hope that we may soon be avoured with other productions, similar to that from which we have now made such copious extracts. We trust that all who may peruse these remarks, will be inclined to read the volume of the missionaries. Besides what relates to the mis- sion, they will find very interesting notices of the scenery of the country—of its vegetable productions, and of the manners 22 CREE Tt re RS A surface of Long Lake.—B surface of Mud Lake.— C Wilson’s Mill—D Keene Corner.—E Blodget's Mill.—F Enos’s Miil. ~~ Eruption of Long Lake and Mud Lake, in Vermont. 39 Art. II.—Description of the ¢ Eruption of Long Lake and ud Lake, in Vermont, and of the desolation effected by the rush of the waters through Barton River, and the lower. country, towards Lake Moatiihnedi ogy in the sum- mer of 1810, in a letter to the Editor. By Rev. S.Ep- _ warps Dwianr. 1G Yo volt Boston, April 4; 1826. MY DEAR SIR I left Burlington on Monday, Aug. 18, 1823, and pro- ceeded on horseback, in company with Mr. , an alum- nus of Burlington College, to Craftsbury, 60 miles; where we arrived at 2, P. M. on Tuesday. Through the kindness of my fellow traveller, an inhabitant of Craftsbury, I was able to engage a select and very agreeable party of five gen- tlemen to accompany me, on the-succeeding day; to the of Lone Lake, in the tao of Glover,—the lake which was pe Pe of its waters in the summer of 1810. In the course ernoon, I had leisure to examine the local situation piring to a greater elevation. This table-land is about net miles in length, and one and a half in breadth. The valley pattern: it was once probably a lake, and the table-land a large island in its centre. At present it is almost an island : one river seamen more than half round it, in its progress through the valley, and a second nearly co ompleting that part of the circuit which the first had left. Its situation is more than beautiful and picturesque ; and, in connexion with other more solid advantages, didlo heir te render it one ‘ of the most pleasant and flourishing villages in the state. pep- ulation ——— oe of asuperior character ; andi it gratified me to learn that g-room, or atheneum, was gazettes of the latter. The village is well-built, and every thing indicated good order and gene: Precisely at 4, A. M. of Wednesday, I sat down with one of my companions to an excellent breakfast, which was’ ren- dered more hearty from the reflection oo ee fore worse © \. * ee 40 Eruption of Long Lake and Mud Lake, in Vermont. before the day was over ; and at five we were all on our hor- ses. We rode eastward, through a country chiefly forested, twelve or fifteen miles, to a scattered hamlet in the north part of Glover, called Keene-Corner, and settled by emigrants from Keene, in New-Hampshire. As we began to descend from the high grounds towards this hamlet, we first saw the valley of Barton river; originally resembling the valleys of other streamlets of a similar size, but, at the time of the efflux of the lake, excavated into a broad, deep channel, with n- dicular banks ; in the bottom of which the stream had worked out for itself a somewhat deeper bed. This river, which is here too small for a mill-stream, issues from Mud Lake, four miles south from Keene-Corner, and after running no from this hamlet about seven miles to the village of Barton, turns somewhat to the north-west, flows about fifteen miles, and is discharged into Lake Memphremagog. Iwas most agreeably surprised, as I descended the hills which overlook the valley of the river, to find the ravages made by the flood so distinctly visible, after the lapse of thirteen years. Our first view of the ation presented a gul/ey,* or excavation in the earth, extending up and down the river as far as its course was visible, and varying in breadth from twenty to forty rods, and in depth from twenty to forty feet. This im- mense channel, except what had been previously worn away by the gradual attrition of the streamlet, had all been hollow- ed out at once by the violence of the torrent. Its sides were precipices ofearth or sand, every where indicating the avul- sion of the mass which had been adjacent, and exhibiting in frequent succession, large rocks laid bare and often jutting out into the 3 and near the top the uncovered roots of trees, which, having been partially undermined by the water, we should not be disappointed. * The word gulley, is the word employed by the inhabitants to denote the pond in the earth, which the torrent hollowed out for its own e5 use oe want of a better, It is, however, a word of not unfrequent : ges : re nt at Erupiion of Long Lake and Mud Lake, in Vermont. 42 Having engaged a dinner at a sorry substitute for an inn, we turned tothe south, and ascended Barton River, about four miles. In order to see the ravages of the flood more per- fectly, we left the usual path on the left bank of the gulley, and rode all the way in its bed, over ground regularly ascen- ding, until we came upon the northern shore of Mud Lake. This-lake was originally the source of Barton River, and lay. directly in the path along which the waters of Long Lake flowed, at the time ef its evacuation. Here, of neces- sity, we left the gulley, and rode along the eastern shore of Mud Lake, until we had passed it; when, resuming our route in the bed of the gulley, we found ‘the ground ascending ve rapidly, until we entered the bed of the discharged lake. tied Having rode about half its length, we rses, our way on foot, through the middle of its bed to the m e lere, ascending the bank to the original water-level, we. could survey the whole bed of the jake, with its shores a the surrounding scenery. From my own personal observation, and from minute ine quiries made of several individuals who were concerned in let- ting off the water, and of several graneme who were present at the legal investigation which it occasioned, I posse myself of the following facts. Lake, it was drained, was a beautiful dheet of water, about a mile and a Thalf in length i north to south, and, where largest, three fourths of a mile in breadth. For about five hundred yards from the southern extremity, the lake was very narrow; and to this distance its water was shoal, having been no where more than ten or. twelve feet deep. Here there is a sudden and steep descent in its bed, to the depth of ahundred feet. Here also the lake opened ‘rapidly to the breadth of half a mile, and then more gradually to ieee fourths of amile. to one hundred and fifty feet, and deduct inh mooie a small distance of the northern extremity, where the lake was about half a mile wide. The eastern and western shores were bold, and rose imme- diately from the surface into hills of moderate height. hills gradually subsided into plains, as they the two ends of the lake, to form the northern and etch southern SaapeIONYs over around. “scarcely descepalings - and VOL. Lo —N . 2 Eruption of Long Lake and Mud Lake, in Vermont- through a channel of probably not more than a yard in width, the water of the lake flowed out in a dull streamlet toward the south-west, and between trees, shrubs and rocks, worked out for itself a sluggish passage. This was the original outlet of the lake, and the remotest head-water of the river La Moelle, atributary of Lake Champlain he northern shore was generally low, rising not more than five or six feet above the surface of the lake; and consisted of a narrow belt of sand, succeeded by a bank of light sandy earth. The country al! around the lake, as well as along:its outlet at the southern ex- tremity, was one unbroken forest. - The distance from the northern end of Long Lake to the southern end of Mud Lake, was about two hundred rods. There was no original communication betweeen them: the waters of the former, as we have already seen, having been discharged, towards the south, and those of the latter, to- wards the north. The ground between the two was covered with a thick forest, and formed a very rapid declivity, from Long Lake towards Mud Lake. The low bank of sandy earth which formed the northern boundary of Long Lake, continued of an uniform height for about five rods from the shore, where, becoming more firm and solid, it descended so rapidly towards Mud Lake, that the perpendicular descent between the two, in the distance of two hundred rods, was at least two hundred feet. The bottom of Long Lake near the western shore was rocky; at the southern extremity, beneath the shoal water, it was a mound of sandy earth ; and throughout the great body of the lake, was either sand or mud. The mud was black, light and loose ; when wet, flowing like water, and when dry, ofa blue colour, and light as a cork. The descent at the north- _ érn shore was bold and rapid; and on the bottom, near the shore, was spread out a calcareous petrifaction, or deposit, called by one of the workmen a hard-pan, of the thickness generally of two or three inches, though occasionally of six or ight. I saw numerous fragments of it; and one, which I ‘brought home, was an inch and a half thick, and had the so- lidity and hardness of limestone. Its upper surface was of a hight yellowish brown colour, and had the smoothness of a Eruption of Long Lake and Mud Lake, in Vermont. 43 ——_ informant, one of the individuals concerned in let: ting off the water, res¢mbled Heat gravel. This hard-pan, reached out from the shore into the lake, for a breadth of five or six rods, resting on the bottom ; and was found along the whole northern extremity. Being rath- er feebly and doubtfully sustained by the mass of sand under- neath, on which it lay as on an inclined plane, it supported the superincumbent water, and formed the only solid barrier, which Ce the contents of Long Lake from descending into Mud Lake Mud Lake was originally three-fourths of a mile in length from north to south, and halfa mile in breadth. Its shores, both on the western and eastern sides, soon rose into high grounds ; between which, and over the bed of Mud Lake, waters of Long Lake, if let out northward, must necessarily past ean Lake was a mass of thick deep mud, tough and gritty, of a rusty dark blue, ‘many feet in thickness, and when dry becoming of a pale blue, and of a hard solid texture. This lake was originally deep, though Jess so than the other. Barton River, its outlet, descended aid rapidly through a rough uneven country, over a bed f sand and pebbles, for about five miles, and then more ethteally, and with a margin of meadow on each for six miles, to the village in Barton. — All this 7 pores with the exception of a few cleared spots at Keene-Corner, and in Barton, the country was in 1810 a thick forest, on ren sides of the stream, to its very banks. At Keene-Corner, four miles e, stooda grist-mill and a saw- mill, both own- ed by a Mr. Wilson ; but the stream was so small that, in the dry season, the supply of water was insufficient for the mills. About 7 ailes lower down, it unites with a still larger stream the outlet of Belle Pond, a beautifal lake in owned ray a Mr. Blodget ; and three miles lower, were the mills of a Mr. Enos. The insufficient supply of water at Wilson’s mills, was a se- rious inconvenience to the i itants of Keene-Comer, as the water in the two lakes, and the nature of the them, er stetttealie aint had frequently provoked discussions of the pee was not practicable to let out a part of the water rof I Lake into Mud Lake, and ‘has jars an additional su 44 Eruption of Long Lake and Mud Lake, in Vermont. fo the mills on Barton River. These discussions always end- in an affirmative decision ; and the*disposition to test its correctness regularly gaining strength, as the practicability and importance of the measure were more and more develop- ed, it was at length resolved, in out-of-door convocation, that the thing should be done; and the 6th of June, 1810, the day of the general election in New-Hampshire, which, out of res to their parent state, they had usually observed as a holiday, was selected for the purpose. On the morning of that day, about 100 individuals from Glover, Barton, and several of the adjacent towns, assembled at Keene-Corner, with their shovels and spades, their hoes and axes, their crowbars and pick-axes, and their canteens, and voted that they would march to Long Lake, and there have ‘‘ a regular Election Scrape.”* They arrived at the scene of action about 10 o’clock; and having selected the spot which seemed most feasible, began to cut down the trees, and to dig a channel for the water across the belt of sandy earth which constituted the northern boundary of the lake. ‘At 3 o’clock, a trench five feet wide, five or six rods in length, and seven or eight feet deep was completed. It began with- in a yard of the water, and reached to the brow of the decliv- ity towards Mud Lake; yet gradually descended in its Jine of direction, so that when the small remaining mass of sand in the trench should be removed, they might see the waters of Stream of the village. At length, the ———— given that all hands should * Serape in this sense is a colloquial Americanism, and denotes a fralic. apie of Long Lake and Mud Lake, in Vermont. 45 the portion of ne hard-pan thus si ony unable to sustain the immense pressure, gave way. This occasion- ed a violent rushing of water to the deeper outlet thus form- ed; which initsturn, sinking under the hard-pan, and wash- ing down a still larger portion of the sand on which it rested, occasioned a still broader and deeper fracture of the hard- pan; and prepared the way for a still more violent gushing of the water, and a still wider and deeper gulf in the sands be- neath, until all traces of the original trench had vanished. hi uf was worn where the trench had been, several rods in width, and descending mamediately and rapidly towards Mud Lake. Just as the efflux of the water commenced, four or five of ing to cross its northern end, and on their way to sound an hurrah becoming the occasion; but, the alarm having been given, they put to shore, and had barely left the ground on which they landed, when it One of the others, aving remained. too long at work in. the trench, was struck by the torrent; and the ground being washed from beneath him, he would have been carried away, had he net been caught by the ae of his head. Another, waiting too long to wi ce of the water, was forced partly under the earth; and oe was owing probably to the momentary re- sistance presented by the roots of a large tree, against which he was driven, that‘he, and those who came to his assistance, were These : treat with r ‘the sides the language of one of them, they felt the , ** quiver, quiver, quiver,” as they ran away with all possible -speed, to save their lives. Having all at length got out of Genataetiny £085 20m ground, near the lake, and on cides of the widening chasm, and observed the progres — the: As the water rushed from the southern commana tian Gort ern extremity, it forced up upon the shore alarge mass of * Lhad all this account of the F di fr = one of the men, who was lotus-in illis. : S 46 Eruption of Long Lake and Mud Lake, in Vermont. the soft, oozy mud, several rods above the existing water- level, on either side of the outlet. This mud remained sta- of the workmen was venturing into the mud to secure some is process of undermining and fracturing successive por- tions of the hard-pan having been continued about twenty minutes, a passage was forced through it, down to its lower extremity ; and the superincumbent water of the lake, being thus left wholly without support, flowed ‘with such impetuosity towards the northern shore, that it all gave way, to the width of more than a quarter of a mile, and the depth of 150 feet. The whole barrier being thus removed, the entire mass of wa- ters rushed out with inconceivable force and violence ; and, the northern end being the deepest, it was but a few moments before a v @ of water, a mile and a half in length, about three-fourths of a mile in width, and from 100 to 150 feet in depth, had wholly disappeared. : The liberated mass of water made its way down the de- elivity, to the valley of Mud Lake, tearing up and bearing before it, trees, earth and rocks, and excavating a channel of a quarter of a mile in width, and from 50 to 80 feet in With the immense momentum which it had gained, it flowed into this valley, forcing forward, with irresistible impetuosity, Jake ; excavated the whole bottom of the valley, including the shores of the lake, to the depth of perhaps 30 feet ; and, with the additional mass of water thus acquired, made _ its bi aaa the channel of Barton River. ud Lake had originally a narrow outlet, and rising grounds of moderate height bounded it at the northern end. The accumulated torrent, bearing along the gathered spoils of its own desolations, broke away this mound in a moment; and following the course of the river, rushed down the long and rapid descent of five miles towards the flats in Barton. Through all this distance it tore up and carried away the for- est trees, and hollowed out to itself a path in the earth, vary- ing from 20 to 40 rods in width, and from 20 feet to 60 in Eruption of Long Lake and Mud Lake, in Vermont. 47 depth, so that every trace of the original bed of Barton River disappeared, and the river was left to choose for ‘itself a new bed, many feet below the old one in the bottom of the gulley. In some instances the excavation was narrower, in conse- quence of huge rocks on both sides, which the torrent could not move ; but in such cases, amends were made in its great- er dep’ ere an immoveable rock was found on - side only, it usually altered the course of the torrent, without materially diminishing its breadth. Wherever any such ob- struction made an eddy, by stopping mome ntarily the tor- rent’s progress, the effect was still observable in deposits of sand, immediately above the obstructions, varying in depth and extent with the time during which the water paused, and the surface which it covered at the moment. Some of these are an acre or more = extent, and 20 feet indepth. In these eases there was usually a deposit of the floating forest trees. At Keene torntte it not only swept away the grist-mill and saw-mill of Mr. Wilson, with the mill-dams, but the sites, with all the ground beneath them for many feet, as wellas bed of the river by which they had been imperfectly sup- plied. A man in one of the mills, hearing the noise of the mepeeseene flood, ran to save himself; and had_ but just es- from its ast as it went by. His horse, tied at a post near the mill, was swept away, and was afterwards found a great distance below, literally torn to pieces. About a mile below the mills, the torrent entered a more level country; where the river had been wont to glide ough a broader valley, and was generally bordered with flats or intervals of some rods in width, covered with forest trees. Here this moving mass of trees, ‘earth and water, ex- panded itself as the country opened, and with the velocity ace quired in its long gueasched 3 ci iE in its pris of Not satisfied with ae mite ed the earth beneath them to a Reet a a os lass away masses of earth from the sides of the high grounds, by which the apne valley of the river was bounded. These ded rocks and roots of t and in every place pointing out the exact breadth of the torrent’s march. The trees on the brink, which were not destroyed, showed strong proofs of violence ; proofs which were often discoverable at the end of thirteen years. ,Wherever the original valley narrowed, or suddenly changed its course, and its boundaries were too firm 4 48. Eruption of Long Lake and Mud Lake, in Vermont. to be pushed away; the torrent, receiving a momentary check, became narrower and higher, and left deposits of sand and of trees in the valley, and frequently on the high grounds. The forests were thus levelled, and the —— continued some distance below the mill of Mr. Blodget, 14 miles from the lake. ‘There, owing to the widening of the bills, and the more cleared state of the Pe cage hi it gradually spent its force, thongs many its violence are witnessed all the MarpEremason: Through the more level — coat, the excavation which it left to indicate its path, varied from 30 to 60 rods in width, while its average depth was probably from 10 to 15, feet. + inhabitant of Barton, who was standing at the time on a high aru, told me, that, hearing the noise, he looked the stream saw the flood marching rapidly forward, opening itself a path through the valley, and bearing a moy- ing forest on its very top; so that those who were with him gave the alarm, that the forest from Glover was coming down upon Barton, The house of a Mr. Gould, in Barton, stand- ne 15 feet above high-water mark, was within the track.of the torrent; and himself and his wife were at home. Alarm- ed by the noise, he caught his wife in his arms, and carried her up the bank}; yet it was with the utmost difficulty that escaped. The water rose to the eaves of the house, and removed it from its foundation ; deus: emeeeetitegninst some a sat roan: eihsleme ane 4 a — remained there when the flood had P eapented, The away, as was every bridge on Barton river, between Mud “ me tite deposits of sand were very extensive; and the swamps. he former, so far as they received the de epos were left mere fields of barren sand; while the latter were converted by ces in a short time, into the richest meadows. swamp, to the amount of two hundred acres, and severa! others to the amount of three hundred more, were thus recov- effected by the deposition were different:in different : xtensi - ' Eruptionof Long Lake and Mud Lake, in Vermont. 49 ered ; while various tracts of meadow, in all about one hun- dred acres, were permanently ruined. Masses of wood were deposited, in greater or less frequen- cy, along the banks of the gulley, as well as in much larger heaps in those places where the progress of the torrent was momentarily suspended. Some of the men who witnessed it, told me that tens of thousands of cords, a quantity whi could not be calculated, were thus left in Barton, besides a vast amount floated further down. Near the church in Bar- ton, a field of twenty acres was covered with deposited timber to the height of twenty feet. Inseveral places, where the tor- rent was powerfully obstructed and suddenly narrowed, (as I was informed by two of the inhabitants,) the timber was piled up by the force of the stream, to the height of 60 or 80 feet. ast quantities of it were sunk under the sand... That which Jay upon the surface was burned as fast as it dried, and they had been burning it continually to clear the land; yet many cette’ of the lake. The hard tough mud in the bottom of Mud ' Lake, was all forced out and carried away, and was seen scat tered in smaller and larger masses—some, artnet of hay- _ cocks—for a great distance along the progress torrent, _ Several of the workmen informed me that when the northern barrier of Long Lake gave way, and while the waters rushed down the declivity into Mud Lake, the convulsion shook the earth like a mighty ea lake ; and that the noise was louder than the loudest thunder, and was heard for many miles around. One of them, whose house was more the five miles from the spot, told me that the noise there was so loud that the cattle came running home, with the most obvi- ous marks of terror and alarm ; and that his family supposed, mntil his return, that there had I mend rthq " VOL. I.—No. 1. 7 a 50 Binagttion of Long Lake and Mud Lake, ix Vermont. ward, from Mud Lake to Keene-Corner; and even during its progress in the more level region, greatly alarmed all the surrounding country. The waters of Long Lake were undoubtedly calcareous. I saw on the bottom many siliceous rocks ; but the fissures 0 these rocks were frequently filled with deposits of limestone. There were numerous masses or rocks of limestone, of a blue- ish black colour, occasionally imbedding pebbles of a differ- ent colour and genus. of these masses were exceeding- ly hard and firm, others were only brittle, while others were iable, and others still were heaps of blueish black limestone dust—the embryos of rocks which had not yet received the cohesion necessary to bind them into solid masses, when the matrix in which they were forming was dissolved. Probably the black spongy mud of Long Lake was chiefly of this charac- ter; as this very substance, when wet, has a similar appear- ance. In various places on the bottom of the lake, are depos- its of a friable white substance, which is almost pure carbo- nate of lime. This substance, as we shall have reason to see, was much more abundant before the emptying of the lake. Had a skilful mineralogist been with me, he might doubtless ee made important discoveries. he bottom of the lake was in some places 7, but gen- erally so dry, that we could walk over it Stee ateeiey. It was extensively grown over with sedge and other weeds, and in many places with shrubs and young trees. The ori- i water-level of e, was generally discoverable along the shores. The same rivulet still flows in on the west side, which originally supplied its. waters 5 but it now flows out at the northern end into Mud Lake. It is about a yard a over; and, as no reason can be given why it should h i- minished, I conclude that this on the * i of re cma or ong Lake. he flood left obvious traces of its violence within the bed of the lake. At the southern end, the water on the shoal, not more than 10 or 12 feet deep, rushing down the pitch into the deeper part of the lake, swept down a con- siderable mass of earth and rocks, and near the middle of the pitch, from east to west, formed an excavation, or trench, about one andens yoninde peor ae and shallow at its com t, but widening and deepening all the way to the bottom, where it is several rods in width. On both fliones ee ee = pee Sa 0 Eruption of Long Lake and Mud Lake, in Vermont. 81 of the lake, the force of the water tore away lar — forced rocks out of their asicinelhas = rad an me n varios laid bare the surface of which had been pre Ss earth ; avin aaa projecting a considerable dietanen beyond the line of the shore. These effects were most marked towards the end. About twenty rods from that end, an exe or trench, commences in the bottem of the lake, and continues to widen and deepen, until it coincides with the deep gulley at the outlet. The surface of Mud Lake is at least 30 feet lower, in the opinion of the workmen, than before, and has not more than half of its original extent. The soft mud from the bottom of Long Lake, flowed into Mud Lake,* and took the place of the hard, i mud, which originally formed its bed. So large was the supply, that Mud Lake is now shallow—having been filled up at the bottom, as well as cut off at the top by the abrasion of the torrent. I saw perhaps of the trees, which had been left in it thirteen years before, standing up from its bottom, in various directions ; and the length of their stems, above the water, indicated that the depth was moderate. Paiore the eal of Long Lake, Mad Lake canned I: al down and deposited within and around it, so as to render the manufacture of quick-lime a regular employment for several of the inhabitants. Mr. Blodget, the proprietor of the mill destroyed in Bar- ton, instituted a suit against some of the individuals mopar in letting out the waters of Long Lake. [In the c the , the whole history of the event was brought to ne He igid his damages at 1000 dollars ; but, pendente lite, com- promised the matter for 100, on condition that each favourable circumstance, that Long Lake was drained, while the country on Barton River was a wilderness. From the singular configuration of the adjacent event occurred no material injury was done, and an essential * This lake was without a name, until this event procured for it this less poetical than Sepbegrtie designation. om ce mamas Hog 52 Eruption of Long Lake and Mud Lake, in Vermont. Valleys are here and there found, with streams of water pass- ing through them, surrounded on all sides by high grounds, . except a very narrow passage for the stream to enter, and an~ other for it to escape; and in both, the whole appearance of the ground indicates that the high grounds actually met, in some former period; that the valley was originally a lake ; and that its water was discharged by a water-fall. There is so much resemblance, between the of Long Lake and some 0 places which 1 have examined, that I cannot doubt the correctness of this opinion. Had the waters of that lake been discharged two centuries earlier, its bed, and liey which it formed, would have been filled with a thrifty forest ; and the evidence that it had ever been @ lake, would have been no morre satisfactory than we now possess, that the places to which I have alluded were once filled with water. We now know the fuet, however, that lakes may be suddenly and finally emptied, and their beds changed to fer- tile valleys, so as to lose, in no great length of time, all traces of the immediate action of water. _ Several individuals, well acquainted with the country, in- vat the ground at one extremity of Lake Wil- © - loughby, which lies a few miles east of Barton, is formed like that at the northern extremity of Long Lake; and that its much hazard, it would be an imealculable advantage to a . large extent of country ; as a long range of towns in the neigh urhood of this e, are separated from the Con- necticut by a chain of pathless mountains, through which no Eruption of Long Lake and Mud Lake, in Vermont. 53 voad can be formed, except over the emptied bed of Lake Willoughby, and are thus compelled to find their market down the valley of the Pres ees ; & Steehich has almost entirely p settlemen ee After we ‘hed examined ie “bed of Borg Lake, and the ravages which its waters had occasioned, as long and as minutely as our time would permit, we returned down the gulley, and arrived at our inn at 3 o’clock, where we sat’ down to a meal rendered welcome by laborious exercise and the fasting of ten hours. Immediately after, bidding four of my companions adieu, I rode down the river in company with the fifth, to the village of Barton. Our course was on the eastern bank of the gulley, - every step of the way I could witness the desolations of the torrent. ‘Taking the whole ex- cayation, for the twelve miles in which I followed it, it is the highest exhibition of the effects of pissecal force, instantane- ously exerted, si I have yet seen At arton, where m companion left me, I lodged at mn near the pat of Belle Lake, a sheet ot water of he size of Long e, and inits situation and environs eminently romantic and beautiful. On its northern side, lofty perpen- (1 icular cliffs of white granite, said to be not less than 100 feet in height, project into the water. As seen om the southern © hi ee shore, columnar, and it was easy to fa ita gigantic edifice, furnished with its appropriate suite of pillars and pilasters. ‘The waters of the lake had that pecul- iar crystalline transparency, which belongs to the lakes of every granitic region. It could not be doubted also, that choice siliceous erystals might be found among the cliffs ; but the solution of this point was reserved till my return. In the mean time, as a grammatical — could be —— against the name Belle Lac, and as the good its vicinity might ers a2 pms the name Beau Eek, the epithet for a noun instead of an adjective; I con- cluded, for all these reasons united, to call it—T HE CRYSTAL estern all burnished anew anew, he walks enraptured along the shore of this lovely sheet of wate In the morning I started i ine season for Lake Memphre- magog ; but, after a ride of eight miles, . finding my horse 2 Ad (22.44 tata [Fac j é it cf } 144283 af as haere G ci AS. j d lai yb = t fs reJ SS meee : eeagi a : 34 OF Fle rz] ft ME COL AS e+ 54 Onthe Shell Marl and Coal regions of Virginia, §c: lame and my health feeble, and the road not only indifferent, but at a distance from the river’s bank ; and reflecting how far I was from home, in a country where no stage-coach could travel; I resolved, after a conflict of ten minutes, to turn about. This I most reluctantly did; and, after passing my inn, as well as the whole southern shore of the Crystal Lake, and casting many a look at the Giant’s Castle, with a deter- mination to atone for my existing neglect at some future pe- riod, I bade it adieu, and entered the wilderness, on my way to the valley of the Presumpsick. am, &c. S S. EDWARDS DWIGHT. PROF. SILLIMAN. - ARTICLE H}.—Practical remarks on the shell marl region of the eastern parts of Virginia and Maryland, and u the Bieadneas coal formation in Virginia and the odeitoa: ous region; extracted from a letter to the Editor, by JaMeEs PIERCE. In a recent examination of the eastern part of Virginia and , 1 have ascertained that rich shell marl, of marine Maryland, I ~eggan:* Potomac from its mouth to within eight miles of the City of ashington, and in numerous places between the Potomac e Poa t t tt La * deposits of New-Jersey, and the marl beds of North-Caro- lina, deseribed by Professor Olmsted, in his valuable report On the Shell Marl and Coal regions of Virginia, §c. 58 on the geology and m of that State. Its said of clay and sand is rich in carbonate of lime, derived —— of shells, and in animal remains of and land, relics of the antediluvian world, embracing in various stages ad all numerous marine shells of extinct and aac tes, belemnites and bronchias, are remarked. aiadioe ene of the genera, nautilus, m turbo and dentalium, occur—and bivalves half a foot in di- ameter. Teeth of the mammoth and shark, of unusual size, are oa in marl beds, adjacent to York River. On the eastern re of Maryland, large scallop shells, teeth conjectured to belong to the elephant, spines of large fish with vertebree half a foot in diameter, entire skeletons of fish, and human bones, are reported as occurring in marl deposits. Bones ascertained to belong to the human frame, have been preserved in diluvial — beds, in Saxony, blended with bones from tropical region Extensive beds of shells, mapeeuna from description to be mostly valves of clams, connected by calcareous cement, exist in Maryland, at Marlborough, and other places west of the Chesapeake. Thick strata of this shell rock are in sinking wells, and are disclosed on the banks of creeks. When indurated by exposure, this stone is he Large shells, of unascertained species, occur in valuable beds of marl, on Potomac Cree Although the great utility of marl, as a manure, has been long demonstrated in New-Jersey, by its practical results, yet the planters of the south, are not sensible of its value, or have too little enterprise to apply it extensively, but wherever the experiment has been made in Maryland and Virginia, its ef- fects have been Sova seciedy beneficial. It has been ad- vantageously cultivation of cotton, tobacco, — and indian corn. An intelligent planter, resident in the vicinity of York River, informed me that two years since he put a dressing of thirty loads of shell marl to the acre, on forty acres of sandy, exhausted ground, greatly improving the soil; a crop of wheat on this field the present year is among the most promising of any in that section of the state. A plant- er from the Rappahannoc mentioned a very: valuable result in his vicinity in raising various crape: from a light dress- ing of marl. A large me per acre of good tobacco has been raised on the Potomac by marling worn out land. : 56 On the Shell Marl and Coal regions of Virginia, Ses disclosure of marl in numerous places frowi Long Island to the Mississippi, verifies a suggestion I made in a communication on the marl of New-Jersey, published in Vol: VI. of the Journal of Science, that this valuable manure would probably be found throughout the southern sea board. Enriched by clover crops, fostered by gypsum, and by marl dressings, the impoverished plantations of Virginia may be rendered v oductive. A considerable part of the low country of Virginia, particularly in the district between the appahannoc and Potomac, called the Northern neck, ori- ginally presented a good soil that sustained forests of diversi- fied timber ; but when exhausted by tobacco and other crops, much of it was abandoned, and its barrenness confirmed by a growth almost exclusively pine. In the Northern neck where marl abounds, the soil is in general a compact argillaceous loam ; enriched, it would be well adapted for wheat and tobacco. In many of the eastern counties, sand predominates in the surface soil, generally resting on clay, and would be greatly benefitted by marl, en- bling the ters to resume the cultivation of their old and profitable staple tobacco, little of which is now raised in Vir- ginia, within 200 miles of the sea. Under the present sys- tem of agriculture, the soil will continue unproductive, and the planters be progressively impoverished. Wheat has been within a few years a precarious crop in many counties, from the ravages of the hessian fly and the chintz bugs ; they often destroy whole crops. Many parts of the southern sea board are unhealthy for cattle, and not well adapted for profitable grazing. ‘Though good crops of cotton have been produced the past summer on York and James river, and in several forlorn hope to the planters. The summer of 1825 was pe- culiarly warm and protracted, and cotton might have been raised in the states north of the Ohio ; but in ordi a hardy plant, might be cultivated advantageously in Virgi- nia. Sister and gypsum have been found eens to the soil Oa the Shell Marl and Coal regions of Virginia, Ye. 57% in many of the eastern counties 8; few planters have tried the experiment 1 ilipanies and a rotation of crops. This ‘system of aera is particularly well adapted for the argillaceous loam, highly coloured by oxide of. iron, common im the middle counties In Goochland county, an enterprising planter uetiveness of large tracts of worn-out land of this clash acter, from: 8 to 35 bushels of wheat to the acre, by turning in clover fostered by gypsum. I remarked that red argilla- ceous loam is the predominant soil of the rolling interior of the southern states, from Flerida to Maryland, and generally covers the primitive rocks for 600 miles. It much resembles the southern primitive range: the rocks below, mostly eam and gneiss, contain little iron. . In its native state, this soil eee strong and clothed with forests of oak. When exhaust- d by cropping, it is generally abandoned, and much of its subsequent growth is pine; which communicates no fertility to the earth. In the southern states, too much is left to the diseretion of overseers, who from indolence and i: averse to innovations and attempts at agricultural i:nprovements. Wherever slavery ete it is unfashionable for freemen to labour. In the middle and eastern counties of the southern states, = mS performs any €s- wi ¢ * The bituminous coal region of Virginia continues to be preiralt explored, new shafts are sine and coal of an roved quality and in increased quanti ‘rom the pits south of James River, a million of biashels hese fee been conveyed to Richmond the ner year, a distance — of 14 miles, at an expense of nine cents the bushel—the cost of raising is about four cents. A rail way can be ¢onstruct-— ed from the coal basin to Richmond, over a level’ or slightly inclining route, that would save forty thousand dollars annu- al expense of caTiage, and give . fair profit to the ‘stockhold- VOL. I.—NO ers. . The coal is raised by propelled by -mules- A steam engine was ac S8 = = one of oerde pits, but abandoned, — as the sulphuric acid of the water raised from the mine used in the boiler, corroded and soon destroyed the iron. The coal in a few places approaches the surface, and quanti- ties were one obtained with little labour, but-it 1s now generally procured by ae shafts from fifty to four hun- dred feet, at * engage of from seven thousand to twenty thousand dollars. A considerable proprietor is said to have the past poate profit of forty thousand _ dollars, ager mostly grains of feldspar and quartz apparently from the: veins'of e, is granite the predominant rock penetrated in sinking the shafts. Finer and more compact and: micaceous sand stone occurs below. Adjacent to the coal the strata are more .argillaceous and bi- tuminous. The coal beds are from thirty ‘to fifty feet in. retted hydrogen gas seldom occur. Some instances of the combustion and explosion of the latter gas at the Richmond sa were mentioned. Safety lamps have not been used, and a ge proprietor of coal beds had not heard of the invention. The. coal in pits nad masses on the surface, are liable to us. combustion, from the action of sulphur and iron the rocks, and from those in the earth ; beds of coke will be the result. The extent of the coal region: has not been ascertained, “rvations, by Professor Dewey. 6&9 tiguity. to inexhaustible coal beds, and to the rapids of James river, is an tree location for manufactories. I d in the neighbourhood of Fredericksburg, under ‘stor Fpontiderably- tolling the rock at the Rich- mond coal beds, argillaceous strata, embracing vegetable impressions and small beds of coal. It is probable coal will be found in this vicinity ; I observed similar indications in — quarried near the Potomac, 25 miles west of Washing- "The sand stone found on the Potomac below Washington, appears not an old apni In boring at Alexandria for water, after rough sand stone, described as resem- bling the ordinary rock of the Potomac, a stratum of cla like fuller’s earth, was penis near three on without ing its termination. ART. AV. = Movcofobagiea: Sone By Professor _C. Dew liber rome oot! Meteorological Ohsetvaithins is gener- form the only data from which the laws sceondig to which changes inthe atmosphere take place, can be derived. Attention to them is continually in- Various proposals have been lately made for the ef a Meteorological Journal, which shall embody the results of the observations made over our extensive country. A vast many of the observations which have been published, and different aval places have been numerous. — There is such i at the different hours of the day, thiat i itis z place cannot be com for any valuable purpose, unless the temperature Mente) at the same hours of the day. The ere temperature of places can be ascertained only by this ity, unless there be a series of observations so exten- sive as to lead to the conclusion, that at each place the obser- vations must be made at certain ren differing ear places, t mean of which will giv —. This is'so great i di diffieul a oer it wil rarely be a Iti is Poles ‘the less necessary, i those thermometers vations on grometer, or zero forms aa changes of clouds, the fall of reier! snow, dew, &c. and all notice of the results already obtained, I propose to consider a few points necessary to be attended to, in order to make the observations with the thermometer ee in- * ' teresting and valuable. 1 curacy of the instrument. The points at which mometer may, -however,. be imperfect because the tube con- tains a portion of air. If the bore of the tube be. relatively large, its Seaton chaise pried ty he soldi al git silver passing through it when the. instrument is inverted. If the bore be quite small, this effect, howeyer, will not-take — even if all the air is excluded, owing to greater friction. ——— tube. = ——— Ses its diameter.’ In: this plage een proved correct only by co the temper- ature it shows, with one known pi Reet oon ‘This source of error is not liable to be great.” j . lar. _ 2. The elevation of the thermometer above the surface of - _the earth. The common elevation of the bulb, is about six feet from the ground. Saye ete exposed ky, ours Hie of a building 3. Protection of the th t reflected calorie,” by a screen placed nies it, leaving the circulation. of of the air entirely free. The heat is often reflected from a road: oz large spot of uncovered earth, or from rocks, so. as to raise the mercury one or two degrees in a hot day above the tem- ofthe air, and that too when the re reflecting surface is at the distance of several rods. Such a screen too will lessen. the effect of radiation of caloric, by which, under a clear'sky, y evident the results at one | ; € Meteorologicat a Prof. Dewey. 61 possible. Where accura racy cannot be obtained, an approx- imation at least should be given with the results. |The lati- — the faire se oe and, if practicable, its longitude al- fects the time of this appearance.-— ; | will be required in a day, one for the maximum and one for the minimum temperature. “This kind of thermometer is not 6.. If Farenheit’s, or any similar Riainbleenee be used, the number of daily observations and the time of making them should be the same. This is so obyious that no remark is ne- cessary. Difference in latitude will affect the temperature in a slight degree indeed when the hours of observation are the same. Bu results will be incomparably more’ valuable, from observations. two reasons. -Lihis believed more ‘sadenliinthiire Sininseigisiae these hours than at any other set of hours, both in our eown- epee te Kempe: _ ¥ Inthe year 1924, the pean of the. temperature a sunrise and sun a the year, was very p deyrees an the etext of the at seven A. tei nd eee ae eae: Sad there little rae at in:this latitude ae the temperature at sunrise pga must be below the mean temperature of the year. : 2 Meteorological Observations. 2; From an attempt made a few years since to ascertain the mean temperature of the day, the méan of the tempera- ture at these three hours was found to give it very nearly. To effect this I poi the temperature every hour through the day. and night for several successive days, and at different seasons of the year. The mean of the twenty-four daily ob- observations ina day. But for the year, this mean is seen in the note to be too low. It is-readily acknowledged, that the obtained on this subject before. It is obtained by so _— aa in this eee that the cheerios will not often be peated. ‘It is hnéped that the importance of uniformity w will — observers to adopt the above hours, or to tak the observ tions only twice in the day, viz. at the rising ae setting of the sun. It is certain-at least that so far as the temperature is concerned, a Masoreloeial Journal will not possess much utility until there be inthe t time and setae sd the deems by the Editor. ‘The Sipairannt subject of meteorological sbeutintions is beginning to command an inc increasing share of public atten- tion in the United States. It appears by a circular si by 5. De Witt, vice-chancellor of the university of New-York, at snares ve adc _@ resolution to _furnish each of Meteorological Observations: 63 under the authority of the vice-chancellor, giving precise di- rections for the use of the instruments, and for making me- teorological observations with correctness. These directions have evidently been digested with great care, arid after ma- ture consideration, and should they be generally adopted, they can hardly fail of producing the desired result. . The ideas*are, in general, similar to those of Professor Dewey, as stated in- the | preceding paper ; the As scree are too exten- sive to admit of insertion here ; as, however, the method pro- posed for obtaining the mean state of the winds, and the mean temperature, is peculiar, we will copy that yen from the printed tions. ‘“* Count the number of times that each point of the com- t number of days thus found, on which the wind has from each of the eight half quarters of the compass. - Do ee same with the entries of fair and cloudy, under the f Weather, counting the entries of snow and rain among a cloudy. 'To these subjoin the number of days on which it has rained or snowed, counted in the same manner, - and the quantity shown by the gauge ; also the warmest and _ coldest days shown by the mean, the highest and lowest de- gree of the thermometer, and the prevailing wind of the nth. Observations by the thermometer must be made every morn- ing, when it shows the lowest degree, every afternoon when it shows ighest degree, and every evening an hour after ren two and four olock in the afternoon The degtens are to be taken from Farenheit’s At the end of the 14th of February, and the 15th of every 1 the ‘column of mean temperature, the sum by the number of days, and set t for the mean of the if | Aas month. Do the same OF Oe eet of of month, and set down the uae the 64 _ Meteorological Observations. this to the first mean, and divide the sum by 2, for the meat of the whole month—which enter accordingly. __ As the method which is now prescribed for making obser-" vations by the thermometer, and deducing their results, differs from the usual practice, it is proper to give the reasons for its adopti Phe most obvious method for finding the mean temperature sum of the Bhi by their number. But this cannot be the thermometer rises and falls on each day, and to take it-foe. granted, that if the observations were made at every hour, from one extreme to the other, they would give a series oF numbers in arithmetical progression, the sum of which, divid- ed by the number of observations, or its equal, half the sum of the extremes, would then give the mean. For example, sup- pose the cones degree of the thermometer to be 30, at 6 o'clock in the morning of any days’ and the highest degree 48, at 3.o'clock in the the afternoon ; these, with the eight inter- mediate hours, will give “a-series of 10 terms, 30 and 48 being the extr extremes : then — 30+ 48 x 10 == 390, the series; this, divided by 10, the num- Davart tree sper of cheepvation’y Will. give 30+ 48 © ; -39 for ae mean, hats is, "hair the sum of the extremes, 2 . Again, suppose on the morning of the next day, the extreme depression to be 32 degrees, then, for the time between the afternoon observation and that of the next morn- whole day, dle ons the time pan orang obra arte fe for ee the mean i onc ston. lhe Bex ¢ . the c mornings observation Hy: the i s ant divide th b ee ays, e — ye 4, thus. “Sgt 39,5. Meteorological Observations. 65 if the change be such as here assumed, that is, iain % in arithmetical progression, the mean thus hus deduced must be true with mathematical precision ; but it is not pretended that it will be perfectly so; in indeed we Know that the ratio is gene- picts less, in so much of that part of the series which extends from the extreme of the afternoon to the extreme of the next morning, as is occupied by the night. _It will therefore be proper to'divide this series into two, by an intermediate obser- vation, which is directed to be made an hotir after sunset; whether this be the most eligible time may be considered as left for examination. We shall then have three series divi from each other, by the atom afternoon and evening obser- vations; to find the mean of which, add the e morning observa- o, twice the afternoon seers, and twice the evening vation, to the next morning observation, and divide t sum by 6. This it is believed will give an approximation to the truth, as near as can be obtamed h observatio: and a mean sufficiently correct for every contemplated pur Se. , ore a medium by which to bring before the public, the re- sult of these extensive observations, Mr. Horatio Gates ee ford proposes to publish a State Meteorological Journal, pared rie: monthly reports from every county. will evidently be a very useful undertaking, and we cannot doubt that Mr. Spafford will execute it with care and ac- uracy. It would be happy if berometrical observations could be added to those | rain gauge, and perhaps the regents may enesshe find it convenient to furnish the different institutions with this important instru- ment. — : expense, ead aware, W would be conside rable, butt wetrust that this will not be regarded, in a great, opule and fa d state like New-York. An effort is ji ere makingt © induce good observers in other states and countries, to register their observations, upon a plan similar to that pro- paced Vice Chancellor Dewitt, and for that purpose his circular is transmitted to many individuals, from whom it is to eee net aid SY, Ee DA ed, ‘hr Professor Society a relative te John Osage to the and F New-York, in December, 1814—enttled ** Hints VOL, I.—NO. 1. 66 = eoNenth. oc Byel. the most eligtble method of conducting Meteorological Ob- servations.” This excellent paper contains all that is most material to be done on this subject, although the recent direc- tions from the university have given additional precision. Meteorological observations are made, apparently with at- tention, by Samuel Williams, at Chilicothe, Ohio, and _ the detail for one year, with the temperature for morning, noon id night, ‘of each day, has reached us through Niles’s Re- - It is desirable to know the state of the climate In the Western States, where, as yet, there have been fewer accurate 2 me than in the Eastern and Atlantic States, and we trust we may look to Mr. Williams for in- teresting res Meteorological Registers are often forwarded to us through the medium of new spapers printed in particular places, thus evincing that there is considerable attention paid to this sub- ject; and it would be very desirable that the ideas of Prof. Dewey shesle.t be adopted, so far at least as to induce observ- orm periods and modes of making and seeeoing ibs observations now so incon ngruously made, that they may in this manner be brought to one pfandard, es eee : ex Art. V.—On Fuel.* Communicated for e American Journal. of iy &c. By ELIsHa eat M. D. of _. New-London, C Eveny kind # el may be arranged into two classes. Ist. at_ which consists of bituminous. or h droge matter, and cemponpceous Se whe ~ Some eae think that bituminous and hydr -Mnatter are very much alike, or nearly the — The wrifer wishes res ctfull to der to Profesor Sitllaisac tal ath eras eh olgons Cab lochs 8 on 3 and also tras “ta tna in his private letter, on ject of fuel. — reader will perceive from Prof. Silliman’ Sremarks on Penn- sylvania coal, already published, that there < Some difference OF pinion be- tween him and the present writer, This. 'wever, is not very unusual, on a philosophical subject, that is liable to be slr alate by the eseratiog of one’s -Dr. North on ret 67 each term is “used. _It is not proposed to —— of the various various’ sorts of fuel, or an accurate account of ed, That which © consists altiost entirely of charcoal, car- bon, or carbonaceous matter. The first class embraces every sort of firewood, emer d peat-wood, and every kind of bituminous coal. "The reader will presently perceive why the name of peat-wood is sede The second class’ comprehends charcoal, whether aout from peat, or any other kind of firewood, coke, and an tic coal, such as Rhode Island, ey Schuylkill, &e. Atiother division of fuel be made, viz: one class might be made to comprehend every sort which grows in the air, and upon, and just within the surface of this earth: and another class to include that which grows in the water, under- neath, and sometimes far beneath the said surface. The rea- son for this division will presently appear. Peat may be regarded as a sort of firewood, for it ses; while burning, all the more essential qualities of any oth- er soit of firewood. There are aiso two, if not more, sorts or species of peat, besides their varieties, and the present writer ascertained, or he is decidedly of opinion, that peat is liv- ing, organized muster, which grows in water, giving a resem- taste, ae interest, and aisppait ion to follow the fashion. Every one, in an affair of science, has, however, a right modestly to propose his opi sae pie the re ~~ er or hearer has an equal right to decide vith regard to their cor- r. North's opinions on the subject ject of the effect of different kinds of fuel on the ea appearing to me not only somew novel, but unsupport- ed by, if not contrary to, fact s, ascertained by experiment, I threw out ‘ ' with others, in a letter addressed to him. A See ie ie still Inclined to subrait his views to the scientific public, they s.3 judge his opi } are tena His hints with regard to «be origin of coal from peat, can hardly be judged of correctly; withous ithont grea im- propriety, be called firew.q’ And on jother:hepd, such fae as has be- come disorganized or alters; ‘ o many the term peat-wood, as a landable meta of exp , oe ibe justifable ” a thing itself. Dr. M’Cullock’s interestin i ehemical analysis of peat, published in the sgay onthe watral atry, and Vol. Il. 1825, has been farnished the wr iter, sities the above essay was written. a: Drs North on Fuel. ug getables. These articles are presumed to be changed by a natural charring, or coaling process, into the various and dif- ferent kinds of coal which have been found. Common firew before itis cut, is known to be living, organized matter, which contains charcoal, and the hydroge- nous or bituminous principle. The latter, as is well known, can be made to disappear by the smotheri evaporating, or partial combustion process, which is used in making char- coal. The various sorts-of firewood, which have grown in the open air, contain fewer hurtful extraneous matters, than the pecially the former, which contain ie Sisco hurtful ingredi ents, are, or may be, more highly charged with the bituminous or hydrogenous principle, than is the case, with the more com« mon sorts of wood. This is probably occasioned by the peat aving grown in water, which is known to contain t1e hydro- genous principle in great abundance. Peat, and coal, of such a quality, as has just been considered, makes a more uniform, mild, and pleasant heat, if not a better fire, than or- wood. Bituminous fuel, kindles and burns at a low temperature, and is attended with much flame, soot, smoke, dust, and ma- ny ashes, but has, notwithstanding its inconveniences, been used ing a a vehement heat is required. But justice and candour make it necessary to say, that bituminous fuel, has almost every where been the cheapest. 10 Dr. North on Fuel. But of late, it is contended in Philadelphia and New-York, that anthracitic coal, which is remarkably stubborn and du- rable, can be made both a cheaper and better fuel than any other, not only in the arts, but for domestic purposes. question whether such is proper to produce a pleasant and wholesome t wien ete is the only one now to be discussed. And it is thought this —— is an important one, as the well ee ma greater or less depres: of numbers of the i and of posterity, is idee involved in its 7 €0) Séelbion: A certain quantity of heat, furnished ei- ther sari the sun or fuel, is obviously indispensable... But from this it does net follow, that too much heat; or heat of that sort which may be unsuitable, would not be hurtful. Hence the mquiry may very properly be made, whether the vehement heat, or as the case may be, modified caloric, or a carbonace- ous state of air, produced by anthracitic or charcoal fires, if generally used, may not diminish that vigour and hardihood of the human vege} which is so much wanted in a world like this. eant by a carbonaceous state of air, will be i russ by in a note. Posey will probably be able to settle this question, from experiments that are now making upon’a large scale. Are those who are exposed to the influence of charcoal, and other earbonic fires in the arts, and in Pennsy lvania, and a few ether sania as healthy and hardy as ? ~The so- lution of this question would help to settle the other. Whatever the cause may be, there should be no doubt about the fact, that bituminous fuel, burnt in an open fire place, which is made of brick or stone, produces by its radiant hea: hight —— more pleasant and comfortable sensa- " thon ts occasioned by any other sort of artificial heat.* ? Aa hers: ; iS ar- tificially roduced, in a portion f the fears there may ge. only an creased qu ty 0 : uantity of the Niiaterials which lurnish the caloric, in combination with it, or i i see Sonic res, by carhoeions ster ae nom rents oxygen; or both. siveeffects. And bitumi od * ficas may diffuse nother portion. And the oon Sa of those yea) portions of wigarams. differently charged upon an’ imal bodies, are believed to rent, in- of the degrees of heat. » For it is a notorio : ceous state of fir by close confinement, has often Pree rendered saiicientig Pe extinguish human life, and hot carbonic acid gas is b 0 different from that which i is cold. It is also believed that | in tie general ; Dr. North on Fuel, 7k _ How it may be with regard to the degree in which the com- bustion just mentioned, may be more wholesome, is pie for others to determine. But one who furnishes that sort of pleasure or. comfort, Tomine receive a higher eh al if not a greater reward from his guests, than one who warms them with iron stoves, carbonic fires, or heated air only. Con- siderations. is sort should have an influence in re the different value of the various kinds of fuel, and come into consideration with re to the different modes of burning them. Those who direct the employment of capital, and la- bour in procuring fuel to supply the public wants, shone a cure eyery sort in proper quantity, and each of mination not to give it a higher character than it deserves. The opinion he has formed respecting iss nuility,, has been operations of ‘nature, caloric has a two-fold effect upon the athoaphere. +a y of caloric ae oxygen, Sectiposss s hydrogenous bituminous mat- ter saaee easily, i. e. at a lower temperature, than is the case 1 the more t us matter. The reader will now understand why the term carbonaceous state of air ~~ been a That a bitum state of air is proper to come in close contact with animal bodies, is render- ed highly probable by the circumstance, iat liients: in general, as well as man, are clothed in bituminous matter, or matter which contains that prince ple, if hair, wool and feathers may be regarded as clothing. ituminous c i w much in use, sedentary people sliould pinnae ~ oe if others do not, because they live during the winter in of those kinds of air. Those who ma, that th tthe iis “expressed in th in this note and text, st — theoretical, are rem the g for the benefit of "a6 however, of difierent persens, = . re of | ache and other oppressive effects om carbonic fires, than others. Nega- tive testimony, however, weighs oo than that which is positive. Should attempt to explain the reason why some fires are more c comfortable than others, fail to be satis chemical experiments on the subj have been » by the writer ; he e cting the existence of the attempted to lained. By the by, chemical ‘is often too imperfect to explain physiological facts. iter has paid pe actg tention to the differ tion produced on his own body, by differen fires, he believes the testimony of others - attention is turned toward the sabject, will ultimately confirm that which he has given. The is more solicitous to éstablish such a medical fact, writer i than a chemical theory, because the Che mamma cama comfort, if not health, than the fatter 72 Dr. North on Fuel. confirmed by judicious and candid persons, with whom he. has conversed, who have beeri practically and thoroughly ac- quainted with it: and this sort of knowledge, is, for a variety ef reasons, especially needed to form a éorrect opinion on this subject. The present writer believes, judging from mu experience, that peat of the best quality, if used for producing ult well sofiomitt To make this opinion, however vette correct, hi sub- ject must be viewed philosophically, and rationally, without reference to habit, fashion, prejudice, and wrong assevera- tions. It is not expected however, that those who are unrea- sonably fastidious, either from a natural propensity, or wrong education, will agree to the correctness of the above opinion, on account of its ashes, dustiness and odour.* The incon- veniences, however, so far as they are substantial, arising from source, ery easily and cheaply remedi ed, for the dust ef peat is not adhesive. And those who are nice, even to a fault, may find it useful to mix with other fuel. If false opin- ions exist F eaicnttrel9, with regard to such necessary articles as the various sorts of fuel, it would seem desirable that they should be i sonitouatabreitiod,: however, =— do little more. than throw in his mite for such a purpose, or in other words, use his influence, to be aided, as he ioe t te saat pareed en- gine, the public press. As evidence that public opinion, in some ne place, is in see of 5 a it may be mentioned that Citi a regular treatise on the subject, by ites of the Fencd Sieaivea. inthe eleventh year of the republic. In this poeaenag he says, 10,000 persons are annually employed in by an essential oil. That Indeed is 2. he knows will sink, in ane % must therefore be more vale consideration it: 3 take into great utility for mixing with - lower pears: of fuel, Dr. North on Fuel. 73 preparing, and transporting peat, from one peat basin or marsh, upon the lesser branch of the river Loire, in the north- west part of France. ‘This peat bed cannot’ be a great dis- tance from the city of Nantes, where much peat is burnt, or even from the city of Paris.” ‘Those who may suppose peat wood to be used in France from necessity, are informed that in Paris, common — ood is said not to be dearer than in the city of New-Yor The labour of rept peat ood for fuel, (unless it can be cut by powerful machinery,) must always be somewhat greater, as the writer believes, although others think differ- ently, than that for preparing other wood, because it must be cut smaller, ant terwards seasoned. It shrinks much in seasoning. Dried peat is in small pieces, and liable to break, which makes it less convenient to transport than common firewood.. But as large masses of peat exist, and grow, in a small compass or space, ssid ik sometimes near navigable water, it possesses, in that respect, a very great advantage over com- mon firewood. For, by a short canal, or rail-way, the ex- one be of esak may be saved, and that expense is known to be often very great, for ordinary wood. Bis the bituminous principle be usefully iS ean to an- thracitic coal-fires, by the agency of peat be made useful in this country for producing gas lights ? PCan it be charred to profit, in any part of this country? What must be the value of firewood standing on farms, before at, if existing on said farms, can be made profitable to aya oa ers? To this last question, the writer can give an a which is, that common wood must be worth about one “Jollar per cord, while standing. From the data above paren, the reflecting reader will per ceive, that c the diminution of the more usual so of firewood, peat, or peat-wood, may be made useful, po el the present age, to the owners of many farms, and to their more immediate neighbours. Indeed peat is now in actual se, in many parts of this country, as well as in Europe. But it is believed that even in Europe, it is not in use, so much as some of our eo than any other sort of wood, an proba- VOL. L—NO, I. 44 Dr. North on Fuet. werful to effect such an object. Because, he who waits to buy fuel, may not find motives sufficient to encourage the ex- ertions and labour of individuals, by paying the same, or nearly the same price for peat, as for other wood, unless it can be proved to be equally valuable in every point of view which can be taken of it, whereas, the fact is, that it is only equally valuable, for specific purposes, with a very few ex- ceptions. same is true respecting coal. Hence it is ev- d that without combined exertions, the public market cannot be supplied with this valuable fuel, at the present, if . it can at any future time : which would result from the introduction of a cheap fuel inte the market? Cannot the combined exertions of individuals in this enlightened age of improvements be had ? especially * . strongly upon the consideration of those who may have capi- tal, and who may wish to employ it upon some of the. raw material country, whether by means of the late im- provements which have been made in rail-ways, loco-motive team engines, canals, and tow-baats, peat-wood may not be removed from some of the basins or cavities in which it grows, to some of our cities, and give a profit to those who may engage in such an enterprise. The present writer be- fieves that such an undertaking, might be made to succeed in some parts of this country, even at the present time. He believes also, that bituminous fuel is, ceteris paribus, for most purposes, upon the whole view of the case, the best, and that i, for the same reason that he believes a manageable horse to be best. And he presumes that such will ultimately be the general opinion, where stowage is easy. But the difference vent a difference of opinion on this subject. fuel is also the most abundant upon this earth, and nearer to * Can this | ?—EoirTor. true of England, where scarcely any other fuel is Dr. North on Fuel. 75 where it is wanted than any other, and probably the most easily obtained. There may be exceptions, however, to so very general a ~ Addenda. The reading of Dr. McCulloch’s valuable essay, since thé p ing was written, has made these addenda necessary. Dr. McCulloch adopts the cotmmon opinioh, that peat is de- composed or dead vegetable matter, and that the whole of such matter always originates from vegetables growing on its © surface. He has given full botanical catalogues of the ee which he supposes contribute to the ee of the di ent kinds of peat. ‘For the sake of a text to make re me, upon, the follow- ing passages are selected from different parts of ae en Ge! He says, “‘ As the increase of peat kee vith t one is implied in that of the other, with the ex ception * trans- ported peat, which does not directly depend upon the same éause. That it may be renovated after cutting, it is necessa- ry that the process of vegetation be renewed, where it has. been thus suspended.” It is evident, from fer f the essay, that the Doctor means the process of v vegetation among the various plants only, which shoot their roots into the peaty matter. Again: “ The time required for the production of a given depth of peat, has been a frequent subject of inquiry. In some cases its growth has been so rapi to be sensible to cessary to have Seng to evidence, founded on circum- stances i longer p of time than human noes ‘Again? UTORSE Beet” on the continent of Vities of seven feet in aes, made by peat for — have been filled up with it, in the short space of avourable circumstances are however said to be ietetary for such a result. The present writer, from a comparative mode of judging, thinks such a cavity in our climate, under favourable circumstances, would fill up in less - time than thirty years. But then he doubts whether the peat would sooner become sufficiently solid, bie and woody, to be profitable for fuel. The peaty matter itself grows, as well as the plants whose roots are found init. Water is need- ed for the growth of the peat, as well as for that of the vegeta~ bles whose roots penetrate it. = best agricultural writers believe that one hundred ‘ years are needed for the accumulation of one inch in depth of vegetable mould, in a forest, upon dry land. This vegeta- ble mould is the production of decomposed or dead vegetables. The differente of an inch in depth, of the remains of veget- ation, accumulated on dry land, in an hundred years, and the accumulation of seven feet in depth, of similar decayed mat~ ter, in the short space of thirty years, in a swamp, is too _great to be accounted for, upon similar principles, even ad- mitting the circumstances in the two cases to be in favour of the swamp. But the reverse of this last position, notwith- standing the general opinion, is believed to be the fact. he reader will at once perceive, that to make the ratio of dead vegetable matter equal in depth ina swamp, and on a hill, that the enormous depth of nearly twenty-three feet, instead of one inch, would be the produce of decayed vegetable matter in one h ' The proportion is as 1 to 276. B at, even when no vegetable roots are visible, a its shape like organized matter, and in sea- soning like such matter, it becomes not only solid but woody. It also, when exposed a long time to the weather, appears like other rotten wood, having probably in that case, undergone a similar decomposition. _. Chemical analysis also shows a great analogy between or- ganized wood and peaty matter. Peat resembles, in another . point of view, both common wood and coal. There are all sorts of peat, good, bad, and indifferent. Such also is the case with common fire-wood, and also with coal, which is re- garded by the present writer as the remains of peat. The following facts are mentioned as having a bearing upon the main question. When an excavation is made im cutting peat, the water oozes in on every side. Now when such excavation is made six or seven feet deep, the pr ofthe adjoining water alone, which generally surrounds such cavity, must be immensely great, too great to be counteract- ed by that which Doctor McCulloch calls a semi-fluid paste. The power which counteracts this pressure may be a spon or semi-spongy organization. For other kinds of soft unor- ganized matter, as soft sand, or semi-fluid earth a once yield to such force, and bury the workmen. Dr. Words on Fuel. oY ‘There are two modes of e. a but the one in use upon Block Island, in this country, is much better than an other which has come to the knowledge of the writer. It does not, however, come within his plan at present, to de- scribe such mode. gain an artificial cavity, in a peat-bed which had been in existence six years, the writer has seen matter growing, or rising even above the surface of the water. This was in a dry time in the month of August. A few other water plants, and but a few, were seen growing in said peaty matter. This last matter was soft, and appeared upon eX- amination to be spongy, or semi-spongy, and in the writer’s opinion it was organized. The life of peat would probaby be destroyed Bye permanent drainage, andeammapelity for fuel injured. As the associa tions of the reader, as well as. those of Doctor McCulloch, ar are expected to be of aware that this management may be Fi to some of his readers, but he hopes to experience their candour and indul- gence, as the object of the investigation is the disgovary and propagation of f truth. Did it come within the writer’s plan to give the natural his: tory of peat, or peat-wood, he could easily show that there is no such variety as that which Doctor McCulloch calls trans- ported peat,because the peaty matter grows where it is found. Before the writer takes leave of the reader, he wishes to say, in this public manner, to his particular friends, that he is not sanguine with regard to his power of extending the usefulness of peat, for the history of other things shows the great difficulty of such an mndertaking, _ This difficulty is well. seurmpifed in of the common potatoe, which shows the great influ- ence of authority and fashion in human affairs. “ The introdue- tion of this valuable plant, received for-more than two centu- ries,” says a popular writer, an unexampled opposition from vulgar prejudice, which all the philosophy of the age was un- able to dissipate, until Louis XV. wore a bunch of the flow- ers of the potatoe, in the midst of his court, on a day of fe ity, and the people then for the first time, obsequiously « ac- knowledged its utility, and began to express their astonishment at the apathy which had so ‘nk re alec with regard to tts general cultivation,” &c. 78 _ Anthracite Coal af Rhode-Island. The history of another natural production is equally curi- ous, namely, that of the tobacco plant. This plant was oncé _an insignificant production of a little island, but has since succeeded in diffusing itself through every climate, an its fascinating powers, it has also succeeded in subjecting of the inhabitants of every portion of the earth, to its dominion. And yet it is believed even by many of those mas use it, that the world would be better without than with it w-London, April, 1826. Art. Vi.—Anthracite Coal of Rhode-Island—remarks up- on its properties and economical uses: with an ee = notice of the anthracites of Pennsylvania, &c. ; the Editor.* Read before the Connecticut Academy of * arts and eeuces = r of this Journal, (Vol. X. p. 331,) some rem cnavkes drawn pehneipially from observation ad experience, were inserted, relative to the anthracite coal of Pennsylvania. The additional experience of two or three months, has con- firmed the views then expressed, only a few slight corrections or ns havi come necess In that paper, it was remarked : ‘* ¥ i ee able, at pres- ent, to say any thing of much importance, as to the Rhode- Yeland Es ame A quantity, which had sod promised for comparative experiments, not having arrived, I have not been able to compare it, with the oe anthracite: tear as regards the gas. I hope to make these trials before th season is through, and cannot doubt, that the Rhode-Island ~ will prove an important addition to our national resour- es, especially with the aid of the practical knowledge, which meshes been so ey obtained, with respect to the use * I wish it to be understood, that my remarks and Rhode-Island coal, as a fuel valuable in domestic economy at cate ng the whi nd ming experiments apes the materials, which were frst di Be. sin, =p Anthracite Coal of Rhode-Island. 79 The engagement thus made, I am now, in some measure, prepared to fulfil. A sufficient quantity of the Rhode-Island anthracite, immediately from the a having been placed at my dispesal, I have made, with this substance, experi- ments, similar to those performed on the coal of the middle regions of Pennsylvania, and have used it, exclusively, in the hall stove, for eighteen days. rom the year 1802 to 1813, I was frequently at Newport, and in 1807 and 1808, passed some of the summer months there. In company with Col. George Gibbs, who had, not long before, imported his splendid cabinet from Europe, an deposited it temporarily in his native town, I made frequent excursions through the island, for the purpose of mineralogi- cal and geological observations. During these little jour- nies, through one of the most delightful regions in America, I became first acquainted with the existence and localities of the anthracite of Rhode-Island. In the course of the two or three years immediately | quent, the mines were opened and wrought to such an Pesiest as to evince the practicability of supplying large spugpstss of this mineral fuel. But the country was then ill i to the nature and uses of the anthracite coal. It was. known, , that a similar coal was found and advan ly used in ‘Treland,. Pennsylvania, &c. ; but people were re- pelled by the apparent incombustibility of this coal; they could not make it burn in the usual way in which wood is burned in a common fire place, and it was hastily and impa- tiently laid aside, as nearly or quite useless, except that a few amanufacturers of iron, continued to use it as long as it could be obtained. Be io This ipitancy in abandoning this coal appears the pe as an ssceelbeetaase ‘ount of Fe strode Teland anthracite was published by Dr. William Meade, in pamphlet, an abstract of the most important parts of which appeared in Dr. Bruce’s Mineralogical Journal in 1810. In this account, its real properties are fairly and faithfully account should have failed to produce conviction, im) lic mind, which seems not to have been as yet sufficiently in- formed on this subject, to receive the truth. — ais Rhode- Island coal, although its-exploration was now sustained by Boston capital, (always bountifully and Promptly bestowed 86 Anthracite Coal of Rhode-Island. on objects deemed to be both feasible and important,) was, if the course of a few years, thrown aside, by many persons, as useless lumber, and neglected by all ;—the proprietors of the mines being obliged to sit down, (as it was generally under- stood) with a heavy loss. It is impossible to say how much longer this important in- terest might have slumbered, had not the city of Philadel- phia—dormant also, till a very late period, as to the immense and invaluable beds of anthracite, in its own vicinity—at last discovered how to apply it to use ; and had not New-York, soon after, learned from Philadelphia the same important lesson. : Still, it is believed that most persons have remained, until recently, rather sceptical, with respect to the Rhode-Island coal. As I have myself been, to a certain extent, of this num- ber, and as I have nut, either on my own account, or that of my friends, the slightest interest in any'concern of this na- ture, I proceed, with the more pleasure, to give my testimo- ny in favour of the anthracite of Rhode-Island—having al- ready expressed fully my high opinion of that from Pennsyl- vania. nace. I remarked also, that the specimen was one that had jain several years, in a garret, under which circumstances, it might perhaps have pi though it would hardly have given up any combined water. It is obvious, that if water, in either of these forms be present in the anthracites, they ought, when intensely ignited, to af- ford, by decomposition of the water, more or less of in- flammable gas. o bring this matter to a decision, I took two ounces of ing the experiment, in all respects, as before, except that I poured a small quantity of water into the tube, so as to wet the fragments of dry anthracite, I proceeded to apply an in- “tense heat. . ee two barra es anthracite, which, when dry, given not a bubble, J now obtained six wine pints of in- Alammable gas. Peto Anthracite Coal of Rhode-Island. 8) A similar trial, upon the the same quantity of coal, immediately from the mines, gave also six wine pints of the same kind of gas. A third experiment, u her similar portion, also just from the mines, afforded Aerie wine pints of gas. The difference between these two latter specimens, to have been, that the former was ge the layers of the ball that were more dry, and the latter from those that were more thoroughly wet.* These experiments prove, that the gas obtained from the Rhode-Island anthracite, proceeds, principally, if not entire- ly, from the decomposition of water, by the action of the ig- nited carbon. At least, it is demonstrated, that this is the reason wliy no gas was obtained from the . I. anthra- cite, in the experiment related in the former memoir. i) at communication, I expressed the opinion, that gas es has ; has been fully verified by the resu The anthracite of Rhode-Island then affords infantile gas, as well as that of Pennsylvania. Referring to the table given in the former memoir, we find, that the gas from the Pennsylvania anthracites was considerably more than that now obtained from the coal of R. Island. oe I am, however, at this time to state, that the inflammable gas procured in these chemical processes appears, as re the comparison between the anthracites of Pennsylvania and R. Island, not to give an exactly correct criterion of the quan- tity of flame, which they relatively exhibit, while burning i in domestic use. A correspondent, who had acquired ble ex ce in the use of the anthracites of Pennsylvania and R. Island, remarks in a letter now before that there are no no points of difference between them so remarkable as the greater quantity of , and the less amount of resi- dea’? in the R. Island coal.” I was at this account with respect to the sore but I can now state, from my own observation, that the co bustion of the R. tstand ern - the hall or entry stove inferior in quantity to as. afforded eS the best 33 of * [ am not quite certain, that in this latter experiment, the aie qunthey of chs was not somewhat increased, by 2 smell Eat ee ts however, bege experiment, that might have adhered to tube which had, however, been carefully cleaned. VOL. I.——NO. 1. Bi 82 Anthracite Coal of Rhode-Island. Pennsylvania.—Its colour, however, inclinesto red, instead of This result is given from the trials made with the coal re~ cently from the mines. I tried also, that which had lain ten years ina dry and warm garret, and a portion of which had fail- ed, in my first experiments, to afford me any gas. _ This coal, without being moistened, when placed in. the furnace upon ignited charcoal, soon became itself intensely ignited, produ- cing a very hot fire, with a So Raat flame, but much inferior in amount and in brilliancy to that produced by the wet coal. ‘The stove is at this moment (April 11th, 1826, eve- ning,) burning with much bright flame, and giving a a heat i in the apartments of 74°, while the thermometer is in the ppan air 11° below See) ; the ground being covered with snow,* as in mid winter The question ‘will immediately occur, why does the Rhode- Island anthracite give less gas in chemical processes, sper that of Pennsylvania, and quite as much flame while burn The following appears to me to be the reason. The] se , : acites are very compact—there is a perfect con- tmuity of parts—no pores or cracks are perceptible, even with a magnifier, and when immersed in water, they do not emit common air, or become heavier by imbibition. Just the abe. oppost of all this, is true of the Rhode-Island anthra- Although, in the main, compact, it is full of fissures, iawn can he found where they do not occur every half inch or inch. I immersed in water some portio ortions of that which had been kept so long in the dry garret; the air, forced out by the entrance of the water, immediately issued, with a hissing and. singing noise, from imnumerable cracks and pores, s, and this process went on for a long time. When other pieces, recently from the mine, were. immersed, there was no such eflect. At least, this was true of the more solid pievet from these, when BSR scarcely an air bubble es- pieces of a looser texture were treated in the same manner, | emitted a good deal of air, but much less ao what was given out by the coal, that had been drying for a series of years. The Lehigh. chal: when immersed in = Peieaay: April ries there was = bt snow storm nearly all day ; the rene if none e of it melted, would p bably have been 12 inches deep. Anthracite Coal of Rhode-[sland. $3 water, emitted no air at all, as far as could be perceived, only at the end of half an hour, there were innumerable very mi- nute air bubbles adhering to this anthracite, but none of them rose through the water ; there was no hissing, and they might perhaps have been evolved from the water itself. : immersed, for a given time, portions of he dry Rhode-Island anthracite ; a=: Of that which was looser in its texture ; After being immersed about half an hour, the pieces were withdrawn and dried externally, by being pressed repeatedly ina silk handkerchief: they were then weighed ;—the result, reduced to the centesimal nn (for the pieces were of various anes was as follow very dry, 100 grains gained 64.7 = 164.7 Mae. looser variety,* oe - 16.6 = 116.6 Do. do. — compact,* 100 gr. - 00.7 = 100.7 Lehigh anthra 100 gr. - 00.0 = 100. The results fully | establish what-has been stated respecting the imbibition of water by the Rhode-Island anthracite, and render it prebable that no part of from the a coal is attributable a that cause. i When the pieces of R. Island senthiraeite; which had im- bibed most water, were placed in the stove, upon other por- tions of the very dry anthracite, which were burning with in- tense ignition, but without much flame—there was an active decrepitation, occasioned by the sudden production of aque- ous vapour, and as soon as the coal was i re was ar evident augmentation of the flame, arising, without doubt, from the ition of the water. _ fei is cObviOws, that the gas from the Rhode sland the’ 5 deciaptia of imbibed water, and that there cant “be very little combined water, or hydrogen, i in that anthracite. On the contrary, most of the water, or hydrogen, in the an- thracite of Pennsylvania, appears to be combined. There- fore the quantity of inflammable gas, obtained in the chemi- cal processes, agrees with the actual flame while the coal is’ “Recent specimens, only a few days from the mine. a4 Anthracite Coal of Rhode-Island. ciently ignited to decompose the water; while, on the contra~ ry, in the actual combustion of this coal, this water is not dis- tilled away, in any considerable degree, but is decomposed, because the fuel is brought, in the first instance, into contact with other fuel, in a state of intense - ignition, ‘for which r rea- son the decomposition of the water and of hydrogen, commence, from the very first, and the continu- ance 0 Ba s decomposition is insured, beeause the saqueous va- pour m s through successive layers of i arbon, with which the furnace is, more or less, Slants Sulll am Selinct to think, that there is a smal n of combined water in = Rhuvie-tsiona anthracite, whieh, although not decom- posed by the heat communicated, externally, through an iron tube, by a charcoal fire, is decomposed, by the more mtense heat which this coal itself, whale burning, ane Whether these reasonings are correct or not, 0 prac- tical importance, as regards the use of the Rhode-Islana coal in domestic. economy, and in the arts; for, when it has not been previously dried, it dams not only with intense ignition, but with abundant flame. To those who are not ope with chemical facts, it may not be amiss to remark, that much of the flame of most kinds of fuel arises from the combustion of the hydrogen gas, whieh decomposed water evolves, and that ignited earbon always decomposes this fluid with energy. Of this fact, m ————ee When a fire e engine dashes a shower of w ate quantities, at a time, upon a building, anaes aah great fury, the flame, instead of being diminished, is, for the moment, increa sometimes darting up in a vast volume, with the first affusion of the water. The red hot carbon, is here the decomposing agent, attracting to itself the oxygen of the water, and flying away with it, in the form of carbonic a“ gas, while the hy- pe is let loose, and taking fire, to the volume of flame.. Ie dis vente be then ——. on in tlie, the tem- perature is lowered, both by contact and by the formation of ee ceases to decom mpoensie water as the fire eclines. fore presume, that oe “oa raised in this case which is now obtai i ‘ » Anthracite Coal of Rhode-Island. 85 In the same manner, when a little water is thrown into a rhemical furnace, burning with great energy,—the byte gas is liberated in such abundance » that the flame ot only roars with a loud noise, as it ine with increased i. ence, and in augmented quantity, up the throat of the chimney, but this vent, being often insufficient to let it all off, as fast as it forms, it darts downward through the grate, and spouts out at the ash pit, forming a jet of fire inthe room. This effect was very strikingly exhibited, by the dry Rhode-Island an- thracite, which, when powerfully ignited in the furnace, ae Th i trated by Mr. Samuel Morey, in the various papers of his ¢ on this subject, printed in preceding volumes of this Journal. My experience with the Rhode-Island coal has been limit- © ed to a short period, but it seems hardly possible, that there should be any mistake on the main points, most interesting in dete . This anthracite is ignited without difficulty, by the same eeingetenes which is usual with the Pennsylvania coal, and it appears to be Me say no more) gard combustible.* I have never attempted to burn it in an open grate, and my impressions are ned, that this is not the best method of burning the anthracites, although it is understood, that, by good management, they are made to burn in this manner > but many persons hecome dissatisfied * disuse their grates. 2. The best method of burning this coal is in the tron fur- nace, or stove lined with fire bricks.t In this manner the fire is entirely at command, and can be made. to produce, at pleasure, a mild or an intense coal, unless previously dried, burns with an abun- saenaiie ; within 15 or 20 minutes it is very conspicuous, and in double that time it fills the furnace, and continues, al- though, after a certain — diminishing, till the coal is al- most consumed. In this in which it-was considered as deficient, it excels. tthe coal has been long out of the mine, and has been a dry situation, it be well to sprinkle it occasi occasionally witha litte water: it should pril 24. I must now say that it it appenri-to meio o be more €asily ignited. eer, A cylinder of cast iron has been, recently, substituted e Eee 86 Anthracite Coal of Rhode-Island. not, however, be more than the coal can thoroughly absoris and decompose, for any thing beyond this, would be injuri- ous, by diminishing the combustibility of the fuel. I find, however, that after being thoroughly wet with rain, it burns ly. 4. The heat produced by thesRhode-Island anthracite is intense. ‘The season being so far advanced, I have not been able to compare it exactly, in this respect, with the Pennsyl- vania anthracites, and cannot positively say, that it produces as much heat as the purest of those varieties of coal; but when it is burning with great activity, I cannot discover any material difference, as far as the sensible appearances, or the effect on the air of the apartments, would afford a criterion by which to judge. It is certain, that the heat is very great, and I have no doubt that it will be sufficient for every pur- pose of domestic economy, and of the arts, to which it may be applied. 5. The gas emitted by the Rhode-Island coal, is light car- buretted hydrogen, mixed, of course, with carbonic acid gas. ab. not observed any odour of sulphur, when the door is opened to throw in more fuel, and even when I injected water upon the highly ignited coal in the furnace, (as already related) although the flame burst forth into the room, and fil- it with ashes, there was no smell of sulphur ; the odour was simply that of light carburetted hydrogen, and I have constantly observed this to be the fact whenever any smell vein Te 2S 2 SS: es I cannot say, that none of the varieties of this coal will give a sulphureous smell, but I have never observed it. It is stated by a correspondent, that having an entry stove, the tube of which, being without a cap and passing out at the window of a third story, was liable to be acted upon by the wind, the current was thus, ona particular occasion, reversed ; remained for some slightly disagreeable.” A similar. nace was charged with Lehigh coal, produced so di agreea- ble a smell, that it became necessary to ventilate the beiaioes ae his dif kinds coal, I have observed: where there is a ood draft, it is of baits § 8 eee Bec nO at uportance, and where there is an intermitting Anthracite Coal of Rhode-Island. 87 ene, there will always be more or less of inconvenience, and there may be even danger, as the gases emitted by i a de- pect of fuel are deadly. . The Rhode-Island anthracite produces a heat of long contiatcats ere, again, I must remark, that not having had an 9 portunity to burn this fuel in the severest weather, I cannot, in this icular, compare it exactly with the Pennsylvania an- thracites, but I have perceived no-remarkable difference. The furnace being filled at 10 o’clock P. M., burns through the night, maintains the apartments at a comfortable tem- temperature,* and contains = eae coals at 6 o’clock in the morning, sufficient to re-establish the fire, without any = added, except more fragments of the anthracite 8. In general, the a Lsland anthracite, although dis- similar in appearance, is very similar in its effects, to the an- thracites of Pevnsiliteatts and remarks made in the no- tice in Vol. X. may be considered as substantially cable to both. I do not mean to interfere with the claims of proprietors, or with the preferences which komcnesioee per- haps) are influenced by local considerations. In a national point of 4 view, all these anthracites are to be ‘Sealand da as emi- nently valuable ; they are a vast treasure to the community, as well as to the proprietors, especially as most of the beds of bituminous coal are remote from our maritime regions, with which the anthracites of Pennsylvania hold an easy com- munication, by rivers and canals, and the coal of Rhode-Isl- and is contiguous to the sea, so that being once on ship board, it may easily be conveyed to any ‘place accessible to ships. Our territory is rich in mineral combustibles ; the east in an- thracite, and the west in innumerable mines of bituminous coal. Characters of the Anthracite of Rhode-Island. The Colour is steel gray—greatly resembling that of plumbago, to which substance it often approximates. Many of its surfaces are covered with a thin film of a sub- stance not to be distinguished from plumbago, as it has the same lustre and softness, and stains the s and marks paper in the same manner. At true plumbage is found occa- * 60 to 65 — in the morning, when the thermometer out of doors is degrees 88 Anthracite Coal of Rhode-Island. sionally among the slates which accompany this anthra- ci Ci Lange of colour does not appear to be a common inci- dent of the Rhode-Island coal. Its colour is remarkably rmanent. Atmospheric influence, including the various agencies of temperature, electricity, &c. aided by chemical action, often extends many feet and even fathoms into the solid materials of rocks themselves; so this coal is often al- tered in the same manner, and the seams are then lined with red oxid of iron, giving fresh pieces a mottled ‘appearance. Such masses are, however, always rifty, while those that are solid, are, in a great measure, free from these appearances. Play of colours is, I believe, never observed upon the feeds island anthracite, at least to any degree that is re- markable. The beautiful hues of the iris, so common in the Pennsylvania anthracites, are in vain sought for in that of Rhode-Island, at least in any econ that I have Occasionally there are thin veins of pyrites, which, by their n, produce both ices and play of colours'in:a Reatee, and to a moderate extent. The lustre of this coal is semi-metallic. In fresh and un- injured specimens it is shining, and even sometimes splen- 2 in such cases the lustre is composed of the metallic, the vitreous and the resinous, united. * Professor Vanuxem’s analysis of of Rhode-Island, and of sien erie a Pests which contain the same cquatitneae parts, varying only in proportien. Car- ingredient ; the iron, ' 5 p the seeoed to ee in the same consoe, substantially, in which it exists in mond).sed wi were it freed entirely from foreign substances, and crys : — am a. aware, that plumbago has ve thooe Poca in furnaces, for the ee oo. for domestic e ae or for the purposes of the og arg € now see done, ev oxy day, with anthracite, it is pre ie that p umbago might, were there any inducement, be consumed in f na ache ae with intense ig anthracite. Its i ity, periments. ong been now questo the coolpatibitiey of the di aga mew hy tnd oh the " ne — it is ‘probable that e very dense aggregation of this substance rning in furnaces, ficient party aa to prevent such small bodie s from choking aa sean) whole world now kn that it b e focus of the ee etieees bh ai aie urns in the ws focus, and rapidly iP Axtivucive Coul of Rhode-Island. 83. Many pieces resemble, Hed strongly, | the compact mag- netic iron stone; others in the kind of lustre, approxi ximate more to pitch stone and semi nell The hardness is moderate: it is scratched by a knife, and the powder is black ; by intense ignition, it it becomes hard —— to seratch glass mean specific gravity is os 75, but there is considera- ble paskety in different specim ecomes electric by heat, 8 so asto move a delicate needle, suspended by a thread, b 'y friction: ts structure is slaty and columna in the direction of the schistose =e betwee which it lies, the structure is slaty, but it is ae in the opposite direction, into innumerable columnar masses, so that a con- siderable piece has a strong ccoomiionse to a group of basalt er trap rocks, presenting a series of verti ical fronts and ir- regular columns retreating, by escarpements. In conse- quence of this structure, this coal b into ments and parallelopipeds. and not into wedge-chaped pieces.* It appears probable that the seams, a to the slaty structure of this coal, have been rendered more numerous and more evident, by the injuries which time = efiactads upon the upper strata, but it is searcely credible, that they should have been produced in that way, and they therefore belong; as it would seem, to the original structure of this mineral. . racture ts compact. In using the word fracture I here refer to the aggregation of the parts, na are ee pn = the seams depending on the structu po: ed out. These parts present a multitude ‘of small solids which have a different structure in opposite eihah-tetbe slaty: structure, the fracture ale ndhaahenmeats very granular, ‘like the most compact iron ores ; ree in the o direction it is smooth, éven, al- most specular, and not unfrequently —— to flat con- * This peculiarity of structure has an important effect on the combnstibili- y of the coat. When it is thrown into the faroncé, ts: not prone to choked : the pieces lie so that the air readily finds its way among them, and ronepeg . EE 3 2 # fp ° e #2 ee a rus readily, the 'y, that ee aa of air andes freely. Very lle of this coal i ig in the peaking: reduced to powder, and for this reason there is not m hb loss in ing VOL. INO. 1; 12 560 Anthracite Coal of Rhode-Istand. choidal. A similar fracture is sometimes observed rannmg in a diagonal direction through these small solids. It is not improbable that in exploring for this anthracite, it will be fonnd, that the masses which come from the greatest depth, far removed from the action of meteoric causes, will be found to be more firm and compact than any hitherto dis- covered.* Componitior: 00 grains eo. from 90 to 94 grains of carbon, the fea beng iron an (Me ade.) 100 grains ie cubis 90. water aides of iron and manganese 2.50 43 100 {n another specimen, 100 grains afforded — 77.70 6.70 ex 8.50 oxides of iron and manganese 7.10 alumine, a frace ph £ hes _(Vanuxem.) The ashes are fot more abundant than in the Pelaesioe nia anthracites. They a are of a reddish brown colour, and sopeacty talon magnet. A true furnace slag is the combustion, and req to be remov ulres ed, as it impedes the draft. This slag is principally of a shining black colour—it is partly compact and partly cavernous, and masses as large as a pea are instantly lifted by the magnet. The powder of the coal before combustion is not magnetic. “It is very curious, tha g the structure i out, the Rhode-Isiand thon is ee ter hard to sexi pe terer t ng about two » each way, resisted the heavy blows from the the head of an axe; i it was penbe a to sever the pieces, by using the edge of this instrumen becam cessary to apply stout iron wedges, driven by a rot “i ie difficult also t0 the smaller pieces, with the poker; when th re ignited in in the fur- Anthracite Coal of Rhede-Island. 91 Chemical Characters. These have been already sufficient- ly indicated in the gh apis remarks. It remains to be ob- served that this anthracite decrepitates a thrown into an —— immer Wak not so powerfully as the anthracites of Foreign Butte. I have seen in the Rhode-Island coal, only small portions of pyrites. Between the seams of this coal, there are found thin veins or films of greenish talc, gen- erally not thicker than the blade of a pen-knife ;—chlorite and quartz are found in the same situation, and these foreign hodies, in addition to the earths which appear to be com- ined or mixed in the coal, and to the iron, contribute to form the slag. Asbestos is found i in the slaty rocks, accompany- ing the coal. T slates are not bituminous, but they are often impressed by ferns, (and other 2 gata bots these copies are in many instances singularly bol Characters of the anthracites of Pennsyloania.- Having, in the last volume of this Journal, written rather fully as to the general characters and economical uses of this coal, it remains to state its characters as a subject of scienti- mineralogy. The slight differences in this anthracite, from the various jocaiities, are scarcely appreciable, and in a scientific view a te be unim The colour is black, and in this particular, there is very lit- tle variety: in some specimens, it perhaps inclines a little to- = gray, but the difference is scarcely perceptible. e of colour. Like the Rhode-Island coal, it ap- able 4 very little change of colour, nor do we observe ee a any of those marks of iron rust that are so com- mon in the other, _and which give to many of the a aad a coarse and far a it mon pont wou spose tong 9 a comb Play of colours. ‘There is not in this anthracite any thing like the chatoyement of Labrador feldspar, adularia, fire or the derived probably from the decomposition of pyrites. Whatever may be the nature or the origin: Pee the colouring matter, few minerals equal the Pennsylvania anthracites, in 92 Anthracite Coal of Rhode-Island. the richness and beauty of these adventitious colours. The most brilliant are blue, green, yellow and red, which, heing disposed in clouds and bands, upon a ground of brillian black, form a combination rarely surpassed in beauty.* The lustre is resplendent and vitreous. There is a very high natural polish, which, united with the black colour, im- s to this substance, singular beauty. Its aspect is very much like that of obsidian, and from its appearance, we should sooner it for a vitreous than a carbonaceous compound.* Hardness. This anthracite a but it wears files and saws, thus evin its integrant parti- cles are hard. The powder is ache aE soils the hands like charcoal.. When the fragments, such as are used for burn- nt are freed by washing and wiping, from the fine dust of coal, which adheres to them, they then cease to soil the _. and will not tarnish even white paper, or clean linen, although impressed upon the surface with considerable force. By strong ignition, this anthracite becomes hard enough to scratch glass. mean specific gravity is 1.55. The Schuylkill variety apipckrs to be a little less; about 1.52; and it is very possi- ble that an examination of a greater variety of pieces would present also more variety in the results. The structure ts slaty—apparently, in the direction of the strata, (for I have not seen it in a In many specimens, is striking, and in all that I that is so le i ‘The slaty structure may probably be regarded as the result of the general geological laws, that influenced ‘the deposition of the coal, considered as a member of the series of rocks, of peculiar formation, ‘Thave selected specimen after specimen from the fragments that were aoe to be thrown into the furnace, Seu the shelves were inc the least beautiful wer were at length committed to the fire. ; ‘specimens, even when not te to an_ inconvenient . Few ~ the a cimens in cabinets are équally beautiful, and Tam mut informed of the exist- ence of any anthracite, Which admits, in this i wedi Bier tis in 8 Semmes of the Rhode- Island coal, bat it is much less Anthracite Coal of Rhode-Island. 93 The fracture is a distinct thing. This is compact, if the division pass in any other direction than in that of the shistose , ppe mbes we observe in obsidian; the surface is otherwise very mooth. The. form of the fragments is generally wedge-shaped, with sharp edges, and the pieces are very irregular, no two being alike, although they have a general ye padi The fragments are shaped very much like those of gun-flint and obsidian, and they rarely approximate to cubes and prisms.* This coal is very brittle, and breaks in the furnace much more easily than the Rhode-Island coal. Composition of the Lehigh anthracite. Carbon 90.1 Water 6.6 Silex 1.2 Alumin i.] Oxides of iron and manganese 0.2 Loss 8 100 (Vanuxem.} Chemical characters. _ ‘The account of these properties was anticipated in the for- mer paper, and in my experiments, nats ae in this Journal ‘in. 1823, It may be remembered, that J found the anthracite Sie a exe very poor pis ne of. gelvanion, while that of Island was a good one The difference arises, apparently, from the smaller quanti- ty of metal contained in the former. eas is apparent, also, in the light gray colour of the ashes of ve coal. These ashes are only slightly magnetic ; Aer the Schnyl- *In this respect, the Pennsylvania anthracite differs from that of Rhode- Istand. There is te is, for- -reason, 2 in the 8 = “ coal, » eee -imthe furnace ; it requires more care in putting , and th difficult to burn. I haye mentioned, in a preceding note, that the pa coal of the Rh ode-Itand aateenene urns | with ease, and rarely impedes the draft, if introduced when the fire is active. 94 Anthracite Goal of Rhode-Island. kill coal are however much more magnetic, and the slags ‘which form in the furnace, are respectively much more mag~ netic than the ashes. The ashes of the Schuylkill coal are of a reddish colour, not unlike those obtained from the Rhode-Island coal, and it is not improbable that the colour is ‘owing to the same cause ;—although I am not aware that any analysis of this coal has been executed. Foreign Bodies. The structure of this coal is so close that there is not room for any foreign body to be interpo in seams, which in fact do not exist, except between the great masses of coal and the contiguous layers of strata. ‘There is rarely on these surfaces a plumbaginous aspect, and when it exists, it is less remarkable than in the Rhode-Island coal. The only foreign bodies that I have observed in this anthra- cite, are some portions of pyrites, generally small—some of them cupreous—more frequently distinct spots and layers of carbon, exhibiting the precise appearance of vegetable char- coal. Its structure is, generally, in fine fibres; it is nearly without lustre, and presents a striking contrast to the brilliancy ef the surrounding anthracite. The slates, which are contiguous to this coal, abound with distinct and beautiful vegetable impressions, as described by Mr. Cist, in his memoir, in Vol. IV. of this Journal, to which I refer for the geological relations of this coal. Miscellaneous Remarks. Where the conducting tube, that connects the furnace with the chimney, is vertical, it appears to be strictly true, as stated in the former memoir, that it needs little or no cleaning. But I find that where there is a considerable length of hori- zontal tube, the ashes, transported by the strong current, ac- cumulate in considerable quantity, and although they are entirely incombustible, and therefore completely different from the soot of a comn i , it is requisite to remove them occasionally. Once, or at most, twice, in the course of the season, will be sufficient. The tube must be taken down, carried out of doors, and the ashes poured or jarred out, simply by raising the tube on end. As they are entirely ry, they run out as sand would do. Their colour, modified by the black dust of the coal, is darker than that of the ashes, which fall through the grate. Anthracite Coal of Rhode-Island. 93 ‘The ashes of the anthracites are recommended in Say’s Entomology, as being useful in destroying the worm that in- fests the roots of the peach tree rsons suppose, that fire, maintained by the anthra- cites, must, on mccount of the intense si which the com- bustion of this fuel produces, be necessarily oppressive. It is true, that a degree of heat may easily be generated, in this manner, that is greater than is reeable or useful. but the generous courser is easily regulated by bit and bridle, and, although si of rapid speed, readily submits to a vemen tadciceated mo sto supply of fuel and the draft of air, tS to the weather, and to open and shut the doors of the rooms, as may be ne- cessary. In the severest weather, it may sometimes be neces- sary to close the communication with every room, except one, until that room is brought to the desired temperature, when another door may be opened, and a second ee, warmed, and so on, until we reach the limit of energy be g to means in hand ; for, even the anthracites are not omnipotens in subduing cold, and those persons will be disappointed who expect every apartment of a great house to be heated, like a sitting parlour, by one fire, perhaps fifty feet from some ef the rooms. The air of a considerable number of rooms peg however, be agreeably tempered, and two or three that are immediately contiguous to the furnace below, and as page more at the head of a stair case, at whose foot the fur- nace stands, may, (upless when the weather Edeeerer en) be ef: It is supposed by | some persons, t that the phir) must, ef course, be out of the question, in the mild weather of ing and autumn. On the > Saptanig he the anthracite fire, a speak of it as sustained in the lined furnace) is perucolenty of “A common Ss eeaiee which is now so seer more healthy appearance than others, and they are mot at all at all — this destructive i insect.” (Say's Entomology Art. Egeria Exitiosa. 96 Anthracite Coal of Rhode-Island. agreeable in such weather. This day, (April 16, 1826,) has been one of that description ; the thermometer, out of doors, being oyer 50° of Fahr. A small fire of the oo , from four to six inches in depth, and sometimes burning freely when there-were not more than two inches of coal, hei inner doors being 5 open has diffused a mild and agreeable warmth a canara ly the whole house, pervading a space of more than eebeptonk be length, thirty in breadth, and twenty in J in height. In this manner, the family are enabled to occupy apart- _ Where they could not otherwise remain, without sepa-_ rate fires, and they pursue their — avocations dispersed freely, as in summer. To produce this desirable result, all -— - necessary, is to regulate ae fire with a little more care, — however, than is nec under similar circum- with open fires. The fel nail be supplied rather more feecuntly than in winter, and in smaller quantities, perhaps once in two hours, and the register drawer must be kept most ef the time shut. It is a mistake to suppose, that the anthracite fire will go out, unless there is a great mass of fuel. What- Garaay betas? the open grate, this is not the fact in the close stove ; and if, at any time, the fire has been suffered to decline, to that degree (as it sometimes happens) that the adding of more anthracite would extinguish instead of re- Viving it, then it is necessary to introduce a little ae and in a few minutes, it will be m a condition to receive anthracite to kindle it anew. It rarel ae) ever, that it is requisite to use charcoal, except once in the day, that is, on kindling the fire in the morning, nor is it ne- oN omg provided the fire has been suffered to burn the previous night. For the warming of large es- tablishments, hospitals, asylums for the insane, churches, colleges, hotels, &c. and where it is important for the pre- servation or or recovery af Bene to have = a uniform tempera- ‘even ble to establish in New-England, or in Canada, the climate of the ame of pets or of the ee Even i in uthern states of this country, the anthracite, especially if burned — or in the cellar, one beni Anthracite Coal of Rhode-Istanid. 97 to this*object,) would afford and diffuse through a large es- tablishment, that mild temperature, which is so favourable; bo Ith and comfort: In regard. to the pleasantness and atility of this fuel, as it may serve to answer the enquiries amilies, I take the liberty to mention the experi- ence of my own, during the last six months; in which, (ex- cept for cooking,) we have scarcely used any other fail: the same price, the family would now greatly prefer the ans thracite, to the best wood. The aniform and permanent heat, its diffusion through several apartments, and the con< necting halls and passages, thus giving in winter, the freedom and space of summer, the diminished liability to catch cold; because we have not to encounter currents of cold aif in the the halls; the r om smoke, and, in a great measure, from ashes and aay the perfect security from atly diminished tro = any attention being re- quired from the fethalens of the house, the of especially around the fire place, and the economy of enone since this fuel affords'a given amount of heat at a lower ex- pense than any other: : ali th these ae ome conspire to recom- inend th our coun- try accessible by water. I tavea a high opinion of the value of the bituminous coal, and it would be very desirable that more mines of this fuel should be discovered, east of the Alleghany mountains; but if the election between the two were left to. us, we should not hesitate to prefer the anthracite.* It is very happy that, while central Pennsylvania is so richly stor ed with this combustible, New-England has also an abundant local resource in the mines of Rhode-Island. The anthracite is found also at Worcester, which it is expected will, ere long, be connected by a canal, with Providence, at the head of Narraganset Bay: The same geological ihodens in which the Rhode-Island mines are found, extends to Boston and elsewhere; and very possibly, the anthracite may be found in - ether places in this region. The great valley of the Connecticat, also, admits (at ident in part,) of the existence of the anthracite, as well of bitumin- and many traces of coal of various : : erally, however, of the bituminous kind—have been tind in widely dis spersed parts 0 of this district. e: chs yet a a id My own impressions were, at first, wy SS different, w until all obscatia and experience convince , that my” earlier views VOL. I.—No. 1. 3 98 Anthracite Coal of Rhode-Island. The anthracite furnaces are liable to an inconvenience, which is easily prevented, if attended to in season. The semi-vitrified matter, composed of the impurities of the coal, and which forms the slag, accumulates by adhering to the fire-bricks,; with which, by partial fusion, it forms a firm une ion. It should be removed by the poker every morning, when the furnace is cleaned: it is easily done from day to day ; but if neg it increases to an inconvenient degree thickens the lining all around—narrows the place for fuel . Appendix, May 11, 1826. Ihave been just favoured with a copy of a memoir, by Mr: Mareys Bull, read before the American Philosophical Sociee ty of Phi ia, April 7, 1826—entitled : _ ** Experiments to detérmine the comparative quantities of Heat, evolved in the combustion of the principal varieties of result e of n evidently conducted with great care and skill. It is replete with interesting information, and is to be regarded as one of the most important contributions of science to the arts and to domestic economy, which has beer made for a long time in is country. It is worthy of being carefully studied, both by scientific and practical. men, and for the sake of the latter class, it might be well if any analysis of this elaborate and paper, presenting, in a lucid and concise form, the important its:which have been obtained by Mr. i——were prepared for extensive circulation. = Tcannot discover in the memoir of Mr. Bull any import- ant variations from the results which I have presented. Mr. Bull finds the. specific gravity of the anthracites con+ ~ Anthracite Coal of Rhode-Island. = 99 at present decide.* Neither is it in my power to say vticihad the Rhode-fsland coal is generally inferior to the Penn- sylvania anthracites, in its power of imparting heat, or wheth- er the deficiency found by Mr. Bull, of 28 parts in 99, was imputable in whole or in part, to accident in the tion of the specimens. It is stated by those conversant site 4 the mines, that there is in this respeet, much variety in the coal of Rhode-Island. Should it prove on farther trial, that the Rhode-Island coal contains less combustible matter, under the same weight, the price in the market will of course be regulated accordingly. A difference it is very possible there may be on this point, in favour of the Pennsylvania coal, but I should not think, from any thing that I have myself observ- ed, that the average difference in the large way, would prove-as pe as the experiments of Mr, Bull would indicate, although have entire confidence in the accuracy of those experiments in the given case. P. S. May 17, 1826 It is proper to state, that on taking down the tube con- necting the anthracite furnace with the chimney, after ing the Rhode-Island coal, nearly three weeks, the accumu- was dark gray, almost black. It was partially magnetic, suf- ficiently so to form a festoon between the poles of a horse shoe magnet, but the ashes were perfectly dry, like sand, and ad- hered only very slightly to the tube. Should it prove to be the fact, that more ashes, arising m impurities, or from un- veneers — are re deposited i in the tube, when the Rhode- io Lt is probable, that in'a vertieal spvery Bete wihies wilt be “* June 8, 1926. My friend, Prof. Olmsted, has, at my resaert , repeated, with a very pp speci nF inva of the R. 1. and Lehigh coal ;—the former be makes 1. 77, the jee 155—corres- i in the one case, exracl in the other, nearly, Mie Bull gives, for the Rhode-[sland coal, I 438, and fi We must impute these differeaces, < variety in speci A letter from Mr. Bull, this mosipat: rece a myself, contains the cee passage :— in our results, as to the sp. gr. of e coals, sent fissures, more or less, in almost all instances, and t podaaie’ $sland, in which the largest variation 100 = Proofs of Currents upon the Earth's surface. found, except at the elbow joint, whatever fuel is employed, but [ am persuaded that a larger conducting tube than that which has been introduced in Philadelphia, would be advan- tageous, especially where there is any considerable extent of horizontal communication. ws gesie ee] I ought perhaps to add, that, at the close of the season, af ter the experience of more than six months, I find the collec- tion of light ashes. upon the sides and ceiling of the apart- ments, somewhat greater than I had supposed when the for- mer essay was writien, but there is no. serious imconvenience, as it is easily dusted away, and leaves very’ litile permanent effect. ras ty oo 9 ArT. VIL. Proofs that general and powerful currents have h. a swept and worn the surface of the eart _. .. TO PROFESSOR SILLIMAN. RE is one circumstance connected with the earth’s sure face, which has not, that | am aware of, been noticed by any writer on Geology, The surface of every. portion of the mass of rock, composing nucleus of the earth, and which has been the action of the atmosphere, is found nin a very nearly north and south, but from a little west of north to » ete eo rica, sks This fact has appeared to me a very streking and important one, and it is a singular cireumstance that it should not have — by the numerous writers, who have carefully in- vestigated so’ many circumstances connected with the chang- og tes Si rt * 3 Prooft of OutFenis upon the Earth's siurfacé. 101 ways been considered a subject of deep interest, and have given rise to different theories, none of which are satisfactory, and however we may be inclined at times, in despair, to aban- don as hopeless, the inquiry in what manner they have been brought about, it will occasionally force itself upon us. When we meet an immense mass of rounded pebbles, at a great distance from the bed of any river, nay almost on the tops of mountains, we cannot but speculate on the question how they came there. It has appeared to me that the most simple mode of account- ing for some, if not all of these appearances, is the supposi- tion that a change has at some period taken place in the ve- locity of the earth’s motion on her axis. he surface of the earth on the equator revolves at the rate of. more than 1000 miles per hour, or nearly 1500 feet per second, a rapidity of motion, of which it is not easy to form a very precise idea, without comparing it with other velocities, which are familiar tous. Thusit is greater than that of sound, which is estimated at 1100 feet per second, and the greatest speed of a ball, impelled by gunpowder, being about 1700 feet per second, we may safely assume the velocity of the rotary motion of the earth at the equator, as equal to to the er s 106 Morey’s explosive Engine. complete the preparing vessel. The opening to this box be about two inches in diameter The exploding part of the machine, also admits of a great ariety of construction. The following may serve as a con- venient one. Have a cylinder fitted with a piston or plung- r, and connected with a crank shaft, as in the steam engine, let the lower end of the cylinder have a valve of at least half its diameter, opening outwards. This valve may be made of thin soft leather, of the same diameter of the cylinder. This leather is to be tied or fastened to the lower end of the work- ing cylinder, so as to form a continuation of same. he lower end of the leather cylinder or valve, is to be flattened, so as to bring its inner sides together, for about four or five inches of its length, and kept in that position, by light springs attached to the two edges of the flat part, placing it in a posi- tion much like that of a bow and bow-string. This valve is supported, or prevented from being driven into the cylinder, by a plate of metal, of sufficient thickness to bear the pressure of the aémospbeks, arched or raised outwards, and perforated with as many holes as can be well made. m it; the holes Should be from about 4 to ¥ an inch in diameter: The end of the cylinder forms the abutment to this arched plate. An air valve, also opening outward, is fixed in the side of the cy- linder, | na below the piston when down. A pipe from the preparing vessel, is inserted or attached to the side of the cy- linder, a from 4 to ¥ of the length of the the top: is pipe should be as short as it can conv veniently be, ana sho ald e furnished with a valve next the pr eparing box cut off the communication with i it, and a small valve ie half an inch in diameter, next the cylinder, to let the infam- mable air communicate with the flame of a a lamp, so as to take ws and communicate by the trail to the charge in the cylin- er. These valves also open upwards, but as the explosion meets with ‘so Titsle resistance below, they are never thrown upwa ey are worked by beams on the crank shaft, as it of turpentine and water, or se materi Pable of evaporation, and the vapour of which is co ates Morey's explosive Engine. 107 when mixed with atmospheric ‘air, into the lower apartment of e preparing vessel; the proportion of each is not very ma- lamp at the inflaming valve. The piston being dor ascent would form a vacuum under it; this is preyented by vessel. ft then closes, and the vapour valve supplies the re- mainder of the cylinder, through the preparing vessel, with ex- plosive air, and just before the piston is up, say about } of an inch, the vapour valve closes at the same time that the in- it is instantly communicated te the charge in the cylinder; the explosion that ensues, drives out the air from within the cylinder, through the perforated arched plate and leather valve at bottom, which valve instantly collapses and prevents the return of the air. e steam, formed by the explosion and formation of the vacuum, is condensed, by keeping the lower part of the cylinder cool, by surrounding it with water, and suffering the vacuum to inject a small stream of cold wa- ter near the bottom—which also keeps the arched plate and leather valve cool. A vacuum under the-piston, instantly fol- lows the explosion, which descends by the pressure of the at- mosphere, and carries the crank with it, while the same pro- cess is repeated in the second cylinder, and the power is taken from the crank-shaft, or piston-rod, as in the steam-engine. When the temperature is low, smaller charges will produce the same effect, if a thin metallic plate of the same diameter of the piston, be introduced into the cy , called the charging pisten. It is fitted with a small rod, which moves through a stuffing-box in the main piston, so tight that the friction will support its weight. This charging-piston is pre- vented from rising higher than the vapour-pipe, by its end striking against a stationary point, in its ascent, forming a partition between the compound air in the cylinder, and the common atmospheric air, thereby preventing so great a mix- ture of atmospheric air in the cylinder, as to lessen the € of the explosion. “snes i When the temperature of the box is so high as to give off - teo great a proportion of vapour, the engine works better by 108 Morey’s explosive Engine. stopping entirely the working of the charging en but not —— stn ee my. This charging piston should be ful- ly perforated with small. holes, lest by seuasel it should not rise with the working piston, as well as to let the explosiolt pass freely through it, to clear the cylinder. Wire gauze valve, to prevent explosion in in the box, should the vapour: valve not.close in time. When hydrogen gas is intended to an apparatus similar to Professor Hare’s compound - paiay be atta ttached to the e engine, hostbiree:the- air and ga into the preparing box. A box of the form and size before mentioned, appiediieae = sufficient to prepare air fast enough, with a small lamp, furnish from fifty to one hundred charges per minute, ae: a cylinder of seven. or eight inches in diameter, having a two foot stroke, the box being in use only one quarter part.of the time ; it of course, would supply four such cylinders if the air was constantly blown or drawn. through it... To keep up the temperature of the bex, would, in that case, probably re~ quire more heat, but it does appear, that the more rapidly the air i is made to pass. over the liquors, the more rapidly it takes up vapour at the same temperature... The following, are some of the methods, I have successful- ly pos in producing a power from this same source. eA haye c greed the air, by the effect. of the explosion, to be ov a column o item erase Negron. 2° 4 to: dec it toa et Uheighth and distance. T have, in a measure, reversed i oie d by forming a vacuum in a vessel above, the water would Be driven up, by the press— ure of the atmos I have caused as ex xplosion to compress, in-a reservoir, a quantity of atmospheric air, and make use of that compressed air, for working an engine, similar to a double stroke high pressure steam engine. . _ This mode will nae it perfectly safe on account cat fire, as ’ ay be led, in ‘hess any distance, before it works the e: Sometimes I ha d metimes anit made avalve in. the wards, and fill the cylinder below the ans it Auge mA the piston pared air, and when the piston is about half ~ om the cyl- inder, it is at the height of its working stroke ; the explosion then takes place. The effeet is, that the quantity of air above the piston is nearly doubled ;_ its elasticity or force is alse - Morey’s explosive Engine. 109 greatly increased, by a great increase of its temperature, it now reacts on the piston, while a vacuum below, adds greatly to = efiect. This mode acts with great energy in a small pr ove attached to the working piston, thin tubes, about % of an inch in diameter, open at top, each one of which is di- rectly over and enters one of the tubes of a condenser, at- tached to the bottom of the eylinder, which tubes are # of an inch in diameter. ‘The prepared air, as usual, is let into the cylinder near the upper end ; as the piston rises, it fills with the prepared air, the upper part of the tubes, and the spaces around them, and when the piston is nearly = the explosion takes pccd but the tubes prevent all violenc At, ar all of those springs, which are Femmsiaiied giv- ing oft rsoreetie gas, engines may be erected (substituting the gas for thatof the vapour of the liquors) to work con- stantly, for every desired mechanical purpose, e engines can be placed in any chosen situation, by only custo the gas through tubes, and if desi ired, the air and pass in due proportion through the tubes together, gee with a few short turns, will imsure - suitable preparation, although the distance should be sho The explosive vapour engines will work: without any fire, when the temperature of the weather, in the sun or in the shade, is about 80 or 90°, provided the charge be inflamed by the electric spark. With a due proportion of ether, accord- ing to the temperature of the weather, it is probable that the engine will work at any time, with only a lamp to inflame the charge. The less is the proportion of alcoho] the higher tempera- ture will be required, So again, the more turns, back and the lower temperature will temperature of the box gets down to about 70°, the spirit of turpentine refuses to come over at all, or at least, in suffi- cient quantity to give energy to the explosion. I have late- ly a a plunger, in lieu of the piston, and er the top of the cylinder ; 3 it works well an fetes A small bellows is convenient in peti engine in motion, or the explosive air may be blown into the erro and inflamed, to warm it, and commence the opera. 110 Memorial on the upward forces of Fluids. A very easy mode, to try an experiment, for the purpose of preparing this explosive air mechanically, is to have made _ a few feet of inch tubes, of common tin plate. These tubes should be turned, once in about a foot, at right angles, and the long aie a be filled with small tubes, about 4 of an inch in diameter. If air is made to pass through this erook- ed tube, while it contains a single spoonful of high proof sas and spirit of turpentine, with a pr temperature, it comes out highly — if the current is forced through by a hand bellows, with ever so much velocity. As we now construct the engine i preparing vessel, it is impossi- - ble that an explosion can take place, that will injure any one. A few drops of these liquors, on a board in the sun, with a tumbler inverted over them, will explode in a short time, if a flame is applied. It will not, I trust, appear surprising, that these i improve- ments are. — nted. , dear sir, YPRRiy most respectfully, SAMUEL Morey. P.S. Lam sensible, that a drawing ought to accompany chia paper, but at present, it is out of my sce to furnish one. 2 Memorial on the upward forces of Fluids, and thelr applicability to several arts and sciences, and public improvements ; for which a patent has been granted by the government of the United States to the auther, Edmund Charles Genet, a citizen of the United States, member of the Institute of France, of the Roy J y of London, of the Philosophical Society of New- k, &c. Analysis by Fetrx Pascanis, M.. D. oe of the American ge BS of the Linn of Paris, &c, &c. = eae Hau F an age has elapsed since the discovery ee tion, Montgolfier, aa anes a great number oe a menters an to engage i excursions, some for the sake of remuneration, ters for scientific purposes and pub- lic ay: How many ascensions ‘ave been made, in all pos- s, and with different gaseous fluids, could hardly be Memorial on the upward forces of Fluids. 11} described! It is, however, ascertained, that human beings can transport themselves into high regions, and through immense space, with the rapidity of tempestuous wind.* Others have been raised to the height of 3670 toises, equal to that of Mont Blanc, and experienced the same effects as are observ- first, connected the balloon with a parachute, in the form of two wings, which he could really agitate, and was truly a se- cond Icarus, d fe te th the first auli his balloon like a fish of 90 feet long, with fins of 30 feet, and a tail, or rudder of 15 feet ; but it could not be adopted, owing to the enormous expense, (about 60,000 dollars.) Mr. Rob- ertson has performed fifty-five aerial voyages, and has invented a double parachute. He has also instructed his son Eugene, who is now in New-York, and their united labours have pro- duced the design called the Minerva, a vessel of 70 tons, car- rying sixty men, which, after striking the shortest line to the ocean, can ly committed to the waves! Proposals on this subject have been addressed to all the academies of the world, in the expectation that an encouraging subscription might be opened for the ultimate execution of the plan; but we have not heard that any further progress has’ made. experiments, and others of inferior magnitude, have, as far as we know, added no new means of safety to zrosta- tion, nor the least power to regulate and direct the march of an etherial expedition to favour either science or human indus- * Sixty miles an, hour, according to Hutton. 112 Memorial on the upward forces of Fluids. try; and the public opinion seems to be fixed in its estimate of the value of a discovery which is nevertheless an irresisti~ ble proof of human ingennity, having thus far availed itself of a portion of the laws of nature, in relation to what Mr. Genet calls the upward forces of fluids. His Memorial, now before us, commands a new degrée of attention, not precisely in relation to those improvements, which seem to have frustrated the expectations of former ex- perimenters, but in regard to others far more important to the arts of industry—experiments which had not before par} younger, was present at the first balonic ascension which he orn fore the King of France, and soon after, viz. in the ‘year 1783, he read a memoir to the Royal Academy, of which he was a member, on the means of applying the steam Memorial on the upward forces of Fluids. 118 steam-boats against snags, planters, sawyers shoals and rocks, Such materials, under protection of a national patent t, are well worthy of the attention oF philosophers and of mechanical philanthropists. For the full illustration of this subject, plates are necessary, which, by the liberality of the proprietor, ot be furnished, as far as necessary, in a suc- ceeding num The views dail plans of Mr. Genet are not all equally practicable, but no one of them requires more labour and comparative ingenuity than would have been ppenttn to be necessary, by the first navigator of an Indian canoe, had he been told that the same might, in the a of time, be con- verted into a line-of-battle ship of 124 guns here is a doubt, however, that may arise in the minds of many, concerning the correctness of the appellation or defi- nition of the upward forces of fluids, as adopted by Mr. Ge- net. Indeed, any kind of matter, or fluid, which is Ras Abe to have that tendency, owes it entirely, it if be! to grav- ity. Such is in fact the result of pressure downwar ardé: which causes a ‘ae alae ke ressure of the lighter bodies upwards. But on this r, Genet speak for himself, “In my m meditations on the homogenity of the forces usu- ally applied to mechanics, I have viewed with astonishment that the force of levity, or the upward force, should have been entirely overlooked and neglected; when Newton him- self had admitted the existence of a drawing force opposed to the force of gravity, which prevents the moon from falling upon the earth ; when Herschel had calculated that the force of levity, as exhibited rf re was such that it moved in every direction at the rate of 200,000 miles in a second ; Wlién the sinde ‘id the japeag OF the birth miltlaed a, by their ascension through the atmosphere, that hey were im- pelled by a force acting inversely to the force of gravity ; when that same force, which chemistry has proved to be due to ‘latent or ope was known to be the cause of the ascension of balloons ; when those zrostatic machines were seen to raise heavy w weights in a different tangent from the a of gravity ; when the report of the bold adventurers who sed themselves in the air, by the means of those zrostats, had d teste, that equally independent. of the general laws of atmospheric pres sure and aerometry, the elasticity of zerostats atid We nceelerated motion of their ascensio Oh Serer tee VOL. 1.—NO. 1. 15 ii4 Memorial on the upward forces ef Fluids. air grew lighter and the atmospheric pressure decreased 7 when it was also stated by them, that as they approached the upper strata of the atmosphere, perhaps occupied by an ethe- rial gas, at the altitude ras 70 rods, the highest to whicl: men ever have ascended, e the gevlogical crust of ne globe, the spirit of life “ia cecuped to be drawn upwards and to become evanescent, retaining no recollection, on its return to vital air, of what had happened during its lipothymy ; ; and when, finally, it had been proved that the laws of gravity va- ried in the same body in proportion of its degree of heat or cold, as it is aM under the equator and the colder lati- tudes towards the poles, by the pendulum, retarded when ren- dered specifically lighter and bulky by caloric, or accelera- when rendered heavier and contracted by cold.” It was a bold undertaking, that of rejecting the Newtonian solution, of the retardation of the pendulum under the equator, the compression of the poles, and by the crated, force ements, by the diurnal rotation of our planet, But is an able controversialist, establishes his a te neiples moving the universe; one is matter that seeks rest, and the other is an element that: incessantly disturbs that rest ; should there be one single element in the universe which cannot be controled by gravity—gravity cannot be said to be an universal law. At any rate, the concluding principle of remarks on levity, certainly entitle the writer to the merit of cons consistency. in his adopted denomination, of the upward forces of fluids. “ If motion is the result of a pressure impelled on matter at rest, it implies that the motion must be effected through some portion of space, without which no motion can be duced. 80, shall we consider that , vacuum, soul we not recognize as the occupant of that ates from the sun why space, caloric latent or sensible, which eman with the rays of light ; traverses with nor i: Space at an equal eerd mes in an instant, a force capable of shaki it has created it; gives levity te Dpinion on Hydrometers, by Dr. Hare. 115 dently calculated by the great architect of the universe, to Keep nature in perpetual motion. But without endeavouring to penetrate into the secret views of Providence, let us study e means of employing advantageously, the powers offered with infinite goodness to human industry; for in the end, practical utility will be found to be the best part of philoso- phy, and the only one which we may cultivate with pleasure and profit.” Art. X.—Opinion on Hydrometers; by Ropert Hare, M. D.. Professor of Chemistry in the University of Pena- sylvania. deputes the choice to the collector of this port, with the as- sistance of the naval officer, and three such persons as he may deem best qualified to judge. Being called on, under these circumstances, to give an opinion, I beg leave to pre- mise, that, the instruments which have been heretofore em- ployed, in the assay of spirits, have either been contrived in England, with a particular view to the duties there levied, or, have been modifications, made in this country, of i ‘ so contrived. Hence, none have been constructed, ap a by our due regard to the manner in which duties are i | than forty years, since our political independence was achieved, we have still continued to be de- pendent on England for our best mathematical instruments 5 as it was not towards such contrivances that the enterprise pe! a il6 Opinion on Hydrometers, by Dr. Hare- has been enjoined upon our revenue officers. But, the hydrometer of Dicas. It consists of a bulb, with a slen- der stem, which have a certain ratio, in bulk, to each other. The stem being, throughout, homologous in form, and of equal dimensions, and being graduated longitudinally into equal parts. The aggregate is of such a specific gravity, as that, when placed in alcohol of the specific gravity of 800, nearly the whole of the bulb will be submerged, and all the graduated part of the stem; so that the surface of the liquid will be at 0. If placed im spirit a little weaker, a portion of — the uation of the stem will be above the surface of the liquid. The degree which coincides with this surface, being hoted, opposite to the same number, on a scale accompany- ing the instrument, will be found the strength of the spirit, or the per centage of water more or less than would make it © proof spirit which is of the gravity of about .9218, and consists of nearly equal parts of water and alcohol of the Specific gravity of 825.* : When the spirit is so much weaker, as to carry the whole of the graduated part of the stem above the liquid surface, 2 weight is added, which causes the stem to be more or less : weight used in this case is marked 10> and to this number is to be added that observed on the stem, as before. On the scale, opposite the sum thus ascertained, will be found, the per centage above or below pr _ There are thirty-six weights, so proportioned, that, suppos- ing the instrument, in the first instance, placed. in alcohol, * According to Dr. Ure, the gravity of proof spirit, according to Dicas, is i. nial Ges Sdleanerree bY me, with one eonstructed a Opinion on Hydrometers, by Dr. Hare. 11¥ and that this alcohol were gradually reduced in strength, by the addition of water, the graduation on the stem would have to emerge thirty-six times, and be as often submerged by an additional weight ; each Weight differing from its predeces- sor, by the weight of a quantity of the spirit, equal in bulk to the ten divisions on the stem. thermometer accompanies the instrument, and, by means of a slide in the scale, the numbers fonnd by means of the weights and the stem, are slid backwards or forwards, so as to lessen or increase the indication of strength, proportiona- bly to the temperature. If this be a correct account of Dicas’ hydrometer, it will be evident, that, when well executed, it must be capable of affording correct indications ; and that, any errors or incon- sistencies, which may have been discovered in the ob- tained by it, may be ascribed either to incorrectness in the execution of the instrument, or to its being deteriorated by wear, by accident, or abuse. But to these sources of inaccu- racy, all instruments, constructed in a similar way, are equal- } le: and, while such instruments are used, I cannot conceive any other method of preventing error, than that the instruments shall all be tried by a scientific and skilful officer, before they are used, and periodically passed through his hands, for the purpose of rectification, whenever he may find it necessary. acquainted with the subject, will perceive, that a great num- ber of laborious experiments, and calculations, would be re- attended by great labour, I do not think that it would essen- ially promote the views of government, since the result could tency * See Gilpin’s Tables. 11s Opinion on Hydrometers, by Dr. Hare. subjected to trial. It could afford no security against the urces of error, or inconsistency, already specified, in my @bsétvaioiis respecting the hydrometer of Dicas It is, obviously, only with regard to the general design of the instruments laid before me, that I could be expected to express an opinion _extemporaneously. I could only say, how far one, either in its principle, or its construction, may be preferable to another: how far it may be less liable to de- government, I have not seen any su eriority, in those brought into competition with it, adequate to justify a hasty change. As the duties are now laid, it is only important to know, whether spirit is below ten per cent. under proof—above ten, and below five per cent. under proof—above five, or below proof—above proof, and below twenty per cent. over proof— above twenty, and below forty per cent. over proof. If go- vernment adheres to these rates, none of the instruments pre- dicated on the practice of England, [where the tax is regu- larly 1 ion to the quantity of proof spirits in the liquor] can be Hie to this country ; and it will be desira- ble to have a method of ascertaining, with accuracy, those gravities, above or below which, the duties are varied. Hence, an Sag hee much more simple, and much less ex- peribive, th w used, might answer better. Should the present nae of laying’ the duties, appear to the government, as it does to me, to be inaccurate and unjust, I would suggest, that the duty should be laid on the alcohol, of -825 ;* so that, in order to find the amount to be collected, it should only be requisite to multiply the number expressing the actual quantity of that liquid in the spirit, by a certain number of cents; and that, an hydrometer be so constructed, as to give the per a ‘of alcohol, and, at the er time, ist po coincidence of the different strengths, thus indi- the specific gravity, and with the strengths hither- Saas, by the per centage of water to’ be added or pete ce in order to render the liquor equivalent to proof ae palate! a there wuld be an advantage, in resorting o the natural standards of water and alco 1, instead of those wétitearity and ignorantly adopted, in the infancy of science, both as respects the equable payment of duties by the —_ and the unwary, and, the precision which such a system is nearly as strong 8 distillation will it sac for it in Gilpin’s Ta bles. Se Opinion on Hydrometers, by Dr. Hare. 149 has a tendency to introduce, atatng: those who mannfactute er deal in spirit. he only evidence, of the comparative eligibility of the instruments laid before me, which was adduced in a form to which I feel my welt justified in lstentonr: was that of Mr. Jack- son, one of t venue officers of this port; on whose judg- ment and aay; I place great reliance. . This officer appears to prefer the instrument to which he has been accus« tomed ; and he demonstrated, that there was no inconven- ience in the use of it, adequate to justify’ its being exchang- ed for the hydrometers of Southworth, or Tucker, which were the only instruments placed in competition with ‘it. Had not the hiyadroih eter of Dicas been already employed, I should not have aarti it to that of Tucker, which ap- ars analogous in princ and is apparently very well made. The hydrometer o Southworth, although in design and execution, apparently less perfect than the other, for 1 urposes of manufacturers and dealers, is recommended by its sinipbicity: It has only one weight ; and, in most cases, will answer, without any change of wei ht. The corree- tions for temperature, are made by adding or subtracting 14 ps for every five degrees of temperature. and “ay they should be authorized to incur a n deaieesilli ex- pense, in the requisite investigations. Ihave been for some time engaged, in ascertaining the merits of some methods of determining gravities, ea a ree new. I intend, shortly; to lay the reouls the . Although iti it is possible, that, im practice, cnidsonete ob- Jections to these new instruments may arise ; I have no hesi- tation in saying, that they possess a very important charac- teristic, that of being so simple and obvious, in the principle their construction, that they may be tested at any time, by a pair of nor en or a scale ben's and that, like the last mentioned instrument, they furnish a mean of value of the article, easily comprehended and estimated, by those who are interested in the result: whereas the hydrome- ters, now used, afford indications, which must be taken upon trust, especially by the inexperienced. ~ 120 Notice of a Meteor. =. XL—Notice of a brilliant Meteor seen at Burling~ t. on the evening of April 14; im a letter to the Editor from GEORGE W. Benedict THIS meteor was seen by Dr. Henry S. Waterhouse, p50: a mile south of Burlmgton. It disappeared at twenty m utes past eleven. _ Its altitude* above the horizon, when first seen, was 9°, 48’; 1s its azimuth, as observed, was north 49°, 30! east, orj deducting 7°, 36’ for the variation of the needle, its azimuth would be no orth 41°, 54’ east. Tis altitude when it went ont of sight, behind a ridge of land, was 3°, 6’, 20’, arp its cor- rected azimuth north, 26°, 57! east. The place of observa- tion is in ™ naan 449°, 26', and 3 in longitude 73°, 15’ west from Gree From its Aplewas magnitude to Dr. W. compared with that of the meridian sun, it must, on its first appearances have subtended an angle of about 7 minutes, which, from a similar ison, must have been enlarged to about twen- ty-eight minutes by the time of its leaving his sight. _ He re- marked, that it seemed to him to undergo a sudden enlarge- ment, at two different times, rather than a gradual one from first to last. Its tail was, at first, very small ; indeed, there was scarcely any ; but it increased in magnitude and ‘splen- dor with great rapidity, so that when the ball went below the These observations lead to a conclusion that it must have piped over a line very far to the north of this place. The impression on the mind of Dr. W. at the time was; that its course was nearly northwest ; but of course nothing can be known on this point save with the aid of other observa- tions, to which this notice may be auxiliary. 0 one ir i ge ey unusual in such phenomena angles were John- on, Esq. of this village, and Rand ae: with an an excellent Teeosunce cack On Specific Gravity. 12) Arr. XIL—On Specific Gravity. By Rosert Hare, M. D. Professor of Chemistry in the University of Penn- sylvania. A CLEAR conception of Specific Gravity, is toa comprehension of the language of the most useful sciences and arts. It may be defined, the ratio of the weight ofa hody, to its bulk. On the means of ascertaining Specific Gravities. The object of all the processes for this purpose, is, either to ascertain the weight of known bulk, or the bulk of known weight. When masses are reduced to the same bulk, it is only necessary to weigh them. When they are reduced to ‘the same weight, it is ed necessary to measure them. water were among a number of substances reduced to the same bulk, and el hed and its — assumed as a unit, the numbers found, would be the same as those now in use to express specific gravities. The reuity of water has been assumed as the standard, because this fluid may almost al- ways be had, sufficiently pure ; and it is generally easy to ascertain the weight of a quantity of it, egal in bulk, to any other body. In order to obtain the specific gravity of a body, therefore, we have only to divide its we ies by the weight of a quantity of water equal to it in bu The weight of a quantity of water, equal to the body in i tance which | what is necessary to overcome the which a body encounters in sinking in water, aid divide, by this weight, thus ascertained, the weight of the body, we shall have its specific gravity. In = case of a body which will sink of itself, the resist- ance to its stoking: is what it loses of its weight, when weighed in wate In the case — a body which will not sink of itself, the re- deat to is Sablon, in ice eae to the weight which must be used to make it sink. © . VOL. L.—no. 1. 16 122 On Specific Gravity. tal Demonstration, that the —— which a encounters, in sinking into any fluid, is just equiva- y lent to the weight of a portion of the fluid, “equalling the body in bulk. This proposition may be experimentally* demonstrated, by means of the "BRP SPAD represented by the following figure. ‘The cylinder, ncareates as surround- _ ed by the water of the vase, (V) is made to fit the cavity of the cylinder suspended over it so exactly, as that it enters the __ cylinder with difficulty, on account of the included air, which can only be made to pass by it slowly. _ It must, therefore; be evident, that the cavity of the hollow cyl- inder, is just equal in bulk to the. solid cylinder, which so exactly fits it. Both cylinders, (suspended as seen in the plate) being enupterpaised = a ia - upon a scale beam ; let a vessel of water be placed in the situation of the vase, in the drawing. It must be evident, that the equiponderancy will be d estroyed, since the solid cylinder will be oueTe ed up by 4 = eas =< * the same. manent when the cavity be- mes full, the equiponderancy is restor- ed a and the solid epiudes pe pss below the surface of the = therefore a appears, ‘that the resistance which the solid cylinder encounters, in sinking in the water, is overcome by + weight of a quantity of the water equal to it in bulk. It must be evident, that the same would be true of any other body, and of any other fluid Rationale. When a solid body is intreduced into.an inelastic sdlid, on ee it, a hole i is Jett, which remains vacant of tlie On Specific Gravity: 123 solid matter: but, no sooner is a body, which hasbeen intros . duced into a liquid, withdrawn, than the aliquid. is found to fill. up the space from which it has been removed. It is evident, that the force which eauida wei: thus to re- enter any space within them, from which they are forcibly isplaced, is precisely equal to the weight of a quantity of the liquid, poeanersar ne with that space; since, when the is re-occu y the liquid, the equilibrium is restored. Consequently, every body, introduced into a liquid, experi- ences from it a resistance equal to the weight of a quantity of the liquid; commensurate with the cavity, which would be produced, supposing the liquid, frozen about the solid mass, split open so as to remove it, and the fragments put together again : and the cavity also ps created, must. obviously be exactly equal to the bulk of the body. It follows, that the resistance which any Bode encounters in ing, within a fluid, is equivalent to the weight of a quantity of me! soa in bulk equal to the body. . To ascertain the specific gravity of a body heavier than water. Let the. body be the glass stopple, ‘represented, in the fol- Jowing figure. _ First counterpoise the stopple by means of a scale beam and weights, suspending it by a. fine metallic wire. Place under the stopple, a vessel of pure water, and lower the beam, so that, if the stopple were not resisted by the water, it would be immersed in that fluid. Add just as much weight, as will counteract immersi and render the beam; again horizontal. ae by which the stopple had .d been previously ounterpoised, by the weight thus employed to ‘sink i. 3: The quotient will be the specific gravity. Rationale. ahs weight required to sink the stopple, is. gee igo the bulk of water which the es. O pee to the general, rule, it is ‘only necessary to P44 124 On Specific Gravity- often this weight is contained in the weight of the stopple, te ascertain the specific gravity. To ascertain the specific gravity of a body lighter than water. Let a small glass funnel be suspended from a scale beam, and counterpoised so as to be just below the surface of some water in a vase, as in this diagram while — situated, a bers lighter than water, a sm r instance, be thrown up under the foasel the equilibrium will be sub- verted. Ascertain how much weight will coun- teract me poayas ney of the cork, add this to its weight, and divide its weight by the sum—the fitted is = the aswer. Rationale. The force with which the cork rises against the funnel, is equal to the difference between its weight and the weight of the bulk of water which it displaces. Of course, ascertaining the force with which it rises, by using just weight enough to counteract it, and adding this weight so ascertained, to that of t plas sone ase bulk of water, equal to praeneitacl e dre y this, dividing the weight of the cork, agreeably to t the specific gravi the cork will be found. gore x: ate To ascertain the specific gravity of a Liguidi Let the stopple be counterpoised, exactly as in the last ex- periment, excepting that it is unnecessary to take any ac- count of the speammspoising weight. Having, in , ascertained how much weight will sink it m the ay divide this by the weight required to sink it in water, as above. he quotient will be the specific gravity sought. Rationale. It has been proved, that the resistance to the sinking of 4 Siena any fluid, is Liga yy equal to the ype of a bulk d, equal to the balk of the body. Ascertaining the On Specific Gravity. 125 resistance to the immersion of the same body in different fluids, is, therefore, the same as ascertaining the weights of bulks of those fluids, equal to the body, and, of course, to each other. And if one of the liquids be water, dividing by i its weight, the weight of the others, gives their specific gravities. If the stopple be so proportioned, as to lose da one thou- sand grains, by immersion in water, division is unnecessary, as the weight of the ees will be obtained in grains, which are thousandths by the premises. A metallic mass, of the same weight as the stopple exactly, may be employed as its counterpoise. In these experiments, the liquid should be as near 60° of Fahrenheit’s Thermometer as possible. On the application of the Sliding Rod measurement, in Hy- drometry. There is, in my opinion, no mode of measuring fluids, heretofore contrived, so accurate and convenient, as tha‘ which I have employed in my Eudiometers. [ allude to the contrivance of a rod, or piston, sliding through a collar of leathers into a tube, and expelling from it any contained fluid, ‘quantities: meacured.b y degrees marked upon the rod ; and ascertained, with additional accuracy, by means of a vernier. One of the most advantageous applications of the mechan- ism alluded to, is, in ascertaining specific gravities, in the case either of liquids or solids. To assay liquids which are not nar et I have employed two instruments like that re- in the following figure, severally graduated to 100 Gators and furnished with a — by which those degrees may be divided into tenths, and each scale made equivalent to 1000 parts. 126 On Specific Gravity: In order to. avoid circumlocution, I shall, to the instrument. here represented, give the name of adie eons ; from. Supposing two such instruments ‘t eB filled, to the extent of the graduation, one with pure water, the other w ith any- spirituous liquid, lighter than water, whose gravity is to be touads let 1000 parts of the liquid be excluded into one scale of a beam, and then exclude into.the other scale as much wa-. ter as will ll balance it. Inspecting the graduation of the Chy- , from which the water has been expelled, the numbers observed, will be the answer sought. For, supposing 1000. measures of alcohol were placed in.one scale, if 800 measures . of water paaeerbalante! it, the alcohol must be to the water, in pees as 800 to 1000 ; since it is self-evident, that when any two masses are made .equal in weight, their gravities must be. inversely as their bulks. To ascertain the specific gravity oh a Solid, by the via For this purpose, the = ed gravity is in soa shebule ‘be suspended’ ithe: nénal way » beneath one of the scales of a balance, and its weight, in vjarts of water, at oe F. ascertained, by measuring from the Chyometer, into onpesee scale, as many parts as will balance the body. Be ing Chae neler mires ahs. wits doth come duly pla- | eee 4 ced u under it 5. . the number of parts of water, c t iy to cause i to be menged in ths aid, willbe the weight of a quantity of water, equivalent: in bulk to the body... Of dividing, by the number thus observed, the weight of body, in parts of water as previously found, the quotient ee “ the specific gravity. ss ought to be easily understood, since it differs ‘at evo ne only, in using measures of water, in- water, for each process. To ascertain the specific gravity wig of. a , Coerosive Fluid, by the The process, described in oe preceding page, is o plicable, where the fluid is not of ene Bas = i ay Fa On Specifie Gravity. 127 sliding rod. By employing a body—a glass bulb, for in- stance—appended from a balance, as in the usual process, we may use water, measured by the Chyometer, in lieu of wei First, having écinterbalinted the body exactly, ascertain how many parts of water will cause it to sink in water ; next, how many parts will cause it to sink in the liquid, whose gra- vity is to be ascertained. ©'The number last found, being di- vided by the first, the quotient is the specific gravity. Supposing that the graduation be made to correspond with the size of the bulb, so that 1000 parts of pure water will just sink the bulb in another portion of the same fluid ; the pro- cess for any other liquid, will be, simply i ascertain how many parts of water will sink the the globe The number observed: will be the specific gravity ; so that. recourse ie wa- ter, or to calculation, would be unnecessary.” The rationale of this last mentioned process, is the case of ascertaining the gravity of liquids, by coins stopple, weighing 1000 grains.—(See page 123.) To find the Che gravity of a Mineral, without cateula- n, and without degrees The preceding igre represents a balance. employed in this. © respects, more convenient than common. ss The moveable, weight on one of the arms, renders it easier to counterpoise bodies of various weights ; 128 On Specific Gravity. as far from the fulcrum as the other. A ohyonriaes is employed in this pieces, of which the fol- lowing figure will convey a correct idea. The rod of this instrument is not graduated, but is provi- ded with a band, (B) which can be sli ped alo along the rod, and to any part of it by means of a oe iden ter egietrs ie aes back, and ren- red equiponderant with the counter-weight, (W) by moving = from, or nearer to the fulcrum, so that The index point (I) may be exactly opposite the point of the beam. Place u mineral a vessel of water, and add as much of this fluid to the bucket, by means of the chyometer, as will cause the immersion of the mineral. The band (B) which is made to slip upon the rod, should be so fastened, by means of the screw, as to mark the distance Which the rod has entered, in expelling the water, requisite to sink ot mineral. Hav- ing removed the vessel of water, and the m ascertain how many times the same quantity of iter “which caused the immersion of the mineral, must t be employed to compen- sate its removal. _ Adding to the number thus found, one for the water, (pre introduced into the bucket, in order to cause the im- mersion of the mineral ,) we have its eptctie gravity ; so far as it may be expressed without fractions. When requisite, these On Specific Gravity. 129 may be. discovered by means of the second bucket, which gives fifths for each measure of water ; which, if added to - the outer bucket, would be equivalent to a whole number. By the eye, the distance is equally so divided, as to give half fifths, or tenths. Or, the nearest bucket, being hung one half nearer the fulcrum, the same measures will become tenths in the latter, which would be units, if added to the outer bucket. Rationale. The portion of the rod, marked off by the band, was_evi- dently found competent by its introduction into the tube of the chyometer, to exclude from the orifice a weight of water, pe to Paarbea the resistance encountered by the min- eral in sinking i : consequently, eably to the gen- eral rule,* to find the eres gravity of heat a we fave only to find how often this weight (of water) will go into the weight of the mineral—or, what is the same in effeet, how often the former must be taken, in order to balance the latter. In- deed, it must otherwise, be sufficiently evident, that the min- and the water being made equal in weight, their specific aus must be inversely as their bulks, which are known by the premises. The inner bucket may be dispensed with, and greater frac- tional Piatti attained, by means of a sector, graduated in- to 100 parts. It is for this purpose that the sliding band, and the ferrule at the but-end of the tube, are severally fur- mished with the points. The assistance of a sector is espe cially applicable, where fluids are in question, since it is ne- cessary to find their differences in thousandths. To find the specific SOBEL 0 4 ofa hod, by the Sectoral oe Let a glass bulb, (represented in figure 5, under dhe bucks ets,) be suspended from the outer bucket, and es ep Let the situation of the beam be marked, by bringing ‘the point of the index opposite #6 ck Let the tube of the chy- ometer be full of water, and the rod retracted, until stopped by an enlargement purposely made at its inner termination. Next return it into the tube, until as much water is into the bucket, as is just adequate to cause the immersion of * See page 121. VOL. L—NoO. 1. 17 130 On Specific Gravity: the bulb. Let the band be fastened upon the rod, close te where it enters the tube, so as to mark the extent to whicls it rhay have entered. The rod must, im the next place, be drawa out frosts its tube, to its first position ; and the sector 6 opened, as that the points may extend from 100 ¢ on one leg to 100 upon the other. Leaving the sector thus ared, place under the suspended ball, a vessel containing an adedoet quantity of the fluid, whose gravity is required. If the fluid be iighter than water, in order to cause the tm- mersion ‘of the bulb in it, the rod will not have to enter so far Stell iby the stop, the number on each leg of the sector, with which the points will coincide, gives the gravity of the fluid- Forcing as much water into the bucket as had been sufficient to sink the bulb in water, will not sink it in a heavier liquid; consequently, in the case of such liquids, it will be necessary to fill the ee a second time, and force as much more water from it, as may be sefficient to cause the immersion of ie. The sliding band being then fixed, and the points ted and applied to the sector, as before, the number to which they extend must be added to the weight of water =100, for the specific gravity of the fluid in question Small differences are better found by subtraction ; ie for instance, > the specific gravity of the fluid were 101 ; ‘after the small addition of water made to the bucket, be- w yond the 100 parts required for the immersion of the bulb in water, (the band being unmoved,) the points would extend from 99 on one leg, to 99 on the other. The difference be- tween this number, and 100, is then to be added to the weight of water ; so that the specific gravity is found to be 101. angle made by the sectoral lines in using the same bulb, =< the same rod, will always be the same. Hence 2 stay many be employed to give the sector the requisite open- “Indeed, were liquids alone in question, an immovable see~ : ‘tofal _— would answer. Thus prepared, it were unneces- ‘sary to have recourse to watiny Bs Secepiing in the first adjust- iment of me scale. The ber of parts required to merge ‘the bulb in any fluid, will reach (at once or twice) the num- ber, or numbers, on the sector, which give the required gra- n this process, if greater accuracy be desirable, it is onl necessary to employ a smaller rod, or a larger bulb. Instead On Specific Gravity. 131 e on the rod of the chyometer be ascertain- ed; ch. when introduced five times successively, will ex. clude just water enough to overcome the resistance encoun- tered by a globe, in sinking im that fluid. Let the sector be opened, to the oo so designated ; let the globe be par- tially counterpoised, so as to float in any liquid heavier than , if the giobe be the value of the distance pease the rod has been intro- duced. Adding the numbers, =a found, to 800, the sum will be the specific gravity of the li For this process, the sector should be divided into 200 parts, and, the proper opening being once oy ascertained, d be preserved, by means of an are, like d to common beam compasse Instead of a globe, a bydrometet, surmounted with a cup, may be employed, either with a graduated, or a sectoral, chyometer. In lieu of having points attached to the chyometer, as re- presented in the figure, it may be as convenient to have two small holes, for the insertion of the points of a pair of com- passes, either of the common kind, of the construction used by clock makers, or that which is known under the name of beam compasses. The compasses may be used to regulate the opening of the sector, or to ascertain, by the aid of that instrument, the com- parative value of the distances which the rod of the chyome- ter has to be introduced into its tube. toyed to convey an idea of the nature of the sector, to reader who may be unacquainted with it, I trust it will be sufficient to point out, that its construction is that of the foot-rule used by curpenterss We have only a pose such a rule, covered with brass, and each leg graduated into 200 equal parts, in order +o ell an adequate conception of the instrument employed by me. 132 On Specific Gravity. A more particular explanation of the principle of the sec- tor, may be found in any Encyclopedia, or Dictionary of Mathematics. - Before taking Teave of the reader, it may be proper to ex- plain n the use of the square dish, which may be seen to the ‘left, under the beam, (figure 5-) The are of wire, is for the purpose of suspending the dish to the hook, in place of the outer bucket- When so suspended, filled with water, and in means of the ch ometer, it is easy to ascertam the different — evaporated, in similar times, and at different pe- , in different places; so that, guarding against the effects = saat currents, hydrometrical observations may be made with great accuracy. On the Litrameter. 133 ON THE LITRAMETER. ame is derived from the Greek pasion weighs and meter, measure; and i Ainaabesiie one of. sheans which I have contrived | ertainin quids are elevated by the same__ pressure their heights. must be inversely. their gravi viti Two glass tubes, of the size and bore usu- ally employed in ba- made t at right angles to, and opening into, at which connects them. At the lower end of 184 On the Litrameter: into about 2200 parts, or degrees. On the left of the tube, there is another strip of brass, with another set of numbers, so situated as to comprise two de- rrees of the scale above-mentioned, in one. Agreeably to this enumeration, the height of the tubes is, by the aid ofa correspondent graduation on the vernier, divided into 1100 parts or degrees. ~ | A small strip of sheet tin, (%) is let into a kerf in the wood, supporting the tubes, in order to indicate the commencement — of the scale, and the depth to which the orifices of the tubes must extend. ‘At distances from this, of 1000 parts and 2000 parts, (commensurate with those of the scale) there are two other indices, (T, T,) to the right hand tube. Let a small vessel containing water, be made to receive the lower end of the tube, by the side of which the scale is situated ; and a similar vessel of any other fluid, whose gravity is Sought, be made to receive the lower end of the other tube ; so that the end of the one tube, may be covered by the liquid in question, and the end of the other tube, by the water. The bag being compressed, a great part of the contained air, is expelled through the tubes, and rises through the liquids in the tumblers. When the bag is allowed to resume its shape, the consequent rarefaction allows the liquids to rise into the tubes, in obedience to the greater pressure of the at- mosphere without. If the liquid to be assayed, be heavier than water, as for instance, let it be concentrated sulphuric acid, it should be raised a little above the first imdex, at the distance of 1000 de from the common level of the orifi- ces of the tubes. The vessels holding the liquids, being then removed, so that the result may be uninfluenced by any iné- quality in the height of the liquids, the column of acid — pf water, the two first numbers of specific gravity of the acid, Hydrostatic Blowpipe. 486 will then be found ; and, by ced adjusting and: inspecting the vernier, the third figure will be ascertained. The liquids should be at the temperature of —_ If the liquid under examination, be lighter than water, as in the case of pure alcohol, it must be raised to the upper in- nt The column of water, measured by the scale of 1000, will then. be found at 800 nearly ; which shows that 1000 parts of alcohol, are in weight, equivalent to 800 parts of wa- ter—or in other words, 800 is ascertained to be the specific gravity of the alcohol. The sliding rod and tube at R, between the cock and the glass tubes, facilitates the adjustment to _ index, of the col- umn of liquid in the right hand glass tube. When the rod is Se il aie it causes a small leak, by which the air and the columns of the liquids, ‘previously raised too ate ee the bag, may be allowed to fall, till the liquid which is to be assayed, is near the index. Then, by pushing the rod m, they may be gradually lowered, and ad- justed to the nee height with great accuracy. A rod of kind, graduated, mee answer the purpose of 3 vernier. vig of Conntchonr, may be advantageously furnished ae ; one opening from the tubes into the bag, the other: po the bag into the air. But upon the whole, I find a syringe preferable ; the ad- justing rod being included in the rod of the piston, which is orated for its reception, and furnished with a —— box, to render it air tight. The plummet P, and the screws at L, enable. the operator to detect, and rect tify any deviation, in the instrumen:, from perpendicularity. An account of the Hydrostatic Blowpipe, as now used in the Laboratory of the University of Pennsylvania. tre doliguine pansoge quoted from a memoir on the supply and application of the Blowpipe, which I haere 2. -— The blowpipe is, on many pecans useful instrament to the artist and philosopher. By the former, it is used for the purpose Hi oo or solder small pieces of metal, and for the fabrication of glass instruments ; while the 136 Hydrostatic Blowpipe. atter can, by means of it, in a few minutes, subject small por- tions of any substance, to intense heat ; and is thus enabled to judge of the advantage to be gained, and the method to be pursued, in operations on a larger scale. It is by means of the blowpipe, that glass tubes are most 2 ead ex- sed to the heat necessary to mould them into the many forms occasionally required, for philosophical camel ; by the various application of tubes, thus moulded, ingenuity is often enabled i the greatest merarte to the attainment of skill, in sabe? tal phil 2 “To all the pupae which I have mentioned; the blo pipe is fully adequate, when properly supplied as air; oi applied to a proper flame: but it appears that means which have hitherto been employed to accomplish anol ends, are, more or less, defective “The most general metic is that of supplying this in- strument with the breath. In- addition to pom Se of keeping: up a constant emission oft air paesiat and its injurious effect upon the lungs,* it may be remakes, ‘that as _ breath is loaded with moisture, and par- tially carbonized, it is proportionably unfit for combustion ; and the iespcnliliey = supporting a flame with oxygen gas, a: this method, is obvious. ‘* Another = of supplying the blowpipe with air, is that of connecting w th it a small pair of double bellows. of maxing their valves air tight, the greater part of the air drawn into them, escapes at other places than the proper aperture. A pair of bellows, of this kind, belonging to an artist of this city, which were not considered as less air tight than were found to discharge the complement of their upper compartment, in in six-sevenths of the time, when the ori- fice of the pipe was open, which was requisite when it was closed. Hence it appears that six-sevenths of the air ejected into the upper compartment, ese at other places'than the proper aperture ; and if to this loss were added that sustain- ed = the lower compartment, the waste would be much great- er. As in operating with these machines, it is necessary constantly to move the foot, the operator cannot leave his 1“ Mtn consequence of this, some artists have abandoned the use of the in- Hydrostatic Blowpipe. 137 seat } ‘and in nice operations, the motion of his body is an in- ‘convenience, if not a source of failure. Bellows of this kind cannot be used for supplying combustion with oxygen gas ; because, as this air is only to be obtained by a chemical pro- cess, it is very desirable to avoid any waste of it; and, as there is always a portion of air remaining in them, even when e boards are pressed as near to each other as the folding of the leather will permit, any small quantity of oxygen gas, which might be drawn into them, would be contaminated. *« Being sensible of the advantage which would result from the invention of a more perfect method of supplying the blow- pipe with oxygen gas or atmospheric air, I was induced to Explanation of the figure. The Hi drostatic Blowpipe consists of a cask, divided by a horizon hotikontal tal diaphragm, —— o apartments (DD:) From 1 VOL. I—NO. 1. 138 Hydrostatic Blowpipe. ent, a pipe of about three inches, in.diame On one. ode a ‘small groo ee aphaie in the upper sur- back so, that when nailed, a. Gi passage may her, qn each side of the groove... This cates with a hole bored, vertically into ines of some disks of metal, to constitute a valve opening up- wards, In the bottom of the cask, there is another valve, open- ing upwards, A piston.rod, passing perpendicularly through the: pipe,, from. the handle (H.,).is. fastened near its lower end; to - a, shamnisp herical, mass. of lead (L.). The-portion, of the rod be- bes, proceeds through the centre. of the leather, which covers the cavity formed by the hollow cylinder ; also rough ae mass of lead like the first, which being forced up by a screw and nut, subjects the leather, between it and the upper Picsies hemisphere, toa pressure sufficient to ren- der the juncture air tight. From the partition, an eduction pipe is carried under the table, where it is fastened, by means of ascrew, toa cock which carries a blowpipe ; ; so attached by 2 small swivel ips as to be sie. gees into any direction which can be necessary. A suction pipe passes from the opening covered by the lower valve! under the bottom of the cask, and rises vertically, close to it on the outside—termina- ting in a gallows (g,) for the, pthichhtenn of any flexible tube which may be necessar: up, and will move in fe egree, the adhhoepheric pressure from the cavity beneath it; consequently, the air must enter through the lawer valyé,. to.restore the equilibrium. Wher the piston is eee the leather. being bulged in the oppo- site direction, ith -beneath it is diminished, and the air “O - "Phis apartment being usly, j fall of water, a. portion. of this, fluid ssneeseee? ie. pipe, into the upper, apartment. -The.same. i ‘Hydrostatic Blowpipe. 38 ait ensues every time that the stroke is repeated’; so that the - jower apartment soon becomes teplete with air, which is re- ~ tained by the cock until its discharge by the bloWpipe is re- - quisite. : The cock being opened, the air confined in the lower apartment is expelled by the pressure of the water in the u per apartment, which, as the air which had displaced it es- capes, descends and re-occupies its former situation. The piston is worked either by the handle or the treadle, at C. In order to supply the cask with oxygen gas, it is only necessary to attach to the suction pipe, (by means of the gallows and screw at g,) another pipe, duly flexible, and pas- sed under a bell containing the gas im question, over the pneumatic cistern: er the pipe May communicate with a leather bag, filled with oxygen. I have one, which will hold ed by rivets, agreeably to 5s, oF fire- that it would be found employ the blowpipe in soldering, or in blowing, a mould- bes ther- ¢t, it greatly excels the ordinary blowpipe flame. Be~ cides, in this Sen¢ratnent the limits are peculiarly ample, with- in which the flame is suseeptible of an instantaneous increase,- or diminution, in size, or intensity. _. 3 I do not believe the heat produced in this way, to be muclr more expensive than that produced by a lamp. He at f =z ? 140 Self-regulating Reservoir, for Gases. Self-regulating Reservoir, for Hydrogen and other Gases, = as used in the Chemical Laboratory of the University of Pennsylvania. ul The preceding figure, represents a self-regulating reser= voir for hydrogen gas, (whether pure or sulphuretted 3) or for Nitric oxide, or carbonic acid gas. is very icuous engraving, requires but little to be said in explanation of it. Suppose the glass jar without, to re-enters the cavity of the bell, and the evo- lation of hydrogen is yenewed, and continued until again ar- rested, as in the first Instance, by reventing its escape, and consequently causing it to displace the acid from the interior of the bell, within which the zinc is sus Self-regulating Reservoir, for Gases. 141 was contrived by Gay Lussac. I had employed the same principle, however, when at Williamsburgh, to moderate the evolution of carbonic acid, before I had read of Gay Lussac’s aj pparatus. I prefer the modification above described. In the first place, it is internally more easy of access, for the purpose of cleansing : secondly, it is h bet ing sulphuret of iron, or marble, for generating sulphuretted hydrogen, or carbonic acid gas ; and thirdly, by raising the bell glass, the pressure may be removed. In the other form, the pressure on the gas is so great, that, unless the tube, the cock, and their junctures, be perfectly tight, there must be a considerable loss of materials ; since » by "permitting the acid to reach the zinc, or other materials em- 142 Compound, or Hydro-oxygen Blowpipe. Large Self- pig id Reservoir, for H en, as used in ion oe boratory of the Univer- sity of Pennsylvama. NS This —_ represents in Ly scribed in the preceding chapter, excepting, that it is about. 50 times eran and is, made of lead, stead of glass This reservoix is attach-., ed to the compound blow-.. - pipe, in ee to lear : dro gen; _ may, ; course, be used in all ex- | periments, requiring a co- to the xygen, or compound blow-pipe, (fig- scribed i next article) the knob at the end of the pipe, which has an orifice on one side, is placed under the gallows, (G) and fas- tened air tight to the pipe of that instrument, by the pressure of the screw of the gallows. Engraving and description of a Compound, or Hydro-ory- gen Blowpipe used in the listen of the University of ennsylvania. ago ; eat fearing it might be deemed unnecessarily com- Eo? Thave never Y pabliaied any account of it. Experience he complication of its structure, does not witrien it more difficult to use, than the simplest instruments Compound, or Hydro-orygen Blowpipe. 143 intended for the same purpose ; while i cates are : poeslaeade susceptible of advantageous adjustme Bis a brass ball, terminating in a Se w. above,, and which commences with the lower screw, and ica perfra with the upper one. Another perforation, at right angles to this, causes a communication with the tube, which enters the ball =z right angles. A similar, but smaller brass ball, may be served above, with perforations similar to: as in the lar- oe ball, and a tube: in like: manner entering» it: Jaterally. This ball terminates in'a eae screw below, as: sect as above ; is ae and. thus determines: the degree of compression conti to a in the t th the, ball;.a small screw. may be observed; witlr a milled: head It is connected with a small:tube which passes through: cork in, the nut;.andireaches nearly to: the external orifiee; ratty which, the flame. is: represented: as This tube jis, for. the most. part; of brass, but; pa, endj. ter- minates, in ai tube-of lnto-the female screw of the’ larger ball, a perforated. cylindercok brass, (c) with a corres- 144 Description of a new species of Dory. ponding male screw, is fitted. The perforation in this cylirt- der, forms a continuation of that in the ball, but narrows low, and ends in a small hollow cylinder of platina, which . between the cavities in the two balls. (NN) in the vertex, the orifice of the central tube may be ad- justed to a proper distance from the external orifice. Three different cylinders, and as many central tubes, with platina orifices, of different calibres, were provided, so that the flame might be varied in size, agreeably to the object in view. I have always deemed it best, to transmit the oxygen gas through the tube in the axis ; since two volumes of the hy- drogen, being required for one volume of oxygen, the larger tube ought to be used for the former: and the jet of hydro- gen is placed between a jet of oxygen, within it, and the at- spheric air without. nder the table, is a gallows, (G) with a screw for attach- ing a pipe, leading from a self-regulating reservoir of hydro- gen. ArT. XIII.—Description of a new species of Dory, called the crinited Zeus, from Block cad ; of! communica- tion from Samue. L. Mrrcninti, LL. D. of New-York, to Aaron C. Witiey, M. D. of New-Shoreham ; dated March 17, 1826. (With a figure.) My Dear Sir, To me, as to yourself and your neighbours, it seems an individual of a species, not before observe =e does not belong to either of the three sorts, » mm strong and striking points, from that sent me, not long ago, by Mr. Vernon, of Newport. Description of a new species of Dory. 145 From the pretty appearance of your specimen, after having been rolled to land, by thé waves, and sitbsequently dried, it must have been very showy and splendid, when alive. The length is five inches and one half, The depth more than three inches and three quarters. The thickness, as in most of the dories, very inconsiderable. | Colour of she back, bluish; or violet; of the belly, shining white; of the princi- pal fins, yellowish, Ke variegations of black. Movith of moderate size; an med, in both jaws, with exceedingly fine and sharp teeth. Eee] jaw projects somewhat beyond the upper. Tail deeply swallow-forked. Skin sealeless; or if there had been any, they had fallen off. Eyes large, with projecting brows. Gill-cover tripartite ; the posterior “imar- gin of the foremost section, faintly j But the = “most sir it part of its structure belongs to the dorsal and anal fins. — From a place a Tittle Behe the Sims fe ithe as its back, arises a fin, with seven rays. The hindermost of these is about half an inch long, and spimous. ‘The second, rather more than two inches long, and bristly. The third, six inches long, and hairy. The fourth, fifth and sixth, of al- than twelve inches; being bony about half way, and then gradually changing to hair, or a substance resembling the fila~ of whale-bon “Ake, from a ale. a short distance behind the pelvis, arise five te rays. ‘The hindermost of these, exceeds fo length; of the second, six inches; of the thir three ; of the fourth, nine; of the fifth ray, counting tor the head, something more than six vite sesh et : the he extremity ; and the fifth, setaceo at the ex ’ The second dorsal fin is composed of eleven “bine Wainer rays, connect ed by membranes. The continuation of the anal fin, possesses, likewise, eleven two-cleft bristly rays, similarly united. Ventrals very distinct in their origin, and widening in their progress. They are dark-coloured. Pectoral fins have each seventeen rays, an inch, or rather more, in length, and acuminat a or somewhat faleiform. VOL. I.—NO. 1. 146 Description of a new Species of Dory- I have done all I could to preserve so interesting an article my museum, and for the inspection of those who may wish to see it. Now, after such a description, it becomes me further to tell you, what I think of this rare production, I repeat my be- lief, that it is a non-descript. I am the more inclined to think so, since the Zeus ciliaris of BLocu, which is known by some ichthyologists, as the ‘‘ long-haired Gal,” is noted as having been received by him, from Dr. Kceenig, of Surat; and as be- ing an inhabitant of the East-Indian Seas. The present seems to be known only in the North Atlantic Ocean, and differs, in various characteristic points, from the prece I should, probably, have been less attentive to the ne had not my ow bee roused by 3 a sil xanga | received from Paris. It is the memoir on ain fishes the sea, and their caoatanineat Eactbetion, fe Messrs. pe and GAIMARD, naturalists, on the voyage of discovery around the- globe, with Captain Freycennet. It was read before the So- ciety for the Promotion of Natural eer and printed in the Annals of Natural Science, conducted by Messrs. Au- douin, Brongniart and Dumas. The writers have presented interesting observations, concerning the scaly and _finny tribes ; among which are those on the uninhabited desarts and solitudes of the water, resembling the lonesome and_unfre- meri i ees and barrens, on the land. make its specific character consist in having “seven rays to the first dorsal fin, six of meh are long; and five on ng, after all, to our Seer the task of e wore se ae ue imens, and o f making therefrom a full nal decision, I present you, without delay, dial salutation and eile zt eee ene SAMUEL L. MITCHILL. Caricography- 147 Art. XIV.—Caricography. By Prof. Dewey. 4 See (Continued from Vol. X. p. 284.) Communicated to the Lyceum of Natural History of the Berkshire Medical Institution.} ; — ae ccs Willd. oes men Schw. and Torrey, no. 49. Ell. no. 43. Pers. no. 168. Spicis distinctis; spica staminifera —— 3 spicis fructi- feris ternis is tristigmaticis alternis laxifloris cum pedunculis longis filiformibus cernuis ; fructibus ‘ellipticis t triquetris ob- tusis nervosis glabris, squama ovata acuta lon Culm short, erect, triquetrous ; leaves of the culm sheath- ing,—radical leaves lanceolate, rather broad, payee me and nerved ; staminate spike single and terminal, with an obtuse, lanceolate scale, tawny on the margin ; pistillate spikes two or three, distant, alternate, on long, slender, nodding pedun- eles; stigmas three ; fruit elliptic, obtuse, triquetrous, glabrous, distant, witht scale ovate an dnd acute, or oblong- lanceolate, carinate, shorter than the fruit. Flowers in May—grows in marshes. Penn.—Muh. The description of this species is derived from Willd., Muh., and Schk., as I suppose the plant has never come un- der my observation. ‘The species, no. 49, by Schw. and Torrey, and supposed to be the C: digitalis, Willd. (for the Herbarium of Muh. seems not to contain the plant), is acknowledged to be the C. gracillima, Schw. de- scribed in this Journal, V p- 98. p- and their tion does not at all agree with that of Muh. or Willd. - Until the two plants are proved to be identical, by an actual com- parison of specimens, the following characters will be ieee sufficient for considering them different species. The name of C. digitalis implies that it is short, and Willd. states it to be * in altitudine digitalis,” a finger in height, or about four inches ; C. gracillima is from one to two feet in height, and often is more than three feet in height :—the former has radi- cal glaucous leaves ; the latter has not, and the colour of its leaves is light or yellowish green :—the fruit of the former is (148 Caricography- elliptic, ventricose, triquetrous, and most obtuse, (Willd.} and its seale oblong-lanceolate, or ovate-acute ; the fruit of the latter is oblong, triquetrous, obtuse, ablicate at the ori- fice, with an oblong, obtuse, awned scale ; the former grows in marshes; the latter in moist meadows or pastures, or along hedges, but never in our marshes. C. digitalis is eclated (Muh.) to C. oligocarpa, and its leaves are rather broad; C. gracillima has no marked affinity to C. oligocarpa, and its leaves are not broad in respect of the height of the plant or of those of the species generally. The highest spike of C. 86. €. dasyearpa Muh. Muh. n Ell. no. oo wes 12, fig. 4, cis fructiferis tristigmaticis subternis su ubapprox ximatis in gis alternis, inferioribus subpeduneulatis ; fructibus ovato- triquetris vel ieee villosis nervosis, squama. ovata acu- minata longioribu ‘€ulm a foot or more in height, glabrous, triqnetrous 5 ; leaves linear-lanceolate, glabrous, narrow, shorter t ise bracts linear, surpassing the eulm, with very short sheaths ; staminate ian smgle, nearly sessile, small, with a a nate, shorter than. the fruit. : > ndeteeg Pe on Bese = etcsebens oe Spi ger than t of C. vi : 4 Se in ace. Natl C.—Schw. é Carisography, | 149 According to Schw. a Torrey, the plant in he Herba- ium a Mvb: 3 is the C. dasycarpa figured hy Elliot 87. C. capillaris. Lin. Pers. no. 173. Wahl. no. 91. Rees’ Cyc. no. op Schk. tab. O. fig. Schw. and “Cage no. 85. Spica staminifera solitaria pedunculata parva ; spicis fruc- tiferis tristigmaticis subternis longo-exserte pedunculatis cer- nuis oblongis sparsifioris, subpaucifloris ; fruetibus ellipticis rostratis utrinque acuminatis ore obliquis, squama ovata vel oblonga obtusa decidua vix duplo longioribus. Culm one to eight inches high, slender, capillary, leafy towande, the base ; leaves linear-lanceolate, often long as the culm ; pistillate spikes two or three, oblong, loose flowered, on very slender, long, and recurved peduncles often surpass: ing the staminate spike and sheathed ; sti i elliptic, rostrate, attenuated at either extremity, glubrous, k brown in maturity, with an oblique orifice and the beak often somewhat excurved ; pistillate scale Zh or oblong, sometimes rather honnit: obtuse, white o and membrant ap half as long as ae This species, common in Europe, was found by Dr. Rich- ardson, in the woods of Arctic America. I have enly Euro- pean specimens of this plant. As it inhabits alpine districts, it may, perhaps, be found on the mountains of the northern States. 88. C. ustulata. Wahl. . Pers. no. 178. Wishly nov.82, ‘3 Rees’ Cyc. no. 127. ilnas eee sips 7 _ Sehw. and ‘Torrey, no. €. atrofusea, Sehk. mag 3 fig. Spica staminifera oblonga rOCUrVANte: sabes ace fine tiferis tristigmaticis binis ovalibus exserte tibus; fructibus ovatis rostratis acuminatis utringue planius- culis atris ore bidentatis, squama ovata subdup iful species, found on the Alps, has been: Stud also in Labrador, whence it was sent to Mr. Schweinitz. —_ the European plant, the u r pistillate spike is near the pr nage about aac below and larger ; scales alike on all the spikes, very dark coloured like the fruit ; 150 Caricography. leaves short and subradical; bracts loosely sheathing and scarcely forming a leaf; the angles of the fruit rather acute. and scabrous above the middle. This species may ge inhabit the mountainous parts of the northern States. The characters clearly distinguish this plant from C. atrata. 89. C. filifolia. Nuttall. Nutt. Gen. II. p. 204. Schw. and Torrey, no. 9. Spica unica androgyna superne staminifera subcylindra- eea acuta; fructibus subglobosis ore —— cum squama retusa ; foliis filiformibus involutis subulati Cespitose, scarcely a hand breadth high, (Nutt.) ; leaves radical, surpassing the culm, filiform, spreading ; fruit. six to eight at the base of the spike, lax, tie pubescent, with an oblique orifice, (Schw. and Torr Common on dry plains and secioatly hills Bes the Missouri —Nutt. Also in Arctic America—Dr. Richardson. 90. C. pleidlontens: Elliott. re Sketch II. p. 553. Mon. no. 94. C. sempervirens. Schw. An. T Spica scadiaiifers solitaria cylindracea scimenlenes ; Spi eis fructiferis tristigmaticis subternis pedunculatis cylindra- ceis demum pendulis ; ; fructibus ovatis triquetris compressis glaueis subrostrato-bifidis, squamz ovate peremarginate mucronate subzequali! Culm about two feet ‘high, glabrous, cn scabrous above, triquetrous ; leaves narrow, scabrous on the edge, shorter than the culm, lower ones glaucous ; gp renters spike single, cylindric, long pedunculate, with ovate, emarginate and mucronate scales tawny with a green keel ; pistillate spikes three or four, cylindric, with long and slender sheath- less peduncles recurved in maturity ; stigmas three ; fruit te, deeply ginate, mucronate, shorter than the fruit, oa its mucronate —— extending beyond the fruit. . rs in April and May—grows about ponds in ne Merrene-—Eliot Also, near Augusta, Geo. s This aos is adopted from Mr. Elliott’s Sketch : it ap- pears to eeeay distinct. On my specimens the eccitiagir ts €aricography. 15t rather longer than the culm. stints deeply emarginate and mucronate scale is very pecu 91. C. pete ae Torrey. Schw dunculata cernua ; fructibus ovatis nee jonas rous ; etalon aoe feet high, triquetrous, very slen- der, pws # at the base ; leaves linear, nerved, what. rough on the edge , shorter than the the culm ; staminate spike single, an inch lola rising from a bract and much longer, with an oblong and obtuse Seale tawn and white on the margin ; pistillate spikes three, sicnate roundish, 9—16 flowered, the highest two sessile and the upper one staminate above, the lowest on a very long nod- ding peduncle ; stigmas three ; fruit ovate, inflated, subtri- quetrous, nerved, glabrous, dotted, coriaceous, - rostrate and two cleft, becoming — ; pistillate scale ovate, ob- tuse, not half as long as ee fru Flowers in April—grows in sae pine barrens, Chatham, Co. Georgia—Elliott. On my _— the long pedun- Muhlenberg doubted the identity of this plant with the C. | fulva ofeuapes and so remote is it from C. fulva as figur- cies,. 1 had, for an obvious reason, given it the n * before it was announced in the Monograph by Schw. and Torrey. Thi t seems nearly related also, to — —— 152 Caricography, 92. = eee R. Brown: and Torrey, no. 60. : Spica astotire: solitaria sites erecta ; spicie fructiferis tristigmaticis binis subsessilibus approximatis in- cluse pedunculatis ; fructibus ovatis obtusis pubescentibus cum squama ovata acuta ; calmo scaberrimo. Culm half a foot high. atiapiata channelled and very sea- brous towards the base, purplish brown sheaths above the middle, aie a in very short leaves, and with a dense tuft of rigid, smooth inively about the root; staminate spike single, os with: ovate rather obtuse: scales hite border ; pistillate spikes two, on short peduncles, initlned in the sheaths of large oblong braets5 stigmas three ; fruit ovate, pubescent, with ovate and acute seales of a brown colour. Mon Found in Arctic America, by Dr. Richekbos ae Ap- pendix to Frank. Nar. 2nd. ed. — C. concinnay Be st ispido-pubeseentibus, squama obovata subduplo longioribus- Culm four inches h, filiform, triquetrous, smooth ; leaves vidradieak, rigid, smooth, spreading ; staminate spike oblong, very nearly sessile, with broad ovate — scales ; ; pistillate spikes three, subsessile, 3-4 flowered, n and "Found i in Arotie Americ, by Dr. Richardson See: Ap- ——— to Sees Nar-e a > 4, C. ‘Pili Schk. eS te “Sehk. tab. Ce: fig. 47, ce. wes Soli vlad Boneyyaniete -€. frigida, ANion. secund. Wabi. now 83, ——_____ f. “Pers. no. 158. Spicis oblongis subquaternis tristigmaticis, terminali drogyna inferne staminifera, inferioribus exserte ecleasieaiia cernuis ; fructibus oblongis mucronatis apice hifidis squama oblonga longioribus, This species is considered by Wahl: and Pers. as only a variety of C. frigida, Allion., the C. spadicea, Schk. tab. L. fig. 47 a. and b. The difference-i in the situation of the sta- minate eo and in the shape of the fruit seems to justify 95. -C. —— Be a Schw. and Torrey Spicis subternis ebistiemsetiods S odalibits s pedunetlatis oa dulis alternis vel raro subumbellatis, terminalia: rne vel rarius omnino staminifera $ fructibus laficeolatis acuminatis bidentatis apice e dentieula atis, squama evali obtu- siuscula longioribus. Culm about half shel highs leaves linear, attenuated above, scabrous on the margin ; spikes three or four, oval or oblong, pendulous, the highest generally pistillate above ; stigmas three, Sometimes two 3 fruit lanceolate, bidentate, nearly black, white at the orifies, smooth except the higher art of the margin, longer than - oval and rather obtuse scale smooth and dark brown. Found on Bejville anion Bieta: See dipp: Baaty's ist Voyage. 96. C. viridula. Mx. Mx. Fl. IL p. 170. Schw. and a no. 45. C. trie Ell. n = “Spiel tristigmaticis subternis ‘approximatis elliptic, soddibe anillaribue ‘fructibus ovatis triquetris _glabris eatin, squamam ovato-acuminatam subzequantibus. = ulm about a foot high, erect, slender, triquetrows, sca- brous orn purplish below ; leaves linear, erect, Jightly sca on the edge, little longer than the culm, pubescent below ; spikes three or four, approxiinate, sessile, one staminate below, a little remote ; stigmas three; fruit ovate, a ede compressed, prominently nerved, subtrique- trous, pubescent when young ?—pistillate scale ovate and acuminate, about as long as or a longer than the ma- ture fruit. VOL. I.—No. I. 20 154 Earicography. _ Flowers in April and May, in damp soils, in South-Care- lina—Elliott ; in pine forests, North-Carolina+Schw. and Torrey ; in Canada—Mx. This species is allied to C. virescens; (Elliott), and be- tween that and C. hirsuta, (Schw. and Torrey). A plant, which answers generally to this description, 1 have found in this town, in gravelly soil along a hedge—but have consider- ed it only a variety of C. hirsuta, as its fruit? is pubescent when young. There is scarcely a doubt that the C. triceps, described by Mr. Elliott, and the C, viridula in the Mon, are one species. But the C. triceps, Mx. seems very cer- tainly to be C. scirpoides, Schk. Though I have followed the Mon. in naming this speeies C. viridula, Mx. as | ant not confident it is found here; yet there is much reason for suspecting that the true C. viridula, Mx. is a very different plant, since Michaux states its affinity to C. triceps and-C. flava!l! 97. C. Wormskioldiana. Hornemanii. Schw. and Torrey no ©. scirpotdea, Mx. Pursh. no. 1. C. Michauziit, Schw. An. Tab. Dioica planifolia distigmatica ?—spica oblonga unica im- bricato-cylindracea acuta ; fructibus ovalibus subrostratis dense pubescentibus ; squamis acutis. Culm 3—6 inches high, ne reund, smooth, sheathed at spike cylindric, imbricate, oblong, acute ; fruit densely pu- bescent, somewhat rostrate, oval, with acute and dark brown ~ Found at Hudson’s Bay—Mx. Aleonist the!woods of Arctic America—Dr, Richardson. See App. Frank. Nar. ed. 2. From the description it is obvious that this plant is closely related to C, dioica, and imtermediate between that and _#s - variety, C. Davalliana, Wahl. It is, perhaps, only another . variety. ot Gr or Caricography. 98. C. Fraseri. — Sims. we no, 27. Schw. and re no. 4. agopus, Muh. no. 5 akan unica androzyna _Superne samira cylindracea , to-clobosis ore integ- ris ‘striatis, squama oblonga toneibeibiy This peculiar species T have not had opportunity to exam- ine. According to Muhlenberg, the culm is a foot high, na- _ked, sheathed at the base, compressed above, with two radic- “aland broad-lanceolate leaves nerved, and longer than the culm; spike single cylindric, white, staminate above; stig- mas three ; fruit glabrous, striate, and subtriquetrous. Leaves ever green. Found on - mountains of N. Carolina—Fraser. Also, in Penn.— Note. rar species, some of whos = peculiarities only were given in Vol, VII. will here be fully described: C. plantuginea. Lam. Parsh, Mx. Eaton, Pers. no. 143: Rees’ Cyc. no. 135. Ell. no. 34. Schw. and Torrey no. 76. eC; Sanefoiies Goert. secund. Wahl. no. 94. Schk. tab. U. fig. 70. Rees Cye. no. Spica staminifera solitaria erecta pedunculata ; spicis ——— tristigmaticis subquaternis oblongis subsparsifloris rectis remotis exserte pedunculatis fructibus oblongis trique- tro-ellipticls subcuneiformibus utrinque attenuatis apice ex- curvis ore integris, squama ovato-cuspidata longo “ foliis meen ensiformibus 0—20 inches high, erect, triquetrous, smooth, with dark reddish b —= rown sheaths towards the a sheaths of the les coloured in part, terminating in subulate point or leafet ; leaves radical, hear, rather obtuse, through winter, shorter than the culm, often an inch in breadth, flat, commonly with three strong nerves or ribs purplish at at the base ; staminate spike single, erect, a late, oblong-cylindric, with dark reddish brown scales o and rather acute and narrowed towards the base with a tish midrib ; pistillate spikes three to five, erect, oblong, loose flowered, the two upper with nearly inclosed eel and the lower with rather long € exsert rt ) the low- est from towards the root ; sti three ; fruit ob blong, tri quetrous, gmas attenuated at both ends, appearing pedicillate, euk- 156 Caricography- strate and excurved at the apex, entire at the orifice ; pis- tillate scale ovate, cuspidate, varying from half to the whole a di h of the fruit. Colour of the plant bright and deep Wists in April and May—common in this part of the country in rather dry and open woods and along upland hedges, lees Mts.—Schw.—also in Virginia. This is a very distinct and beautiful species, and to those who are familiar with both, there seems no reason for con- founding it with C. anceps. This has been often done, and~ the fig. tab. Kkkk 195 is referred by ma to this species, while it belongs unquestionably to C, anceps. In the Mon. there is no reference to Schk. tab. U. fie. 40, although there can be no doubt that the fig. was drawn from a true, though imperfect specimen of C. plantuginea. The plant was culti- vated at Paris Se seed supposed to be obtained from S. America, and was in the Herbarium of Thunberg, ob- tained from Virginia as we learn from Wahlenberg. The tab. M. of Schk. is evidently a mistake,—as Wahl. refers his plant to tab. U. fig. 70 Schk. - Whether Willdenow possessed the plant may be doubtful; yet he bad other sources for ob- taining it than the hand of Muhlenberg; liberal as that seems to have been in sending him the eOntices, af our cou et Spica s ) aria erecta sub-pedunculata ; spicis pil sores tristigmaticis subternis cylindraceis eer su- perioribus subsessilibus saepe approximatis, inferioribus sub- longo-exserte pedunculatis ; 3. fructibus . subrotundo-~ovatis, apice recurvis brevissime ssime rostratisque integris nervosis, squae- _ ta ovata acuminata vix duplo longioribus. Culm 8—16 inches high, erect or subdecumbent, trique- trous, smooth ; leaves liear-lanceolate,’ nerved, glaucous, long as the culm, shorter below, rather seh, slightly scabrous on the edge ; bracts long, leafy, much s ng the culm, with whitish <— ee spike single, often short, » triquetrous, usually short pedunculate, very tillate above or at all, with a lanceolate. rene whitish as and green on. the keel; pistillate spikes three or four, ob- —— 157 nearly a two lower remote ahd the lowest especially on late scale ovate, acuminate, white on the edge, fie more than half the length of the fruit, _ of the plant rather glaucous green—in maturity yellowi Flowers in _ —grows in wet aes meadows and pas- tures—common This is a very distinct species—its culm resembles some varieties of C. anceps and also C. blanda ; but its spikes and fruit are quite difierent. The fruit is more like that of C. blanda, and the latter ‘may sometimes be confounded with it wishont Res attention. —It-is closely related to the Euro- . rotundata, Wahl C. globularis, Schk. ‘ab. "Ge. f 8 ocean which however it ipakenels 3 distinete. C. straminea. Wahl. Muh. Pursh, aes 3 Pers. no. 73. Schw. and Torrey Schk. tab. Xxx. AA. pica composita ; spiculis / inferne staminifera distigmaticis subsenis ovatis oblongis alternis sessilibus sub- approximatis ; fructibus lato-ovatis sub-rotundis compressis alatis ciliato-serratis rostratis nervosis bidentatis, squama ovato-lanceolata paulo longioribus. Culm 20 inches high, triquetrous, scabrous above; leaves linear-lanceolate, shorter below and shorter than the culm, with striate sheaths tawny opposite the leaf ; spikelets 3-8, usually any ovate, oblong, roundish in maturity, especially at the summit, staminate b sile, very rarely subpedunculate, with ovate cuspidate oe staminate scale lanceolate, somewhat tawny ; fruit, ~ ovate, roundish, rostrate, nerved, winged on each side and of the bre painets the seed, two-toothed, ciliate-serrate, quite com- eae tillate scale ovate-lanceolate, ree | from about half to i the length of = fruit. Colour of icapeeapenns tawny,—of the plant ht gr «Flowers im ae in. fields along the borders of woods—sometimes on ledges of rocks, and its fruit is nt ls bod sad its scale sees meen but not abundant. 158 Caricography. /Schks has given an excellent fig. of this species. . The plant resembles C. scoparia in the colour of its spikes, but its fruit is very different. It is oftener confounded with C. a from which however its characters clearly — te it. wThe C. albolutescens Schw. An. Tab. seems to be only a variety of the common C€. straminea. On the specimens from hio, is to. be seen the eiarpcteriatic broad wing- ed fruit. Preiss g. brevior. (Mihi.) C. —_ Wabi no. 38. Schk. tab. G. fig. 34. ° 50. Spicis subquinis saepe’ approximatis ssstiltinae' ; _ tibvid brevi-ovatis et brevi-rostratis, squama rancor a vix longior- ibus. This ae differs in the shorter ovate fruit, with a very short beak, and hence more nearly round, compressed like the other. The = are also smaller, more distinctly ovate. Grows with the other—also in Missouri. It was this variety which was described by Willd, and to which the name was given. Muh. as well as Schk: refer both the figs. in Schk., with propriety, to the same species. C. trichocarpa. Muh. _ Muh., Pursh, Eaton, Pers: no. 188. Ell. no. 25. Schw. and Forrey no. 101. Schk. tab. Nnn fig. 148. Bsa: staminiferis subternis erectis, inferioribus es o androgynis ; spicis fruc ternis: cis erec- ae’ aligns yibbhlicels eae subremotis suibletitonis ex- serte pedunculatis, infima subincluse pedunculatis ; fructibus ovato-lanceolatis subconicis inflatis nervosis rostratis bifurca= long dense 2 apes os ovato-lanceolata subduple ioribus. “1830 inches high, triquetrous, scabrous above 3 on the edge, as long as or long- er than the culm, striate, ye sloaaie piiaple and cote cave opposite the leaf; bracts long atid leafy ; staminate spikes two to five, erect coe (alkyne » highest pedunculate, often pistillate at the apex (Muh.) with an oblon ng and obtuse Seale tawny, white on the ee ; pistillate spikes three, erect, long eylindric, often two inches long, slender, rather loose flowered,—upper ones exsertly pedunculate with short Caricography. 159 sheaths, and the lowest peduncle nearly inclosed in a longer sheath ; stigmas three, sometimes two (Muh.) -fruit ovate- lanceolate, round and conic, inflated, rostrate, nerved, bifur- cate, with a dense brownish pubescence in prea, pistil- late scale ovate-lanceolate, tawny on the edge, distinc nerved, little more than half as long as the fruit. Colour of the plant light green. F lowers in May—grows in marshes—common in N. Eng- and and N. York. Penn.—Muh. ; S. Carolina—Ell. Though Muh. found the staminate spikes often Sree 2 at the apex, and the plant is thus figured by Schk., later nists have rarely found them thus, and the plant should be removed to the last subdivision of the species ef this genus in Nuttal’s Gen. Bs ccliend, Dewey. tab. ye vol. XI Spicis fructiferis ternis tristigmaticis. Ovatis et ovato-ob- longis crassis remotis densifloris, superioribus ‘pe- dunculatis, inferioribus longo-exserte pedunculatis ; 3; fructibus ovato-lanceolatis conicis inflatis rostratis nervosis bifurcatis subdivergentibus pubescentibus, squama ovato-oblonga sub- mucronata paulo longioribus. Culm, leaves, bracts, and sheathes like the preceding—as also the staminate spikes, but the staminate scale, isoblong, mucro-~ nate and tawny; pistillate spikes three, sometimes four, upper ones nearly sessile or with inclosed peduncles,—lowest often with a long peduncle projecting far from the sheath,—ovate, and ovate-cylindric, about an inch long, gira pte’, densely flowered ; stigmas three ; fruit pre- ceding, but rather diverging . pistillate scale eens: cbuaepette psi tawny on edge, three-nerved, the keel, about two thirds. as ek as the frnit. Colour of the oe rlaucous green.» Flowers in May—grows cae a pond near the village in Beekman, Dutchess co. N. Y. This plant bears so ge a resemblance to the common . trichocarpa, though it differs especially in its pistillate spikes, that I alee: it to be only a Vv arity 2 Fi -99. C. verrucosa. Muh _ Muh. no, 50 . Ell. no. 49. Mon: no. 102. tigmaticis. st oot erectis eae: axillaribus, infima exserte pedunculata ; fructibus a com- a Caricograph y. is subtriquetris a ga squama ovata subemargi- nata aang breviori 2—3 feet high, stalneiadiones ees purple below, ‘heont above, glabrous ; leaves linear-lanceolate, v long, somewhat glaucous, scabrous on lie margin, nerved, dotted, sheathing towards the base ; bracts long, leafy, with sheaths inclosing the upper peduncles; staminate spike sin- gle eres three (EBs) cylindric, terminal one long, pe- dunculate, obtuse, with one oblong scale mucronate and brown ; pistillate spikes -_ to six, two or three inches long, cylindric, erect, staminate at the summit, inclosed-peduncu- late except the rsersg ee pedal’ is sheathed - a8 base ; stigmas ; fruit ovate, indistinctly nerved, somewhat triquetrous, short-cleft orifice, siseco; ; pastas scale ovate, obtuse, sometimes distinctly emarginate, mucro- nate, brown, a little longer than the fruit. Flowers in May—found in Carolina and Rnechisieiduh: and Ell. N. Carelina—Schw. Muh. remarked the resem- nianen between this plant and C. filacca, Schreb., the C. re- starve; Ghoddenr-—but the two seem to be clearly distinct, 100. C. oligosperma: Mx. Mich. F'l. vol. Lf. p. 174. ~ Spicis staminiferis pluribus ; spica fructifera tristigmatics unica globulari sessili ; fructibus turgide ovatis majuseulis y Michaux, © whom: the world is in- debted for all its knowledge of the plant. Culm and leaves erect ; bract supporting the pistillate spike setaceous, as long as, or longer than, than the staminate spike. The description corresponds to no other known ‘species, and the plant will doubtless. be found again in Canada, and perhaps im the northern part of the U. States. It is related to C. Elliottii, differs in the number of staminate spikes, and i in the orm of i its free. EW (C@hereiogiincai Blin nc : Schw. Anz yas ion and For Tor: =~ 112. pl. 25. fig. 1. uh. no. Spicis stameniieda subternis selina ceis, suprema ma- pore et fredunculata ; -spicis tristigmaticis quaternis subloxifloris diseonnibdins| ‘exserte et: wari wird superne stame niferis; fructibus.ovatis ih ge oe Caricography. 161 triqueiris subcompressis nervosis longo-rostratis bifidis, squa- ma ovata longo-acuminata paulo majoribus ulm a foot high, triquetrous, glabrous, striate ; leaves finear-lanceolate, rough on the edge, nerved, shorter than the culm, glaucous, with striate sheaths ; bracts leafy, sheathing ; staminate spikes two to four, somewhat cylindric, approximate, whitish, lower ones sessile and shorter, with an oblong scale obtuse and white; pistillate spikes about four, sometimes two to five, alternate, cylindric, loose-flowered, with peduncles projecting considerably from the sheaths ; stigmas three; fruit ovate, nerved, white, glabsous, bifid, long-rostrate, ‘somes hiiit compressed ; pistillate scale ovate, long se ane a with a — keel, a ms shorter than at St. Louis, Missouri —Dr. L. C. There can be no doubt that this is the species no. 55 of Muh., or that it is not C. recurva, Gooden., the Cc. flacca, Schk. It appears to be a beautiful and distinct species. On the plant from Missouri, there are only two pistillate spikes— pistillate a3 Fete than the fruit before maturity. ad referred it t 5 Muh,—but it is evidently the same also as C. itt: 102. C. aristata, R. Brown. Schw. and Torrey no. 104. Spicis staminiferis ‘binis vel pluribus ; spicis fructiferis tris- tigmaticis subternis cylindraceis distantibus brevi-peduncala- tis ; fructibus glaberrimis nervosis lon gissime rostratis | oe ide ; squamis aristatis ; foliis subtus et vaginis villosi Found by Dr. Richardson in Arctic Americ and said to be between C. bullata and C. is, Mon. See App- Fr ‘ar. ed. 2. This plant is entirely different from C. Torreyana, descri- bed in this Journal Vol. X. p. 47,—the name having been changed to this on account of the previous application of the former name to the species described above. After the pub- lication of C. Torreyana, the same plant was published under the name of C. Davisii in the Mon. ‘The latter name must therefore be given. up. E — —— ie or 21 162 Caricography- 103. C. Barratti. Torrey. Schw. and Torrey no, 100. C. littoralis, Schw. An. Spicis staminiferis subbinis ; spicis fructiferis tristigmaticis subternis oblongo-cylindraceis cernuis distantibus superne staminiferis ; fructibus oblongis subtriquetris brevi-rostratis subscobre _ore integris, squama ovato-lanceolata subobtusa - Culm a foot high, triquetrous, rather rigid ; leaves erect, very glaucous and smooth, shorter than the culm; staminate spikes two, upper one ehlonay: ¥ wah ovate scales obtuse and dark brown ;, pistillate spikes about three, oblong-cylindric, an inch or more in length, rather loose flowered, the two low- ong peduncles projecting from sheaths ; a three ; fruit oblong, somewhat triquetrous, short rostrate, nearly entire at the orifice ; pistillate scale ovate-lanceolate, rather obtuse, dark brown, a little longer than the fruit. on. Found on the coast of New-Jersey near Cape May:—Schw- said Torrey. 104. C. podocarpa. R. Brown, Schw. and Torrey no. 88. Spica staminifera solitaria; spicis fructiferis tristigmaticis — oblongis pendulis ; ctibus ellipticis brevissime rostra- integris laevibus; semine 4% ullato 5 foliis inferioribus abbreviais ound in Arctic sy sa by Dr. Ri - dee Aas Sead tee oe v chardson, Mon. Se 105. C. varia. Muh. Muh., Pursh, Eaton, Pers. no 98. Ell. no 26. Schww. and ‘Torrey no. 59. Sehk. tab. Uuu fig. 167. sSeien staminifera solitaria erecta brevi vel senate ; spicis fructiferis tristigmaticis ternis ovatis sessilibus subapproxima- oris; fructibus ovali-ventricosis vel subtriquetro- acuminato-rostratis. aoe scabro-pubescentibus, tis globosis a us. Culm 4—12 inches high, triquetrous, scabrous above, erect, — purple towards the base; leaves subradical, linea’; narrow, rough on the edge, often equalling the culm; bract vate, lanceolate, short, supporting the pistillate spikes ; st@- €aricography. 163 saimiedtulls from three nerves or ribs, acetal inte Peters bifid, rough-pubescent ; pistillate scale ovate, acuminate, tawny, often green, whitish on the margin‘and keel, about the length of the fruit, lower ones sometimes slightly mucro- nate. Flowers in April and May—grows in dry weods and along hedges in vallies and hills—common over the country. _ . pedicellata. (Mihi) C. varia, Wahl. no. 107. Rees’ Cyc. no. 85. Spicis fructiferis ovato-oblongi brevi-pedunculatis erectis ; bractea inferiore foliac Pistillate spikes BVate-ablong, loose-flowered, short but distinctly pedunculate, abont six to eight-flowered ; bract un- der the lowest spike lanceolate, long, leafy, often nearly equalling the culm. This variety bears considerable resemblance to C. longi- __folia, Host. ~ Grows with the other—very common The striking resemblance between C. varia and c. piluli- fera, L. Schk. tab. I fig. 39, has often been noticed; but on comparing specimens of the Jatter with the former, they ap- pear to possess very distinct characters. Our plant, as its name implies, is a variable species. ‘Its varieties differ much in height, size, situation and length of the spikes, rigidity or laxness and length of the leaves. Ge- nerally, it is readily ree: _ This species greatly resem- hles the following. 106. C. marginata. Muh. Muh. Pursh, Eaton, Pers. no. 101. Ell. no. 28, hw. an Schk. tab. Lil fig. 143. C. Pennsylvanica, Lam. Rees’ Cye. ines 3 Spica staminifera solitaria erecta mw: spicis fructiferis tristigmaticis binis ovatis su approximatis paucifloris ; fructibus ps = aR brevi-ros- 164 Caricography. tratis subbidentatis tomentosis, squamz ovate acuminata blongz mucronate subeequalibus. ulm 4—16 inches high, triquetrous, scabrous above; leaves linear, scabrous on the edge, the culm leaves short, those of the previous year often longer than the culm, with purplish sheaths at the base; a limear bract under and longer than the lowest spikelet; staminate spike subtrique- trous, with an ovate or oblong scale obtuse or acute, bright brownish red, white on_the edge and keel; pistillate spikes one to three, commonly two, ovate, sometimes rather oblong, sessile or slightly pedunculate, four to eight-flowered, often only one spike with sometimes the rudiment of another ; stig- mas three ; fruit ovate-globose, short rostrate, slightly biden- tate, scarcely triquetrous, tomentose ; pistillate scale ovate, acuminate, or oblong mucronate, little longer or shorter than the fruit, reddish brown, white on the margin. Flowers in April and May—grows in the same situations as the preceding—common. This plant, when it has only one pistillate spike, resembles C. montana, Li. Schk. tab. F fig. 29, whose fruit is rather acute - It is more closely allied to C. varia. To those acquainted with the figures of the two species in Schk. they are readily known. Their general appearance is different—although the characters are so similar. C. margi- nata has a larger staminate spike, with more deeply coloured a $3 its culm is larger and more rigid ; its fruit more round diment of another, it is unquestionably the C, Pennsylvanica, - according to the description in’ Rees? Cyclop. 107. C. gigantea. Rudge. Muh. no. 31. Ell. no. 31. Trans. Lin. Soc. VII. tab. 10, fig. 2. Rees’ Cyc. no. 170. ~ C. lucustris 6 gigantea, Pursh. _ Spica staminifera unica vel pluribus ; spicis fructiferis tri- sugmaticis ternis cylindraceis sublaxifloris remotis, suprema sessili, inferioribus exserte p, is, fructibus globoso- ovatis conicis longo-rostratis nervosis inflate oleae. 16a; a varicatis, syuama oblongo-oyata vel ovato-lanceolata duple longioribus. . Be Caricography. 165 Culm nearly two feet high, triquetrous, glabrous ; leaves broad, lanceolate, longer than the culm, rough (Muh.) scarce- ly scabrous on the edges (Ell.) bracts very long, leafy, gla- brous ; staminate spike single (Ell.) one or more (Muh.) three (Rudge) with ovate and acute, or lanceolate and acu- minate, scales; pistillate spikes about three, cylindric, large, somewhat loose flowered, distant, sometimes staminate above (Ell.) highest sessile, lower exsertly pedunculate, erect or lax ; stigmas three ; fruit globular-ovate, long-rostrate, conic, infla- ted, nerved, two cleft, glabrous; pistillate scale ovate an acute or oblong-lanceolate, sometimes nerved, white on the edge, about half as long as the frnit. Flowers in April and May—grows in marsb-like places S. Carolina—Rudge, Muh. and Ell. This plant has not been found in the Northern States. Described as it is by Muh. and Ell. who were familiar with it, and with C. lacustris, which it resembles, there seems to be little reason for believing the correctness of Pursh in ma- King it a variety of the latter. It appears to be a distinct species between C. lupulina and C. lacustris. 108. C. lupulina. Muh. Muh. Pursh, Eaton, Pers. no. 117. . no. 30. Schw and Torrey no. 70. Schk. tab. Ddd fig. 123 and lili fig. 194 C. lurida, Wahl. no. 75. Spica staminifera solitaria erecta gracili subsessili 3 Spicis longo et conico-rostratis bicuspi ma ovato-lanceolata acuminata subtriplo longioribus. Culm 2—3 feet high, triquetrous, leafy along its length, subscabrous above ; leaves lanceolate, rather broad, striate, flat, scabrous on the edge, longer than the culm, with striate sheaths ; bracts leafy, large, much surpassing the culm, with short sheaths above ; staminate spike single, sometimes two (Muh ) Jong, triquetrous, sessile or nearly sessile, very slen- der in proportion to the pistillate spikes, with lanceolate scales long-acute and scabrous on the point, whitish on the edge, sometimes distinctly three nerved ; pistillate spikes, three or four, an inch to two inches long, ovate-oblong, very 166 Caricography. thick, or oblong-cylindric and less in thickness, approximate and subsessile, sometimes the lower more remote and often rather long exsertly pedunculate, erect, densely flowered ; stigmas three ; fruit ovate-conic, ventricose, long rostrate and round, bicuspidate, nerved, glabrous, divaricate ; pistillate scale ovate and acuminate, or ovate, lanceolate, often three nerved, about one third the length of the fruit. Colour of be plant a bright but not deep green—sometimes rather yel- owish The figure in this Vol. shows a common form of this spe- cies ; if the lower spike be supposed to be wanting, the fig. shows the C, lupulina of most authors. ey in May—grows in marshes and about ponds— "The pistillate spikes of this large and beautiful species dif- fer much in length. Often they greatly pa the fruit of the common Hop, Humulus lupulus, from which the species received its name ;—often they are much longer, and of less an the shorter. "The figs. in Schk. are not very excellent ; that on tab. Ddd ce a common form of the spike,—while that on tab. [iii represents a rare variety in which the fruit is much more ovate and inflated at the base than is common. It is not clear that this fig. was not drawn from a specimen of C. retrorsa, Schw. in which the fruit was only in a sm degree reflexed. The reference of C. lurida, Wahl. in Rees’ Cye. to C, intumescens, Rudge, is doubtless incorrect, 8. polystachia, Torrey. Spicis fructiferis Sag perlongo- eylindraceis, infime remota et longo-pedunculat This variety chiefly differs in the greater foil d num- ber of the spikes, which are commonly five, and often nearly three inches in “Tength, The fruit is not quite so much in- flated—leaves wider, ensiform, nearly half an inch wide— practs very large and se Ae often exceeding a foot in y are gigantic. owers in May and 4% in i 1 hihids Phillipstown, N. x. —Dr. B Pert ts on the high lands, Note. Figures of the following species accom this er; sai ha given in this volume. ae vt a 3 e as are spikes usually, on “this ver a Botany of Illinois and Missouri. 167 Tab. H. fig. 24 C. rosea 6. radiata Vol. X. p. 276 25—Davisii X. p. 2 26—alba B. setifo X. p. 280 27—nigro-marginata X. p. 282 {. fig. 28—gracillima VIL. p. 98 29—squarrosa VII. p. 270 30—pyriformis IX. p. 69 K. fig. 31—cristata X. p. 44 32—seabrata IX. p. 66 33—blanda X. 45 L. fig. 34—Cherokeensis _ XI. p. 160 Muskingumensis X. p. 281 _ 36—retrorsa IX. p. 67 ~ 37—lupulina - XI. p. 165 A XV.— Contributions towards the Botany of the States Illinois and Missouri ; by Lewis C. Protos of Botany, Mineralogy, ‘Be. i in the Pesselaer School. (Continued from Vol. X. p. 264.) PENTANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. Myosotis arvensis Lin. Stem 4 to 6 ae = = Louis —May. : Myosotis virginiana L 2 Has. Alluvion of the Mississippi opposite to St. Louis— June—Angust, Myosotis lappula Lin. £ rh Has. Road des and on the banks of the Riv. des Pe- res—May—dJuly ys ®% 168 — of Illinois and Missoure. atschia canescens Mic Stem and a. villous. Flowers a and lateral, somewhat fastigiate—Corol orange yellow. The root affords a seen reddish crimson lac, veniates is much in use among the n . aR from St. Louis to Fort Clark on the Illi- nois—A pril— May. Palmonaria virginica Li The western specimens of this plant differ from the eastern, m having narrower leaves and smaller flowers. Has. Banks of the [linois—April. Onosmodium hispidam Mi Has. High exposed situations near Cahokia (Lll.)—May. Lycopsis arvensis Li Whole plant very densely covered with ee hairs. Leaves much shorter than in the eastern s Has. Barrens near St. Charles on the incur Jae Phacelia fimbriata Mic Has. Inundated banks of Streams near “St. Louis—Also on the banks of the [llinois—May—June. Hydrophyllum virginicum Li Has. Banks of the Mississippi, near St. fae Moy. Hydrophyllum appendiculatum Mic Filaments perfectly smooth. _Peduncles sanciedl than the leaves. In these it differs from the description of Dr. rrey. Has. Foundin company with the two last—May. eeous nyctelea Li Has. On the inundated banks of the Tilinois river—rare 2 ‘April. zs very fetid i ano 6 inches high, with a light blue coro Dodecantheon Meadia Lin. A ama near Sei. and on the basis Bluff of Botany of Wlinois and Missouri. 169 Samolus valerandi Lin. Has. Margins of creeks aud brooks—common in differ- ent parts of [linois and Missouri June Lysimachia ciliata Lin. Hap. Woods near St. Louis. June. Convolvulus sepium L in Has. Near cultivated bites “sag: St. eres July. The leaves are much smaller than in any of the eastern specimens which I have seen. In other plage the western plant appears to agree with the former Ipomza purpurea L am k. Has. In company yok the last... July. Phlox paniculata Li Stem 2—3 feet high. Flowers in very large, numerous corymbs. A highly ornamental s Has. Woods south-west of St acd May—June. Phlox divaricata Lin. Stem nearly erect, hairy above. Leaves ovate-lanceolate, opposite, closely sessile, distant, hairy on both sides. Piswers few, in a terminal scattered panicle. Segments of the calyx erect, subulate-linear, half as long as the tube of the corol Corol purple; tube nearly straight; segments obcordate, Has. Banks of the [llineis. April—Ma My western specimens have the oie of the calyx shorter, and the whole mee more hairy th from this state. Phlox pilosa El = Has. a of ot Iilinois, in aay with the last: 1}—M ey ee aman of this plant agree precisely with the de- scription of Mr. Elliott. It is supposed, by Mr. Nuttall and r. Torrey, to be the same as P. aristata; but I have no means of satisfying myself of the correctness of the P. pilosa has a stiff stem, which is generally erect, = pubes- cent on every Leaves revolute on the Seg- ments of the calyx subulate, nearly as long as the si of the eorol. 0: VOL. I.—NO. : 22 176 Botany of Illinois and Missouri. Philo 4—6 inches high, erect, branching, minutely pa beseent. Leaves about an inch in length, ovate-lanceo~ late, or Jance-linear, somewhat clasping at base, opposite and alternate ; margins revolute, and with the midrib ciliate. Corymb few-flowered. Segments of the calyx linear, acute, hairy, more than half the length of the tube of the corol. Corol purple; tube nearly straight; segments wedge-form, deeply cleft, sometimes nearly to the base. Style as long as be corol. | -Has. On the banks of the Hlinois near Fort Clark. April. A large flowered species, which can be easily distin- guished by the characters above given, and particularly by the deeply cleft segments of the corol. Polemonium reptans Has. On the low alluvions of the Hlinois and Missis- sippi. April. Solanum carolinense Li This ansigity plant is well described = Dr. Torrey, in his Flora. The star-like pubescence i is very characteristics Mr. Elhott remarks that the corol is obscure, but in those specimens which I have seen, it was large and quite showy- Pas . sides and beaten grounds near St. Louis- Physalis pubescens Lin? _ Whole plant white pubescent. Leaves fleshy, somewhat — Calyx pubescent in every part, nearly the of the corol. Has. On the rocky banks of the } — May. _ Hap Road ide = eat e = . si es an t , n merous every where in Ihe ~ Campanula perfoliata Li Has. Alluvions of the Riviere des a May. perfoliatum Lin. rather rare. May. Triosteum ena Woods near St. Louis— Botany of Illinois and Missouri. 171 . Vitis cestivalis Li Has. Banks of the Mississippi, tt of St. Louis. July. issus hederacea Pers. Has. In similar situations with the last. June. 4 - Viola cucullata Ait B. On the prairies from St. Louis to Fort Clark— very common, March—April. Viola palmata Lin, Has. Barrens near St. Louis. May. Very variable, and ES only a variety of the last. Viola pedata Lin. Root fasciculate. Leaves numerous, many-parted, pe- date ; divisions lance-linear, entire or subentire Has. Banks of the Mississppi, near Altog, Diingie« rare. April—May. Viola blanda Willd Has. Wet woods on the Riviere des Pax. 5 miles west of St. Louis. April. Viola pubescens A 7 Has. In company with the last. ‘Aprile Viola bicolor Pursh Has. On the Mammoth mound a iti north of St. Lou- is, and not elsewhere. April. ; Claytonia vir, mnginice Lim Low alluvions of the Mississippi and Llinois. Has aa April. The leaves vary considerably in width. Ceanothus americanus L i Has. On the Barrens in various aah of Pinole pe Missouri. (Common, April. Euonymus atropurpureus J ac q. Has. On the alluvions of t the Mississippi and other Streams in the vicinity of St. Louis. May. It attains the 172 Botany of Filinois and Missourz. height of 8 or 10 feet, and is quite branching. Flowers te eedrous. eased Comandra umbellata N u ¢ t. Has. On the prairies near St Louis. April. Impatiens pallida Nu ¢ ¢ Has. Banks of streams Illinois and Missouri. July. Ribes recurvatum Mich. Has. Woods near St. Louis. April—May. PENTANDRIA DIGYNIA. Apocynum cannabinum L 7 n. Stem 2—3 feet high. Leaves ovate or oval, mucronate, attenuate at base, with revolute margins, smooth and some- what glaucous above, white pubeseent beneath, on short hairy petioles. Cyme somewhat panicled. Corol small, green ; tube rather shorter than the segments of the calyx. Has. Banks ofstreams near St. Louis. June. Apocynum hypericifolium A : t. Stem 2 feet high, branching. Leaves oblong, tapering at both ends, (never cordate) very acute, hairy beneath, on short ioles. Cyme many fi d, paniculate ; panicles erect. Calyx about as long as the tube of the corol. aB. Gravelly banks of streams. Missouri. June. This species resembles the last, but differs from it in having the leaves smaller, narrower, and tapering each way from about the middle ; and also in having its inflorescence more distinctly paniculate. There is, however, some confusion concerning the species of this genus. Asclepias syriaca Lin, Has. Rocky banks of the Mississippi at St. Louis. June. This plant sometimes attains the height of six feet. It is comparatively rare in these states. I have never ob- served it on the prairies. Asclepias quadrifolia Jacq. Has. Prairies near St. Louis and elsewhere in [Il and Miss. June. The western specimens have the leaves moré Botany of Illinois and Missouri. 173 fleshy, somewhat pubescent beneath, ciliate on the margin. Flowers white and pale red. . Asclepias incarnata Lin, ica Stem branched above. Leaves 3—5 inches in length, smooth, lanceolate-oblong, cordate at base, on short petioles. Umbels numerous. Flowers purple. Has. Wet prairies and exsiceated ponds. July—Aug. Asclepias amoena L722. Stem sparingly branched above. Leaves oblong, tapering at base, acute or acuminate, whitish pubescent beneath. bels few. Has. In similar situations with the last—July. ;, __ Asclepias verticillata Lin. Leaves varying from 1 to 3 inches in length, and from 2 te 4 lines in width. Umbels verticillate towards the upper part. Flowers purple. ’ Has. iri Prairies and barrens near St. Louis—July. Asclepias obtusifolia Mich. Haz. Open prairies west of St. Louis. . The whole plant, and particularly the flowers, are larger than on the sea coast. Asclepias longifolia Mic h. Stem 2 to 3 feet high, erect, simple, very hairy, Leaves 8 to 4 inches long, scattered, narrow-lanceolate, obtuse, thick, scabrous, covered on both sides with short stiff hairs, revolute on the margins. _ Umbels lateral, on short peduncles. Pedicels very numerous, hairy. £ shorter than the antheridium, distinetly cucullate ; horn want- ing. Corol green. Har. On the Prairies near St. Louis, and St. Charles. June. This plant belongs to the genus Acerates of Elliott ; which differs from _Asclepias principally in the absence of the horn-like processes of the ae But this —— = s to be common to several genuine species of Asclepos ; att api tice; A. phytolaccoides, &§c. Mr. Nuttall and =a Torrey seem to think that A. longa olia is not specifically distinct from A. viridiflora of Pursh. 1 have only @ single ee ee Botany of Illinois and Missouri. of the latter from the eastern States, which difiers from the former as follows. ‘The flowers are larger and much less numerous. Leaves oblong-ovate, acute, (resem- bling those of A. amena.) Leeafets of the nectary erect, not eucullate. : Asclepias tuberosa Lin. Var. cordata.* Leaves broad, cordate at base Has. Sandy prairies west of St. Louis—rare. June. Agrees in every respect with A. tuberosa, exceptin the leaves, which are about three fourths of an inch in breadth, and cor- date at base. Anantherax viridis Nx ¢ t 2 Root perennial. Stem 2 to 3 feet any smooth, sparing- ly branched, deeply grooved. Leaves 3 to 4 inches long, scattered, jong, very obtuse, with eikonal point, ic] is minutely pubescent on both sides, with revolute margins; on shor Be ve Umbels, terminal, a ered. ~Pedicels an nch er. Calyx persistent, erect, five-parted ; ements “ ovate-lanceolate, hairy beneath. Corol erect, green, campanulate ; segments ovate, sub-acute, three or four times as large as the leafets of the calyx. Nectary ( Lepanthi- um Nutt.) simple, five-parted ; segments compressed, closed beth above and helors incuryed, longer than the antheridium, ya horn Has Webbed hills near the lead mines, in com- pany with Cinothera alata. May—June This rtainly belongs to the genus Anantherax of Nuttall, but it agi net altogether agree with his description of A. viridis. According to Mr. Elliott Asclepias connivens of Dr. Baldwin, ( Sdenelthenas viridis Nutt) has re leafets of the nectary (stamineal crown of R, Brown,) with short horns. Heuchera viscida P ur s h. Hav. Prairies near St. Louis. July. Sanicula marilandica Lin n. fe Fertile alluvions of the Mississi and other streams—common. May. _ -. neee 5 april as able: for the bite’ of poisonous snakes. The -leaves ete to a pulp and applied antertaliye to the wound. Botany of lilinois and Missouri, 175 Sium tricuspidatum E 7 7. Stem 2 or 3 feet high, very smooth, sparingly branched. Leaves pinnate, 3 or 4 pairs, with an odd one. Leafets lan- ceolate, acute, somewhat rigid, from 2 to 4 toothed : ; teeth une 2 nvolucrum caducous. : wamps west of St. Louis. June—J uly. Acoanine to Mr. Elliott this is S. rigidius of Walter, and differs from S. rigidius of Linnzeus, in the leaves, which are almost 3-cuspidate, and in the seeds, which are more slightly winged. Thaspium aureum N u ¢ ¢. Has. Wet grounds Thaspium barbinode WN u ¢ t. } near St. Louis—May. Myrrhis canadensis N u ¢ t. er leaves sometimes nearly biternate. General invo- ducre wantin artial one consisting of one or 1 ; almost sable leaves. Styles persistent, erect, at length divaricate. sot Shady alluvions of the Illinois and Mississippi. June Myrrhis longistylis Torre y. , Stem hairy at the joints and near the root. Unmbels with 3—5 rays. Lower leaves sometimes on long petioles. Styles linear, — long. - Has. In company with the last. June. The only ‘stactive character of this plant is the length of the styles ; if this is constant, it is perhaps sufficient to war- rant its erection into a new species. The other characters noticed by Dr. Torey are very variable, both in the eastern and western specim Dr. Bigelow, in the last edition of his Flor. Bost. also "divides M. claytoni of Mich. but his descriptions are quite different from those of Dr. Torrey. Smyrnium cordatum /¥ a lt. Has. Wet grounds—common. May. Sm myrnium integerrimum Li ne Has. In company with the last. 176 Botany of Illinois and Missouri. Cicuta maculata L 2 Has. — the banks of streams, in evenil parts of these states. Jun Erigenia bulbosa N wu tt. Has. Banks of streams near St. Louis: March 15th: Ulmus americana Lin. Ulmus fulva Mich. Has. Both these species are found upon the banks of streams throughout [linois and Missouri. The former, how- ever, is by far the most common. The variety with pendu- lous branches is to be met with on the Illinois. Celtis occidentalis L 7 Has. Banks of Riviere des Peres, "5 miles west of St. Louis. April. PENTANDRIA. SuGune Viburnum Se Sass Lin Has. This species is found, i company with V, Oxijcoc- ¢us, on the alluvions of the Mississippi near St. Louis. May: Rhus glabrum Lin. Rhus toxicodendron Lin. : Rhus aromaticum A it. Has. These three species are found in woods near St. Louis. June. Mr. Nuttall remarks that R. aromaticum is the only species to be met with in Upper Louisiana ;—but this is a mistake. Sambucus Se Lin. May. Has. Fields near St. Loui Staphylea trifolia Lin Hap. Banks of Riv. des Peres, April. This tree rises to a considerable height, - HEXANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. Tradescantia virginica Lin, Haz. Prairies and barrens near St. Louis, May: Botany of Illinois and Missouri. aig Hypoxis erecta Z 7 Has. Prairies, every where in Ri. states. May. Allium striatum Wi lid. Scape from 8 to 12 inches high, naked, compressed. Leaves radical, linear, nearly as long as the scape, striated on the outer surface. Spathe 2-leaved, about 6-flowered. Corol spreading large, white. Petals ovate, with a promi- nent coloured midrib. Ag. Timbered alluvions of the Mississippi near Sts Louis—rare. April. Phalangium esculentum WN u ¢ t. Has. On the prairies of Illinois and Missouri—common: y- &. aoe Torrey has ; given a very minute ap accurate descrip- on of this interesting plant. = ora, p. 346. <= Lilium canadense Lin. m 2—3 feet high, smooth. Leaves whorled, broad ay acute, 3—5 nerved. lowers from 1 to 3, nod- ding, on peduncles which are four or five inches in EE: Hib, Prairies near St. Louis. June. ae Lilium Catesbei Wal Siem 12 to 18 inches high, smooth, rund Leaves lance+ linear ; one whorl of 4 or 5 nea ihe flower ; the rest scat- tered. Flowers large, scarlet ielidid pity aa Peta sapering into a long claw at base, acute, (not acuminate.) Has. In similar situations with the last. June. nronium albidum Nutt. Leaves impunctate. Flowers reflexed, white or bluish white. Petals lance-linear and ait ae 2 near. twice the length of the stamens. Stigma t H Banks of Peoria lake, near Fort aes Apr , This species has the inner petals without 0 ES u my herbarium. These Test may belong to the Species aie Mr. Nuttall mentions as allied to E. al . y ige found in the vicinity of Albany, and may be more parti ly pasion hereafter. L—Nno. 1. 23 178 Botany of Illinois and Missouri. Uvularia lanceolata Wi lid. Has. High bluffs of the [linois river. April. Differs from U. perfoliata as follows : Petals lanceolate, smooth within. -Anthers without, or with very short, awns. Pistil shorter than the stamens. The whole plant is larger, e flowers much more showy and of a deeper yellow. have never observed it on low grounds. : Smilacina racemosa Des Has. Woods, prairies, and eitavien near St. Louis: 'y HEXANDRIA. TRIGYNIA. Melanthium virginicum Lin Stem 4 to 5 feet high, erect. Leaves sheathing at base, 12 to 18 inches long, carinate. Stamens of the length of the petals. _ ‘Has. On the prairies 3 miles south of St. Louis—very "This is one of the largest herbaceous plants that I have see inflorescence resembles that of Veratrum viride, * although the panicle is much larger and more branching. Helonias divica Pu rs Han, On the prairies in Miss., Tl, id Ohio. April. < ‘Trillium viride.* Root perennial. Stem 8 to 12 inches high, smooth: Leaves ovate, acute, somewhat tapering at base, closely ses- sile, 3 to 5 nerved, with whitish spots on the upper surface. Plower erect, closely sessile. Leafets of the calyx lanceo- late, ovate or lance- linear, an inch and a half long, erect, obtuse, broad at base. Petals dark green, fleshy, narrow, somewhat spatulate, a little longer than the calyx. Stamens ee of the corol. [aB. dy banks of streams, St. Louis The form : ef the calyx leaves is v bl tae f my specimens it js nearly 0 eet: ery variable. In one o ey rilli jum recurvatum.* hege ay inches high, smooth, Leaves ovate lance- obovate, nerved, smooth, clouded with darker green, Botany of Illinois and Missouri. 179 sessile or on very short petioles. Flower closely sessile. Leafets of the calyx an inch long, lanceolate, acute, recurv- ed. Petals purple, of the length of the calyx, lance-ovate, very acute, attenuate at base, erect. #ilaments very short. oe In similar situations with the last. Apri may be Trillium sessile of Linnzeus; but its flowers differ cpieetibly from that apeniey as described in botanical works and as figured in Curti At all events ‘ sesszle,’ is now no Sai a distinctive idleictin and should be changed. {n. addition to the above sessile flowered species of this genus, it is probable 1 that at least two more have already been dis- covered. * Trillium ag ae a Me Var. album Pur sh. Rocky banks of creeks ee into, ihe Ilinois— common. — Trillium grandiflorum Salisb. Has. On the prairies of Illinois. May. In the spring of 1822, I observed this plant in flower, at intervals, from St.Louis to,\Cleaveland onthe Ohio, and. also in the western part of this Sta Rumex acetosella Lin. Has. Prairies—common. April. Rumex britannicus Pursh. Has. Swampy grounds near St. Louis. April. HEXANDRIA. POLYGYNIA. Alisma plantago Lin Has. Swamps 5 miles hs of St. Lsais, and clsewtere. HEPTANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. ZEsculus glabra Willd. Hp. On the banks of the Illinois and elsewhere. be 180 Botany of Iilinois and Missouri. OCTANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. Rhexia virginica Lin. Has. Banks of the Merrimack, 16 miles south of Si. Louis—rare. June. /Enothera biennis Lin. Has. Prairies and woods near St. Louis. June. Root woody, perennial? Stem 8 to 12 inches high, somewhat branching, villose. Leaves oval-oblong, toothed zand sinuate, sometimes almost pinnatifid ;—lower ones sub- entire, peticled. Flowers small, axillary and terminal. Calyx villose ; segments reflexed, one third the length of the tube. Petals red, obcordate, as long as the segments of the calyx. Capsule an inch or more long when mature, linear, angled ; angles very villose. Has. On the mounds near St. Louis. M: > I am in great doubt whether this is C8. sinuata; but F in the vicinity of the abave a dwarf variety, characterized as follows: Stem 2-3 inches high, simple: Leaves an inch long, oval, entire. Flowers terminal solitary. It differs om CE, minima Js h. in the length of the tube of the calyx, CEnothera macrocarpa Pur sh. Has. On the siliceous hills near the lead mines, Miss. ay. This splendid species was first discovered by Mr. J. Brad- ‘y, in the above situation, to which it appears to be pe- Gaura biennis Lin, - Aan. Wet grounds near St. Louis, July—August. Botany of Illinois and Missouri. - on Epilobium coloratum M u Has. Banks of small streams near St. sie August. Acer saccharinum a in. Acer negundo Li Has. These two species are found on the alluvions of the Riviere des Peres and other streams. April. OCTANDRIA. TRIGYNIA. Polygonum punctatum Ell. Polygonum mite P ers. Polygonum pennsylvanicum L in. : Polygonum virginianum L in. Has.- The above species are quite common on the mar- gins of swamps near St. Louis. June—July. Polygonum aviculare L in. Polygonum convolvulus £27. Has. Near cultivated fields. July. In the latter spe- cies the lobes of the leaves are very acute Polygonum amphibium Lin Has. Margins of ponds. July. A distinot species from P, natans of Eaton. ENNEANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. Laurus sassafras L Si Ne urus Benzoin Li Has. Both — are quite sainaiat on the banks of the Illinois. March— DECANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. Cassia marilandica Lin, Has. Banks of creeks near St. Louis. July. Cassia chameecrista Lin. Has. Barrens and prairies west of St. Louis. June. Baptisia alba sie Brown P Has. High san sandy prairies, fr om St. Louis to otosi.— une. 182 Botany of Illinois and Missouri. Cercis canadensis Li Has. Inundated Peake, of streams in n Tllinois and Mis- souri—common. March—April. DECANDRIA. TRIGYNIA. ucubalus stellatus Lin. Has. Prairies, [llinois and Missouri. June. Silene regia. Stem erect, 2 or 3 feet high, branched, with tumid joints, and, as well as the whole plant, pulverulently pubescent and viscid, Leaves broad-ovate, opposite, scabrous; lower ones sub-clasping ; upper acuminate. Flowers scarlet, large, in pairs, or in threes, at the extremities of the branches, nume- yous. Calyx an inch long, cylindric, 10-striated. Petals oblanceolate, generally en as. Hills near the Potosi lead mines—rare, June. : Stellaria longifolia Muh 1. Has. Banks of the Riv. des Peres, May. DECANDRIA. PENTAGYNIA. Cerastium vulgatum Has. Fields—common i in these two ‘states. April, Cerastium nutans Ra Has. Rocky banks of streams. ay—June. : Oxalis violacea Li Has. Side hills on the Illinois dread. April. Oxalis corniculata Lin. a e eines siete Willd. as. Prairies—c May. ‘The former is about a foot long, PROeMAEER b batry: The flowers are smaller than those of the last. Penthorum sedoides J, i Has. Margins cH iiche and swamps, "St. Louis. June. (To be continued.) Grevilleanum Serratum: 183 Art. XVI.—Description of the Grevilleanum Serratum, a new ahaa belonging to the order Musci. By Lewis C. K; M. and EBENEZER Emmons, M.D. Read “before the hiews Institute. GREVILLEANUM, GENERIC CHARACTERS. Seta terminal. Peristome dou- ble; outer teeth 16, broadish, acute; inner 64, subhorizontal, somewhat bent, free at the apex. Calypt ra glabrous, open- ing ely 5 base we: sheathing the neck of the cap- e; apex closed, acu This ele and distinc t genus is named in honour sad Dr. Robert K. Greville, of Edinburgh, author of the Flor Ddinemia, and one of the most distinguished muscologists of the present day. It can be easily recognized by the charae- ters above given. 'The numerous tee the inner peritamig are always distinct at the base, but in the young state they cohere slightly at the apex, where they appear to ie held to- gether by transverse bars, which separate as the capsule be- comes mature. The calyptra is closed at the top, and has a short gage point. Its longitudinal opening is scarcely more than one-third of its whole length; through w which | er, Sees while in a very young state. Its rms a sheath, which closely embraces the neck of the capsule and summit BE the seta. When, however, the capsule becomes old, the calyptra, still sheathing the seta, falls down to the base of the latter, and there remains among the leaves. G. Serratum. Stem erect, simple. Leaves linear-lanceo- late, acute, crisped when dry. Lid hemispheric, yellow, without a beak. Capsule cylindric, curved, subhorizo tal. Teeth of the peristome y Has. Rocks in shady places, a mile west of “T'rc Stems about an inch and a half in height, simple, bearing: a considerable resemblance, in habit, to a Bartramia. Leaves numerous, nearly half an inch in aueoe crisped and rigid. Seta dark chestnut brown and shining. Explanation of Figures.* A. Top of the Peristome, magnified. B, Copeile-end Caly ptra, magnified. C, Calyptra, magnified. D. A Leaf, gnified. E. Whole plant, natural size. * In striking off the figures, in — it was not pee Es to represent ain been ee shades, described in op of the pe- sal gaatone ¥. Gdine—cala Jight greer.— capsule a shade darker,’ 184 Observations on two late Meteors. , Arr. XVII.—Observations on two late Meteors seen ai New-Haven. By ALEexanpER C. Twinine, Civil En- gineer, &c. [Comraunicated to the Co ne cticut Academy.] _ Ear y in the evening of Mare st, a brilliant ball of was seen at this City, piseing ti in a w Mme direction, and at a considerable height above the horizo followed on Saturday evening, (April Ist) by a second, which passed more to the south. The first passage took place at half past seven o’clock, and was seen by numbers. ‘The second was at nine, or a fe w minutes earlier. It at- tracted less notice than the first, but was described by an observer as commencing near a point lying N. 30° E., and in altitude 60°, continuing till it reached the zenith, where it es tv al ‘After its disappearance, there was left a In- us track through the whole course, which remained for shinee minute. In about two minutes a sound was heard which was taken by the observer for thunder; but no cloud appeared. The same thing was witnessed by a gentleman at Arlington, 18 miles north of Bennington, in the State of Vermont, who gives the following statement of the circum- stances: ‘‘ He was riding towards the west, when a sudden ance of the meteo From ee Sheprchdiona it saouial seem that the height, e i time of the meteor’s vanishing, was at least 60 miles ; since a distance of 110 miles to the north depressed its altitude 60°. Conclusions, however, are un- certain which, in cases of this kind, rest on the e impressions of but two or three j individuals ; but as the first observation was made under circumstances which ensure a nearness to the truth, and as the other was made by one who judges with correctness of astronomical distances, the sage conjectured be considered an approximation to the + Observations on two late Meteors. iss The first meteor, however, was seen by many, whose re- marks being compared, may lead to results nearly accurate ; and such as are known will be given as they were collected. As the same phenomenon was witnessed at Salem and Ando- ver in Mass. and at Arlington, where appearance of the second has been already ed, it will be singular if simi- jar observations have not been made and brought together at = other places through so extensive a tract of country. ** Two gentlemen walking down Chapel street, New-Ha ven, were startled by a sudden light around them, which cast shadows like the moon. "They next saw a mass of light over a house just before them, and thought that one of the chim- neys was on fire. They were so situated as to see the whole passage of the body from this time till it vanished. Its colour was a dazzling white. It threw off sparks in its course, and was followed by a train, three or four degrees long. One the two having conducted the writer to the oy and pees out the place where it was first seen, and so ri ie oy the aid of material objects around, son altitude asured, and the following eg sige In azimuth S. 163 E. its altitude was 4 S. 534 W. es cies where it disap- The duration of the passage was conjectured by the ob- server, to be a quarter of a minute; but being requested to follow its course with his finger, as it actually appeared, he passed it in six seconds; and, on his relating the circum- stance which took place from the flash to the disappearance, it seemed, probably, 4 the truth. Mr J——— Hi ew-Haven, inte so situated as to see the whole = phenomenon, tas commencing its course east of south, rising et -cenity, and vanishing far south of west. A ahe” Hao Ue “courdé There” ee} ' from it several parts which seemed to fall. After looking at the whole he walked to a considerable distance, and then heard a report sudden and of short continuance. ing re- quested on Walk again over the same with the same speed, the interval was four minutes and a half ane lowing, with his finger, the course, he described a deration | a twelve seconds, From his description, taken on the spot 0 observati Az. S. 263 E. Alt. nti Place of vanishing ,, S.36W. ., 25 VOL. I.—NO. 1. 24 186 Observations on two late Meteors. Mr. ——, a master mechanic in New-Haven, hearing his family speak of the flash of light, went out to wait for the re- port rom circumstances it seemed likely that five minutes passed before the a was heard. He describes the soun as shaking the pavemen r. 2 Bens. of Yale oe was sitting in his window, when the fash was seen. The meteor was concealed ed to no more than three. 'The beanies derived from this source are— Az. S. 12 Alt. 43° Cours of shadow ,, S. 76 ; -H » an antethgent lad, oe saw it over a large hailliiies It seemed to ‘ move level, ’ as he expressed it, and he described about the place of vanishing. It seemed abou course, measured by his finger, was between five and six sect Age. 1S Alt. ee Mr. N. J——, <8 saw the whole le phenomenon A mass of light, Bese and as large as the moon, appeared to the east of south-east. It vanished south of west. Walking on- Qs It was sudden, and repeated, in e manner of a reverberation. Being requested to walk ates the ground at the same rate, the interval was four min- utes and a third. Fo sowing: with his finger, its course, the ign: was four sec Az. S. rit E. Alt. go 220 ta) ins The between the mass and the train, make dark body Observations on two late Meteors. 187 were moving on, followed and surrounded by flame. It was in size very much less than the moon, as the others descri- bed it, about one third in diameter. The spot of vanishing S. 50 W. and S. 60 W., at an altitude of 23°. Its form was not regular, hut approaching to round, and its apparent magnitude much less than the moon’s. Its colour was white, tinged with blue. Throughout its course it threw off sparks, and was followed by a train a few degrees in length. the end of its course it exploded and threw off parts which were seen to fall*. The sound of the explosion reached the ear in 4 minutes 25 seconds after the vanishing of the meteor, The same body was seen north of Boston and as far as- Vermont. Its whole course occupied about 5 seconds. From interval between the explosion and the and from the suddenness of the passage, it is obvious that 60 miles from the observer would lie but little beyond its distance at the moment of explosion, and that 24 miles a second, would not exceed its velocity. Its nearest distance to the earth’s surface may have been within 30 miles, or even less. As to its magnitude, no very definite conclusions can be ade. Those which have usually been given, in such cases, as amounting to. probability, have doubtless exceeded the truth. They would have applied more correct. the size of the body and the surrounding flame ; at least, these re- marks will apply to those which, like the one under consider- ation, do not indicate, by the regularity of their outline, a process merely of ignition. How often this case has occur- red, the writer does not know. The universal attendance of a train brilliant and long, and sometimes of one which re- mains after the body is gone from sight, is a strong arg ment, in all cases, for a flaming medium around the mass of % ‘ ic stones which have fall- en Sse any i came on ze New-York. vin New -Jersey, or, possibly, in Long-Island Sound. ; 18s Observations on two late Mefeors- matter. Or, let any one measure, in his mind, a distance of 20 miles, and a duration of one second, and then let a globe, some portion of a mile in diameter, pass along the distance in that time, and through an atmosphere even of very diminish- ed density, it will not appear surprizing that, by the power of friction, the excitement of electricity, and the compression of air, it should surround itself and mark its course with flame- ° In the present case the different Reprecentatsnns of magni- tude vary from 10’ to more than half adegree. If we place it at 15’, and consider that of the body 10’, we shall have 56 rods, or one sixth of a mile, for the diameter of the meteor. The existence of these bodies in the form of revolving masses of matter is now generally admitted. That it should have been so long discredited by philosophical observers, and considered as embarrassed with difficulties, is perhaps an in- stance of the common fact, that the simplest theories are the last received. But though so near and so frequent in their appearance, they are probably the last with which, in many important respects, we shall be acquainted. Their pheno- mena and motions are too rapid and transient for the steady observation of science, and it is only from common observers at we can generally expect any account of them. _ Still, such accounts ought to be carefully collected, and such ob- servers to know that their opportunities may be made of use to philosophy. he circumstances which the observer should be prepared hese: 'The time of occurrence, the place of rise and of vanishing, and any points of its course, especially if it pass material objects, which can be marked, together with the place of observation. The aspect of the body and its train. The duration of the course. kind and in- tensity.of a eePaNs and the interval of time between the re- . alosion.. Other observations may be both useful and interesting, though the . piineipal, eee SEs. AE present, to But if ever the phenomena shall beco 2 me settled and known, and every fact disclosed which rational curiosity can Search out respecting these bodi i Hon of principal interest to be answ purpose do they promote? Their ‘iiigheee and the general Mr, Owen’s Establishment at New-Harmony. 189 similarity of their directions seem to intimate an useful design in their formation, and mark them as controlled by some sys- tem. Still, as we often find, in regions of fertility, barren mountains ‘of. which no account can given, so in the heavenly spaces there may ne: ie whee existence can be explained in no other han ere casual result of Vay, those laws under ‘hich it , particu v ‘ a ft is evident, that the use of the chlorates is the best that, either a lone ¢ remedy against these maladies, and g @ 3 z =. = Ste . aS ee pbiheine Broussais, enclos des Jacobins Saint Jacques prés la t © Voyex la Revue Encyclopedi ae eas , que de Juillet and madocine Ja méme ¢poque, publiée a Paris.” og does ard a ae os £ Influence of Chlorine. 199 efiects in individuals who were infected and near being de- stroyed by them. - It follows of course, that only a step is necessary to de- stroy every established seat, every potential and every active cause of these maladies, in bodies either organized or not : to arrive at the chemical demonstration of this cause neutral- izable by a chemical agent, at the discovery of the system or of the organs, by means of which this deleterious cause at- tacks animal life. Furst Latsnt, Professor of the Russian Language, rue du petit Vaugirard, is o. I, : Remarks by the Editor.—M. Laisne’s letter was forward- ed under the expectation that it would be published, and with a promise of other communications, which he wishes to have made known to the learned societies of America—‘ especially to the academy of natural sciences of Philadelphia, and to the honourable Mr. Mac uure.”’ we e pamphlet of Mr. Labarraque has been transmitted to us by the kindness of Mr. Laisne. It appears that the dis- infecting powers of the chlorates are so great that if there be occasion to disinter and examine a corpse, which is al: ady in a state of putrefaction, the odour disappears, vided a cloth moistened with the diluted chlorate be placed upon the body, and it will be necessary to sprinkle the cloth from time to time.* If putrescent fiaids have run upon the ground, their odour is destroyed by pouring the diluted chlorate on_ the place, and stirring it with a broom ; by dashing it upon porticoes, stair-cases, &c. which are infected, a similar effect is pro- duced.’ = et ns : PHS Vaults, privies, sewers, &c. are cleansed in a similar man- er. : ; ted ae Did our limits permit, all the statements in relation to this subject, contained in Mr. Laisne’s letter might be corrobora- ted by particular cases ; only a few can be alluded to. The tontagious effluvia emanating from diseased persons, are i is kind is related, where, fo ‘some judicial pur- pont boy wich had Yoo bid ove sooth, was diaered by oer of i zed, and the sten rere es : e application of the chlorate of lime produced a wonderful effec smell ceasing almost from the first aspersion. 200 Influence of Chlorine. completely destroyed by sprinkling the chamber with one of iqui tes; very much diluted with pure water; it should be dashed about the beds ; and physicians and attend- ants should moisten their hands and their nostrils with the liqyid. These agents remove the odour of foul teeth and gums, and neutralize ‘the dangerous emanation from the ulcerated sore throat. A purulent and offensive discharge from the ladder was removed by injections of a very dilute chlerate: Bodies kept for interment until they are offensive, may be ren innoxious by these fluids, and professional men, call- ed to examinations connected with medical jurisprudence, with processes of embalming, or with demonstrations ii anatomy, should secure themselves by a free use of these powerful agents. They neutralize the foul air of marshes, of markets, and other places where animal matters occasion a putrid and de- leterious effluvium. ‘The common sewer in Paris, called Amelot, being entire- ly obstructed, had been for 40 years a nuisance. Ln 178 eight men were suffocated in an attempt to cleanse it, and in a recent effort several workmen had fallen down ia a state of asphyxia ; when the attempt was again made, and with en- tire success, and without accident. The safety of this painful and s operation appears to have been imputable en- tirely, to the use of the chlorate ofJime, with which the work- men wet their hands, arms, and nostrils, and_also all the pu- One of the workmen who had been thrown into a state of orn y , in the atte to ent th 5 * tion, and who ha d —— er the vault without precau lain forty-eight ituation entirely without sense ed ours in this situation, 4. Asabarraque’s preparation is called in the French me- noir chlorure de owide de sodium et de chaux, and the method Smee castes given in Tome I. des Archives genérales de Or tel Plate i. CO SAKVOUUN Vid FEU Ue sat 4 a | a | ia Fi Ni : t 5 i oF ‘ "ei Plate A] Tab. K. ' is S3 .S 2 Wate a ANS . " Vol.X. p.282 AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE, &c. ArTICLE 1—The Divining Rod. OBSERVING men have long been perplexed with the divin- ing red, that common discoverer both of salt water and fresh; who at once laugh at its pretensions and always laugh at them, make light of the perplexity, without taking a step to- wards its removal; while those who have paid any atten- tion to the subject, find facts irreconcilable with any known and established laws of nature ; and, also, reasonings contra> ry to known laws and to common sense. If the laws of the divining rod be an absurdity, it is equally an absurdity that honest men should combine to maintain a poor falsehood. Since the eleventh century, the divining rod has been in frequent use. It was first employed “for the purpose of has long since only claimed, to find metals and ores ins and veins of water below the surface of the earth. More than one English writer has spoken kindly of the es- teem in which it is held by the miners of Britain. In France, so late as 1781, a volume was published, ‘ detailing 600 experi- ments, made with all possible attention and circumspection, to ascertain the facts attributed to the divining rod; by which is VOL. XI.—wNo. 2. a : 202 The Divining Rod. of electricity and magnetis We find in our own country, many decided friends of the divining rod. Our public journals not unfrequently contain letters of respectable correspondents, stoutly maintaining its character for truth and integrity. t is asubject of eager curiosity to some, and is not perfect- ly understood by any. It admits of bemg explained to the most moderate capacity ; and it is hoped this paper will fur- nish every reader both with facts and arguments, to sustain him in right views of the divining red, and to enable him to disprove the false. _ It begins with a description of the rod, and a general no- tice of the present state of the art in our own country. The divining rod is a forked branch of any tree whose bark is smooth and whose fibre is very elastic. The witch hazel is in the highest esteem, not merely for its potent name, but also for the convenient size and ready forks of its plente- ous branches, and the uncommon elasticity of its fibre. peach and the cherry are often used. The limbs of the fork should be 18 inches or 2 feet in length, and of the diameter of a pipe stem. When used, it is taken thus : unfolded their resemblance to the admirable and uniform laws m 3 the pailas#-of the Ektsiising thinmit-tpwards B e F a . Butwhen the diviner, apprehending the action of the hidden imfluence- The Divining Rod. 203 begins to grasp the rod firmly, rEe angers are drawn tightly upon the rod, and it takes this for ower extremities outward. The diviner, holding the twig carefully in this manner, moves onwar creeping step. In due time the head of the fork turns down- ards, and, | coming to point perpendicularly to the earth, marks the site of the fountain or ore. The action of the rod under these circumstances, is a fact plain to the vision of every beholder. Those who hold it, are oftentimes men in whose hands we would without hesita- tion intrust os property and reputation: and no doubt they are wholly unconscious of the power, which excites the ac- tion of the oe but they conhdenhy believe it proceeds from hidden We Ss or minerals in the bowels of the From north to south, from east - west, the divining rod has its advocates. Menin various callings, men above the reach of mean arts, men of the soundest pee of large informa- tion, and St. the | most exemplary li ive S, do not disown the art, and whe , rarely if ever, is it made the means ate extortion by the meanest professor. Literati Doctors, in want of fountains for their domestic use, do not disdain to call for the demonstrations of the divining rod, and will, in some instances, acknowledge the aecordance of the results with the prow s declarations of the diviner. there be a — ivine Ives are the first de- ceived, and the greatest duped But how can they be deceiv- ed? They hold the rod steadily in both their hands—in the diagram, the point of the rod is turned towards the heavens. 204 The Divining Rod. In searching, the rod discovers its sensibility by the motion of the point from its vertical position downward through the are of a semicircle, until it rests perpendicular to the earth. This motion, so far from being intended by the holder of the rod, is made in opposition to the closest grasp his hands can give. And although an honest man’s word might be taken for this, we have the fact corroborated by our own senses. We can see, and if that be not enough, we can also feel the rupture of the green bark, as it is fairly wrung from the rod, in the contest between the force which bears the point of the rod down, and the pinching grasp of the diviner, to prevent that motion. The rod does not exhibit this unaccountable action in the hands of every man. Many, all, can urge it to exhibit this motion ; while it is only in the hands of a very few that it is supposed to move not merely without urging, but contrary to their best eflorts.* These few are of no peculiar age, constitu- tion or habits, to distinguish them from their fellow-men. But if any female has ever exercised the gift of divining by the witch hazel, it has not come to the knowledge of the writer. Diviners are sensible of no change in their feelings, while the rod acts. They determine its nearness to some attracting body, as every beholder may, solely by the demonstration of the rod itself. The only peculiarity I have heard commonly r ed, is, that the rod acts more freely in hands naturally moist, than in hands naturally dry—a mechanical effect which oil would probably increase. In New-England, where springs are most abundant and always pure, the use of the art is less frequent, because less ne fountains are not so certainly pure, the art is better known and more highly valued. The water He is'sent for to a great distance, and performs wonders with praiseworthy modesty, and for @ In all parts of the land, if the diviner hunt for metals, he comes distrusted by the better sort of men. Yet the per- Suasion is general, that the rod is influenced by ores ; aud this sion is the diviner’s greatest defence. \ For in pur- Of water, if he direct the search at a wrong place, be is One write: : With t : : of "the fest in weak solution of spetinns eed cr nine the bands nnd soles of barefooted, the experiment will succeed with every one. - The Divining Rod. 205 excused without loss of confidence, upon the discovery of any mineral or vile ore in sinking the well. Traces of iron ore are almost universal in that part of our country, where the divining rod is in the highest repute ; and often serve eflectu- ally to conceal the diviner’s entire defeat. But the divining rod does not merely point out the site of the hidden fountain : it determines also its depth. This part of the science is equally wonderful and important. To know that water may be obtained by digging at a particular spot, is not enough. We must know more; that the fountain is within a reasonable depth. Accordingly, all men gifted with the use of the divining rod, have a way to determine the depth of the newly discovered fountain, if it be within fifty feet of the earth’s surface. us the inexplicable motions of a green twig in the hands of a rare man, serve, in the opinion of many, to point out the situation of a fountain in the midst of the dry land, and to ascertain its depth; and to point out veins of salt water with precision from 300 to 600 feet below the surface of the earth. The thing is incredible ; and it is equally incredible that the best men in the land should falsely maintain that the motions of the rod in their hands are entire- ly contrary to their own well-meant efforts. _ In 1820, I was at the residence of a respectable farmer in Ohio, and again in 1821, where I noticed a new well at an inconvenient distance from the house. I inquired why that spot had been chosen for a well. The farmer replied, that it had been selected by the divining rod. ‘* Ah! and who car- ried the rod?’’ He named the father of a large family, one take him with me, and make experiments. The lad was about 12 years of age, and his character of a diviner was es- tablished, where that of a prophet is last allowed: in his own family and among his own kindred. His youth was m0 rea- sonable objection to his possessing a peculiar natural gift ; and I hoped now to determine, whether the cause of the mo- a i in, di : common view, existed at the spot Fel a vinepesaeee "ithe diviner told the precise depth it would require fo reach the water: so said the farmer. 206 Fhe Divining Rod. tion of the divining rod lies above or below the surface of the earth We first prepared divining rods from every species of shrub and tree in the forest, the orchard and the garden, to deter- mine the kinds of wood which are most apt for divining. We then repaired to the grass plat, in which the new well was situated; for there the rod, when held by experience, had al- ready designated the situation and general course of three veins of water, which the lad might retrace with more cer- tainty, than he could designate a new fountain. A swift brook runs on one side of the enclosure. The first experiment was to know, whether the rod would exhibit its singular movement in my hands. It would not. The next was to find what notice it would take of water run- ning above ground. The lad held the rod naturally by its limbs parallel to the surface of the swift brook. But the point made not the slightest dip to discover its affinity for water. ‘Then the lad held the rod in the diviner’s manner, ‘sometimes standing in the water, and continued standing on stones raising him above the water. After many trials with contradictory results, the boy thought that the brook attract- ed the rod in some degree, but not so much as a vein of water under ground. We nest turned to the hidden veins of water, on one of ticing its proximity to hidden fountains, because its master fails to watch its motions. explained my purpose to the lad, who readily consented to further it. He traced the three hidd i affirm any mi now would render it im ssible for him to re~ trace his path blindfolded. bf. This done, I blindfolded him so that he could not see,— took him lightly by the elbow, and led him away from the The Divining Rod. 90% furrow marking the vein of water on which the new well had been sunk. Afier a few steps, I turned with him, requestin him to hold up the rod for discovery. I guided him back, but he chose the time of every step. The rod began to turn, rest forever, I continued the experiment. I led the lad to the next furrow, and the rod missed it. I led him back, it missed again. I led him to and fro, across and then along his three furrows; and he failed incessantly. I tore off the turf at every new place, where the rod pointed out a fountain, and ceased not from discoveries, until the russet and bleach- ed turf of the acre on which the experiment was conducted, became figured with black spots, denoting fountains every where. This was as it should be. ‘There could be no mis- take. The illusion of the fountains, and of all attraction un- der ground, vanished at once. e motion of the r mained, but it must be accounted for some other way. In all my experiments with diviners since, I have found them very shy of a blinder. No diviner has proved so trai- torous to his own self-respect as to test the skill of the rod by depriving it of the light of his owneyes. One whose and respectability obliged me to pay him deference, was pleased with the suggestion of trying the rod over running water above ground. Across a neighboring stream, a huge been prostrated ; its capacious trunk serving for a firm pathway over the swift waters. On this the good man cross- ed the brook, holding the divining rod properly in his hands. As he came over the waters, the point of the rod began to turn, but did not reach the end of its motion, until he had fairly crossed the stream, and stepped upon the opposite bank. In repeating the experiment, his own motions and those of the rod were better timed together. His conclusion, careful- ly drawn, was, that the rod was aflected by running water a- bove ground, but not so much as by water under ground. 208 The Divining Rod. He held the rod with peculiar spirit, and an air of deters mination. Hoping to catch his lively manner, I took a rod, as I stood on the bank of the rivulet, and tried my own hands again. I moved neither hand rior foot, but the rod was in action; neither could I restrain it. He who has held the Leyden jar in one hand, while, for the first time in life, he ived its electric charge with the other, will recognize the sensation which communicated itself to the heart, when I felt the limbs of that rod crawling round, and saw the point turn- ing down, in spite of every effort my clenched hands could make to restrain it. ‘To my great satisfaction, without mov- ing from the spot, I found the bark start and wring off from the limbs of the rod in the contest; just as the divmer often shews, to convince himself and his employer of the strong at- traction of the discovered fountain. It was manifest that the force moving the divining rod is unconsciously applied by the hands of the diviner, and that the great art in holding the rod consists in holding it spiritedly. A smooth bark anda moist peared to have a substantial connection with divining ; and from that day to this the rod has never failed of moving in my hands, nor in the hands of those I instruct. Take the rod in the diviner’s manner, and it is evident that the bent limbs of the rod are equivalent to two bows tied to- gether at one extremity; and, when bent outwards, they ex- erta force in opposite directions upon the point at which they are united. Held thus the forces are equal and opposite, and no motion is produced. Keep the arms steady, but turn hands on the wrists inward an almost imperceptible degree, and the point of the rod will be constrained to move. If the limbs of the rods be clenched very tightly that they cannot turn, the bark will burst and wring off, and the rod will shiv- er and break under the action of the opposing forces. The greater the effort made in clenching the rod, the shorter is the bend of the limbs, and the greater the amount of the opposite forces meeting in the point: and the more unconsciously, al- so, do the hands incline to turn to their natural position on : ‘ ans It would be absurd to suppose, as he does, that the fountain mineral increases its attraction, in proportion to the resist- ance he opposes to the motion of the rod induced by that at- fraction: and he never once suspects, that the very effort to The Divining Rod. - 805 sestrain the rod is so applied by the unnatural position of his hands, as to become itself the sole cause of the rod’s motion. Let the diviner release his grasp, and the rod can no more turn itself in his hands, than the unbent bow can throw an arrow. . By grasping the rod smartly, he strains the bows; and if the red be small and elastic, and of a smooth bark, it as creep round in moist hands slowly and mysteriously. ut if the rod be large, and otherwise properly qualified, its limbs are too stout, and its motion, w s ent, comes ungovernable. This renders a small rod essential to . the diviner; a rod whose motions he can bridle, but not whol- — ly overcome. of the hands on the wrists is not observed by the diviner, but if he mark the position of his hands in the commencement, and again at the end of the experiment, he will find it appa- rent. = ee ee ~ Two large goose quills tied together at their tips, and held like a divining rod, are a fine test of the nature of this moving force. Two sticks of polished whalebone, flattened and joined at one extremity, form a perfect divining rod: The motions of these quills and bones are as perfect for the discovery of fountains as those of any green branch ever cut: Indeed, polished whalebone excels witch hazel itself in divin- ing, as it is firmer, smoother, and more elastic. But polish- ed whalebone has neither sap nor juices to be attracted by metals nor by fountains.* “ The laws by which the depth of the discovered mines or fountains is supposed to be determined, are a curiosity suffi- cient to attract a moment’s attention. There is something amusing in the oddity of their moonstruck features; but it is a sober and a mélancholy sight to see a good man working them, wise men confounded by the results, and the mul titude inclined by the whole operation to trust in superstitious observances. _ * Since writing this, have learned that a professional gentleman, a most excellent man, and a well-known diviner, not many years deceased, som: ®monly-used a fork of whalebone for a divi VOL. XI.—No. Il. 210 The Divinng Rod. The diviner, having ascertained the site of a fountain, and wishing to determine its depth, makes ita centre from which 2 retires to some distance, and returns again very slowly with the rod onthe search. ‘The moment the rod is perceiv- precisely twice the depth of the fountain required. water be 7 feet below the earth’s surface, the rod will be af- fected in acircle of 14 feet diameter; but if the water be seven times seven feet deep, the rod will be affected in @ circle seven times greater than the first. The attraction extends with the distance! It is absurd. The deeper the fountain lies, the sooner the rod will discover its existence ! It is most. unnatural. oreover, the amount of the attrac- tive forces is always just sufficient to draw the point of a r through the are of a semi-circle, and no more; whether the attractive forces be expanded throughout a circle of 100 feet ter, or compressed into one 14 feet diameter. Then these forces ought to be very active, when the circle is reduc- ed so as to bring the atracting bodies into near contact. But after they come in sight of each other, all mutual attraction ceases, and they remain at rest! 1 am unable to say what law is used to determine the depth of salt-water fountains. That which remains to be noticed is more applicable to their case, than the law already expound- ed. It would extend the first rule too far for the simplest understanding, to suppose, that a salt-water fountain, 300 deep, would influence the divining rod in a circle of 600 diameter ; and that a fountain 600 feet deep would in- fluence the rod in a circle of 12 < , : cond law, however. e of 1200 feet diameter. This se- g, a 3 : > 5 a. & = * : a“ i - diviners, and for variety frequently used. It can be deduced from the —— ~ Operation, which is this: the —. ' od by the extremity of one of its limbs, extend over the discovered fountain or mine. : cients the point of the rod is exposed to two conflicting forces, viz: the attracting body, and the elasticity of the rod. In the.contest The Divining Rod. 211 between these, the rod vibrates, and the number of its vibra- tions is the depth of the attracting body, not in yards or inches, but in running feet ! ch are the laws of the divining rod; and such their boasted ‘‘ resemblance to the admirable and uniform laws of electricity and magnetism.” Some good men will yet be reluctant to surrender the di- vining rod ; to rank it among the monstrous births of the dark ages which yet survive. They will urge instances of its suc- cessful operation : they will assert, and perhaps prove, that fountains have been and are discovered according to the pre- dictions of the diviner. They will take particular notice of exactness with which the blinded boy struck the vein of water the first time, and be almost ready to suspect natural incertitude of mind, peculiar to one led about blind- folded, communicated itself to the divining rod, and caused its mistakes. That the lad succeeded perfectly the first time, ceases to be a wonder, when it is recollected that afterwards he failed incessantly. Possibly he kept some count of his scot to aid him in the first trial, and then became ildered. should be bewildered. He ought not to know north from south, but only that the ground he would tread on was safe. Then his mystical rod might have ceased to move, if it were not where the waters were. But it did move, and point most know- ingly. And if the young fox had had his eyes, I doubt not that in fifty trials, the rod would have pointed more than twice in the same place. I am not one to believe that a series of coincidences on the same point is often accidental. If fountains have been and are discovered according to the predictions of the divi- ner, (which I allow,) it is because, in this country, men can hardly fail of finding water in from 20 to 50 feet deep, any well, I shall not deny, when others honestly assert the fact. But they do sometimes mistake altogether ; and their failure being no wonder, is soon for- gotten, while their success is matter of aston: ent long to be remembered. 3 After a faithful and patient investigation, I know not the slightest ground on which the claims of the divining rod - be sustained one moment. [I allow to the u that th case of my farmer’s new 212 The Divining Rod. motions of the rod take re saecare to the sincere inten- tions of the diviner. But the same force which he applies to restrain the motion, does, aera from the peculiar man- ner of holding the rod, compel that motion. If the attrac- tion between the rod and water be real, it will show itself, one would think, when the rod is held fast in the diviner’s hands, in any position. This, however, is not the case. It requires a snrart bi nding pressure of its limbs, together with an imperceptible tarning of the hands on the wrists, to put it in action ; and then the more you hold it, the more it will go. This singular conduct of the rod has imposed on diviners, and, mistaking its true origin, they have, with common con- sent, imputed” it to ores and fountains in the bowels of the ea: r The whole character of the divining rod may be safely rested on the single experiment of blinding the Han Young or old, if guided solely by the divining rod, he ¢ trace the. same courses blindfold, which he Shas before traced, always marking his veins and fountains of wa- ter in the same places, the rod would gain credit; but since he cannot, it must sink,—it must be forsaken. , the peach, and the hazel itself, are excelled in the ng of their divining motions by dry and nervous whale- ne. € pretensions of diviners are worthless. The art of a oe fountains and minerals with a succulent twig, is 4 cheat upon those who practice it, an offence to reason and to common sense ; an art abhorrent to the laws of nature, and deserving universal reprobation. Mbservations on the south side of Ontario Valley. 213 ART. 2.— Observations on the Geological Features of the South Side of the Ontario Valley, in a letter to F. Ro- meyn Beck, M. D. By James Gepprs, Esq. Civil Engineer. . [Read before the Albany Institute, February 15, 1826.] ' ALBANY, Feb. Ist, 1826. Dear Sir, _ I had heard from geologists so much about the forma- tion of every valley, by the action of waters flowing in vast torrents in times long past, that I was much pleased to find in the Geological and Agricultural survey of the district ad- joining the Erie Canal, the following admission :—‘* We “ are compelled to admit that hills, and valleys were formed “ first, and that afterwards, water began to descend the in- “* clining sides of the hills and to collect, or march onward * through the vallies.” Page 153. n the year 1810, from examinations of the country at, and east of the Niagara Falls, I was led to doubt the rea- sonableness of the conjecture, that had been so often hazard- ed; that the cataract of Niagara had in tome travelled from near Lewiston to its present site. Lake Erie is held to its present level by the stratum called Black Rock, a lime rock in which flint* abounds, the end- ings of which can be traced west and east to a great extent- North of, and below the termination of the stratum, the Chippewa runs to the east and the Tonawanta to the west, both streams emptying into Niagara between Black Rock rapid and the Niagara Falls. These streams are deep for oc nearly. At the north of Navy Island, the water is from 40 to 50 feet deep, and at the place where the Welland € anal is pr o leave the Chippewa the depth is 40 feet, which shews the stratum from which the great sere is precipitated, dipping rapidly to the south, giving de to this piece of water, as the stratum at Black Rock dips south- The vast bed of clay (as Professor Eaton would call it,) im. which these deep — flow, is of considerable depth, and great extent, particularly eastward. It may be consid- ered as beginning on the Genessee mouth of Black creek, and following up the valley of that sluggish * Chert or horastone I=EgGei@ 0 214 Observations on the south side of Ontario Valley. stream through the great Tonawanta or Oak Orchard down the valley of Tonawanta creek. Al Grand Island, and the small ones around it, are of this clay it may be traced far west on the Chippewa, and over on the Grand river. ~ The lime stratum of Niagara Falls, with shells, is of very great extent, particularly eastward. Over it falls the Oak hard creek, Genessee river, Canandaigua outlet, Seneca outlet, and the streams from the lakes Owasco, Skaneateles, and Otisea, and it may be traced as far east-as the falls of Skanado creek in Oneida county. The terminating edge of this lime stratum, is generally very straight, and varies but little from an east and west course. For the first 20 miles east of Niagara river, it ends in a denndated rock, project- ing so much, that when tracing the level of the surface of lake Erie along the north side of it, in 1810, it was found a very convenient shelter from the showers. Mr. William Smith and his followers, observe on the British strata, that im all the eastern parts of England, they “end successively towards the N. W., generally with a fin- ** gered, or digitated outline, running out into ridges, be- ** yond the general range of the edge or limit of the stra- “tum.” The outline, or terminating edge, of this great lime stratum, which is such a distinguishing feature in the south side of the great Ontario valley, is towards the north, and instead of a fingered form, thus, Sidi, may be represented = side above the line, the terminating edge or END- eae as Mr. Smith would term it. ‘This formation, as has mentioned, is more particularly to be observed between of svg chasms that run back, south of the general range termination, streams run from the level table-land above, ae ar every superficial observer, more particularly the one in ) river, which runs the Niagara ri Observations on the south side of Ontdrio Valley. 215 At the head springs of the 18 mile creek, it is shown to be otherwise. From 3 of these indents, the west branch of. the 18 mile creek is formed as sketched below. Into the westernmost one a stream of water runs from the table. land above, and here is no bad miniature of the Niagara Falls, except that the solid lime rock, projecting far over the underlay of brittle slate, leaves more space behind the sheet of water. The middle one is the most remarkable. Tt cuts farther back beyond the general line of ending, and rest the Tonawanta creek—has no falling into the south end of it, but is to be seen as a ihe val- leys were “* E’er moving spirit bade the waters flow.” The junction of these three streams was found to be more than 200 feet below the level of Lake Erie, cut down through the several strata of lime, slate, gray and red ree all exposed to view in the precipitous sides of the From these observations I have bee led to dns: that the cataract of Niagara first be t th a indent, which reaches south to cahie= 70 or 80 chains of where the falls now are. This length of 70 chains, forms or basin into which the water is shot from the great pitch, and is much deeper than the falls are high. The head or south end of. this chasm was probably once not as much below Erie level asthe 18 mile — one = the rocky bot- tom over which the water now runs fro this basin, being on the same level = the 18 mile seat Tis eapecseate to which the cataract pours, somes over 240 feet icep, and the surface of the oles all the way from the cascade to to the north edge sei p € approach, ) ing of solid granite. * West branch of the 18 mile creek. 216 Observations on the south side of Ontario Valley. In viewing the river from Lewiston upwards, the whole dis- tance is very much of a similar character to within a mile 0 whirlpool, is the only exception to the above features: here the river is deep, and two or three times the common width. Owing to the easy disintegration of some of the rocks, the ravine is wider in some places than others. About a mile above the whirlpool, the rayine through which this vast body of water dashes along, is so narrow, that a man stand- ing on the brink of the precipice on the American side, can throw a stone across the stream. If the falls were once at this place, why is no trace left behind ? Or will it be said that a pool 240 feet deep was here, and that the rocks falling from the shores filled it up again? The narrowness of the chasm forbids this supposition. : Immediately below the whirlpool, the ravine grows nar~ rower as you descend towards the water, and here this mighty stream glides smoothly, though swiftly, through a channel of but little over 100 yards wide. The firm rocks which form either shore, are evidently still in place. The cataract, if it ever fell] here, fell far and on a very narrow space. - : cross section of the chasm and stream here, would be something like this. : MPMI eecthness of the rocks on each side would indicate, that while the ch eae ed annel was less deep than at present, the wa- ter flow Labove them, and the surface of the stream was twe or three times its present width, “Observations on the south side of Ontario Valley. 21% Suppesed section of the American shore, between Lake Erie and Lewiston at This section, designed to S33 give some idea of the strata on the American side of the Nia- gara, is nearly a copy of one sent to the late Professor Bar- ton in 1813, and since returned pleased to see one so nearly the same, sketched by Profes- sor Eaton. 7 South of the 12 mile creek valley, (down which it is de- signed to lead the Welland ca- nal,) the great stratum of shell lime appears to have sunk to a level, we know not how low. By examinations made, it is ascertained, that at the dey of 8 feet lower than the level of the surface of the deep wa- ter above the ila not a stone exists. The fi the rock may be as pies as i bottom of the Chippewa, (here deep) and the flow of the water threugh said canal, becoming Niagara Falls, as the Fairha- Falls, on the Poultney riv- er, have been destroyed, by ion rocks here re never more to be wet but ce 3 the droppings of Heaven. In one night, one said, he stream to ™ “agar 24) fo uouyoas Y ‘yovjq yodaap v4] — yoy Jou) (I—4assojyag Qj ajsayjunyy Ymuopsimay V Cayuga Cresk —2 Tonareon Cr—3. Buffaloe Cr. . VOL, XIL.— 2. 218 On the Study of Natural History. remove, what millions could not again replace. ‘The fine navigable Fairhaven bay, 9 miles in length, was turned inte flais and shaliows where no sloop can enter.—The fish were all killed by the feculent flood. Arr 3.—On the pleasure and advantage of studying Natural History. By Isaac LEA Tue study of Natural History has, within the last ney years, "eiganed much more general attention than at any previous period. The object of this short essay is to endea- vour to pourtray the advantages resas from a knowledge of the works of nature, in order that we may more Bey en- joy o richness of the field that lies extended before ral History may be said to entice while it Satiniel and a stadent who once enters the portal, seldom wishes ° return. Wandering from one fragrant flower to another, appetite is never satiated, nor his thirst destroyed. Sone plating the endless variety and harmony of nature, he is en- chanted, and pursues her with increased avidity. Saint Pi- erre has justly observed, that “ Nature invites to the cultiva- tion ea ‘In the animal kingdom alone, there exist upwards of 50,000* different subjects, and there are more than 30,000 different plants. ‘The discovery of almost every new - vegetable brings with it the knowledge of a new insect. In the mineral king- dom the compositions and forms are almest endless, the vati- ety affording to the student a never-ceasing source of gratil cation to trace their peculiar characters. It is a truth much to be regretted that the study of nature is too much neglected in the usual course of education. The celebrated natural historian Ray says truly, “We content ourselves with a little skill in fae ape acs or antiqui- ty; and we neglect that which appears to greater mo att I mean the study of nature sate works of joreation.' writers of uity, in an ices, Se attention to this fakes —. The observatio es ns of Ss This is the number mentioned by some natural historians ; but it is — the number exceeds 1 , when we nsider the immens' hat number of animaleule, v varying in almost every species of infusion, andt iscoveries are daily making in all the branches of animated nature. Oi the Study of Natural History. 219 Herodotus on Egypt, the works of Aristotle, ‘Theophrastus, Pliny, &c. give full evidence of its being held in high estima- tion during their times. But they had to struggle with diffi- culties, most of which have disappeared from the path of the student of the present day. The study of the sciences seems first to have attracted at- tention in Egypt. There most of the early Grecian philoso- phers were votaries, and transferred the light of science to their own country. Her second change of residence was to Rome, from w ee she reflected her light on most of modern Europe. Atthe same time, it is a matter of doubt whether In- dia was not thebivih place of all learning, and whether it was not carried from thence at a ver ry early period into Egypt. The invention of instruments, the. great accumulation of knowledge, and the universal facilities tor acquiring it, leave not an excuse for the man-of education, who has not a par- tial knowledge of natural history. He has not half the en- joyment in objects which daily meet his view. When he looks on the splendid brilliancy of the diamond, he is unac- quainted with its wonderful history, he knows not that it is pure carbon, little differing in composition from the common charcoal of his hearth ; and that on the application of oxy- en and caloric it disolves into gas, without leaving a ves- tige behind. He looks at you with astonishment and incre- dulity when you tell him an ounce of gold will gild a silver wire 1300 miles long—that it may be beaten into leaves so thin as not to exceed the 55555 part of an inc the beauty of the atomic theory he has never heard : he i is igno- rant of the wonderful class of animalculz a to our knowledge by te microscope. To the manufacturer, a philosophic knowledge of the ope- ration of his own business is peculiarly important; and yet how few would attempt to give an explanation of them! If the distiller be asked what causes his vinous fermentation, be could not inform you that it is the sa manufacturer of vinegar knows not that mucilage causes im acetous fermentation ; and the manufacturer of ammonia is generally ignorant that gluten causes the pu ive fer- mentation. In truth, manufacturers too seldom know the principles upon which their is. fi Many instances oe the want of even a slight knowledge of natural history, am sathiies of great literary acquirements, could be adduced. ° Milton speaks of the * scaly rind’”’ of the 220 On the Study of Natural History: whale. He might almost as well have said, the “scaly rind™ of an eel, for they are both equally exempt from a squamose covering. r. Shaw also mentions, that ‘a modern writer, having Say to allude to the dormant state of the butter- fly and moth tribe, during their period of imperfection, has evidently shown that he supposed the animal to become. # chrysalis, after having appeared in its complete or fying state, and has thus Pamies inverted ¢ or reversed the real pro- gress of the anim “ Thus the gay moth y by sum and Sng gales Called forth to wander o’er the dewy vales, rom flower to ine; from sweet 2 poecnct db stray, Till, tired and satiate with her food and play ep in the shade she builds her peaceful ieee; Becomes a household nymph, and seeks to aes no more.’ But if the poets of the day only were ignorant of natural history, we could —ye! no great reason to complain. This, however, is not the case. The encyclopzdists frequently fill up their pages ith matter which would be disgraceful to the dark ages. The following extracts are from the Ency- Sane te _Perthensis, and in themselves fully illustrate me : (art. Nat. Hist.) “As to the strata of the e and deat, the upper parts consist of rag-stone ; the next slate; third, of marble, filled with petrifactions? : ad fourth again of slate ; ; and lastly, the lowest of free-stone __“Ttis generally agreed, that stones are not organic bodies os ae ee animals; and therefore it is clear they a ed from an egg, like the tribes of the other king = The misletoe alw ays grows upon other trees, because the dune. that eats the seeds of it, casts them forth with its nee 2 are absurdities, disgraceful to the learning of the pesent day, and 7 ecaatiel by the fi ollowing account of the pelican -— he brings water from afar, for if and for her young: 5 ; and she is furnished og an instrument well adapted to - She has arge bag un- der throat wie she fills with a quantity of water, suf- for many days; and this she pours into the nest to eases: 8 oe and teach them to swim. The wild ons ers, come to this h their Mie but domo hus to the yo young.” ne er) ~ On the Study of Natural History. 221 At really requires not a little patience to quote such para- graphs, and I should have passed them unnoticed, but that. they originate in high authority, and may lead to error. — They prove the necessity of our acquiring information, to be able to judge for ourselves, and correct the false impressions made by ignorant pretenders in science. It is an old maxim, ‘buy truth and sell it not,” and the poet Lucretius very happily says, “it is a pleasure incomparable for the mind of man, to be settled, landed, and fortified in the certainty of truth, and from thence to descry and behold the errors, per- turbations, labours, and wanderings up. and down of other men.” The investigation of nature cannot fail to be valuable. It engages all our intellectual faculties to the greatest extent, and by its ardent pursuit, the general stock of useful infor- mation is increased. The field for rational inquiry is exten- sive, and profitable beyond conception. The student drinks from the purest fountains with unceasing pleasure, and unal- layed thirst. The longest life is insufficient to gather all the fruits that are within our reach. n we reflect on the long chain that connects us with the most imperfect of animals, the infusoriz, what a s for contemplation is afforded to our astonished imaginations ! Each link is worthy of peculiar attention, and yet, how neg- lected are they, comparatively ! e vegetable and mineral moleculz attracted and aggregated by their polarity into a ‘egular mass, so mathematically correct as to surpass the possibility of being equalled by the hand of man. es Smellie says, “* superficial men, of, what is the same thing, men who ayoid the trouble of serious thinking, wonder at the design of producing certain insects and reptiles: but they do not consider that the annihilation of any one of these species, though some of them are inconvenient, and even noxious to man, would make a blank in nature, igi ood destructive to other species which feed upon them. These, in their turn, would be the cause of destroying other aah and the system of destruction would gradually proceed, * =e - Sr 222 On the Study of Natural History. man himself would be extirpated, and leave this earth desti- tute of all animation.” In the study of Natural History, systems should have the greatest attention. ‘The celebrated Linnzeus has done more Natural History. It is an to us a never-ending variety of dru- pleasing objects, and includes the whole,Universe. Qua : : : D thie said, and this calculation os the Sou cann , : ink into the ocea Ss ae ‘ i- tants be annihilated Mod * n, and all their animated inhabi destrnetion. > We should suffer in the slightest degree from their total a eles Pa = ; On the Study of Natural History. , 223 study. ‘To scrutinize the first cause is in vain; we must make ourselves acquainted with the effects and compare them. —In this we have ample room to engage all our faculties. The celebrated Dr. Priestly, in one of his lectures, makes the following observations on this subject :-—‘‘ Of scientific pursuits, the most liberal, the most honourable, the happiest, and what probably will be the most. successful employment, or a man in easy circumstances, is the study of nature ; and therefore, to this important object, a principal attention should be given in educating youth, who have the means of applying to these instructive and comfortable pursuits. Every man finds vacant hours from his ordinary business which cannot be better filled than by such attention as leads to the improvement of the understanding, and elevates his Creator.” If we examine into the physiology of animated nature, we find every animal, however minute, so wonderfull fo as to excite, at every step, our — and ad- miration: if we watch their habits, we find so much intellect, so much calculation and foresight, as < Bay in some in- stances, to humble our own nature. The sagacity of the Elephant, which in the eastern moe is taught so many and . such wonderful lessons, and the almost human ingenuity of the Indian archipelago, daily raising perpendicular walls on the windward side, some hundred fathoms from the bottom, while on the leeward side they are formed in a promiscuous manner! In this we see a degree of intelligence almost be- yond crediblity. By this formation, the young are protecie from the storms an and. washing of the waves, and state of security and prosperity. How interesting, to a template an act of precaution in an animal so simply formed as to be taken for a species 0 f vegetable, until within a few years! It may be called instinct: by any name it is wonder- ful and interesting. The arts and sciences originated in the want and necessi- ties of society, and a knowledge of Natural Histery, has con- sures See! to the civilization of mankind. What would he present state of ncete if we were ae with = roperties of one m ee ede compass, our chronometers, and a thou- : ea 94 On the Climate, Diseases, Geology, &c. of Ohid. - sand other instruments, all of which have — their por- tion to the advancement of civilization. By bringing to hi¥ aid the powers of the horse, the camel, the elepisies, &e. man has greatly added to his own comfort. ‘These make up a few important links of an immense chain, which binds us together, each one a its own duties, and adminis- tering more or less to our wants and pleasures. In conclusion, I feel that =“ may safely say, the or “ Natural History, with regard to its importance, is not s passed by any of the abstract sciences. Each has its vide cates, and most persons find the advantage of bringing the aid of sister sciences to that which is s their peculiar Savoui ite. Art 4.—Facts and Remarks relating ae _ Climate, Dis- eases, Geology and Organized Remains of parts of the State of Ohio, &c. By CALEB ervkren, of Circleville. (Communicated for this Journal.) 1. CLIMATE. tr is known to you that Ohio* is sien a secondary, or country. From the ve re of all secondary , there must be large Gaber ‘of alluvion. The diredai cr hase few rapids in them, are not very straight i in their courses, are apt to mare their banks, run slowly, and are apt to fail in the summer and autumnal months. ‘The Bota ny of such Sainte. is i Fich, like the soil which produces it— the water not very pure, and the air, at particular seasons, bad. Rt To a Geologist, the reasons why these shingt are 80, are piam bere onsiderable = g le pains are a illustrate the Geo- ogy and Mineral toes of ss with the hope, that sufficient patronage might obtained, to enable me © publish an essay on these interesting sub- jects. Not having, rater obtained that patronage, | may ag ganged 2 mimunicate to y rican Journal of Science, so ormation ; t a methodical treatise, but rrathet marks on particular localities and subjects, in — spies = a gh investigation than my occupa- - Gare... attention too, to our cli imate, which in all coun- a decided influ iaseal os - h wg, the people, living within its oper © character, health and happiness ° On the Climate Diseases, Geology, Se. of Ohio. 225 in this paper, to say something concerning our climate, hapitig that ae remarks may elicit more valuable communications from some abler it will be vadelbane % those who read your Journal, that in my paper on the “ Winds of the West,” in vol. 1. p. 276, I ventured to predict, that as the country became more cul- tivated, our diseases would be fewer in number and more acute, and I regret to state that wes! prediction has been ful- every year, in those parts of the state with which I am per- sonally acquainted. These complaints were unknown here, until within the-last ten-years. Liver — are, how- ever, so common here, that almost every indivi is more s I have travelled over a considerable territory, in the Sacnclins of the law, I have noticed a fact, which I do not recollect to have seen mentioned by any author.—Every gum- mer and autumn, particular tracts of country, sometimes large and sometimes small, begin, just eee sunset, to emit, from the surface of the , amist, which: comes quite dense, , and is not ‘dispelled until the heat of the sun chases it away ‘on the ensuing Karey Its — is ex- tremely nauseous, and it produces, after and fevers. — mist rises from iutial soil, ‘atom our Streams, and in our prairies, and the warmer the day, and the shorter thé | grass, and the less the vegetation, so muc the worse. So sure an index of ill health is this mist, that I am able, from its presence or absence, during the months of August, September and October, in any region which I * «* * the } Ith of the —— whether good or b s the country becomes more and more eect ai ‘alate, if ‘these miasmata ‘should wert more and more, the y of the and by taking: pe- sass bark, and at ashes — vinegar, thie enemy" to life and health, may be bafiled. VOL. XI,—No. 2. 9 336 On the Climate, Diseases, Geology, &c. of Ohio. . rivers, and in our prairies; whereas in other years, these places are very healthy, and the sickness is confined to hilly regions. There has been a remarkable uniformity in these instances, and natural causes frequently operate on a large scale, much larger, many times, than we seem willing to ad- It. towns, has proved extremely prejudicial to health. Colum- bus, for instance, was a health water made it sickly during summer and autumn. peared to me to be desirable, that the water in it should have a trifli escent, say half an inch in a mile, so that, as m 2. ATMOSPHERIC PHENOMENON. | Before a storm here, I have often noticed, in an evening of the latter part of autumn, and sometimes in the winter, 4 that the common people believed there in the direction ¥ On the Climate, Diseases, Geology, &c. of Ohio. 22% 3. RetiquLé DILUVIANA. e are sO numerous in this state, that it will not be expected that I should do more in this article, than mention — a few of them, and the places where they are found. If one tree furnished Mr. Schoolcraft matter for an interesting and valuable memoir, how shall I condense my remarks, so as even to refer to the great number of similar facts existing in Ohio? In the vicinity of the Ohio river, in the counties of Washington, aie? Gallia and Lawrence, and on the wa- ters of the Muskingum, in Muskingum and Perry c counties, birch, sugar maple (acer saccharinum,) the date tree or bread fruit tree, cocodnut bearing palm, the bamboo, the dog wood, and I have in my possession, the perfect impres- sion of the cassia and the tea leaf! Of ferns . have beauti- ful i of the leaves, and of the bread fruit tree, flow- ers, fully expanded, fres entire! I have specimens so perfect, and so faithful to nature, as to dispel all doubts as to once were. The larger trees are found y in sandstone, although the bark of the date tree, much flattened, Lought to say perfectly so, is found in shale, covering coal. I am aware that a mere catalogue of fossil trees, shrubs and plants, is not very interesting—that the Geologist wishes to know among many particulars, in what formation they exist, and the exact spot “where they are found. I amin of all the es Every stratum from the surface down- ards, has been carefully measured, in some places, to the depth of 400 feet, and I have correct diagrams.* The date isa large tree, not very tall, and having numerous and wide spreading branches. Nine miles west of Zanesville, lying on the brink of Jonathan’s creek, and near the road leading to Somerset, Lancaster and pee the body of a bread fruit tree, now turned to sandstone, may be seen. It is exact- ly such sandstone as M. Brongniart feand the tropical plants imbedded in, in France, mentioned in a former number of = Journal. et contains a considerable pee of mica in ts composition. The cassia was f sach sandstone, in the Zanesville canal. ‘The bamboo is “mostly impressed may want them ina L have not the leisure to copy these now, and I Surges work, at some future day. 228 On the Climate, Diseases, Geology, &c. of Ohio: upon iron stone, at Zanesville ; especially the roots, and the trunk and leaves, are found in micaceous sandstone. The pressure, and the bark of them partially turned imto fossil coal, Thus the shale oftener contains a bark, now become fossil coal, and a stratum of shale in succession, alternately, for several inches in thickness. ~ efore I leave Zanesville, I wish to make a passing re- mark or two, on the subject of finding the fossil remains of tropical plants here. The date, the bamboo, the cocoanut bearing palm, the cassia, the tea plant, &¢. are found at this day only in tropical regions, or in a climate where there is very little frost. At Zanesville, so severe is the winter at dur latitude to Cuba? I know of none. Has the climate of the world generally become colder, then? I say- general- What a picture of the winter which : : r er which prevailed.at Rome ™ ae Augusta age? Such a picture would now best suit the the Who now th ay vg conan aes ae oe 7 sees the roofs of houses at Rome, OF even in Paris, ready to break down with snow? In David’s On the Climate, Diseases, Geology, &c. of Ohio. 229 time there was snow in Palestine, and allusions to frost: snow and hail are frequent in the Psalms and in the writings of the prophets. The inhabitants of Palestine are no longer But no such cause has operated here, and the fact beitig as- certained, that tropical plants atid animals once existed all over the world, clearly proves that a tropical climate was once equally extensive. ‘he supposition that these tropical plants were transport- ed northward by the ocean, unfortunately for such an opim- ion, is disproved by the fact that some of these trees; or ra- ther roots and a part of their tramks, stand upright* evi- turned up by the roots. Again, if floatéd from tropical re- gions, how happens it that their flowers were uninjured >— These show all their original beauty of form; they are fully 4. Patmitive Rocks mw Onto. Bordering on the Ohio river, in the state of Ohio, is a hilly region, which covers, perhaps, one third ra of the surface of tlie state. Above these hills, towards Lake Erie, primitive rocks are found, such as granite, gneiss, mica slate, with imbedded garnets,.Xc. It is often asked, these rocks came here ? and from whence were they conveyed ? hat they are out of place, in a region decidedly secon- dary and alluvial, no one can doubt. They are water-worn, rounded and smoothed—exactly like the pebbles in our z i s rh not near Zanesville, If hereaf- fir I Bed Whee bo deecribs oe teas hel, they will be noticed. . = m apeye 230 On the Climate, Diseases, Geology, yc. of Ohio. our alluvial soils, and like them they have been abraded: by the stones with which they have come in contact, aided b side of the hilly region about Hillsborough, in Highland county, but I never saw any on the southern side of this re- gion, except in the form of pebbles, in the beds of rivers passing through the country where the larger masses exists These rocks abound: most in vallies, which now are, or ap- pear to have been the beds of streams. Thus in the bed of the Whetstone, below the town of Delaware, large rocks of this class are seen reposing on limestone. The latter rock is im situ, and abounds in shells. The stream (the Whet- stone) has worn itself a channel, in some places very deep, through clay slate, until it has been checked in its progress downwards by avery hard, compact limestone. In the barriers {improperly so called) in Madison county, none but primitive sare found, and they are used for chimneys, and for the underpinnings of buildings. They are sometimes used for mill stones, and one fragment large as make three mill stones. But by what means were they conveyed to the spot where they and, indeed, the American continent with water, and then to form a current in the ocean from north to south, or from But it is unphilosophical to eae more causes than are nece esders Satis a with the voyages of polar navigators, need not to be told that the icebergs sometimes adhere to the rocks at the bot- tom of the sea, and that “wind: owerful waves break up these i Noies on certain parts of the State of Ohio. 231 scale, on the breaking up of the ice, where it adheres to the s of the streams. That the valley of the Mississippi was deposited by water, and that it is one vast ceme etery of the ings of ages past, is proved by almost every rock found in this region. Primitive rocks are found in Indiana and Dli- nois, north of their hilly region, as in Ohio, south of Lake Ontario. They are also found in the state of New-York, int a country geologically similar in all important respects to Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. Art. V.—Notes on certain pe of the State of — sk Dr. S.P. Hitpreta, of Marietta, in answer to q by CALEB ATWATER, Esq (Continued from Vol. X. p. 331.) ** NATURAL Baan of plants; whether noxious or useful, native or naturalized”’ In answer to this in inquir , I can do no better than to refer ” wh, will find the most, if not all the plants of a that are to be found in this county. Among the flowering shrubs not mentioned by him, we have two species of kalmia, or laurel; one of them bearing a most beautiful flower. It is found on the north sides of hills, amidst rocks and preci- pices. The draconitum foetidum, or skunk cabbage, is also a native of this a It is said to be a valuable medicine in nervous dise ‘¢ Climate, adil observations, births, deaths, marriages, oe maladies, diseases among men and ani- The climate in this county does not differ materially from that of the rest of the state bordering on the Ohio. Vegeta- tion is about a week earlier on the banks of the Ohio, than ~ is at the distance of 20 miles from the river, either north outh, but more especially to the north. This difference is eidtatieend to the influence of the southerly winds, which low more regularly from that quarter immediately on the river, than. they do at any considerable distance from it. The year 1818 has been productive of as great extremes in heat and cold and other meteorological phenomena, as any other year since the first settlement of the state. On the 232 Notes on certain paris of the Stazé of Ohio. 3d of February, 1818, it commenced snowing in the night; and continued all that day, until 8 or 9 o’clock im the eve- ning, probably about eighteen hours. On the morning of the 4th, I measured the snow, and found it twenty-six inches, or more, on an average. ‘The wind was moderate, an from the north-east and east: The snow was but little drift- ed, and lay very evenly over the face of the earth. The of Febri easant and moderate. This was consider- ed the deepest snow, by ten or twelve inches, that has fallen open pended to the limb of a tree. With all this severity of cold, the Ohio river was not frozen across; it was full of floating ice, and during the night and morning of the 9th and 10th, threw up a continual cloud of vapour, which darkened the air; and freezing as it ascended, fell again in a moderate — x eee So intense was the cold, that there was 2 ‘Continual cracking and snapping, by the contraction of w in buildings and in trees. at aoid brandy, exposed in a tea-saucer to the open air, through the night of the 9th Feb. was found frozen to ice the next morning. Peach trees, sas- safras, and spice-bush, were either killed or materially m- ogwood, or cornus florida, was killed. 'The weather was colder at this time, by 10 or 12 degrees, than has been known since the country was first inhabited. In Barton’s Medical and Physical Journal, vol. Ist, page restore that at Rzodenbation, on the Muskingum, -ber, 1804, and also on the 21st Janna: thi | 304, an ) ; ry, 1805. But this Place is considerably. further north than Marietta, and the “Wanters are generally several degrees colder. the 23d of May, 1818, the thermometer, at 2, P- M. S$ Sie pal at- 138° in the sun. -The extremes of heat “uo cold im this year, were as great as are usually known 18 the: United States, amounting to IZ19,. = er Notes en certain paris ef the State of Ohio. 233 Dur epidemic disorders are these common to the eastert and middle states. ‘The measles, whooping cough, and in- fluenza, occasionally visit us. he whooping cough has been wandering thr ough different parts of this: county and the counties adjoining, .for these three years past, and has not wholly left us yet. When children have been ill about two weeks with this disorder, it has been found that vaccination very materially lightens and shortens its effects. have known it to have this ‘result, in several instances, on children under my care. he influenza _ has not been general through the country since the year Ls At that time it overspread the United States he summer and autumn of 1807 were gmusually’ sickly, through that part of the county bordering on t Ohio; and not only in this county, but cama so through the whole extent of the river. he settlements distant iam the large streams were as healthy as usual. he season was unusually wet, and the repeated rise and fall of re Ohio, and tributary streams, in the heat of sum- mer, leaving great quantities of mud and putrefying vegeta- ble ces, to generate noxious effluvia, was, without doubt, the cause of the sickness. The disease was a bilious remitting fever ; in some instances nearly approaching to the peal er. About forty died with this fever in Marietta. n the country above and below Marietta it was not so fatal. is place seems to have been the focus of its virulence. Since that time, this town, and the rw! generally, pod been healthy. In March and April, 1816, the peripne monia typhoides, or, as it was usually called, the « cold ea aa prevailed in the northern this county, in the ments on Duck creek. It was very mortal in its commence- ment, but grew more mild as the spring advanced. It was Was alee very violent and fatal in Roxbury township, on the skingum river; about thirty dying with the disease in that small ang a In Marietta, only one or two cases came within my & nowledge. Our dis orders | are mostly of reason that consumptions are not more pean amongst us. inclining a little to inflammatory i in the winter, and more purely typhus in the summer. Pt disorders most common VOL. XI.—No. 2. se 234 Notes on certain parts of the State of Ohio- * to children, are “ cholera” in the summer, and “ croup” it the winter. : ur sheep are subject to bowel complaints of several Kinds, mostly of a putrid nature. These disorders are usu- ally produced by improper diet, and by sleeping on w ground with their fleeces full of rain water. 'This latter cause also produces violent coughs, and sometimes real con- sumptions. The best preventatives for these disorders are, furnishing them dry and airy lodgings, and giving wood ashes and tar mixed with their salt. Our horned cattle are subject to the bloody murrain, to obstructions in the viscera and “bowels, like colic; to the “hollow horn,” and to poison from eating “buck eye” and Jaurel. Our cows, that drop their calves after the warm weather commences, are particularly subject to bloody mur- rain. The best and almost certain remedy for this disorder, is giving them freely of alkalies. Pearlash, or the lye of wood ashes, diluted with water and mixed with their food, or poured down their throats with a bottle, has been known to effect a cure after the animal was so much reduced as to be unable to stand. The cattle themselves, even where they = plenty of salt, are fond of licking the ashes which are that alkalies are necessary to the preservation of their health, or for preventing diseases. So well convinced of this are some of our farmers, that they are in the habit of mixing readily as they would clear salt. n the summer and autumn of the year 1813, a number of cattle in this county were attacked with a disease, which, 5° as I have been able to learn, was entirely new. The d er first commenced with an inclination to frequently lick or rub some part of the body. This was gener neck covered with blood; and after they were so much eX- hansted as to be unable to stand, they would continue to rub, until the earth was torn up in a circle around them, and one Notes on certain parts of the State of Ohio. 235 ly stopped with the extinction of life. The rubbing seemed to increase their distress, and make them bellow as if dis- tracted with agony. The side of the head and neck was considerably swelled, but no other mark of disease could be discovered in the omits of several which I examined. The blood drawn was very dark, and the skin, in the course of the ae colder than in health. 'Trepaning, bleeding, cathar- and various other remedies were pty but all failed. calam Crimes of a very heinous nature are not common amongst us; they mostly belong to the classes of petty larceny, as- sault and_batte c. &c. Suicide is a very rare occur- rence; I do not recollect more usb one or two instances of the kind, in the last twelve year state of the learned oetheisistia of morals, of reli-- ; the number of academies, schools and colleges, how supported, and the mode of in- struction £ Considerable attention is paid to learning in this town and county. Some of the towns support schools nearly or quite all the year; and all of them have schools through the win-- ter months. There are few children of a proper rm who cannot both read and write. In the township of rietta, for several years past, we have had two schools th the year, and as many as six or eight in the winter. One of the annual schools has been a regular academy, im which were taught the dead languages, geography and the use of the globes, rhetoric, oratory, Nc. &c. In the other were taught geography, English grammar, arithmetic, &c. : schools are generally supported by subscription ; the ei scribers paying from two to five dollars per quarter for each scholar, in proportion to the branches taught. sections, No. 16, afford some assistance. section in Marietta, at its present valuation, affords about 600 per year. It has heretofore’ been from two to three hundred a year. 936 Notes on certain parts of the State of Ohw- We have at present three lawyers, four physicians, and twe preachers of the gospel—one a presbyterian, and the other # methodist. There are several religious societies which draw a proportion of the rent of section 29, on which the town of Marietta is principally situated ; but there are only two which support regular teachers of the gospel. The rent of this ion amounts to near $600 per annum; and is divided amongst the religious societies in proportion to their num- bers. Under a statute of the state, several of the societies rality, we have several useful societies. Amongst these we ave a ‘‘ Bible Society,” a ‘Society for the promotion of ae : — up among them. heir Puneipal articles of faith were, that any wane ae obtain life Se eotality who would strive therefor ; and that the ‘ous of those who did not thus strive and desire, were at death : annihilated ; or that death to them was eternal sleep. They Notes on certain parts of the State of Ohio. 23% refrained from eating any kind of flesh, and held that mar- riage was sinful. They also believed that by practicing this kind of pure life, they could at last become so perfect, as to live without food ; that they would not be subject to diseases or death, could work miracles, and finally raise the dead. So strong was the belief of some of them in this doctrine, that one young man also lately died of debility, induced by putting in practice that article of their creed, which taught that man by faith and practice might learn to live without food, and thus become immortal. After his death, he was kept three or four days, in the belief that he was only in a trance, and that on the third day he would awake from his sleep, and arise a pure and perfect creature. This sect was not confined to Marietta, but they had adherents in the up- per part of this county, on the Ohio river, and also in some of the adjoining counties. It was 30 or 40 miles from Ma- rietta, where the young man made the experiment. ** Antiquities, whether belonging to the Indians, those who erected our old forts, or to the French ?”’ The antiquities in this county, as far as [ am acquainted, all belong to that ancient race of men, whose memo perished from the face of the earth. You will have a de- scription of those in this neighbourhood in a short time, from Mr. B. Patnam.* About 20 years since, there was found on the sand bar, in the mouth of the Muskingum, a block of lead of several pounds weight, with an inscription on it in French, indicating that possession was taken of the country in the name of one of the kings of France—but whether it was Lewis XV. or XVI. I was not able to learn, nor the date of the inscription. It was destroyed several years since, and the lead melted. into balls. : : Fort Harmar stood on the west side of the Muskingum, at the mouth of the river.—But no remains of the fort are now standing, and a considerable part of the ground which it occupied has tumbled into the river, and been washed away. ‘© Meteors, comets, eclipses, earthqnakes, tornadoes, oF pests, freshets, inundations, volcanic eruptions, extremes heat and cold, or other remarkable events No remarkable meteors have been noticed nai avery large and brilliant one was seen a few years ago, * See the first Vol. of the Archelogia Americana for a full account of these antiquities. Ed. 238 Review of the Principia of Newton. must uudoubtedly have produced a shower of meteoric stones. The comet and earthquakes of 1811, were seen and felt at Marietta at the same times, or nearly so, as they were at incinnati, as mentioned by Dr. Drake in his book of notices. That tremendous and extensive tornado, which visited this country on the 28th May, 1809, commenced at Marietta, at 4o’clock P. M., just as the inhabitants were leaving church. It came directly from the west, but was attended with veins and currents, varying more or less from the general course. It blew down a number of buildings, and injured sever others in their roofs and chimneys: but the greatest damage was done to the forests. In many places where the veins of wind were strongest, scarcely a tree was left standing for a great many rods in width, and for a half mile or a strength of the hurricane was past in about fifteen or twen- ty minutes. Art. VL.—A Review of the Principia of Newton. RETROSPECTIVE reviews of works which long since have passed the ordeal of public opinion, may pest nicltse and unnecessary. If the character only of such works were the object of the review, and that had been established by the grand tribunal of the public, the individual sentiment of @ critic or a reviewer, would be of small amount; it would of any great work is necessary, if e would form a correct jud ; Syne eee judgment of the beauty and perfec- ton = the whole. Considered in this point of Jew, stots: Review of the Principia of Newton. 239 whether of old or new works, may be made the instruments of conveying knowledge to the less informed, on subjects to which they have no access, or which, in the works them- selves, would be above their comprehension. ‘There is, moreover, a particular advantage resulting from an analysis of old standard works, which consists in comparing the in- ventions and discoveries of our progenitors with those which plagiaries and pretenders have obtruded on the present gene- ration, as their own. It is basely iniquitous and ee that men should shine by the reflected light of others ) state of the sciences, one must be possessed of great learning to be able to detect all the sources of plagiarism : but on par- ticular subjects, to which he has devoted his principal ener- gies, it may reasonably be supposed that he is competent to ; uch an undertaking: at any rate, discussion will elicit anti the only object which a truly scientific man has in view. With such impressions, I enter with difiidence on the task of gate Si which acknowledgedly is the most ous on of the humana mind, — ever has appeared on aaa viz. the Principia of Newt It is generally known, that before the time of Lord Bacon, even from the remotest period, little or no improvements had made in Natural Philosophy, the cause of which is not pischscatale to the want of ardour in the ancients for that science, who, it is believed, in that particular far surpassed the moderns ; but to an erroneous system of philosophizing, established by Aristotle, and cde Plato tonic School, which consisted in deriving physical pr jey.hiad those of the mathematics, merely from r intellecteal relations. did not consider, that those of the latter science were eternal and immutable in their nature, and necessarily connected with the ultimate resort of truth in the bane et and eu the others were contingent, and dependent only on an of things externally existing, and unconnected directly Sis intel al relations of the pacer This system, however, of mental ees maintained by the authority of ames, held possession of the schools 3 2000 aoa until the time of the abe pove saenionet ted reform The genius of this great man first dared to bicale the hod les, which the authority of names and So had imposed en the world. He clearly perceived that the operative prin- 240. Review of the Principia of Newion. ciples of nature were secrets contained in her own bosom, and could not be discovered by the human intellect but by diligent research; in short that the true principles of Natu- ral Philosophy can be found only by experiments, and ob- servation of what really exists in the natural world; that the high flights of the ancients in the assumption of general principles unsupported by facts, and in synthetical deductions from them, ought to be discarded ; and that natural science could not be improved, or advanced but by the contrary me- thod of analysis, which proceeds from particular to general conclusions by induction. When the general principles have been well established so as to bear the test of the experimen- tum crucis, or so as to be explicable only in one way, we may safely proceed to synthetical deductions. This new mode of philosophizing, received the applause and approba- tion of all the learned, who were not chained to prejudice, or infatuated by idolatrous reverence for the names of Aris- totle, Descartes, and others. An adherence to the Baconi- by succeeding philosophers, has in a short time produced more wonderful discoveries, than had ever before of the Baconian system. It is said by a writer in the Edin- con. In mathematics, it is true, Newton followed, not co- ee influence of one or more forces. To force e kind or other, and the general effect of its motion. Review of the Principia of Newton. 243 ure attributable almost all the phenomena of nature, and par- ticularly those of the heavenly bodies. Secondly, whenever investigations relative to the nature and laws of any force, are found to apply to the objects of the natural world, in nu- merous particulars, so as to bear the test of an experimentum erucis, his qnalysis in respect to it ceases, and the —e then safely assumes the contrary order of synthesis. ‘This is pre- cisely the manner in which our illustrious philosopher has conducted his celebrated work, ia strict coincidence with the Baconian logic by induction. Wherein then consists the justice of the Encyclopediast’s remark? But agreeably to our plan we will endeavour to exhibit the parts of this It commences with what in a regular sirens on such mae the 9 vay poe of pandas oases which ‘Bacon rene as ar- rogant, and beyond the capacity of an 7 Newton on the other hand, grounds his thw ws on facts and €xperience, and from them has very concisely deduced all the principles of the ecciaen powers, so much and so uselessly diffused by modern writer The next preliminary propositions are those which relate’ to prime and ultimate ratios, intended as the metaph ysique or foundation of the sublime and intricate investigations of the Maties, the syiidieticat mode of demonstration. As to mathematical form of deriving particular and isolated eras; Uction, it is wholly imm aterial, for mathematical pad and synthesis differ in nothing except that in ene ease, wu Atque ex eadem raaeeeee we Dei, seule quedam, sive leges na- i possunt, qu sunt cause secundar ee ok ra diverso- pipes emotes uum, quos in ae Alumine .50 Ox. of iron 2.00 97.16 Loss 2.84 100. The formula expressing the chemical composition of this new Vesuvian mineral is 3CS24+MS°. In order to compare the position of the Umboldilite with the double silicates of lime and mOGDEEI, which it most nearly approaches, their formule are Umboldilite 3CS8?2 fae Melihite 3CS+ 4MS+f gs $ Common pyroxene CS?+ MS? Malacoltie + MS? Common amphibole CS.3 4+ 2MS? Characters See the Umboldilite from other spe- ctes to which i t approvimates by chemical or geometgical characters. The umboldilite a teaagae by its primitive form, the fol- lowing: anhydrous sulphate of lime, eryolite, cymophane, peridot, stilbite, dipyre, and aniaicee e. The chemical and physical characters show a great difference between this and the first two on the list: from cymophane 254 Account of some new Vesuvian Minerals and peridot, it is known, because these minerals do not form from all these species: the facility with which it fuses, and its primitive form, distinguish it particularly from the three first. Amphibole and grammatite have a different primitive ish yellow. ZURLITE. Specific characters. Geometrical Characters. The primitive form, according to Ramondini, the discoverer, isa cube ; but according to the i uthors, a rectangular prism of the same dimensions as the ast Physical Characters. Sp. gr. 2.274. It does not scratch glass—is scratched by the knife. The raspings have the gray colour of clear pearl. he fracture is granular—lamellar, t and dull—the lamellz ve 1 and ering to n cale spar. acters. fore the blowpipe, the i i whi f greenish splinters, which are the least impure, melt by a strong heat, with partial efferves- cence, point changes to a Sreenish yellow translucent enamel, compact when the effervescence is finished, but vesic- In the system — Haiiy, malacolite and pyroxene belong to the same Account of some new Vesuvian Minerals. 255 ular if the fusion is suspended before the eflerveseence ter- minates. The splinters washed in nitric acid, i. e. free of calcareous laminz, melt more easily, and with more efter- cence. Varieties. 1. Primitive. 2. Peri-hexahedral. 3. Peri« octahedral. 4. Peri-dodecahedral. a. same shortened. Also, cylindrical, and in form of a compact, opaque mass, of asparagus colour imensions. . The largest crystals of the primitive variety are 14 millimetres long, 12 broad, and 7 igh The other varieties, particularly the 4th, are 21 by 15 ee is perfectly analagous to that of the umboldilite. bservations. 'The crystals of zurlite have generally the ian SE “of grés, or sandstone. ‘The superficies rough and granular, of a green colour, more or less dirty. The angles of the crystals are more or less rounded, so aot the prisms pass easily into cylinders. Some crystals oc bedded in a whitish carb. of lime, which is spread thinly over the surface, like a varnish. The crystals of zurlite have a eS ETICHNTS, ave appear as if composed of umboldilite, pyrox lime, in mechanical combination, the f POREEEE and giving the primitive form. There are some crystals ~ exhibit, in some spots, particles of pure umboldilite, and others a mixture of the three species. is shows Seis that the zurlite appertains to the umboldilite, of which seems a sub-specie The zurlite = varies d by Ramondini, who published a notice of it in the Neapolitan Encyclopedia. Davina. (Davyne.)* cific characters. jiige Ble dtase Characters. Primitive form, a regular-exa- “The height of the prism is greater than the breadth. The natural joints are very visible. * In honor of Sir Humphrey Davy. 256 Account of some new Vesuvian Minerals. Ausiliary Characters. Texture laminar—the directidii of the lamine parallel to the axis of the prism. Ordinary colour is brown ; with pearly or opaline lustre. : Physical Characters—Sp. gr. 2.25. The lustre is opa- line in the transparent crystals, pearly in the opaque. The colour is brown in the former, white in the Jatter. The tex- ture is laminar, the lamin being paralle] to the axis of the prism. ‘The laminz of transparent crystals adhere so close- ly to each other, as to give it the appearance of compact tex- ture to the naked eye. In the opaque and translucent crys tals the laminz are very apparent, and easily separated. The transverse fracture is unequal,—-vitreous in the transpa- rent and translucent crystal, and dull in the opaque. The loncitudimal fracture is laminar. he Davina shows double refraction in its laming. Chemical Characters. Pulverised and treated with nitric acid, at the ordinary temperature, it produces a momentary effervescence, (owing to a small quantity of carb. of lime, mechanically combined with it,) and then subsides into 4 yellowish perfect jelly, rather cellular. itric acid in which Davina has been digested, dissolves e flame of the blowpipe, it melts and forms a cellular enamel. With soda, it dissolves imperfectly, and eventually forms a globule of opaque enamel. With boracic acid, ex- posed on platina wire, it forms a limpid colourless globule. With the pecmplorsc salts, in just proportions, it affords 4 milky opaline globule, which ‘is opaque when warm, but Account of some new Vesuvian Minerals. 25% Varieties. 1. Primitive— q (see fig. 194 bis.) regular hexa- : edral prism, | 8 height is ri eee than t @the breadth. nu Ps "Pen dndecw: Peas 6 . th same shortened—(fig. 197.) imensions. "The usual size of these prisms is 8 millimetres in length, by 4 in width; they do oceur 15 by 10—and the largest even 30 by 20. Colour s brown. It is found transpa- wie translacent and opaque : and with pearly or opaline lus- re. Locality. -It oceurs in a analogous to that in which the Umboldilite and zurlite are found. pers however, very rarely with Davina The Is ‘tis sally accompa- nying Davina, are Wollastonite, Garnets, calcareous spar, pu- mice, black spinelle and mica. Distinguishing Characters. It approaches nearly to Nepheline, by its crystalline form, by its action under heat, and with acids, but has characters so marked as to distinguish it at first sight. Comparison of the characters of the two minerals. Nephelr eline. Primitive form, regular, Ole ecular, desta ok hexahedral, the height of the avi ve form tiossnedirch the height of the prism greater than the width. are very a The orions of of the seconda- ry form are less long than broad. VOL. XI.—NO. 2. long. 33 scarcely apparent, and on seen by aid ‘of a strong light. The prisms of the second- ary form are less 258 The crystals are more dull en the superficies, and have an opaline lustre. The longitudinal fracture is laminar, the transverse is unequal and vitreous. Nitric acid takes up 50 in the 100. Sp. gr. 2.3. With phosphoric salts, in just proportions, before the a milky, With soda it melts imper- fectly into an opaque enamel, Account of some new Vesuvien Minerals. The crystals are always splendent. The fracture is vitreous conchoidal, and a little splen- dent in all directions. Nitric acid takes up the smallest possible quantity. re 3s In the same salts yields a pearl of transparent glass, which becomes opaline om cooling. into a glass with- out colour. Finally, the chemical composition is totally different. It is known from the mezo Haity, because its natural joints haracters. sp. gr. of Davina is 2.03; that of pseudo-Nepheline is 2.18. fore the blowpipe, the latter melts with extreme difficu ty, the former very easil itric a = Account of some new Vesuvian Minerals. 259 ‘The Davina, according to analysis, has in the 100 parts - Silex 42.91 containing oxygen 21.58 7 Alumine 33.28 6 “6 15.54 5 Lime 12.02 ~s + MP | Tron 01.25 . Water 07.43 = = 6.55 S 3 Loss 03.11 160. The formula should then be CS?4+5AS42aq: i. e. one atom of bisilicate of lime, five of silicate of alumin of water. The species to which it is nearest allied are ad- ded, with their formule, viz... Zeolite of Borkhult, =CS?4+3AS. Prehnite of Konfolite,=CS?4+2AS. CAVOLINITE? ystals of Davina to analysis, some of t ; -and yielded a different result, having potash as a constituent. ist, well known. , Specific characters. Geometrical characters. hedral ; the height of prism less prism divides with extreme facility, Sora the cleavages are very indistinct, and the mechanical division very difficult. "Physical characters. It scratches glass. “The gies are always opaque and white : the lustre —- or scat Longitudinal fracture fibrous, cn gle a - fracture rough and unequal. Sp. gr. 2-19. 2 Chemical characters. When erised and eect Nitric, or idio-cloric acid, it is converted into a perleé ee without color. Before the blowpipe it fuses easily, wi Primitive form is a regular hexa- than the breadth. The parallel to the axis, but € 260 Account of some new Vesuvian Minerals. effervescence, and forms a globule of white enamel, with the ~ aspect of porcelain. With the nitrate of cobalt it acquires & most beautiful azure. With phosphorus, in proper propor- tions, it gives a milky button, which remains opaque ; but when the phosphorus is in excess, the button is transparent when warm, but opaque when cool. Varieties. 1. Primitive. 2. Annular. 3. Peri-dode- cahedral. 4. Emarginate. (fig. 198.) 5. The same short- ened. (fig. 199.) 6. Pyramidal. (fig. 200.) 7. The same shortened. (fig. 201.) = Dimensions. The crystals are usually lafger than those of r . ee + ; ce ie but those of the primitive and annular varieties are small, passing into microscopic. Cavolinite occurs, Ist. In the imterior of Account of some new Vesuvian Minerals 2614 and that it differs from all silicates of these bases, in having a larger proportion of alumine, and less of silex. The for- mula presenting its composition, is A°S+-KS. This will be verified by chemical examination. Distinguishing characters. The structure, aspect of the pa and chemical composition, distinguish Cavolinite m Davina, Nepheline, and pinite, with which it has the serine form in common The primitive form, its power of forming jelly with acids, and its chemical composition, distinguish it from scapolite, wernerite, spodumene, and prehnite. It is distinguished. from the mesotype of Haiiy, which has a vitreous fracture ; by having its fracture fibrous-lamellar, or silky, and by its containing potash, which the mesotype does not. itis known from apophylite, by its forming jelly with acids, and melting only before ae blowpipe ;_ whereas that mineral dissolves in acids an ore. the blewpipe Bailes. The Cavolinite has a regular fecal for its primitive form, the other, a right rectangular prism. Fimally, the chemical composition of the two differs entirely. ee are. Ss echt characters. Geometrical characters. The primitive form is an sige rectangular prism, in which the inelination of base P (fig. 202) to the face M is 94°, and to the opposite, 86°. The natural cleavages parallel to M very distinct; those par- allel to P, not visi Physical ie SAI Hl Sp. gr. 2.77. It is scratched by quartz. The crystals have an fee lustre, but are mostly dull on the superficies, or incrusted with a yellowish fbrown varnish of pumice. The transverse fracture is vitreous, tend- ing to conchoidal: the longitudinal is lamellar. The frag- ments are laminar, sea oa ar and irregular. The lamine possess double refract Chemical Pidiecten.. The Acicular fragments Le for 0 minutes in the flame of the blowpipe, do not melt. ‘The point most exposed becomes opaline, but sraiyes its ordinary aspect on cooling. With phosphorus, it yields a button of brownish glass, which becomes opaline when cool. With soda it fuses inet ys producing an opaque globule ofenamel. With bor it affords a brown, globular, opaque button, translucent at ‘os ges. With nitrate of cobalt the mass becomes brown, mee to blueish: but the edges ex- : 262 Account of some new Vesuvian Minerals. posed to a strong heat, acquire a beautiful blue colour, with- out melting. When pulverised and exposed, in a platina crucible, to red heat there is no loss. The sulphuric, nitric, or idiocloric acids partially dissolve it, and the solution gives with ammonia, a precipitate, whic with cobalt before the blowpipe, becomes blue. The liquid deprived of = ote among gives with oxalic acid, a precipi- tate of brown Sulphuric acid ae in a singular way on the Christianite, altering very considerably the bulk, and converting it into an imperfect vesicular jelly. To obtain this result, it should be fmely pulverised and washed in sul. acid, with its own weight of water. ‘arieties. 1. Quadri-decimal—(fig. 203)* 2. Octo- decimal—(fig. 204.) 3. Regular doles aliedctaeniilie 205.) a. Dodecahedral elodsicanibeasdin 206.) 4. Dioctahe- drakes-(fig 207. — 5. oar 208.) 6. Blunted—(fig. 209.) 7. Defective—(fig. 210.)+ 8. Bis- duodecimal— (6g 211.)t 9, Feraliedosl 4 Christaaiee ry 5 eb aN Crestianite ’ 208. \ Wewecngaeeeeeee. : 7 ‘ * For this aoe: see the precedi __t Fer the se figures, se e the cucatine grea; < . 265: “Account of some new Vesuvian Minerals. 263 Dimensions. The large crystals are 30 millimetres in length, 22 in breadth, and the same in thickness. Still it is dificult to measure them, as they are mostly broken at the angles, imbedded in the matrix, or covered with pumice. lours. Brown, yellow and reddish. It occurs trans- parent, translucent, and opaque. Position. It is found in small geodes of granitoid aggre- gates, composed principally of pyroxene and mica these aggregates have their interior full, or studded with erys- tals of other substances, passing into enamel, pumice, scoriz, or obsidian. Among these volcanic substances are found crystals of Christianite, sometimes perfect, or split, or broken —semi-fused externally, or covered with a coating of pumice or enamel. The aggregates of this nature are mostly uni- form or globular, and are found in the matters ejected at different eruptions—especially in beds of volcanic sand or- ashes. The crystals most frequently accompanying this mineral, are pyroxene and mica—more rarely hornblende, haiiyne, ido- crase, and meionite. ese are found in the same geode intimately grouped with it—penetrating its crystals, or being, penetrated y them. This mineral is found in the current of lava at Pollena, especially the hexahedral variety, which is accompanied by phosphate of lime, melilite, mica and quartz. Distinguishing Characters. Its form being derived from the the oblique rectangular prism, distinguishes it from phosphate of lime, the form of which is derived from the regu- lar hexahedral. It dissolves partially, the phosphate entirely in nitric acid. Sp. gr. is 2.77—2.92 ; that of the phosphate is 3.0—3.2. he topaz, peridot and chondrodite are infusible, like the Christianite, but the topaz scratches quartz, which in its turn scratches Christianite. The sp. gr. of topaz, is 3.56. —that of Christianite 2.9. The form of peridot is a straight rectangular prism; that of Christianite an oblique rectangular prism. The sp. gr. of peridot is 3.4. hon e has the oblique rectangular prism for its primitive form, as has the Christianite » but in this the lateral face is to the base as 94° to 86°—the chondrodite is 112° 12’ and 67° 48’. Nitric acid has no power on chondrodite, but dissolves a portion of Christianite. The colour of Christianite is rarely yellow— 264 Account of some new Vesuvian Minerals. that of chondrodite is yellow, or brownish yellow. Finally, the infusibility of Christianite distinguishes it from all zeo- lites, from Nepheline, felspar and amphigene. BioTina. This was at first confounded with the last mentioned min- eral, and is separated from the conviction that its figure can- not be derived from the primitive form of that mineral. It is an- nounced as new to draw the attention of mineralogists to it, and to the series of Vesuvian crystals which belong to this species, and which distinguishes it from all hitherto found on this volcano, by its limpidity and splendour—by its infusibili- ty, and by its system of crystalization. The name is propo- sed in honour of Biot, a distinguished French naturalist, well known for his attainments in the physical sciences. : cific characters. Geometrical Characters. The primitive form is an ob- tuse rhomboid—(fig. 212.) The angle of P with P’ is 94°, and that of P and the opposite face is 86°. The other an- gles are aes 20’ and 65° 40’. The face AE is rather lar- ger than AE Physical Chenille Sp. gr. 3.11. Ht scratches glass —lustre very vivid—fracture vitreous, tending to conchoi-. dal. Fragments angular and irregular. All the ran = double refraction, as was verified by Mr. Biot a ap Chemical Characters. The acicular ashe held for a tong time in the flame of the blowpipe were unaltered. Ni- tric oon Cee dissolv res it without ebro a jelly. ves. 1. Bis-marginate—(fig. 213.) 2. age re Geleal—(Gy. 214.) 3. Sei-duodecimal—(fig-. 215-) Octo-duodecimal—(fig. 216.) 5. Octo-sestecimal (ie 217.) 6. Amphi-hexahedral—(fig. 218.) 7 champloo hedr cdval=-(lg: 219.) 8. Quadri-duodecinal—(fig. 2 20.) 265 Account of some new Vesuvian Minerals. 34 ¥OlL,. x1,-—NOs & 266. Account of some new Vesuvian Minerals. olours. Topaz-yellow, brown, and colourless. It is found limpid and transparent. Dimensions. The largest crystals hitherto found do not ordinarily exceed six millimetres in diameter. One crystak of the fourth variety has 12 millimetres length, 8 breadth, and 6 thickness. : Position. Granitoid aggregates of pyroxene and mica usually contain Biotina mixed with its fragments. These ag- é S are not firm, and are found in the matters ejected in different eruptions: The crystals are distinguished from those accompanying them, by their superior splendour. Distinguishing Characters: Yt is easily distinguished rom those crystals which have the same primitive form, as: t is di ‘ongly scratches quartz, while this scarcely scratches glass- Cymophane has the straight rectangular prism for its primi- ‘ve form, while Biotina has the rhomb. _ Account of some new Vesuvian Minerals. 267 Foiiacsous Copper. The chimnies constantly burning on the east of the crater of Vesuvius have furnished a sublimation, composed of acicular and rectangular laminz, some of such extreme subtility and fragility, that it is scarcely possible to procure them eutire, since they are broken by the slightest jar, or even agitation of the air. Viewed at an oblique angle, they pre- sent the brown colour of shining steel, but seen perpendicu- larly, they exhibit a velvet brown. ed in the interior © of these chimnies, the laminze and their matrices are accompa- nied by muriate of soda ; and are often imbedded in this salt, which takes the green colour of the metal. The matrix is usually an aggregate. The thickness of these leaves is about 4 lines, resembling similar plates of gold or silver, but are much more frangible. They dissolve quickly in nitric acid, without a residuum, imparting a beautiful green colour, which is changed to in- digo blue by the addition of ammonia; a certain indication of copper. An exact analysis of the sublimation has not yet been made. : It appears probable that this metallic sublimation 1s not roduced by heat solely, but is favoured by an acid, which renders the metal fragile. It is so intimately combined with muriate of soda, as not to be freed from it by washings with distilled water. Still it may be doubted if either the muriatic er the arsenical acid is concerned in its formation. The authors will institute experiments to ascertain that point. 268 Barnes on Batractun Animals and doubtful Reptiis. Art. IX.—An arrangement of the genera of Batracian Animals, with a description of the more remarkable spe- cies; including a Monograph of the Doubtful Reptils. . By PAE Sais A. M., Hecarding —— of New-York Lyceum (Read before the Lyceum, July, ‘eons £ distribution of the class Amphibia, or Reptils, into - four —_— affords a fair example of the exact method of modern science. A tortoise, a lizard, a snake, and a frog, are objects familiar to all; and these animals being assumed as the types of the orders, give a natural clue to guide usin our investigations. It is in this department that the chief la- bor remains to be done, in order to illustrate the natural pro- ductions of the Western Continent. Our reptils are nume- rous, and some of them are peculiarly interesting. e have, i in our waters and marshes, peau all of that singular family, which haye been supposed to. possess a double set of respiratory organs. Most of these have lately been iiiiact: ed to the strlotest scrutiny ; and to bring together the scat- tered rays of light, and give a clear view of the subject, is the principal design of this paper. It was. written for the purpose of fixing the author’s own views of an obscure and ate. = t, and i it is published with the = that it may be benelblse others. © A quaicges even of the synonyms can- unacceptable ;. for, if — ted it will fa- pos the labor of future i inquirers. REPTILS. Orper 1.—Cnreroxsan, Characters. Four ey a tail and shell. Examples. Tortoises and Turtles. os OrvER 2.—SAurIAN. Charecters. Four Feo a tail and scales. Examples. Lizards and Crocodiles. Orver 3.—Opnipian. Characters. No —— tail and scales. Examples. Se oe One 4.—BaTRActIAn, Characters. Pl a but no scales or shell. Examples. _ Frogs and Salamanders. Barnes on Batracian Animals and doubtful Reptils. 269 MeETHODICAL TABLE OF THE FourTH ORDER. Aagerrpnaee = Ss. Fist Diyiston.— NosTRILS, BUT NO SPIRACLES. * Branchie and tail deciduous. (a) No teeth in either jaw. 1 Genus.—Bufo. 2 Genus. —Pipa. (b) ‘Teeth in fag upper jaw. 3 Genus.—Hyla, Genus.—Rana. * * Branchie deciduous, tail persistent. (c) Teeth in both jaws. 5 5 Genus.—Salamandra. zi . Srconp Diviston.— NOSTRILS AND SPIRACLES. * * * Branchial opercula and tail persistent. = enus.—Menopoma.. ” cee 23 7 Genus.—Amphiuma = * * * * Branchie and tail persistent. (a) Opercula subdivided. 8 Genus.—Siren § Divisions simple. Species.—-S. Striata.* § § Divisions compound. Species.—S. Lacertina. (b) Branchiae compound and ahrinteds 9 Genus,—Proteus e this paper was = the Annals of Philosophy for yeas have which the ame Pseudobranchus is proposed, by Mr. Gray, The adoption of a new name in this case, ose, yen she piete an oppor- n its gills, the Striata ; but it has peculiar chara . ‘ sick sil +: explained at Jength in a a er soon to be published in the Annals of the 130 ut one inhabits the Southern states in large numbers. "Saacinee ns are preserved in the Cabinet of the Lyceum. Fig. Annals of the Lyceum, Vol. 2, fi ste 270 Barnes on Batracian Animals and doubtful Re ptils. REMARKS on the preceding table. In this arrangement it will be perceived that the dzvis- zons depend on the presence or the absence of spiracles and tail. The first six genera agree in having four toes on the fore feet, and five on the hind feet. The /ast four agree in having neste and spiracles, or openings through the sides of the neck, like the gills of fishes. All, except the eighth genus, agree in having four legs, and div eed toes, generally without claws. The first five have gills i in their young state 5 and the gHPopeninge entirely closed, in their adgit state. The sixth and seventh, have the gill-openings and covered by a simple, entire flap. The eighth Genus (S) has the operculum trilobate, and each lobe entire. ‘he eighth genus (§§) has the operculum trilobate and each lobe divided into small parts, from five to ten in number, which lie parallel to each other. The ninth oe has the branchize jarge, projecting, subdivided, and ramified into numerous capillary processes. All, or nearly all, of this family of rep- tils, have teeth in the palate ; the use of which is to triturate their food while the mouth is closed ; for, while the mouth is open, they are unable to breathe, and presently die, if they are prevented from closing their jaws. hey all agree in being naked, that is, externally unarmed with scales, crust, or : They a appear to be innocent while alive, and ‘innoxious as food. We o the Eareinyen: of genera and remarkable species in the tpi above written BATRACIANS.* FIRST DIvisIoN.— NOSTRILS, BUT NO SPIRACLES. * Branchie and tail deciduous. (a) No teeth in either jaw. 1 GENUS.—BUFO. Toap. dy warty and thick. Legs four, short and clumsy. Toes four before, Pe hog and pointed. E — $ eae endian Ran. p. 71. Rept. 8. p. 137 Synonyms. Rana bufo. “dide - ee ~ Le Crapaud. Lacepede. * From Barpayos, a FROG, animals like frogs. Barnes on Batracian Animals and doubtful Reptils. 271 DESCRIPTION AND HABIT crawl only where leaping - is > aagaameabs Tho their warty and hideous a appearance generally excites disgust, ftom the idea of their being poisonous, yet they are —— inno- cent, and in some countries are used for food. (Daup They live to a very great age, and have been feces : yi quent the same place for nearly forty years. Most authors agree that credit is to be given to the accounts of their bei found inclosed in wood, mortar, and even rocks. ARKABLE na Marina. Gmel. Fig. Daddin 31. This is the largest ane species. Length 8-10 inches without the legs. Rana Cornuta. Horned Frog.* _. Head and throat very large, =p 3 ates onical tubercle over each eye. Daud. 38. Seba 1. ‘fear toad is ofa hideous and deformed aspect. The cae opens to half the length of the body. The body is covered with sharp spines, and striped and speckled, with yellow, gray, brown, and arly eo oti Margaritwfera. This toad has, behind each eye. a crest Ane # stiff, curved and elevated. Daud. 71. Bs she Remark. “The generic name of all the preceding should be changed ¢ to Bufo ; they would then stand correctly thus, tu Bufo oo saraliecs etc. 2 GENUS.—PIPA.+ SURINAM ToAD- Baa of the female, with cells on the back. Legs four, of a moderate length. Toes, four before, and each subdivided into four small parts. , broa = webbed or palmate. * The rept fern country, called Horned Frog, is a Saurian, described by D r. Harlan meder the genus Agama. + From pipare to cluck as . 272 Barnes on Batracian Animals and doubtful Reptils. _ Figures. Brewster’s Encyclopedia, pl. 298, fig. 21. Shaw’s Zoology, Vol. 3, pl. 31. Seba’s Mus. 1. p. 121, t. 77 f. 14. Stewart’s Elements, pl. 5. fi 2. Synonyms. Rana Pipa. Linn. ufo dorsiger. Daud. and Brewster’s Encyc: Rana seu Bufo Surinamensis. aliorum. Pipa. Laurentt. and Merrem. +3 DESCRIPTION AND HABITS. Body flattened horizontally ; head large and triangular ; no tongue ! (CUVIER.) eyes small, and placed near the edge of the upper jaw ; toes, of the fore feet, divided into four small _ toes, and these again subdivided: Inhabits Surinam, in o scure places under houses. When the eggs are laid, the male _ collects the mass, and, with his paws, spreads it over the back of the female. The eggs are received into litile cells or openings in the back of the female, and then fecundated, and closed up by the male. The female betakes herself to ater. ‘The eggs are hatched and pass the tadpole state in the cells, emerging perfect animals after a period of ly are destitute of proper nails, tho the phalanges are pointed, hard, and frequently of a darker color than the other partss Length of a full grown male, 7 inches. setiatt.. . fad somewhat less. Of this very remarkable genus, the above is the only WD species, , Lad known Barnes on Batracian Animals and doubtful Reptils. 273 {b) ‘Teeth in the upper jaw. 3 GENUS.—HYLA.* Tree Froc, or TREE TOAD. Legs four. Teeth, one row in the upper jaw. Body tapering, skin viscous. Toes before four, and behind five, all furnished with lenticular tubercles beneath. Toes of the hind feet La Rainette. Lacepede. DESCRIPTION AND HABITS. Body granulated beneath, assuming various colors, 1 ang behind, smooth and viscous, emitting a pungent scent; legs long, tees not properly webbed, furnished beneath with around tubercle to each, by which the animals are enabled to adhere to the surface of even the smoothest substances, They appear to change their color vol vo 4. GENUS.—RANA. FRroe. Body smooth. Legs longer than the body. Toes before, four, slender, cartilaginous, clawless. ‘*.. behind, five, palmate. Teeth, one row im the upper jaw. * d | ea meio t esac teat iy Codve, 0k the U.S. Forps of Engineers. z VOL. XiL—NO. i; Bae e3% a >, aaa? PARI HE 274 Barnes on Batracian Animals and doubtful Reptits- Figures. Daudin. Ran. p. 45. Rep. p. 87. Latreille, p. 156. Dumeril. Zool. p. 91. Schneider. Hist. Amph. p. ffl. Synonyms. Rana of authors. Grenouille. French. rosch. German. , DESCRIPTION AND HABITS. Body smooth and somewhat slimy. Legs long and atli- letic. Skin commonly of various colors, Frogs are very ac- pursued or disturbed, and if near the water they dive. her caught by the hand, they forcibly emit their urine, which is fetid and offensive. ‘They produce their eggs in a large mass ; breed in the water; and the young beeome perfect, in about two months. After a rain, come: abroad in great numbers. hey feed on worms, spiders, and insects; even fishes are devoured by the larger species. They are eaten abundantly, in various places; particularly, we are told, at Vienna, where a scarcity of them would be an alarm ing public calamity. They are devoured by serpents, pal- ticularly by the garter snakes. ( Coluber saurita, et Colt- sirtalis, ) . When they find themselves pursued, they make prodigious leaps, and evince great terror ; but when seized, they beeome perfectly quiet, and seem insensible of their danger. The snake seizes the frog by one of his hind feet, and very grad- ually draws it into his mouth. When he comes to the body, if not frustrated in his design by the largeness of his preys by accident; he draws in that also ; and the other leg, inv ed by the side of the body. When he comes to the fore le as they are both to be swallowed at once, he is frequently compelled to wait a long time before he can accomplish his purpose. Whe able that es can manage to swallow frogs whose bodies — oe circumferenee of their own, di we not Barnes on Bairacian Animals and doubtful Reptils. 275 Yn the opening of the spring, frogs emerge from their bru- wal retreats, and make a most tumultuous noise at night, croaking so loud as to be heard a mile off. The story ofthe Windham frogs is famous in the Northern and Eastern states. Itis variously told in prose and verse, and is, in substance, as follows. A mill pond was drained in the night. he frogs disturbed, set up a very loud croak- ing, by which the inhabitants were terribly alarmed; sup- posing that the day of final doom and retribution had arriv- ed. Each, in his fright, fancied that he heard himself called by name, and accused of various crimes. Some confessed their secret sins and begged for mercy. Some promised restitution, and others acknowledged their accusations, and lamented in despair. All was tumult and terror, until the morning revealed the cause. The _self-convicted criminals became the objects of unceasing ridic REMARKABLE SPECIES~ jg enormously large in proportion to the fully developed animal, being eight inches long and three and a half inches broad, while the frog is but three inches long, and one inch broad. } Figures. Of the animal nearly perfect, Brewster's Encyc. 298 f. 20. Of the tadpole 295 f. 17. Seba : fee « Daud. Gren. 22 and 25. 4 ‘ This frog is called, by the inhabitants of Surinam, Jakie. Rana taurina, Cuvier, Rana pipiens, Daud. ‘The Ameri- can Bull frog is one of the largest species yet discovered. Cate e Dau 18. da In the four genera jast recited, the eggs are fecunda by the male, after their emission from the body of the female. - HYBERNATION- ; All the animals of the genera now enumerated, which live in the cold or temperate parts of the earth, appear to have saat lar habits of hybernation. They retire to the water, oF 276 Barnes on Batracian Ammails and doubtful Repisis. the, mud, or enter into holes and crevices, and there pass the winter in a torpid state. In this state they appear to remaig stationary, needing neither food nor air, and neither inereas- ing nor diminishing in size, They have been dug out of the earth in situations where they must have been confined for years, and perhaps for ages. * * Branchia deciduous, tail persistent. (c) Teeth in both jaws. 5 GENUS.—SALAMANDRA, saLamanper. Body long and tailed. Legs four, rather short. "Foes, four anterior, five posterior, without claws< Skin smooth and scaleless, Figures. Sonnini and Latreille Szepe. Synonyms. [acerta Salamandra. Linn. Triton. Laurenti. ~ Water Newts. Water Lizards. Evets or Ebbets- Salamanders have a lengthened body, four feet and a long tail. They resemble lizards, and were so arranged by Lame, but they have all the characters of Batracians: head flat- tened ; ear concealed under the skin; jaws furnished with merous small teeth, and teeth in the palate ; skeleton with: movable rudiments of ribs. They respire by gills when young: in their mature state the gills are obliterated, and they respire by lungs, like frogs. The are all spawned mt fresh water, but a part of them usually live on land. Hence they are divided into two great families, as follows : 1. LAND SALAMANDERS.—saLaManpRa&: Laurenti- These animals have a flattened fin-tail when young; and they then reside in the water. _ In mature age, they reside rincipally on land, and have a round tail. They are pro- duced alive, the eggs having been fecundated in the body of the female, hy means of a-milky fluid emitted into the water- When the tadpole drops his gills and fin-tail, he leaves the water, and becomes a Jand animal. The land salamander Bives rise to the fable of living in-firé, because when he is Haced.in it, he exudes a milky juice, which for a short time Tesists its action. What is more remarkable, is the opposité Barnes on Batracian Animals and doubtful Reptils. 277 quality of being able to resist cold, and to sap ivet after hay- ing been for a long while pressed under the 2. WATER SALAMANDERS. —TRITONS. Laurenti. These have, permanently, a vertically compressed tail. The male, during the pairing time, in the spring, has a crest and other ‘ornaments, by which he is eminently Lotocanber Several water salamanders have, of late, been described by different authors, under various other names. cause of the mistake seems to be, that the animals were im- mature, not having dropped the deciduons organs. Under this description may perhaps be classed the following animals, which are believed to be, Warer SALAMANDERS NOT FULLY EVOLVED. arene operculée, Palisot de Bauvois, Am. Phil. Society’s Transactions, vol. 4, re ae Siren of Barton. (CUVIER.) Proteus Neo-Cesariensis of Prof. Green Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, vol, 7: p. 4 Several othe reptils have been sup pposed to ws here, which are now described as mature animals, for reasons giv en under the genus Proteus, REMARKABLE SPECIES. The species of this genus are very numerous im our coun- try ; so much so that it may be called the native region of Salamanders. If time and circumstances mit, a mone- graph of this genus may expected Re In the mean time the egehinany remarks are su pmpiute to the scien- him denominate is caiaeena PERSPICILLATA. Bibliotica Italiana No. 65. (Rev. Encyc.) is not a salamander, as that genus is limited in this paper, for it has four toes'on the hind feet, (“* palmis plantisque tetradactylis,”,) contrary to the analogy of all the five pre- ding genera. But this is not all. “Tt has knotty oF Spi- * See vol. 5, page 174. 278 Barnes on Batracian Animals and doubtful Reptils. nous protuberances on all sides of the tail, showing a resem= blance, distant indeed, to the Stellios ; and small scales on th ly, and a chain-like process down the back : in all, such an approach to being armed, that it can hardly be de- nominated naked. he general appearance of the animal is like that of the salamanders. Body slender, tail long, tongue and teeth like those of the salamander ; top of the ad with an irregular white spot ; back dark brown ; belly white, with dark brown or black spots : under jaw white 5 scales very minute ; a chain-like process down the spine, and on the tail, which is also furnished with elevated knotty pro- tuberances on all its sides ; head broad ; toes four before, four behind. Length three inches, tail half. I should think that it might have been made a separate genus. If the char- acters of the specimens generally are consonant to this speci- men, the animal ought to be called by a new generic name. It might be called SEIRANOTA, from the chain-work on the back, and Conpy.wura, from its knotted tail. Seiranota condylura, or, reserving Savi’s specific name, though = un- happy one, because it is indistinct, Seirandta perspicillata. Knotty-tailed chain-back. Inhabits the Appenines of Tus- cany, and especially at Mugello. Dr. Paulo Savi. ~ Seconp DIVIstoN.—NosTRILs AND SpirACLEs. = * * Branchial opercula and tail persistent. 6 GENUS.—MENOPOMA. Harlan, Legs four, short and strong. Toes four before, five behind, all without claws. ‘Teeth, two rows above, and one below. Figure. Annals of the Lyceum, pl. 17th, vol. 1. Synonyms. Protonopsis horrida. Barton, (Le Conte.) Salamandra horrida. Barton. amandra gigantea or maxima. Barton. Salamandra Alleganiensis. . Michauz. sg Salamandra des Monts Alleganiens. Sonnini and Latreille. es Abranchus Alleghaniensis. Annals, 1. 233. enopoma Alleghaniensis. -Annals, 1. 271. H goal gigantea. roe ‘: Y _Hell-bender. Mud-devil. Ground-puppy. Tweee. oung Alligator. Vulgo. aes Barnes on Batracian Animals and doubtful Reptils. 279 oe supposed to be the same as the Proteus of the Lakes, by Dr. Mit oo And also by Cuvier, in his late work on - ossil bone The Triton liactamiensts by Daudi The Triton nee by Say, (Notes on Prof. Green’s paper ) that is, the T. Lateralis is supposed to be the young of this animal. "They have been shown by Harlan to be dis- tinct. DESCRIPTION AND HABITS. This animal is remarkably thick and chubbed. Ss short and strong, with the two outer toes of the hind feet pal- mated, and the outer edge of the feet amurigted. Head road ; nostrils prominent; mouth wi ty slate co- lored, with dark spots, and a dark line fe a through the eyes ; tail vertically compressed and nearly as long as the body. By having the spiracles covered with a simple flap, this animal is distinguished from all others of the family, except the eegte 3 a ; aoe from this, by having a greater number of toes. The number of toes will always distin- guish this iat from a Proteus of the sae waters, with which i very often been _ that aper th _ ae One r aa of the mistakes so often made is that, though frequently see account of the eile aversion that prevails among _fisher- men against an animal of an uncouth and revolting figure, us Ww which they have given an ap robrious name they Believe to be poisonous. the Mf Menopoma always resides in the water, eats flesh, is very voracious, sparing nothing which he can devour. _ He inhabits the Ohio and Alleghany rivers, and grows to the length of two feet or more, 7 GENUS —AMPHIUMA. Garden. Lina. lende: d boneless Toes two "before Gil wi behind, ge joints or claws- Teeth, two rows above and one f the Lyceum, vol. i: Ficaites: ——— pees of N.S. ie 3. page 5% 280 Barnes on Batracian Animals and doubtful Reptils. Synonyms. Chrysodonta Larveformis. Mitchill. Med» ical Recorder, No. 19. Amphiuma means. Linn. i Quadruped Siren. Barton? ( Cuvier.) ongo'snake. Vulgo. DESCRIPTION AND HABITS: Head rather long, tapering, depressed, serpentlike ; mouth extending half the length of the lower jaw ; a single row of teeth in the lower, and two rows in the upper jaw. The points of the teeth are somewhat flattened, and turned baek- ward, reflecting the golden rays.* ‘The teeth, of the outer row of the upper jaw, are attached to the inner surface of the jaw, and not inserted. The imner row divides the roof of the far asunder. They have no proper bones, or feet ; and hav- ing only a simple division of the extremity without claws, or even proper toes, they would seem to be of very little use in the economy of this singular animal. It is found in aaa particularly those bordering on the Gulf of not well understood. The spiracles are covered by a simple Barnes on Batracian Animals and doubtful Reptils. 28] ‘taming that the Siren was only alarva. Cuvier has anstwer- ‘ed this objection, in his late work on Fossil bones. * * * * Branchie and tail persistent. {a) Opercula subdivided. ; 8 GENUS.—SIREN. Linn. Body long and serpentine. Legs two, anterior. § Divisions of the opercula simple. Species.—Stren Sraiata. Le Conte. Toes three, without claws. Teeth, none in the jaws. Teeth in the palate ? Figure. Annals of the Lyceum, vol. 1. pl. 4. Synonyms. Pseudobranchus. Gray. Guana. Vulgo. SCRIPTION AND HABITS. ‘i Color dusky, with a broad brown stripe on each side, and another paler one on each side of the belly ; beneath, speck- Jed with brownish white; tail compressed, ancipital ; sides marked with transverse furrows; spiracles, three on each i expires. It is rarely found. It grows to the length of bine abe and is sone to be mature by being found full of spawn. ‘It has been compared with the young of the Siren Lacertina of the same Jength, and found to differ per- manently from that species. The S. Lacertina retaining its § § Divisions of the opercula compound. Species.—Sinen. LaceRrTINA. Linn. Toes, four,7 cartilaginous rather than horny, at the point.¢ *See Note at page 269. ! See spain ‘oie: Samed under the genus Pip. VOL. XL—NOi 2. | 36 ie 282 Barnes on Batracian Animals and doubtful Reptils- Teeth, none in the jaws ; in the palate, numerous, disposed m oblong plats on each side. ~ Figures. Linne’s Dis. on the Siren, fig. ¢. (Upsal, 1766.} Stewart’s Elements of Natural History, pl. 5, fig. 4.* Brewster’s Encyclopedia, pl. 298, fig. 24. Shaw’s Zoology Amph. pl. 138. Rees’s Cyclopedia, art. amphibia, pl. 6, fig. 1. Note. This figure has too fierce an aspect for so harmless an animal. Synonyms. Murena Siren. Gm. Linn. TPurton’s Linn- Murena Siren. Stewart’s Elements. MudIguana. Ellis. Phil. trans. vol. vi. 189. DESCRIPTION AND HABITS. * Body black above, dusky beneath, speckled with yellowish ; or above dusky, beneath paler, speckled every where with yellowish ; eyes small, blaish ; nostrils placed near the edge of the upper lip, small, distant ; jaws toothless, furnished with a hard black skin. Spiracles, three on cach side, near the neck, Jinear ; the interior edge serrate, with a fringed trilobate cov- ering ; tail compressed, with a narrow rayless fin above and below.” (Le Conte.) Tongue free ; sides marked with trans- verse furrows, imitating ribs.+ It inhabits the muddy swamps of South Carolina, and, like the Siren Striata and the Amphi- ama, has not been found in any other region. [It lives prin- cipally “‘ in the firm and moist clay” or thick mud, and is, at times, also found in the water. A fine specimen in Scudder’s museum has already lived several years in a glass jar of clear and seem contented only when they are in ment. It is remarked that when these Sirens are themselves concealed in their retreat, the place of the head and gills is ae _ Sage a the rising of small air bubbles from * spiracles. This fact may lead to the determination of © question concerning the function of these doubtful organs. Several respectable naturalists have published descriptions of and strong teeth;” but these descriptions are so dif- * Several of these §. : sures appear to be co: of izinal + This appears to be : pies of one original. mander to ee oae case with all the tailed Batracians, from the Sala- Barnes on Batraciem Animals and doubtful Reptils. 283 elude that their authors were greatly misinformed, or that there is yet another species of Siren, unknown to the modern naturalists, from which Linne wrote his description. e name Siren is applied to this animal on account of its ** vox cantillans,” in allusion to the Greek fable, as re- lated in the Odyssee of Homer, Book 12th. Several authors affirm that Sirens thrown on the ground break into several pieces. The want, or the high value of specimens among us, will probably prevent this fact from being proved or dis- proved by actual experiment. To me, however, it seems im- probable; as the animal is lithe and agil, and the bones are firm It may be useful to know in what state Linne ieft the his- tory of this animal, which has caused so much doubt and dis- putation since his time: therefore, as the become very scarce, I extract the description entire. On page 371 of the 12th Edition, in a note at the bottom, he expresses 4 doubt in these words. ** Siren lacertina an Larva Lacerta? conf. diss. nostr. de ? Sirene, 1766.’ At the end of the ist volume, under the head of addenda, he says, — : (395. ad finem pagine adde.) MEANTES. Branchize et pulmones simul, Pedes brachiati, unguiculati. __ Siren. Corpus bipedum, caudatum, nudum. Pedes brachiati, unguiculati. Lacertina. 1. SIREN, de qua pag. 371. lin, ult & Dissert. Siren. Upsal. 1776. c. fig. Habitat in Caroline paludosis, D. D. Garden inventor, Dubius hesi, utrum hee esset Larva Lacerte cujusdam, quam potissimum refert; an declaratum animal? hoe suadent Manus unguiculate & vox cantillans, at ulte- rius hoc urget inventor speciminibus sesquipedalibus missis, cum in tota Carolina nulla sit Lacerta, excepto - Crocodylo, ultra spithamum longa. This appears to be the amount of the knowle by Sigel and of this even, a part is doub ; for it — not appear, by the most careful observations of the Jno eg naturalists, that the animal has a “ vox cantillans. : Fhe . idea which produced the g me ts therek = dge possessed 284 Barnes on Batracian Animals and doubtful Reptis. (b) Opercula fimbriated. abi 9 GENUS.—Prorevus. Laurenti. Legs four. ‘Foes clawless. Teeth in both jaws, small and numerous. Body lengthened, terminated: by a vertically compresseé tail. SPECTES. i. Proreus Ancuinus. Proteus. of Carniola Toes, three: before and two behind. _ Teeth, one row above and one below. Spiracles, three on each side. Length, thirteen inches, bredth one inch, Figures. Humboldt’s Voyage. Configliachi. Brewster's Encyc. pl. 298, fig. 23. Daud. 99, fig. 1. Rees’s Cyclo~ pedia, art. Amphibia, pl. 6, fig. 2. sig Synonyms. Proteus anguinus. Laurenti, Schneider, et aliorum. Siren anguina. Shaw’s Gen. Zool. III. p. 608. ypocthon Laurentii. Merrem. Sys. Amp. p- 188+ Serpentine Proteus. Anguine Siren. Anglorum- Le Protee anguillard. Daudin. DESCRIPTION. Body long and slender, terminated by a vertically com- pressed tail, forming a fin, and rounded at the end; tongue and even. Sides wrinkled cirseae gC Color pale rose oF ers. Its motions, when out of the water, are slow and lan- and without feet.+ Its note resembles the sound made * Hence it Iti ‘sivas. beams the multiversant sea-gad- Barnes on Batracian Animals and doubtful Reptils. 285 by forcing down the piston of a syringe. The skeleton shows a general resemblance to that of the Salamanders. The vertebers are more, and the false ribs less in number. The greatest difference is in the general shape of the strong and bony scull. The Proteus anguinus inhabits the Lake _ Sittich, which communicates with the Lake Zirknitz, in Car- niola, froth which the water retires in summer and returns in October, through many under ground passages, which are the proper abode of the Proteus. It is a feeble and subter- raneous animal, of a pale color, for want of exposure to the light. When exposed, it ane changes to a darker color. The Proteus never comes out of his subterranean retreat, ex- cept at the inundations. sie is said to crawl up on the eee of the caverns, but for what pu we are not informed. has lately been discovered in the Grotto of Adelsberg, on te great road from Triest to Vienna. A specimen, accompanied with a beautiful wax cast, was received from the i cabinet at Vienna, through the Bar eta Lederer, and is preserved in the Cabinet of the Lyceu The Proteus anguinus, for a long me after its discovery, was disregarded, or believed to be an immature animal. The labors of — have fully elucidated the subject, and this Proteus is now every where admitted into the systems, as a perfect anata, tho it is difficult fully to understand its organization. It was first described by Laurenti, in 1768. He included in his genus the AXOLOTL, which, after all the doubt and disputation on this subject, will probably prove to be the simplest and best mode of arranging these animals. 2. Proreus LAaTERALIS.—Proteus of the Lakes. T'oes, four anterior, and four posterior, without claws. Teeth. 2 rows above ) small, sharp, and attached to the “1 row below Venme surface of the jaw. Figures. American Journal of Science and Arts, vol. vii. ph. 2. (colored. Annals of the Lyceum, vol. i. pl. 16. (melior.) Figured also by Milbert, as quoted by Cuvier, in his kate work on Fossil bones Synonyms. Proteus a the ae Dr. Mitchill. A. J. $. vol. vil. page 63, e Salamandra els PS eikcoie) Say* ? Triton Alleghaniensis (young.) Daudin ? Siren of Barton ! as quoted by Say and Gray, * See page 279. 2d paragraph. 286 Barnes on Batractan Animals and doubtful Reptils. Triton Lateralis. Say. Long’s Expedition, 1 vol. 5 p. Menobranchus Lateralis. Harlan. Proteus of the Alleghany river. Dr. Mitchill. A. J. §. ut supra. Siren Lacertina. Schneider. H. Amph. 48. DESCRIPTION. ; This Proteus grows to the length of two feet. (Masor DE- LAFIELD.) Body smooth and without scales, slimy, soft, spotted with black, and pervious with many pores. Tail compressed and ancipital, lanceolate, spotted on both sides, Head broad, flat and fleshy, truncate or sub-emarginate be- fore. Eyes small. Nostrils minute, placed in the margin of the upper lip. Nose broad and depressed, lips flabby and covering the jaws. Tongue broad, entire, free at the point, one fourth of an inch. Teeth conic, obtuse, small, rather distant, those in the upper jaw less. Mouth opening to the eneath. Anal fissure longitudinal. Three ramified and fringed branchize opposed to two branchial apertures, which furnished with cartilagi tubercles as in fishes ; the up- per and lower arch of the branchize adnate to the skin. In the Proteus from the Alleghany River there is a black stripe from the nostrils, passing over the eyes and disappearing be- hind; but this mark is not found in the Proteus from s. They are, however, of the same species, differing slightly in color. ‘This Proteus inhabits all the great Lakes. It is frequently caught at the falls of Onion River, about one mile and a half from Burlington, Vt. The most favorable season is in the spring, when the water is cold. With hooks attached to set lines, five or six are sometimes caught in a night, though not at all desired by the fishermen ; for they are universally beheld with abhorrence; and scarcely ever touched by the hand, even to disengage them from the hooks. When ey heme to be inclosed in the nets among fishes, they are carefully buried as poisonous; and when they take the hook, they are sometimes beaten and sometimes burned _ to death, before they are detached, by cutting their mouths with a pen knife. It seems that the most favorable sitnation, for the capture of them, is at the lowest falls of small streams running into the Lakes ; such as Onion River and the outlet of Lake George. In the Western Lakes they may be taken with the spear, if the fishermen can be persuaded to strike them; but to this they are generally very much averse. Several specimens were found in the Erie Canal when the ” Barnes on Batracian Animals and doubtful Reptils. 287 end opening into the Lake was accidentally drained during the present summer, (1825. I have received probable information of another ‘ water lizard,’’ which inhabits Lake Champlain, and has been caught * at the lower falls of Ticonderoga by fishing, with a hook, at night. ‘The animal is described to me as black, long and slender, with four legs and a tail. It is said to be one foot and a half long, and without the spots by which the Proteus is remarkably distinguished. emarks, The first specific name given to this Proteus appears to be that of Mr. Say, whovcalled it lateralis, in al- lusion to the black /ateral line. e discoveries already Lakes, which, in the same paper, he asserts to be the same animal. The genus to which Mr. Say assigns this reptil, is omitted by most of the modern naturalists, and the honor of naming it seems of right to belong to the man who first had the sagacity to discover its true affinities to the Proteus an- guinus of Carniola. The Proteus lateralis difte: n the s anguinus by having fewer dorsal vertebers, and a greater number of false ribs. Cuvier makes the-same re- mark and comparison between the Proteus anguinus and Sa- lamanders, as is here made between these two animals. The Salamanders, in fact, in this respect, compare pretty exactly with the Proteus Lateralis, and the Proteus Mexicanns, or the Axolotl. I do not perceive any good reason for making a new genus to receive this animal. Dr. Mitchill describes him as a Proteus. He is without doubt very closely allied, and yet perfectly distinct from the Axolotl. A careful ex- amination of the two animals together has been made, an the result is entirely satisfactory. Laurenti, the founder of the Genus Proteus, included in it the Axolotl, and both Cu- vier and Lacepede have called the Mexican reptil a Proteus. Against this the reason alledged is that the number of dor- sal vertebers in the American animal is greatly inferior to the same in the Austrian animal ; and that the rudiments of ribs are an entire series, and also “ somewhat larger and lon- ger in the former than in the latter.’ The number of verte- bers is not admitted by Dr. Harlan as a generic distinction 288 Barnés on Batracian Animals and doubiful Reptils. difference of fifteen in this very animal, when the whole, and not the dorsal vertebers only, are enumerated. His words are, “* from twenty to thirty-five.” (Long’s Ex. 1 vol. 7th ow then can the reason exclude a GENUS, which includes a SPECIES? Is it not saying that a part is greater than the whole? that the greater does not include the less ? Again, the same author tells us that “‘ the number of vertebre ibs, in the aquatic Salamandrz, appears to differ in different species.” Surely then may not the number be per- mitted to differ in the same genus? If not, then there must be more geuera than species. But it may be answered that the two species of Sloth, viz. the Bradypus tridactylus, with Either Dr. Harlan’s concession, or this statement of Schreibers, is more than sufficient to class the animal in ques- tion in the same genus with the Proteus of Carniola. an it be asserted that any genus, nay, any species of vertebrated animals has always and uniformly the same number of joints in the back bone? Has not Dr. Harlan found, even in the uman subject itself, an occasional difference in this particu- lar? But what is the amount of this difference, so much in- sisted on as to induce the author to say that the animal, de- scribed by Dr, Mitchill, “has, in reality, no affini Proteus?” The dorsal vertebers of the Proteus, according to Schreibers, are 26 or 28. The same bones of the Proteus of the Lakes are 19, and the whole difference between them is 7 or. 9, ? Bia po number of the vertebers in the P. Anguinus is - 56. le number of the same bones in the P. Late- Barnes on Batracian Animals and doubtful Reptils, 289 wvalis i is 54, both according to Dr. Harlan, and the differ- ence i If a eee of two im the neck of the sloth, and that, contrary to the analogy of the whole class, is not allowed to constitute a different genus, why should a difference of seven or nine, or even eleven, in the back of a Proteus, constitute a ae genus? If the tail of the same species may differ fiftee see no reason why the back of different species may not dider nine. Allow but this, and our animal comes out triumphantly a Proteus. And such, beyond all doubt, he is. - Wf in any case genera are of use, that use will be found here, in grouping rogers animals that resemble each other in the following particu 1. Body long, ae and scaleless. 2. Tail vertically — forming a fin. 3. Four feet with ‘clawless 4. Interior jane like frogs? ? 5. Exterior gill s like fishes. ' 6. Three pairs of compound, ramified, fimbriated bran- Be . These very remarkable appendages persistent pees . Cartilaginons arches, and membranous opereula. . Nose elongated, sepia and very obtuse before. i Jaws furnished with tee 11. Tongue free at the point only. 12. Eyes very small, and nearly concealed by the skin. 13. Ears covered by the common integuments, 14. Nostrils at the extremity of the upper lip, 15. The remarkably flattened and bony scull.* 16 The habitation in water, and the meandering méetion of the body. 17. The habit of occasionally emerging from the water, ank or shore NS cecal = ipa of the eelehon . to that of a water salamander, in the vertebers and false ri 19. Body marked with transverse furrows, ‘aitating ribs, 20. The peculiar form and structure of the branchiz. In all vied particulars the two animals agree, pe. these particulars are all and more than all those by which ie describes the Proteus in his Regné animal. Omitting * See Cuvier on the scull of the Proteus. VOL. XI.—NO. 2 37 290 Barnes on Batracian Animals and doubtful Reptils. other points of resemblance, the peculiar form and structure f the branchize is abundantly sufficient to show a strong ‘“‘ affinity.” ‘There are, perhaps, but four animals, in the world, that have the like ; and in these the branchize are so remarkably similar that the language used to describe one, must almost necessarily be used to describe the other. If the mee mentioned similarities will not comprise these ani- mals within the same genus, it will be difficult to show any thing art im any case can be called generic, or in 1 other words to define a The difference Bethan the Austrian and the Americar animals shall also be fairly stated, for truth is our object The P. Anguinus is a long and slender animal, of a pale and delicate color. The P. Lateralis is shorter, more robust, and of a dark, . hardy color. The toes of the former are three and ig The toes of the latter are four and fo ‘The pects of the former is siathed = the 26th or 28th the back bone. The pelvis of the latter is attached to the 19th joint. Now give to these differences their full weight in our con- animal is doubtless more robust than- the European. He needs a stronger body, inasmuch as the waters of the Alleg- hany River and the grea t Lakes are more turbid and tu- multuous than unrufll od waters of the subterranean ca- toes ought to form only a specific character. All that re- mai is the difference in the dorsal vertebers and the false ribs, on which the advocates for the new genus can de- is; alates the fine they differ so greatly in the P. angui- nus itself, that no fair argument can be thence derived; and the hind legs being attached nearer or farther from the fore ones, may, without impropriety, be considered as merely @ specific distinction. I would s ness, of the gentlemen who ne from m endship, nor can I conceive that should be a cause of of Saaseca ini name, Hypocthon, from fro ondes and Xéy the — 4 Barnes on Ratracian Animals and doubtful Reptils. 291 Yense to any one, provided that the tone is mild and the lan- guage courteous. ave, however, been struck with some surprize that the two gentlemen who so very particularly un- dertook to dissect the Triton Lateralis, and publish an ac- count of its Osteology, should so very carefully abstain from all mention of the scud/ ; and that one of the same gentlemen, republishing the same animal, with a new name, should make the same very important omission. — Is not the scull an organ ef equal importance with the false ribs? And is there nota striking resemblance between the sculls of the American and the Austrian animal? I fear that some things, said and re- peated in the ‘* Annals of the Lyceum,” concerning the scull of the Proteus, were not the deductions of a rigid examina- tion. When I began this paper, I attempted to arrange these animals according to the method suggested by Captain Le Conte, and repeated by Dr. Harlan, thatis, by those that have solid sculls, and those that have sculls composed of many pieces. However, after a fall conversation with the gentle- man who made the suggestion, and after dissecting several | specimens, and examining the published accounts, I was com- pelled to admit the conclusion that there is not in that sugges- tion a sufficient degree of truth and fidelity to nature to admit of its adoption. Tam not sure that I understand the gentle- men in what they say of solid sculls. Thave sought informa- hen the } Mitchil] had called a Proteus was not a Proteus? Either these sculls are similar, or they are not. If they are similar, i e same genus, if not, they still may bly similar, otherwise they would have formed a more plausi- ble topic than the false ribs, and the dorsal vertebers, 7 , 3. Proreus Tetrapactyus. Lacepede’s Proteus. Toes, four before and four behind. ‘Teeth, two rows above and two below. Length 6.4 (French) inches. Length of the head, from the tip of the nose to the end of the gills, 1.1 inch. Tail 2.4. Legs, each being of the same length, .55. Fi Annals of the Museum, vol. x. p. 230. 292 Barnes on Batracian Animals and doubtful Reptils. DESCRIPTION- Head much flattened, particularly below; nase a little - rounded; upper jaw projecting a little beyond the lower ; two rows of very small teeth above and below; tongue very short, flat and rounded. = 13.86 remain, aebick is the rhodium 5; and this being compared with 45.5, shows it to be 30.4 per cent. of allo I cannot matt to mention, that the potash produced quent cavities in the crucible, and that I extracted 130 grai protoxyd of eReee which were reduced in a clay aaraatite as far as practicable Lee Neither the Giasiatic acid, nor the aqua regia, dissolve the black powder ; the solution of potash dissolved some, and the remainder was treated with fat in a a crucible, and a white metallic points were immediately discovered. As they * | afterwards saw that tl aes bubbles were a the gold, as if it sought d to the rhediam: this to become separated from the placa - = to nite always maintained its white oioart ald oe plation influence it in this respect? I consider it as emivently prorense 500 Gold alloyed with Rhodinm. were not all brilliant, I did not mix it with the former pre~ duct; but, on reflection, I thought it might be owing to the want of heat, and that I ought to add it, as well as that dis- solved by the potash. i. From the other three fourths of the solution, the greater part of the acid was distilled, and what remained was satura- ted with muriate of ammonia without excess. The orange- coloured precipitate lost its redness by time, and changed in- to an ochre-yellow ; for which reason, and because on wash- ing it with hot water, it became greenish, I inferred, that although it detonated like fulminating gold, it was not pure- n fact; having melted 10 grains with borax, afier having been infused in oil, a white button* came forth, which was quite rough, and in the interior, where it was observed to be uneven, it had the colour of whitish copper or nickel, leaving oria of a leek-green, and cochineal-red coloar, an weighing 5.9 grains. The white surface changed after a while, to pinchbeck-gray, and having fused it with nitre, it yielded a globule of pure gold,+ which weighed 4.3 grains. her 10 grains being fused, another button was obtained, which was also without ductility, leaving a scoria of a bright- er red, and which weighed 7.1 grains; and being melted in the same way as before, afforded another globule of the same weight as the other, viz. 4.3. Now then, if 100 of ummoniuret yield 43 of gold, 212, whiclr was the weight of amounting to 38.6 per-cent. of alloy, _ The sp. gr. of this alloy should be 15.91, but being only 15.40, it follows that | there is an augmentation, she remaining solution was distilled to dryness, and @ —— vy residuum remained, which, treated with muriatic acid, did not exhibit the variations of colour, shown by iridi- um ; nor with muriate of ammonia did it yield red crystals, Eb . ; oe ‘ihn — of this metal to appear at the surface of the gold, is very + I attributed the purity of these globules t i bet ; : se g © th the bot- tom and sides of the crucibles having been gatalanad pene S Tease ; the tendency of this to vitrify the rhogium is singular. Gold alloyed with Rhodium: 301 but only a double flesh-coloured salt, which could not be crystallized, and which, on drying, resembled pale gray spu- mous iron. It could not be reduced with the blowpipe by citizen Mendez; and, treated with borax, yielded only a yel- lowish-green glass. It is seen then, that neither ether, nor muriate of ammonia, is well adapted to the attainment of a ready and exact sepa- ration of the rhodium; I therefore adverted to what Wollaston says, viz. that it does not amalgamate with mer= eury. iil. | ° Accordingly, citizen Mendez submitted to cupellation, an alloy of gold, with rhodium and copper, which was very great regard for the opinion of Berzelius, but truth is to be more regarded. Howmuchsoever the amalgam was washed, the regulus of the alloy, afier becoming red hot, (rusentado,) exhibited a black spot of rhodium on the bottom, and after fusion with nitre, weighed 49.7; its sp. gr. according to citizen Mendez, was 15, and the weight of the green oxyde, 2.4 grains. I suppose that the sp. gr. was less, on account of its containing three eighths of a grain of silver. The infe- rence is clear, that rhodium amalgamates through the inter- medium of gold, although it does not amalgamate per se. IV. Having seen that neither the protosulphate of iron nor the oxalic acid, precipitated the rhodium, I dissolved in aqua = gia, the button of 66.13 grains, whose sp. gr. according to 302 Gold alloyed with Rhodium. Chevalier Mendez, was 15.48, without failing to notice that, on being hammered, it produced spots of a tin-white color on the yellow bottom; a proof of the alloy not being uni- form ; and it yielded half a grain of muriate of silver, which took more, as will be seen by the result, and a precipitate was formed with the protosulphate of iron, and the reduced button weighed 30.7; its sp. gr. being 19.07. I added more of the protosulphate to the solution, and it became like ink ; and by refraction in the sun’s rays it turned red, with great effervescence and separation of deutoxyd of azote, and when this ceased it became clear. Ina order to expel the nitric and muriatic acids, I distilled to dryness, and having added water, a great part of the sub-sulphate of iron remained without being dissolved. By adding a little sulphuric acid, and boiling, the whole was dissolved, the liquid assuming a faint carnation colour. Then [ put in a small plate of iron, which became copper-red, but by washing in distilled water, the red coating was destroyed, and an indefinable and highly fetid odour was exhaled, which certainly was not that of roses; the same as that emitted by throwing water on that which I fused with potash; so that the Greek name which has been given to it, their reduction to the deutoxyde by borax, as I have some- where read, they came out green glass... Considering them, therefore, as metallic, (and if they were not so, they nearly approached that state,) there results 25.4 per cent. of rho- ‘dium, without reckoning what remained in the gold. I re- collect that I took the lower half of the solution, which bad remained long undisturbed. Would it thus become charged with more gold and less rhodium? I am inclined to this opinion so much more, as from the fourth part of this so- ution, precipitated with muriate of ammonia, which should have contained 16.5 of alloy, there could not be obtained - more than 9.3 of gold, which give 43 of rhodium in 100 of * The name appc pes appears to have been given by Dr. Wollaston, “ from the rost colour of a dilute solution of the salts coutatadang? it*—Tr. Gold alloyed with Rhodium. 803. loy. The remainder of the solution took the colour of the protosulphate of iron. Vv In this state it occurred to the Chevalier Mendez, to add sulphuric acid to the solution in aqua regia, of 10 grains of another alloy, whose sp. gr. was 16.8, and to distil to dry- ness. When all the muriatic acid had passed over, and the liquor in the retort become very red, he changed the receiver, and a yellow matter passed with the acid, the gold remaining in the retort as if it were massive gold. The yellow matter was partly dissolved in the water, tinging it first yellow and then green, and the remainder formed an ochre-yellow sediment, which would be subtritosulphate of rhodium. On i water into the retort, the same sediment was formed, which was separated by decantation ; and the gold was twice melt with potash and nitre, leaving a scoria, the first time, of a deep pistachio-green colour, and the second of a brighter green ; so that it would have been necessary to repeat the process several times, in order to have lefi the gold perfectly pure: it weighed, in the state in which we leave it, 8.2 grains. - I feel compelled to say, that Dr. Wollaston is in error when he asserts, that the alloys of gold with rhodium are ve- ry ductile. The contrary has been observed in the smelting house here for years, and was attributed to the acridness of the acids, as if more than one were used, and as if that were not very volatile, and easy of decomposition. _We can now conceive, that arough metal, and in such quantity, must give roughness to the alloys which it forms. — I suppose that men of experience will not now say, that with the cupel, and two or three acids, any fraud in gold may be discovered ; since, in addition to the examples of pla- tina and palladium, which they before possessed, they now have that of rhodium; and iridium will one day afford also not to be obtained by softening the gold (as the French ex-. 304 Caricography: is more chemical than washing the ores of silver, as in ‘T'as« co, with zacate f and soap, in order to free them from the black powder, or oxyd of some metal resembling selenium : at least, the Chevalier Mendez and myself met, among these ores, the biseleniuret, of silver in small hexagonal tables, with the salient angles and corners rounded, as if they had been melted ; of a leaden-gray colour, and ductile, as may be seen in the Sol, No. 102, Sept. 24th, 1823. It will be bet- ter obtained by treating the alloy with sulphuret of antimo- ny, on account of the greater affinity between the rhodium and the sulphur; a process very successfully employed by a man who the last year purified a quantity for 1800 dollars, making a secret of it, as if this were an age of mysteries, and we were inhabitants of Otaheite. This analysis is imperfect, in consequence of the unfortu- nate condition of our laboratory, after having been thirty years in charge of a chemist like Elhuyar, the discoverer of Wolfram and Cerium : it is true, that under the old govern- ment he pursued his occupation steadily, through necessity, for he who has once had a taste of the experimental sciences, cannot possibly ever abandon them. igned) ANDRES DEL Rio, Prof. of Mineralogy in the College of Mines. ‘Mexico, Dec. 9, 1824.” Arr. XL—Caricography. By Prof. Dewey. (Continued from Vol. XI. p. 167.) {Communicated to the Lyceum of Nat. Hist. of the Berk. Med. Inst.] 109. _C. sterilis. Willd. sah Sook. » dMfah.Pursh, Eaton, Pers. no. 3. a Ell. no. 1. Schw. and Torrey no. 2. : Schk. tab. Mmm. fig. 146. Spica composita dioica et androgina; spiculis subquinis sessilibus approximatis, nunc omnino stameniferis suboblongi vel fructiferis ovatis, nune andro is superne vel in- rr ‘Stameniferis ovatis ; fructibus distigmaticis ovatis act- mimatis vel subrostratis bifidis com sso-triquetris margine Caricography. | 305 Culm 4—12 inches high, obtusely triquetrous, rather hex- angular, striate, growing black below, scabrous above ; leaves linear, upper ones long as the culm; shorter below, rou ough on the edge ; staminate spikelets ovate-oblong, rather acute, about five, approximate, sessile, with an ovate scale ‘acute ; pistillate spikelets more distinctly ovate, situated like the sta- “Sagat ; androgynous spikelets, like the pistillate, staminate ometinres above and sometimes below ; ; fruit ovate, cordate- ovate {Muh.), acuminated into a short beak, bifid, subcom= pressed, scabrous on the margin above, reflexed at the. apex and diverging, with an ovate scale somewhat acute, white on the margin, and about the length of the; Flowers im May in the marshes of Penn=Muhy: a mon over the country, in wet situations. In the dioeciou form, this species is easily distinguished from C. stellulata and °C. scirpoides—but commonly they are probably con- founded, as they greatly resemble each other. C. affinis. R. Brown. tristigmaticis ; squamis lanceolatis acutis, in- fima “atatade § ; foliis planis. . Culm six inches high, triquetrous, subscabrous, leafy to-. wards the base; leaves narrow, linear, flat, shorter than the culm, filiform at the apex; spike single, staminate a loose-fiowered ; fruit about five, with a tawny scale; three. Moi. Found in Arctic America, by Dr. Richardson. See : Frank. Nar. ed. 2. This plant appears to be exceedingly like C. polytrichoides ; if the fruit do not difler, it can searce- ly be considered more than a variety. pp- ill. C. attenuata. R. ment ste . and Torrey no na superne ane densa ; fructi- ob- os ar - ibus = reiatiacuianiese paucioribus obternis ; squamis omni sis. = und in Arctic America, by Dr. Richardson. See App: rank. Nar. ed. 2. 1 oa 306 Caricography. 112. C. bicolor. Allion. Schw. An. Tab. Pers. no. 30. Rees’ Cyc. no. 76. Schw. and Torrey no. 27. Schk. tab. Aaaa fig. 181. Spicis androgynis inferne staminiferis ternis ovatis subsessi- libus, erectis ; fructibus distigmaticis obovatis obtusis sub- compressis ; squamis ovatis obtusis. “Culm 3—6 inches high—leaves half the length of the culm, linear ; fruit elliptic, or obovate obtuse, green, with ar ovate scale becoming black ; lower spike short-pedunculate and bracteate. . Found in Labrador, by a Moravian missionary, and sent to Mr. Schweinitz—agrees with the European plant. Mon. 113. C.loliacea. L. Pers. no. 64. Rees’ Cyc. no. 33. Wabl. no. 47. Schw. and Torrey no. 29. C. tenella, Schk. Car. 1. p. 23. tab. Pp. fig. 104. Spiculis androgynis inferne staminiferis ternis, subdistanti- bus minutis paucifloris sessilibus; fructibus distigmaticis ellipticis vel ovatis obtusis subcompressis divaricatis ner- vosis ore integris, squama ovata acuta subduplo longioribus. nder, flexuous ; leaves narrow, linear, shorter than the culm, with brownish sheaths towards the base, bract long; setiform, flexuous, under lowest or two lower spikelets; staminate scale lanceolate ; spikelets three or four, small, ovate, sessile, remote, few-flowered, staminate at the base; fruit el- liptic, or ovate-ebtuse, somewhat compressed, a little diverg- ing, curved, entire at the orifice, with an ovate scale acute, and about half the length of the fruit. Found in the cedar swamp.in New-Durham, N. J.—Dr. Torrey ; also in Arctic America—Dr. Richardson. It is well known that Schk. considered C. tenella as the true C. loliacea, a C. stellulata. Schreb. =o C. echinata, Retz et al. : Spicul his androgynis inferne staminiferis subquaternis ova- S Femotiusculis sessilibus ; fructibus distigmaticis ovatis acu- ininatis Compressis subbifidis margine scabris divergentibus et reflexis, squama ovata obtusiuscula paulo longioribus. 4—14 inches high, triquetrous, rather slender, leafy —— the base ; leaves linear, shorter or even longer than e culm, rough on the edge ; spikelets three to five, ovate pontee the highest, which is elongated by the staminate flow- ers decurrent at the base, somewhat approximate, lower often more remote and supported by a long linear bract sca- brous 5 stigmas two; fruit ovate, somewhat ota: at the base, short-acuminate, scabrous on the mar, 0-con- vex, nearly entire or slightly bifid, iosaadiedi reflexed in maturity ; pistillate scale ovate, tawny, whitish on the mar- gin, a little shorter than the fruit. Colour of the plant yel- lowish green. Flowers in May—grows in marshy situations in meadows and pastures and Pippa woods—common in our c as well as in Euro This species was considered by the English ‘botigtiers as the C. muricata, L., until the acquisition of the Herbarium of Linneeus showed their mistake. Under this name it was described by many. Indeed, Wahl. considers this plant to be C. muricata, L. in Flor. Sie though it is not the plant described afterwards by Linnzeus under this name, _— has the staminate flowers above the pistillate. The re blance of C. seirpoides to C. steliulata led Muh. to ax whether it is sufficiently distinct from it. In C. stellulata all the spikelets are androgynous ; in C. scirpoides, the upper spikelet is androgynous, while the others are entirely pistil- late, or have few staminate florets, —the pisti tillate scale too is more lanceolate, and more obtuse in proportion. Still it is certain that the varieties of C. —_——— C: sterilis, and C. scirpoidea, are extremely near each othe 115. C. muricata. L. Pursh, Eaton, Pers. no. 57. Wahl. no. 28. d fig. pica composita androgyna ; ode subsenis superne s ovatis sessilibus a roximatis, seepe inferioribus staminiferi pp a : acuminatis convexo-planis diverg bris, i ama ovata’ duplo longioribus vel ovato-lanceolatze zequalibu 308 Caricograpliy. bright to a yellowish green. Flowers in May—grows about woods and hedges—com~ mon. On the specimens of C. muricata from England and Ger- many, the scale of the fruit is of anequal | sometimes scarcely exceeding half the length of the fruit In this par- ticular, our plant is like the European. The form of the plant, on tab. E. fig. 22, is not very common. The following variety is much more frequent. g. cephaloidea, {Mihi.) C. loliacea, Schk. Car. L. p. 22. tab. Ee fig. 9F, ©. muricata Wahl. ay gatis subquinis arcte sessilibus; fructibus vatis, squama duplo longioribus. : The plant called C. loliacea, by Schk. Car. E. p. 22, he afterwards considered a variety of C. muricata. ‘The scale is shorter on our plant than is shown on his figure, Culm @ foot or more high, and in rich shaded hedges often four feet, and decumbent from its weight, acutely triquetrous; spike- lets commonly aggregated, yellowish ; fruit horizontal ; pis- tillate scale ovate, small, rarely exceeding half the length of th t; common. he spikelets are exceedingly like those on tab. Ee fig: 91, and the plant belongs to no other described, and is described by no botanist of our country unless under the name of C. muricata. Cc. divulsa, Gooden. is credited to our country by Pursh, and is considered by Wahl. as only a variety of C. muricata, —it-is,,at least, very near it. I have never fonnd a variety; wever, which was like the specimens of C. divudsa received from. ‘ope. One form. of C, sparganioides exactly resem- bles the figure of C. divudsa, Schk. tab. Dd. fig. 89, and is. Caricography. 309 probably the plant intesicledl by Pursh. Had I not found it growing upon the same root with the common C. sparganioi- des, I should have referred it to the same figure i in Schk. f is probably a form of this variety, which is called C. Nuttal- li, Schw. An. tab. 116. C. remota. L. Pursh, Wahl. no. 51. Rees’ Cyc. no. 40. Pers. no. 68. cme — Torrey no. 42. chk. tab. E. fi Spiculis Bet ernerrs iene cn on numerosis ovate- oblongis subsessilibus, inferioribus distantibus, bractea longis- sima foliacea suffultis; fructibus distigmaticis ovatis acumi- natis bifidis con vexo-p aniusculis subbifidis, squama ovato- lanceolata paulo longioribus. Culm 12—20 inches high, leafy, slender, flexuous ; leaves linear, rather narrow, often surpassing the culm ; ai very long, linear, leafy, under the lower spikelets ; stigmas two ; spikelets ovate-oblong, numerous, nearly sessile, seatsatie below, approximate towards the summit, lower ones guise re- mote; fruit ovate, acuminate e, or oblong-ovate, bifid, some- ers in May—found in woods on the mou intains: of Penn. fie ioe ; in Arctic America—Dr. Richardson. The fig. in Schk. is very fine—on my European speci- mens the spikelets vary from five to twelve, 117. C. media. R. none Schw. and Torrey no Spicis androgynis inferne isle iristigmaticis ternis subsessilibus approximatis ; ; fructibus ovatis rostratis glaber- rimis, squama ovata obtusiuscula longioribus. ound in Arctic America, by Dr. Ri chardson. Mon. See App. Frank. Nar. ed. 2. Though nearly allied to C. bicolor, it appears to be a distinct species. 118. C. concolor. R. ee w. and Torrey no. Spica sth fs solitaria ;_ spicis ; ieee distignaaticis binis vel ternis erectis subsessilibus; fructibus ovalibus mu- cronatis integerrimis ee : bo seca — conco~ loribus obtusis; culmis laevibus ; bracteis au ound on Melville Island—said to resemble C. caespitesa, 310 Caricography. 119. C. mutica. R. Brown. Schw. and Torrey no. 56 Spica staminifera solitaria, squamis obtusis ; spicis fructi- feris tristigmaticis ternis distantibus erectis subexserte pedun- culatis, fructibus ovalibus muticis laevibus, squama ovata mucronata longioribus ; foliis bracteisque planis. Found in Arctic America, by Dr. Richardson. Mon. See App. Frank. Nar. ed. 2. . 120. C. saxatilis. L. ; Pursh, Eaton, Pers. no. 114. Wahl. no. 140. Schw. An. Tab. Rees’ Cyc. no. 90. Schk. tab. T and Tt fig. 40.” C. Bigelowii, Torrey in Schw. An. Tab. — compacta, R. Brown? Schw. and Tor. no. 54. Spica staminifera solitaria oblonga erecta, squamis obtu- sis; spicis fructiferis distigmaticis subternis alternis, superior- ibus ovatis sessilibus, inferioribus suboblongis brevi-pedun- eulatis bracteatis ; fructibus ovatis obtusis vel oblongo-ovali- bus subcompressis ore integris subpubescentibus, squamam ovatam obtusam subzequantibus. This species is given on the authority of Pursh, who found it in the hemlock woods of Vermont and New-Hampshire. It has been considered doubtful whether the plant inhabits our country, and Pursh has been thought to have mistaken the C. Washingtoniana, Vol. X. p. 272 of this Journal, the C. nigra, no. 69 of the Mon. for the above species. difference between C. savatilis, and C. Washingtoniana, in the number of stigmas and the form of the spikes, is too great to render the supposition probable. The same is true also in relation to these two species and the C. nigra, as shown by Schk tab. Aaa fig. 115, and as described by European authors- The three are very different in various respects. It seems e more probable that Pursh was not mistaken, as the ©- compacta, R. Brown, found in Arctic America, is stated to resemble C. saxatilis, and is perhaps a variety of it. This ee is found in Alpine districts of the north of Europe- ulm triquetrous, glabrous, leafy towards the base ; leaves linear-lanceolate, shorter than the culm ; bract leafy, aurict- ute, under ene or more of the lower spikes and longer, with short sheaths; staminate spike single, erect, oblong, with nearly linear and often very obtuse scales; pistillate spikes two to five, upper ones ovate and sessile, lower ones rather Caricography. 31f eblong, i and short-pedunculate, nearly black, rather densely flowered ; stigmas two ; fruit ovate, or oblong-oval, names rather compressed, entire at the orifice, slightly pu- bescent 3 ee scale ovate, obtuse, black, and about the length of the Note. A description of C. Willdenowia, vol. IX. p. 258, from perfect specimens, here follows, C. Willdenowii. Schk. Muh., Pursh, Eaton, Pers. no. 5. Ell. no. 4. Schw. and Torrey no. 5. pair tab. Mmm, fig. 145. Jamesti, Schw. An. Tab. Culmis vel | pedanedi 1—3 ex radice eadem ; spica unica superne staminifera basi ovata; fructibus 3—6. tristigmati- cis ovato-globosis rostratis subinflatis subtriquetris ; squamis ovatis acutis ere foliiformibus longissimis spica per- multo longioribu: Obs. Variat sche cum spica staminifera distincta. Culm 3—12 inches high, one to the sam sheaths, acutely. triquetrous, scabrous above Tax. lowest like common peduncles and shorter ; leaves subradical, linear, rough on the edge, flat, striate, oe much longer than the culm, with brownish sheaths ; spike single, stami- nate above, ovate at the base, in maturity + ; staminate flowers about six, sometimes on a separate spike, with short and eb- tuse scales, whitish on the edges ; stigmas three ; fruit three to six, ite eae glabrous, slightly triquetrous, some in- flated, rostrate, nearly entire at the orifice, before maturity ieiseniatt: or "ovate-lanceotate, the beak scabrous under a lens ;_pistilate scale very various, the upper ovate and acute, and about the length of the fruit ; the lower leaf-like, Lng linear-lanceolate, many times longer than the spike. Colo of the plant light green ame in She grows in dry woods in Penn.—Mubh. ; also in Ohio.—Dr. E. Jam The figure of Schk. was ies from a specimen, upon which the fruit was not mature, and the fruit is not represent- ed sufficiently globose at the base, but as too nearly lan late. The leaf-like scales of the lower fruit are not drawn ef near the length which they often have. $72 Caricography) izi. C. tetanica. Schk. Schk. Car. IL. p. 68. ae Oooo fig. 207. Schk. tab. Ggg fig. 1 Spica sig es solitaria ales ; spicis fructiferis iristigmaticis binis vel ternis remotis, infima ongo-pedun cu lata; fructibus obovatis apice recurvis ore integris, squama ovata obtusa longioribus. is much obscurity resting upon this species, and some mistake must have been made. Schk. referred two figures to the same pects and yet there can scarcely be a doubt that tab. Ggg fig. 100, was drawn from a variety of C. pyriformis, Schw., the C. aurea, Nutt., as the fruit and up- per pistillate scales poh agree exactly with this figure, and the opened fruit shows the same dark, compresees and obo- vate seed, drawa on the fig. of Sch 5 ee barium of Muh. is clearly the C. granularioides, Schw., which is the true C. conoidea of Schk., as remarked Vol. X. p. 47. The C. tetanica of Muh. Herb. ‘and.o: f the Mon. is obviously a Baad distinct plant from the C. tetanica, Schk. described ve. A new name has already been given to it by Dr. Schw. -, and it is also ©. conoidea Schk. The C. tetanica, Schk. must retain the name given by that botanist. Unti the specimens shall have been actually compared with those from which Schk. drew his figures, this is the only course. Ihave a species of Carex aiuek agrees very nearly with the ch gee and figure of Schk., and must at least be a variety of the real C. tetanica, I fred a full opportunity of examining it in ar fresh state. It has the following charac- ters, and corresponds very nearly with tab. Oooo fig. 207. Culm 6—10 inches high, triquetrous, scabrous above; leaves flat, linear-lanceolate, shorter than the culm; bracts ae long, surpassing the tale: with short sheaths ; stami- uate spike single, erect, See runeniate. with oblong and € scales, tawny, green on the keel ; stigmas three ; pistil- late ke two, sometimes three, oblong g, loose-flowere sub-sessile, the lower exsertly pedunculate ; iat evate and acute at both endsi in its young state, and recurved at Caricography. 313 ve apex,—when mature, obovate, sometimes recurved, gla- brous ; pistillate scale ovate, distinctly mucronate below, less in the middle of the spike, and often only acutish at the summit, green on the keel, shorter than the fruit. Colour light green. lowers in May—moist meadows, in Stockbridge, Mass. 122. C. Halseyana. Dewey. Vol. XI. tab. N. fig. 43. Spicis staminiferis subbinis oblongis erectis sessilibus ap- proximatis a fructifera remotis, suprema longiore } spica fruc- tfera tristigmatica solitaria oblonga cylindracea exserte pe- dunculata erecta sublaxiflora, raro binis distantibus et supre- us subtriquetris inflatis nervosis glabris ore obliquis, squama ovata acutiuscula paulo longioribus. . Culm 1—2 feet high, erect, acutely triquetrous, minutely scabrous, purplish towards the base ; leaves linear-lanceolate, about half as long as the culm, shorter below, rough on the ‘edge, sheathing tewards the base ; bracts linear-lanceolate, leafy, shorter than the culm, with sheaths white opposite to the leaf; staminate spikes one to four, generally two, approxi- ate, sessile, lower ones short, upper one about an inch long, densely imbricate, remote from the pistillate spike,—with an oblong and obtuse scale, tawny, white on the edge, green on the keel, and the lower one sometimes with a few fruit; stigmas three ; pistillate spike single, sometimes two, erect, oblong- cylindric, exsertly pedunculate, somewhat loose-flowered,— when two, the lower remote, and the upper sometimes stami- nate at the apex; fruit ovate, or oval-ovate, slightly inflated, glabrous, nerved, sub-triquetrous,—with a short beak, red- dish brown, and its orifice white and oblique ; pistillate scale ovate, somewhat acute, sometimes rather obtuse, reddish- This beautiful species bears some resemblance to C. vestita, which has sometimes two staminate spikes ; but the spikes of this plant are longer and not sessile, and in most o its cha- racters it differs from any American species hitherto de- scribed : VoL. XI.—wno. 2. 46 - oi4 Caricography- 123. CC. collecta. Dewey. Ta fig. 44 _N. fig. 44. Spica staminifera solitaria erecta laxe imbricatis gracils ern fructibus ovatis rostratis su aaa sub-pubeseentibus, squama ovata acuta paulo lengior —16 inches high, ase AS scabrous above, pro- cumbent in maturity, very slender, leaves linear, subradical, shorter below, upper also shorter than the culm, narrow, mi- nutely scabrous on the edge, soft, bracts linear, lower one about equalling the culm, staminate spike single, ereet, slen- der, nearly half an inch long, scales oblong, long-acute, whitish-yellow, white on the edge, green on the keel and sea- brous, loosely imbricate ; stigmas three ; pistillate spikes two o four, ovate, small, sessile, few dicgauenete bracteate, lower one pedunculate ; fruit ovate, rostrate, slightly bidentate, sub- pubescent, and ciliate serrate on the beak; pistillate scale ovate, rae large, light yellow, white on the edge, green and scabrous on the keel, shorter than the ea Color of the plant tight green. Seed ovate, triquetro Flowers in May—grows in small bogs on ihe border of a high sphagnous marsh, Worthington, Mass. with C. curta. Related to C. nove-anglia—but differs in the number of tigmas, ae in other characters. From C. varia it differs in its manner of growth, as well as in its staminate spike, scale, and in its fruit being more ovate, less globose, slightly cent, and scabrous or ciliate-serrate along the beak. 124, C. verna. Vill. Pers. no. 103. — precox. Jacq. Wahl. no. 98, Pers. no. 91- Schk. tab. fig. 27. Spica staminifera solitaria erecta ; spicis fructiferis tristig- faticis binis ovato-oblongis approximatis sub-pedunculatis ; fructibus ovalibus subtriquetris acutis pubescentibus, squama ovato-oblonga sub-mucronata paulo brevioribus. Culm 2—6 inches ‘high, triquetrous, smooth; leaves sub- i linear, eabicead on the edge, rigid, spreading, "longer than the culm ; sheaths short, terminated by a short, lanceo- ries acute bract; staminate spike single, ia mnie PS dunculate, Sancti: with a few pissillate fo rets at the base; staminate, scale oval, rather lon ng, 0 why; Ss obtu tigmas ; pistillate spikes two, approximate. “ovate sub- » Caricography. 315 sessile, lowest short-pedunculate, fruit oval, subtriquetrous, acute, pubescent ; pistillate scale ovate, rather road, some- what acute or sub-mucronate, dark-colored, and a little longer than the fruit. Color pale or yellowish-green. Flowers in May—grows on “ rocky hills in the north part of Salem, Mass.”’—found by Dr. C. Pickering this season, for the first time in our country. It is a common European species. n the specimens of this species received from Germany, the pistillate scale is sometimes only acute, on oth- ers it is short-mucronate. On the plant sent me by Dr. Pickering, it has commonly the latter form. The whole plant very closely resembles the European, except that the scales are rather lighter colored. It should be remarked that this plant ts mot the C. precox, Schreb., the C. Schreber?, Schk. tab. B. fig. 9. Remark. Additions and Corrections. To C. bullata, Vol. 1X. p. 71, should have been added the following variety. 3. bullata. Schk. se 6: cylindracea, Mihi. C. cylindrica, Schw. An. Tab, Spicis staminiferis longo-pedunculatis ; spicis fructiferis longo-cylindraceis subdensifloris ; fructibus longo rostratis. In this variety, the fruit is much more close than in the common form, less inflated, and with a beak longer in pro- portion and very slightly scabrous. Found i rolina—Schw. ; also, with the common variety in New-England. Also, to C. hirsuta, Vol. TX. p. 60, the following variety. C. hirsuta. Willd. Schw. and Torrey no. 47. 8. medunculata, ‘Torrey. ; é : Spicis aihkonae-eylindracels pedunculatis ; foliis leviter pubescentibus. 316 Caricography. Also—the C. alba of our country, Vol. VII. p. 266, must. be considered a variety of the European species, on account of the difference in the leaves. no. 75. 6. setifolia, Dewey, Vol. XI. tab. H. fig. 26. The leaves are bristle-form, slender, rather stiff, and erect till near maturity. It is rather smaller than the specimens from Europe. In other respects it does not differ. In the form and colour of the fruit and scale, and in the hyaline, obtuse, leafless sheaths, the resemblance is complete. : Grows on light rocky soil, Pownal, Vt. and Goat Island, N. Y —abundant at the latter place. Also, at Watertown, N. ¥.—Dr. Crawe ; Mor. Also—to C. squarrosa, Vol. VII. p. 270, the following variety. : C. squarrosa, L. Vol. XI. tab. I. fig. 29- Schw. and Torrey no. 11. : 8 typhinoides, Dewey. C. typhinoides, Schw- An. Tab. Spicis longo-cylindraceis superne attenuatis subbinis szepe approximatis. Spikes long-cylindric, attenuated above, one to three, more or less pedunculate, often approximate ; large and leafy bract under the lower spike ; leaves appear to be less rigid. Found in N. Carolina—Schw. This appears to be only a variety of C. squarrosa—the fruit has three stigmas, though it is referred in the An. Tab. to those which have only ts and the scales do not differ. As all the descriptions © squarrosa implied there was only one spike, this was patural- ly considered distinct. But the common variety is found to ve from one to three spikes, similarly situated to these, a5 shown in the Monograph, Pl. 27, fig. 2. The specimens 1 received from Dr. Barratt, collected in the Highlands of N. Y. have one, two, and three spikes. It becomes necessary t© amend the description of C. squarrosa, L. by this difference in the number of spikes. The lower ones too appeat 2 have much fewer staminate florets than the highest, or t0 be destitute of them. The figure of ©. squarrosa, Vol. XI. tab: I. fig. 29, shows the common variety before the fruit is ma~ : Also—to C. umbelluta, Vol. X. p. 31, the following ¥* ra Caritcography. 317. C. umbellata. Schk. Se om oe Torrey no. 89. na, Dewey. Vol. X. tab. D. fig. 13. Spica fructitors unica staminiferee eppcoximnaes Seals ceteris fructiferis, cum pedunculis radicalibu One sessile pistillate spike ovate and at € staminate, with two or three radical peddntied bearmg each a pistillate spike, as in the common variety. As this variety is found growing on the same root with the other, there can be no doubt about it, although the fig. in Schk. and all the descriptions given before that in this Jour- nal, Vol. X. imply that all the pistillate spikes are on radical peduncles. This variety too is very common. Also—C. multiflora. M Schw. and seme no. 8. mucrosperma, Hooke Vol. X. tab. F. fig. 19. C. microsperma, Wahl. The characters are given from Wahl. in Vol. TX. p. 61. The spike as a whole less compact than in the eae variety—but the spikelets close aggregated ; the fruit less compressed, oe with a shorter and less acuminate beak. rows in the same situations as the common, and the spikes are often lar ner The C. bracteosa, and C. polymorpha, Schw. An. Tab. are said in the Mon. to be only varieties of C. multiflora. C. Collinsii. Nutt. Nutt. Genera, Vol. II. p C. Michauxii, Dewey, Vol. ea be 273, tab. G. fig. 21. — subulata, Mx. and Mon. n As Wahl. had established a ston 8 bes the name of C. _subulata, it became necessary to change the name given by Mx. to this species. But as Mr. Nuttall had given the plant another name ee pecs requires that this species should be called C. Collins Though I have never seen the termination of the fruit so came aia there can be no doubt that Mr. Nuttall respected the plant which I called . Michauxii. 1 adopt his name for this species. C. affinis. R. Br. Vol. XI. p . rupestris, All. ? Schk. seb Nnnn. fig. 2 * The description of C. afinis shows it to be very ne i not identical with C. rupestris, Allio on. 318 Caricography. C. cespitosa, Vol. X. p. 2 Lower pistillate spike often with one 2 to three branches at its base. so pseudo-cyperus, Vol. TX. p. 7 The staminate spike is sometimes 2 sdogy nous having a cluster es pistillate flowers at the summit C. Be Vol. XI. p- 157, or, Dewey, Vol. XI. tab. N. fig..4 Spiculis parvis subsenis obovatis ; fructibus aes acumi- natis compressis alatis serrulatis, squamam ovatam acutam subzequantibus. n this variety, found in cultivated fields, the spikelets are much smaller than in the common one, less globose, nearly obovate, more remote in proportion to their size ; the fruit is siaallon, less round, less broadly winged, and about equal i in length to the ovate and acute scale. Although this variety = ed pretty remote from the common form, there is full n to consider it only as a variety, Ficus of the following art accompany this ie : Vol. 148 b. M. fig. 38. C. dasyc XI. les 8 SE XI. p. 150 40—Elliottii XI. p. 151 41—verrucosa XI. p. 159 ae. ichocarpa turbinata XI. p. 159 Tab. N. fig. 43—Halseyana XI. p. 315 44—collecta XI. p. 314 45—straminea » minor XI. p. 318 46—plantaginea XI. p. 155. 47—anceps X. p. 36. a. Broad radical leaf. b. N arrow SS long hyemal leaf. ulin pu B polsstachi XI. p. 166 9—tet: XI p. 312 Note. This Cavicouraphy contains descriptions of one hundred and twen echo species of Carex found in North- America. It caine the fifty-nine species described by a ilenberg, except his . polymorpha, which is probably 2 y of C. Buxbaumii. In the Flora of Pursh, sixty-four spa of Carex are described. Of these, C. arenaria, ©. C. leporina, C, ovalis, and C. distans, have not Caricography. 319 been found by later botanists, even in the very localities men- tioned by that author. ‘These several species, common in Europe, are generally supposed not to inhabit our country. The other species in Pursh’s Flora have been introduced into this Caricography. f the numerous species in the An. Tab. of Dr. Schweinitz, most have been introduced into this work, as species or varieties well ascertained. Future examinations may detect some mistakes, or discover other species, which m may be the subject of another paper. Figures of forty-nine species and varieties have been given in this work, embracing all the new to which the writer had access. By some, there will be thought to be a too great increase of species. The present hostility to introduction of new species is favourable to the cause of natural science. In hi Discourse before the New-York Alpha of the ®. B. K. Society, His Excellency DeWitt Clinton expressed the ral opinion of scientific men upon this subject. Still it is oe aie this principle may, like every other, be carried ie extreme, and one which shall be equally ital peg science. The natural history of any genus can- not be perfect, siti all the _— distinct nized and describe A difference, every trifling variation” is not to constitute a new species, the language or practice even of Linnzus will not authorize the rejection of important and constant differences. Upon them he founded all the species he described. “ Upon science is perfected. There can be little doubt that future d. observers will add many species to those already describe Systematic Arrangement and Index of the North American Species of Carex I. SrTicMAS Two. A. Spike single. Diecious. 1, Carex ete : ond Vol. X. p. 285 Linnzana, Walt Dateline ites i 2. ‘Wormskoldian,* Hornem. Vol. XI. p. 154 — scirpord — Mich reed chy: | * Those species marked with an asterisk are common to. Europe and this country. — . 320 Caricography- = Spikes several. Dicecious and Sage aio with stamens and pistils variously situate 5 sterilis, Willd. Vol. XI. p. 304 4. —— bromoides, Schk. VIII. p. 264 C. Spikes several. Androgynous. Stamens at the summit of th ie spitele is. 2 cephalopor, Willd. p- 269 & X. p. 268 6. —— rosea, : X. p. 276 — 8B. radiata, Dewey, X. p. aCe - XI. tab. H. fig. 24 7, —— retroflexa, Muh. I. p. 271 $e p- 277 8. —— Muhlenbergii, Schk. II]. p. 265 9. — is ipata, Muh. VIL. p. 271 & X. p. 277 vulpinoidea, Mx. 10 multiflora, Muh. 1X. p. 60 microsperma, Dewey, XI. p. 317 & X. aa “i fig. 19 iL sparganioides, Muh. I. p. 265 12. disperma, Dewey, VIII. p. 266 & IX. oe A. fig. 5 15. —— setacea, Dewey, IX. p. 61, tab. B. fig. 5 14, —— paniculata,* L. & Muh. X. p. 275 —— decomposita, Muh. 15. teretinsetla, * Gooden. VII. p. 265 16. —— muricata,* L. XI. p. 307 8. cephaloidea, Dewey, XI. p. 308 2. Stamens at the base of the spikelets. 17. —— bicolor,* Allion. p- 306 is. -—— ta p- 19. —— Deweyana, Schw IX. p. 62, tab. C. fig, 14 20 trisperma, Dewey, IX. p. 63, tab. C. fig. 1? oi. Perper, Schk. ; - VIII. p. 94 —— leporina, Mx. 22, lapopodicides, Schk. VIII. p- 95 — tribuloides, Wahl. Richardi, Mx. 23. ——_ straminea, Willd. VII. p. 276 & XI. p- 157 - brevior, Dewey, XI. p. 158 — straminea, W ahi. y- minor, Dewey, XI. p. 18 tab. N. fig. 45 24, —— fena, Muh. X. p. 284 25. cristata, Schw. X. p44 & XI. tab. K. fig. $1 me. - —— Muski ngamensis, Schw. X.7281 & XI. tab. L. fig. 35 = arida, Schw. and Torrey. Pe stellulata,* Schreb. : XI. p- 306 — echinata, Reiz et al. 28. —— scirpoides, Schk. VIII. p- 96 —— triceps, Mx. Caricography. 32) 29. ——— curta,* Gooden. VIII. p. 93 canescens, L. et al. 30. —— festucacea, Schk. ab Pp = Sti. remota,* 32. —— tenera, Dewey, VIII. p. 97 & IX. me Zod fig. 3. Stamens at the apex of the highest and iat ikl he middle spikelets entirely stamin 33. ——— siccata, Dewey, X. p. 278. tab. F fig. 18 D. Stamens and stigmas on separate spikes. 1. Staminate spike single. $4, novee anglize, Schw. IX. p. 64 B fig. 7 35 floridana, Schw. X. p. 45, ae% e. 22 & 23 36 aurea, Nuttall, + A . p. pyriformis she IX. p. 69 & XI. tab. I fig. 30 Se concolor, R Bro XI. p. 309 38. —— mutica, R. Br. XI. p. 310 39, —— saxatilis,* L. - XI. p. 310 8. compacta, R. Br. ? XI. p. 310 2. Siaminate spikes two or more. 40. —— acuta,* L. X. p. 265 8- erecta, Dewey, “Xp. 265 y- sparsifiora, Dewey, X. p. 265 41. — cae itosa,* L. X. p. 266 42. —— aquatilis,* Wahl. F X. p. 267 43. stricta,* Gooden. te X. p. 269 44, crinita,* Lam X. p. 270 — leonura, Wahl a 8. paleacea, Ph. Pp» 27 ¥ gynandra, Dewey, X. p. 270 II. SricMAS THREE. E. Spikes androgynous. a. Stamens at the summit. 1. Spike single. 45. a ag tte mt Muh. - IX. p. 258 microstachia ; — cot talea, Wahl. — 46. leucoglochin-* Bh, : X. p. 42 —— paucrfiora, Lightt. al. . NI. p. 305 47, —+— aflinis, R. Br.. XL is 317 VOL, XI aint 322 Cartcography- 48, ++ altenuata, R. Br. XL._p. 3035 49, ———_ filifolia, Nutt. XL. p. 150 50, —— F: raseri, Sims. XL. p. 155 — lagopus, Muh. 2. Spikes several. Si. ovata, Rudge X. p. 44 3. One, sometimes more, radical peduncles, with single spikes. 7 nn acne Schk. IX. p. 258 & XI. p. 311 Jamesii Schw. 4. Several radical peduncles, with single spikes. 538. ——— pedunculata, Muh. 1X. p. 259 b. Stamens at the base of the spikes, 1. Spike one, sometimes more. 54, aineriiity Bos VIL. p. 270 & XI, tab. I fig. 29 —— typhina . kB aptianisiens Dewey, XI. p. 316 2. Spikes several. 55. atrata,* L. X. p. 271 media, R. Br. XI. p. 309 F, Terminal spike androgynous, pistillate at the summit 3 the others wholly pistillate. ‘57. —— virescens, Muh. _ EX. p. 259 costata, Dewey 58. —— hirsuta, Willd. 1X. p. 260 Be peduancalata, Torrey XI. p. 315 39. —— Buxbaumii,* Wahl. X. p. 39 —— polyzama, Schk 60. —— yiridula, Mx. XI. p. 153 triceps, Elliott 61. formosa, Dewey, VIII. ps 98 & IX. tab. B fig. 6 62. —— gracillima, Schw.. VIII. p. 98 & XI. tab. I fig. 28 digitalis, Schw. * Torrey. “oe —— misandra, R. B en LP on 4. Torreyana, St ae —— ortiels perch VIE. PrBi7 & IX. tab. A fig. 1 a 0 = — fain, *Schk. se XI. p. 152 es x < Caricography. 323 G. Staminate spike single. i. Pistillate spikes sessile or with inclosed peduncles. 66. —— pubescens, Muh. 67. vestita, Willd. 68. varia, Muh. Be pedicellata, Dewey 69. marginata, Muh. pennsylwanica, Lam. 70. —— dasycarpa, Muh. 71. —— Richardsonii, R. Br. 72 conci 73 flava, 74 Oederi,* Ehrh. — irregularis, Schw. 75, —— tentaculata, Mu! —— rostrata, Mx. Collinsii, Nutt. —— Michauaii, Dewey, — subulata, Mx. and Mon. 77.— fllculat, as —— intumesc 78. “79, —— lupulina, } lurida, Wa B. polystachia Torrey 80. Davisii, Dewey, aa p- alpestris, Allion. & Mon 8{, —— nigro- feat i Schw. X. collee a, De wey, XI. p. 163 XI. p. 148. tab; a fig. 88 [. p. 1 52 = p- 152 IX. p. 65 a X. p. 38 X.p.34 . XI. p. 317 X. p. 27. tab. G fig. 21 X. p. $2 ee Walt 1. VII. p. be gate cand X. tab. D fig. 15 u exsist cal p- 166. tab. N fig. 4 XI. 279 and XI. tab. H fig. 25 p- 282 & XI. tab. H. fig. 27 XI. p- 314 tab. N. fig. 44 9, Pistillate spikes exsertly peimnculaits plantaginea, Lam. latifolia, W Wahl. 84, —— anceps, Schk. plantaginee, Muh. —— heterosperma, Wabl. striatula, Mx 85 alba, Haenke,* p. setifolia, “a ag 86. oligocarpa, ey Vieekii, Dewey, son 88, —— granularis, ub. VII. p. 7 HE BAS 155 g.4 X. p- 36. & XI. tab. N fig. 47 VII. p. 266 XI. p. 316. tab. H fig. 26. 28 X. p- _X, p: 281. tab. F fig. 20 *. IX, p. 262. tab. A fig. " VIL p. 272. & XL p- 156 >. Caricography.- 89. —— scabrata, Schw. IX. p. 66. & XT. tab. K fig. 32 90. —— blanda, Dewey, X. p. 45. & XI. tab. K fig. 33 —— conoidea, Muh. and Mon. 91 laxiflora, Lam. X. p- SE — grisea, Wahl. —— paupercula, Mx. 92 ustulata,* Wahl. XI. p. 149 93. —— capillaris,* L. XL. p. 149 94. —— “peeing: R. Br. XI. p. 7 95 exuosa, Schk. X. p. 40 —— tenuis, Rudge, —— debilis, Mx 96. —— sylvatica, Huds. X. p. 40 drymeja, Wah 7. —— digitalis, Muh. XI, p. 147 98. ——— castanea, Wahl. IX. p75 Jeatis, Rudge. 99. —— Washingtomiana, Dewey, _X. p. 272. tab. D fig. 14 —— nigra, Sehw. and Vorrey, 100. vs Schk. XI. p. 512. tab, N fig. 49 101. Haiseyana, Dewey XL. p. 515. tab. N fig. 45 3. Pistillate spikes pedunculate and scarcely sheathed. 102. —— miliacea, Muh. X. p50 rasina, W 103. —— fecaiiadeg Schk. X. p- 13 8. vicina, Dewey, XI. p. 317 & X. tab. D. fig. 104. —— miliaris, Mx. X. 105. —— Gieeees* : om VIL. "sar 106. —— Elliottii, Torrey, XI. p. 151. . M plants, by their most striking and similar features, subject- mg, however, the whole of them to his parental discipline, for the preservation of order, and for all the good purposes of his labours and avocations ! reed Such is, Mr. President, the respectful homage which, from the last annals, and in the name of the L. S. P. I this day humbly submit to the N. ¥. H- Society. I have to add my own thankful acknowledgment for this inauguration of our bust of Linnzeus, the first introduced in this city, and the perfect image of the greatest instructor of mankind in botany and horticulture. When lato opened his academic sch in a private garden of Academus, in the vicinity of Athens, he wished that the image of Socrates should be the best orna- ment of it. Thus you have gloriously admitted the image of Linnens. . The northern regions, where he was born, often create Boreal lights, to the astonishment of the equatorial and southern inhabitants of the world. Exactly like them, this great man and almost divine mind, has enlightened man- kind on the only order in which the Almighty Creator of the world has performed all its wonders. Deus creavit, Lanneus disposuit. This image, gentlemen, from the statue sess a areater subject in his realms, is actually crowned y the Eta a classes or divisions of the whole vegbuabl $34. . Linnean Society of Paris. kingdom, thus happily entwined by a N. Y. horticulturist, as an emblem of his absolute dominion over it. ‘¢ O Linneus! the world in its successive revolutions eve- ry where can offer the ruins of cities, temples, pyramids, with those of prostrated columns, gorgeous palaces, and mausolea. But the sight of thy gardens is not done away—they are in- cessantly renewed with a greater luxuriance. May thy gen- ius preside over us, and there always will be a bountiful soil for a plant, a fertile country for a nation, and a cultivated ground, with a hut for the poor.” N. B. A general meeting of the New-York Linnzan Branch will take place during the month of November next, of which due notification shall be given to distant or resident honorary and corresponding members. mmunications may be directed to Samuel L..Mitchill, honorary president, or to Felix Pascalis, president, or to Elizur Mead, secretary. New-York, Sept. 21, 1826. . 3. On the cutting of cast tron by soft iron.— BENNINGTON Iron Works, Sept. 1, 1826.—Having recently been a little ' more at leisure, I have repeated the experiments me ntioned in my letter of the 24th January last,* of cutting iron and stee by means of a revolving dix of plate iron, and am now con- vinced that the difference there noticed in the effect of the dix, was owing to the different degress of thickness of the substances subjected to trial; and that cast iron is as easily cut as either wrought iron or steel, if the plate be thin enough to be rapidly heated to ignition in the immediate line of con- tact with the disk. Isaac DooLiTTLe. 4. Correction by Gen. Martin Firtp—Extract of a let- -ter addressed to the Editor, and dated Be_Lows Faults, une 5, 1826.—In the Journal of Science, &c. Vol. 6, p- 219, and Vol. 9, p. 55, it is erroneously stated, that Pinite, and Rubelite are found at Bellows Falls, Vermont. These errors have found their way into other publications ; and the applications, from distant correspondents, for those minerals, have become very frequent. The mineral, which occurs abundantly in the rocks about the falls, and particularly on the rocky island above the = and on Fall Mountain, is unquestionably Fibrolite, which has been strangely mistaken for Pinite. * Vol. X. p. 397 of this Journal. . | | Poreign Literature and Science. $85 in the granite rock, about half a mile below the falls, which contains the Prehnite, small crystals of red feldspar are found, which, ‘ia colour, bear some resemblance to Rubelite. ‘These red crystals have, undoubtedly, beer mistaken for the Rubelite. “Tourmalines, of any kind, ate rarely found’in the _ vecks of that region. 5. Collection of Minerals——A gentleman, long conver- sant in the collecting of minerals, and well acquainted with ineralogy, will put up, arrange and describe scientifically, a cabinet, of from two to four thousand sp cimens, of both for- sion and American minerals. ecimens are stated to public institutions, as may be desired. For terms a : information, reference may be made to the editor of this Jour- nal. 6. Double refraction —A correspondent remarks: ‘* Af ter a considerable number of experiments, with differen transparent bodies, I find none which do not multiply objects, * when cut and polished, with faces inclined to each other.— But, with the exception of Iceland spar, I have found no substance which exhibits double refraction, when the object is viewed through two opposite parallel faces. A notice of the experience of others in this respect, is requested.” Foreign Literature and Science—eriracted and translated by J, GRISCOM. op Eeyrr. The vice-roy has founded a college at Bou- lah, in the palace which was inhabited by his son Ismael.— One hundred pupils, from nine to thirty-five years of , are there maintained at his expense, and learn, under sk , as- ters, Chemistry, Mathematics, Drawing, Greek, Latin, Arabic, Turkish, Persian, and most of the languages of modern Ea- rope. It appears that the higher employments of the admin- istration are reserved for the young people who issue from this college, # ; Seta VOL. XI.—NO.- 2 49 386 Foreign Literature and Science. The viceroy designs to plant, near Cairo, a botanic gar- den, which will be an adjunct to the school of medicine and surgery, which he intends to create, and which he has con- fided to the direction of European officers. A vast Pissed composed of the most remarkable books, in the differe languages of Europe, on all the branches of medical science is attached to this establishment. He has ordered, in Lor don, an apparatus for gas illumination, for the use of his og lace at Cairo, and the place in which itis situated.— Revue Encyc. Jan, 1826. 2. Printinc. M. Senefelder, of Munich, to whom the arts are indebted for the invention of Lithography, now so extensively practised, with more or less advantage, through- out Europe, has just conceived a new kind of stereotype, which is accomplished as follows :—A sheet of common printing paper is covered with a suitable earthy mixture to the thickness of half a line, and which, after being properly moistened, acquires, in the course of half an hour, the con~ sistency of paste. It is then placed upon the plateau of a common printing press, and the form of type, without being inked, is pressed upon it. This produces a mould, or en- graying of the type. The leaf is then dried upon a stone, and melted metal poured upon it, by which a casting is ob- tained, in a thin plate, eens the ehpeaciers, similar to the original type, in ample relief—Idem. 3. Soot. Henri Bvesousiot has analysed soot, obtained from the middle of a chimney in which nothing but wood was net and found it to consist of the following ingredients : lmin, identical with that which is produced arti- pe by saw-dust and potash 2. Animalised 16a ey very soluble in water and in- soluble in alcohol 20.00 Carbonate of lime, pega’ with some traces of - pera of magne 14.66 4. Wat 12.50 Be P peiion of lime 5.65 6. Sulphate of lime 5.00 7. Acetate of potash 4-10 naceous matter, insoluble in alkalies 3.55 < gee of lime (ferruginous us) Lag . “ae Literature and Science. - $87 t1. Acetate of magnes 53 12. a Fie: acid anid bitter principle, (asboline,) -50 i3. ‘Chloride of potassiu -36 i4. Acetate of ammonia, Es ivhitined at 20 15. Acetate of iron, a trace crs cheney Total 100.00 The soot of a stove pipe gave nearly the same result. A- mong the essential products of soot are sulphuric and phos- phoric acids, which appear to result from the ——- of sulphur and phosphorus contained in the wood. It is re- markable {says this chemist) that smoke can transport to viel great heights the matters which I have determined in soot. We know that soot 4 eos in the chimnies of ssiatalie founderies, sometimes contains the fixed metals, such as gold, silver, &c. I have Sscorerer in soot very decided a = tic properties, and have preserved animal substane infusion of it, bar several ers without any alteration: simply diluting with water a mixture of soot (in pow i nn. “The contents of lampblack, agreeably to the same chewnist, are the following : Carbon 79.1 Water 8.6 Resin, analogous to that found in a fossil state in the vicinity of acme and examined by Thompson es Asphaltum or mesa? 1.7 Sulphate of lime 8 Silicious sand oa Imin, 4 Sulphate of potash im Phosphate of tieee, very ferruginous ; Chloride of potassium, a trace eae sien Lampblack is a kind of soot, the carbonisation of which is much more advanced than that of common soot {t may be concluded from the foregoing that all the soots contain essentially various —- The oped of ot ed ble quantity of sulphate of ammonia in lampblack, gh ow that it ought not (as is (iequctitly done) 2 te employ ses- Foreign Literature and Science. the reduction of metals, when the object is to obtain thess pure, and not in the condition of. sulphurets.—JLbid. 4. NoTe on the oropeniition and ase of alkaline digestive pastils, containing’ bi-carbonate of soda ; ‘by M. D’ Arcet.— Haying been ‘obliged, three years ago, to ma ake an almost daily use of pastils of magnesia, [ was afraid that the AR Das cmpenments of this substanee would contribute to faver the fo rinary calculus, and I thought of substituting ear- Ce. of aa. In. 1822, [made a series of experiments, whiels gave me such good results that £ decided, from that time, on ing no more magnesia for the correction of an impaired digestion, and from the month of September, in that year, F employed only pure carbonate of soda. These pastils in- stantly destroyed the acidity eccasioned by bad digestion, and favored perfectly the functions of the stomach ; but they had the inconyenience of being too strongly allealinie, and having a disagreeable taste. . I nevertheless made use of them, with much ee until the middle of June, 1824, when [ re- paired, for the first. time, to the waters of Vichy. PT knew that these Steen waters were digestive, and I soon found that a glass, taken after a meal, was sufficient to promote di- , gestion, and even to. restore it when disturbed. Having ve- rified the goodness of this remedy, during my first visit at Vichy, aud ace that the bicarbonate of soda is the act- of substituting the former for the latter, in the pastils [ made use of. I gave the receipt for these pastils to M. Regnaald, who began to offer them to the public in the menth of Janu- ary, 1825. The use of them having rapidly spread, and obtaining from them myself the best ‘effects, I took the re- ecipt to Vichy, in the monthef June last. M. Batillar, apo- athecary of the thermal establishment, manufactured) large -quantities ef them, and he now prepare s, daily, five ‘ilo grammes, or 5000 pastils. The receipt bet been eommuni~ cated to those who have asked far it, and the alkaline digest- ive pastils, prepared with bicarbonate of soda, are found in shops of the first, apothecaries of Paris, Lyons, Ke. si "The following is the receipt, as I have given its 1 invite apothecaries, who oo avail themselves of Lea to. oie it eee thnk 0 rope eaeeage td Foreign Literature and Science. 389 Take bicarbonate of soda, dry and pure, in fine powder, 5 grammes. Very white sugar, in fine powder, 95 grammes Mucilage of gum adraganth,* prepared with water—q. s. es- sential oil of peppermint, pure and fresh, two or three drops. he bicarbonate of soda and the sugar are to be put into a yery dry bottle and thoroughly shaken, so as to mix the powders well together. They are ‘hen poured out and well mixed with the gum mucilage and oil of peppermint on a marble slab, and converted into pastils or drops, so that after being dried in the air, or by a stove, each may weigh about a gramme. Having a slight attraction for moisture, they should be preserved in bottles well stopped, or kept in a dry Wheeiia- desidi 23 2 Note by the translator—By the advice of the disereet au- thor of the above article, the carbonic acid disengaged from the fountains of Vichy, is employed in saturating the alkalies, and thus preparing, almost without expense, the bicarbo- nate of soda, Some of the best shops of Paris are now sup- plied with the bicarbonate from that quarter. The copious emission of gas from the waters of Balston and Saratoga might easily be employed for the same purpose and in probability the alkaline pastils of D’Arcet be rendered as fashionable and useful there as at Vichy. Bat for the pur- pose of obtaining the alkali well charged with carbonic acid, a common brewer’s vat er fermenting tub, might answer as good a purpose, and be used as cheaply as a natural spring. A solution of the common carbonate of soda, suspended in a broad vessel over the fermenting liquors, would doubtless become thoroughly charged with the gaseous acid. Fre- quent agitation would greatly expedite it, gen It is further observed by M. D’Arcet, that a glass of the water of Vichy, (two decilitres,) contains 1 gramme of bi- carbonate of soda, equal to the quantity contained in 20 of the pastils. The patients at Vichy commonly take 5 glasses of water every morning, besides a bath during the day in the same water. Supposing, (which is not the case,) that the water of the bath is not absorbed, it is certain that a d ; at Vichy, takes in afew hours as much bi-carb. of soda as if he had taken 100 pastils in the same time ; bat the experi- ence of many ages has proved that the waters of Vichy +g salutary to the health. The physician of the place, M. Lucas, has never known that those of his patients who have * Tragacanth ?—Ed. 390 Poreign Literature and Science. returned the most frequently have ever been troubled with diseases of the urinary passages; and it is proved, on the con- trary, that the use of the waters re-establishes the digestive functions, and reproduces in the system, an energy which has surpassed all expectation. These considerations are advanced to prove the harmless- ness of using incidentally, alkaline remedies, not taken fasting, but when an acid disengaged in the stomach is ready to neutralise the small quantities of alkalie which the pastils contain. Experience has shown that a feeble digestion may be easily remedied by taking only one or two of the pastils, and that it is seldom necessary to have recourse to a third, and that when the object is simply to facilitate the functions of the stomach, the pastils have many advantages over the water of Vichy, taken as it comes from the springs. Notonly very pain- ful indigestions, when they actually occur, may be remedied hy these powders, but their occurrence may be prevented, by taking beforehand one or more of the pastils, and allowing the stomach to receive food, which, without this aid, would disturb its functions. The author states, that in his own and that he now seldom has recourse to the pastils, and can : “ } *. ° . could scarcely have digested. In one instance which fell under his notice, a female, who had suffered for five hours, from a violent indigestion, was promptly relieved by taking a pastil every five minutes. The first she took afforded some relief, and eleven were sufficient completely to re-establish her digestion, although these eleven contained no more alkali than half a glass of the water of Vichy. I will add, says M. D’Arcet, that in using these pastils, when one is fatigued with a slow and painful digestion, relief is more promptly obtained, than by employing pure or car- magnesia. The action they produce is so prompt and complete, that it appears purely chemical. recom- mends the employment of them as soon as it is perceived that the stomach has become debilitated, for there is every antage in adopting the remedy before the evil has he- come aggravated.— Idem. o Foreign Literature and Science. 391 5. CRYSTALLINE SUBSTANCES FROM THE JUICE oF of the _pinus abies \.. | have found a new substance ¢rystal- lizing i in square plates, soluble in 74 parts of alcohol, at 88 centiemes, and at 14 c., insoluble in water, X&c. In the Co- laphane of France, procured, from all appearance, from the inus maritima, or pinaster, I have found another substance crystallizable in triangular plates, soluble in 4 parts o hol, equally insoluble in water, &c. hese two new sub- stances react, in the manner of acids; they combine as well with the alkalies as with the acids, and form real salts, some of which oluble in water and alcohol, others only in ether. I have ‘nile! the first abietie acid, and the aol pinic acid. Both were presented, accompanied with a note, to our Society < Natural Sciences at Lausanne, on the 7th of December pletely insoluble in water. is. named, rrovisionsiip breine. Finally, another in the resin of the Amyris elemi- fera, L. This has a near relation to the precedin , but dif- Seis in its greater solubility in alcohol, by its crystalline form, t is elemine. In examining the properties of potatoes, I met with sola- nine; this substance, whic . De focus discovered some years ago in two congenerous plants, the bitter-sweet the night shade, will therefore be added to the other products of the analysis which have been made of this solanum. The tubercules contain much less of them than the germs, which ave also a very acrid taste. I have no doubt that soon or late, st will be taken of it in medicine, and thus a ice will be rendered by this plant, already so valua- ble to man.—Ibid. _ rk in 6. The Butterfly collector's Vade Bees. This wo 12mo. with coloured —s price 5s. W. B. Whittaker, Lon- don, contains a synoptic table of English butterflies, with instructions for collecting a preserving them ; an indica- tion ef the particular Baws, of the eggs, the caterpillar ie. 392 Foreign Literature and Science. and crysalides of each species, and a detailed description of each butterily. 7. Process forcharging water with iron.—If we form a pile with a few pieces of silver and iron plates, placed alternately, and immerse this pile in water, the fluid will soon acquire a yellowish tint, and in 24 hours the oxide of iron will appear in abundance: If the ferruginated water be withdrawn, and the vessel be filled every day with fresh water, we shall have a kind of artificial mineral spring.*——Payen. Bul. Un. 1824. 8. Reduction of sulphurous acid.—M. Dobereiner observ- ed that alcohol, saturated with sulphurous acid, dissolved more iodine, than if it were pure. The liquid containing these two substances, exposed to the rays of the sun, deposit- ed, to his great astonishment, crystals of sulphur.—Bul. Un. Sep. 1824. 9. Russian Drinks —The common drinks in Russia are the Kwass, and the Meth or Kisslichi. To prepare the Kwass, they take a quantity of rye, and having soaked about ae part of it, they spread it thinly on boards or plates, nd expose it to moderate heat, until it sprouts, taking care to sprinkle it now and then with ater. When sufii- viently germinated, they mix it with the rest of the rye, pre- viously ground, and add to the mass a quantity of warm or tepid water. The vessel is then put into an oven, immedi- ately after the bread is drawn, or exposed to a similar tempe- rature, and by degrees more water is added to the paste, Stirring it on every addition. After a time of repose, and when the liquid has become a little clean, it is put into a keg * At page 105, vo), VII. of this Jonrnal, is the following motice by Pro- if Iternated with pieces of jean copper wire entwi ona rod ; buta etinids ae ee: 0 employ silver. As Dr. Hare’s observation ‘i sete ed a fi Sayre we are bound to regard it as ae? with n iron rod 3; but.as copper, when oxida- & =i % Foreign Literature and Science. 393 iermented in large jugs, and when clarified, put into bottles. it then-acquires a vinous taste, lively and agreeable, and is a yellowish color. The sediment is good for cattle. : The Kissiichi is thus prepared. R. 2 Tbs. of rye malt, and the same quantity of barley malt; make a paste of them with warm water, and let it ferment till it has acquired a strong taste. Dilute it with 10 Ibs. of tepid water, and adda few lemon peels. When fermenting, add 20 Ibs. of water, and after the fermentation is complete, bottle it. _ The Bartsch, which is drank principally in Poland and Lithuania, is made with the young leaves and seeds of the acanthus, boiled in water, to which leaven is added, and af- ter fermentation and filtering, it is kept in a cool place. - “itt Bul. Un. Jan. 1825. 10. Experiments to atd in the history of muriatic (hydro- chloric) acid; by MAcatre and Ava. pe La Rive.—The experiments which these authors presented to the Society of Physics and Natural History of Geneva, on the 19th o June, 1823, "may be arranged under two heads. Those which relate to the action of certain combustibles upon the combinations called chlorides ; and those which relate to the action of the pile upon muriatic acid, {hydrochloric,) and upon chlorine. = Experiment 1.—Melted chloride’ of silver was treated at a very strong heat with boron, without undergoing any de- . composition.’ Now as chlorine is volatile, and boruret of silver is fixed; it would seem that action ought to have taken place, if chloride of silver is a combination of a metal with a simple substance. ‘ er Exper. 2:—After having introduced into a porcelain tube, some meltetl chloride of silver, a current of hydrogen gas, thoroughly dried by chloride of calcium, was passed through it. ‘The apparatus was adjusted so as to receive the liquid and gaseous products. The passage of hydrogen was con- tinued a long time without perceiving any trace of humidity; but as soon as heat was applied to the part of the tube which contained the chloride of silver, abundant fumes of muriatic _ acid escaped, water was deposited in the receiver, and the chloride of silver was reduced to the metallic state. The ab-_ sence of common air in the apparatus, obliges us to ascribe. to the chloride of silver, the oxygen which formed this water. The same experiment made with chloride of lead, did not de- VOL XI.—No 2, 50 s ‘ 394 Foreign Literature and Science. posit water in the receiver, but it was filled with dense fumes of muriatic acid, which announce the presence of water Exper. 3.—In treating chloride of sulphur, cold, with po- tassium in a bent tube under mercury, muriatic acid gas was obtained, and the residuum appeared to contain chloride of assium, (muriate of potash,) and sulphate of potash, min- gled with uncombined sulphur. Now, if, as the authors re- mark, chloride of sulphur is composed of nothing but sul- phur and chlorine, and the latter is regarded as a simple sub-- stance, how can muriatic acid and sulphate of potash be formed by the action of potassium alone ? «per. 4.—Proto-chloride of mercury, treated with heat, with potassium, in a bent and well luted. tu be, produced a disengagement of gas, which was ascertaine d to be azote. The residuum consisted of chloride of potassium and metallic mercury. Chloride of silver treated in the same manner, or strongly heated with metallic zinc, gave the same results. These experiments made with potassium, occasioned ag oe rupture of the tubes, with explosion, by which ¢ one of the two operators was seriously injured. Exper. 6.—In decomposing corrosive . sublimate (deuto- chloride of mercury) in a tube of iron, filled with turnings of the same metal, and strongly heated, there was also a libera- tion of azotic gas. The interior *s the tube exhibited, after operation, many globules of mercury, and an abundant quantity of chloride ef iron. Neither of the two existing pecs can account for the production of this gas. r. 9.—Liquid muriatic acid (hydrochloric) exposed to the actin of the voltaic current, gave, at the negative pole, a great quantity of hydrogen, and at the positive pole no gas was disengaged. In admitting, as is the case in the decom- position of all the acids by the pile, the simultaneous decom- ition of water, we cannot, according ‘to the views of essrs. Macaire and De La Rive, explain the absence of ox ygen in this case, except by admitting its combination. swith muriatic acid to form chlorine, which: remains dissolved in ‘the water. stper. 10.—A concentrated and recent solution of chle- rine in water, exposed to the current of the pile, gave a great oxygen at the positive pole, and very little hydro- Sich the negative | Was the chlorine seiolved into oxygen | dinwed i itself at the positive pole, uriatic acid which remained in # galanin ? _or, did the byogen of the de~ . Foreign Literature and Science. 395 composed water, combine in its nascent state, with the chlo- rine, to form muriatic acid? But then the authors ask, why this residuum of hydrogen at the negative, and so eet a quantity of oxygen at the positive pole ¢ In completing the very detailed enumeration of these ex- periments, M. M. Macaire and De La Rive think it right again to remark, Ist, that several of them appear to indicate the presence of oxygen in the compounds called chlorides. 2d, that the experiments which show the presence of oxygen in eee as well as those which relate to the action of the upon muriatic acid and upon chlorine, seem to be more eal explicable on the theory which regards chlorine as a mpound body. 3d. = er ‘that -a part of the experi- aaa relative to the uction of a gas similar to azote, ob- tained by treating the aoe chlorides by a combustible, cannot find a ee in any of the theories sishverto 48 advai J. J. Lassatiagne—Bul. Un. Feb. 1825. ik. Disappearance of the breasts caused by the employ- ment of IODINE. —Much has been said of the good effects Jodine, in swellings of the miner gland, and against scrofu- lous tumours in’ general; but no where has the res acti which it exercises on the breasts incl properly no a Hufeland reports, among other cases, that of a cir vil twenty years of age,- endowed with a good constitution, who ma use, during six months, of the tincture of fodine, for the reso- It produced the desired eflect : but she agate in ti Ss ] n ee si} = = “3 la] Hufeland thinks sufficient to arrest the attention of practition- ers upon a subject of so much importance, for if these facts are confirmed, ina nrajority of cases, a remedy which de- of one of her most io peeeeet organs, ought to be rejected. The ethan asks, m conclusion, if it is om possible that ep i i the sexual organs may 1 particular action of Iodine upon the saat pe uber tel is: hese oe in the extraordinary effect of this — upon t the normal state, might he efficacious m a Ne ea con- dition. Ge 2) | — $96 Foreign Literature and Science. We shall add, that the employment of ss ee produces the same alterations. .M. Eusebe de Sa $ suc~ cessfully employed iodine in a chronic niianieiale of the testicles, and Magendie, in his formule, under the article Todine, has made known the results of this medicament. © ul. Un. Bebs 19825. 12. Sugar from Beets —Although the cane sugar, with the exception of the duties which it pays on admission into rauce, is much cheaper than it has been for a long time in Eur rope, -it is still advantageous to manufacture sugar from beets. Hitherto the production of beet sugar among us has been solely confined to capitalists ;—but these are notoften the persons who are willing to confine themselves in a manufac tory, superintend its operations, and dispose of its produets. © promote as much as possible the production of sugar ‘from pers a writer in the French annals of —— propo- ses to for nalogous to those in is al a and in the Jura, among the owners of cows for the fabrication of Grayere cheese ; that is to say, that the cultivators should send their beets to a manufactory establish- ed by a joint stock, at the head of which should be an ex- pert chemist, and that the sugar thus manufactured, should, afier paying expenses, be distributed; pro rata, among those who furnished the beets... Lhave no deubt that such an asso- ciation would be ady canteens: to the stockholders, but it would be difficult to form such a com company in France, the farmers being generally disinclined to this mode’ ef tarning, to. profit the produce of their land—Bose.—Idem. 13. TREATISE ON THE THEORY AND Practice OF VINIFICATION, or the art of making Wine; with all kinds of ‘fermenithle substances, at all times and seasons; by L. F. D, author of the art of making beer. 12mo. - 408, with a plate, — Paris, 1824. The previous work of the author, excited the ‘hope that the present would be useful to the progress of the art of wine making, and this hope has not been disappointed. It is pivideds aefo three parts. - ‘The first. treats of substances making wine, of the saccharine principle, of fer- a less of temperature, action of the air, the influ- ence, of mona a this fermentation, and the various phe- hs 2 the ferme such as heat, ¢ar- ce eek Foreign Literature and Science.. so7 et The second. pore is entitled the practice of the art of wine making, and embraces the various circumstances connected with, season, ‘maturity of fruit, richness in sugar, of making wine from raisins (dry,) cherries, gooseberries, elderberries, mulberries, quinces, oranges, plumbs, potatoes ; of cider, rry, and beer. The third part relates to factitious or imi- tative = and other liquors. However perfect and whole- _ may be, is it loyal to favour the practice, since i facilitates fraud, either with reEpeet to jndividuals, or gov * The third part is not inferior to the preceding, and it will - be read, even after the eacellent work of M. Jullien, entitled Manuel de S asset “(the Butler’s Manual.) ne in cellars, the racking, clarsiication, mixture, Sirationss & ‘&c. * The author devotes a section o the products = gard a viz. the dregs, Nata a ta and ‘nega and finishes particulars ee e knowledge, tasting and eee rr wine. ‘The w of z. -. D. contains almost all the infor- mation sicestedly for deriving the greatest advantage from vineyards, and must be eminently useful.— Bosc. asidleme ; 14. Nourishment of Horses.—The practice is ; becoming general i in Silesia, of feeding horses with bread. After an experience of 4 years, an intelligent. husbandman is convin- ced of its utility 1 in the double’relation of economy and health. The bread is made by taking equal quantities of oat meal al, mixing it with leaven or yeast, and avding one third of the quantity of boiled potat oes, o each horse is given 12 lbs. per day, in three rations of 4 Ibs. Sack The bread is cut into a pieces, and mixed with a little moistened -cut straw. By th Ss means, he saves in feeding seven horses, 49 bushels of aks in 24 days; while the horses perform their common labour, and are much better in looks, health and ee igigare weelies by covering them, by means acid, wis ich they absorb very readily.— ; ~ The friends of Dr. H. H. rae of Baltimore, know that he made this S sticasham several eae ‘ago.— 398 Correction of an oversight in Lagrange’s Formule. i ; ‘ =i 16. Natural History of the Grub, or Vine-fretter. (Pu- ceron.)—The 25th of May, 1809, M. Duvau placed under a glass with food, a bean grub, (puceron de la féve) which he had just taken at the moment of its issuing from the body of 3 ed ‘& s fact was confirmed in 1740, by the nice experiments of Bon- net. Réamur and Degur showed, two years afterwards, that it is possible to obtain ten generations successively of puce- ngs under glasses. M. Duvau has of course obtained one generation more than Réamur.—Annales de Chim. et de Phys. Jon. 1825. _ APPENDIX. Correction of an oversight in Lagrange’s formule for de- termining the motions of any system of bodies immediately ae about a state of equilibrium, by 1. J. A.* It appears to the writer of this, that Lagrange, in copying out for the press, the formulz which he has given at page 351, vol I. of the Mécanique Analytique, for determining the stability of equilibria, and the laws of the small oscillations of any system of bodies, has inadvertently omitted certain terms which are essentially necessary to the correctness of the results. The quantities there denoted by the characters [1], [2], [3], ,2], &e. are the coefficients of the terms con- taining two dimensions of the independent variables in the general value of V, which is formed by developing, accord- ing to the powers of the increments of the three original co- ordinates, the algebraic function M1, giving to these co-oF- . Received too late for insertion in its proper place.—Ed. Correction of an oversight in Lagrange’s Formule. 399 dinates their values in the state of equilibrium, substituti y tions of ail or their increments equivalent quadratic func independent variables, and then integrating with respect to the dimensions of the system. In doing this, it is evident, that in order that nothing may be neglected which may af- fect the terms of two dimensions of £, L, 9, &c. in the value of V, (the only terms in that function which it is necessary to attend to,) the terms. of the second dimension which enter in- to the value of the increments of the co-ordinates, must be included in the pe wr by all the frst differential co- efficients in the developement of F, although they may be disregarded in the sribgeititai for the prec and proguets of the increments of the co-ordinates. will then seen; that to render the co-efficients [1], [2], &e. pe oa it will be necessary to add to them the following i int tegrals: __ To [1] (Gert ah +a )m (2] as (FZ ag 4 42 pl2+ i es)m Br. sq “2% a mUs+ Gees jm &ce. To [1,2] : “s (nes ina a2) [1,3] s (Ga3+% ats oe [2,3] s(G25+5 Fog 4 o 023) where a'1, a’2, a/3, &c. a1,2, al,3, 02,3, &c. are the co-effi- cients res ctively of 2, 1, p?, &c. EL. £9, Lo &e. in re lee a f x; 0/1, &c. of 37, &c. — rye = & 2 Bee! in the general value of z. (p- 3 2 he ot which is half the sum of the living forces of the system, is evidently, in the case of small osci > ted by the above omission. eo eieaeiale’ in the foregoing formulz, are, no ss such as every practised mathematician who has c a = this chapter of the Mécanique Analytique, has alrea “i mee “ for himself ; but as the error is, at all events, to be sdemon — the last edition of the first volume, that of 1811, — formule in question aflord by far the simplest, = 400 Correction of an oversight in Lagrange’s Formule. general and the most compendious method known for deter- mining the laws of all the small oscillations, single or co- existing, of every possible system of bodies, it was thought While on this subject, it may be as well to add, that in practice it will frequently be possible, an when _ possible, fanction of the quantities of which , J, 9, &c. are the small ‘increments. If T remain a direct function of the three rec- tangular co-ordinates, it will not be sufficient to express the increments of these co-ordinates in linear functions of the small independent variables. These functions must be quad- ratic, or the value of V will be incomplete, and the result will be erroneous. But if I be transformed in the manner above alluded to, the co-efficients of the terms of two dimen- sions in the values of x, y, z, affect no part of the calculation, and the similar co-efficients in the integral Stim or STU Dm, wi g iven immediately without substitution, each of them by the integration of a single differential co-efficient, mul- tiplied by m or Dm, as the circumstances of the system may . happen to require. INDEX TO VOLUME XI. hE : ZEROSTATIC seine 339 co ree? D. H. Barnes on, 268 Amphiu Anthrac ate ‘of camer e Ts mans on the, 78 Antiseptic influence o oe » 197 Atmospheric Appearan eee Caleb, Aveeistette on Ohio, 224 Barnes, D. H. on Batracian Animals, 268 . H. Barnes on, 268 ~~=Beck, L. C., Botany of Illinois and Missouri, 167 -—_—--_—, Grevilleanum Serr 5 seg G. W., Notice of a Meteor, 129 Beene, Hydrostatic. = Botany of ‘ition is valk Minus 167 Bread used to feed Horses, 397 Breislakite, 250 Bufo, ‘ Butterfly Collector’s Vade Mecum, 391 Caloric, the Nature of, 355 Caricography * aia py Prof. Dewey, 147, 304 fe Cavolinite, 2 Chemical Philosophy, Dana’s, 194 cience, the pre Ae state of, 349 a try, Webster’s Manual of, 37 7 Sclsie. moe lg influence of, ‘197 Chrations hyom owe ’Prof. od s, 126 Climate of Ohio, 2 Coal, formation of Vie rginia, Pierce on the, 54 ——, Anthracite, os Rhode st so f Pen sylvan Cold, aacimiedented, 195. y . Quinby, 338 Saline substances from p rock 391 Currents upon the earth’s surface, 100 Dana’s pees Philosophy, 194 kl the Medicinal use of bicarbonate of ne 388 Dewey: Prof. C., Caricography, 147, 304 , Me teorological Observations, 59 ~ Divining Rod, Do nag Isaac, — of cast iron by soft iron, 384 144 a new —— Dwight, R S.E., aie of Lakes in Vermont, 39 Earth’s ae Currents on the, 100 Eaton's ‘Geological Survey, 196 i ite, 78 VOL. XI.—NO- 2. 51 4023 INDEX: oo effects of, 359 E 5 n the Grevilleanum op A a 483 Bote a 104 Field, Gen. Martin, correction by, 384 Fide, the upward forces of, 110, 339 Fuel, Dr. E. North Gas Geddes “y Uatciocy of the uhale Valley, 2 Genet, Edmund C., on the upward forces of Fluids, 110, 339 213 Gold alloyed with Rhodiu Go — J., on the Sandwich or avity Spec cific, Prof. Hare eiiccson Hevea ia, 183. Halos, solar, 325 Har e, Prof. R, on eermaee et (or ipwiliciaetanaanieaianitietitataniacinty cifi Hydrostatic blowpipe, 13% servoirs, 140, 142 ee Gomeaiis nd blowpipe, 142 Hawaii, voleanie character of, 1 eo Hildreth, Dr Dr. S. P. , notes on a Obie, 231 History, natw tural, the study ochloric acid, experiments concerning, 395 Hydrometers, Prof. Hare on, 115 Hydrostatic powers a blowpipe, 135 Hyla, 273 Todine — — of the breasts, 395 ron, cast, cut by soft ir , proc orm gad Sram ‘water with, 392 Kirauea, volcano of, 362 Lagrange perescioen in his formule, 399 Laisné on chlorine, 197 es ption of, 39 Lea, Isaac, on the study of Nat. Pea 218 Lightning, ee of a stroke of, 359 nnzan Soc of Paris, Litranseter, Prot Hare’s, 133 ~ Maclure, W., notice o af MhacEerineay 19 Seutidon, fo ssil remains of, 246 , Meteor, notice “5 by. G. W. Benedict, 120 Meteors, observa tions on, by A.C. Twin ining, 184 ; | sth ef fe Dewey, 59 Minerals, foreign, collectio 197 > INDEX. as ot 1, Dr. 8. L., on the Zeus rere 144 rey, ie uel, explosive —_ » 104 ; Muriatic acid, experiments AEN 393 eg Newton's Principia, review = 238 North, Dr. Elisha, on fuel, Ohio, observations on os Atwater, 224 notes on by Dr. P. Hildreth, 231, Olmsted, Prof., Peat state of chemical science, 349 ~ ie Valley, ren eee, features of, 213 anic remain Boon s es siotiahanein} in inated 189 Paris, Linnean ae ety, 380 Pascalis, Dr. F., hori forces of fluids, 110, 339 Eastin. alkaline digestive ; 388 ach trees, Pierce, J., shell marl tong coal regions, 54 <9 error or concerning, 384 , 27 Pune crystalline substances from, 391 ss new kind of stereotype, 386 , 284 Prote case A. B., on water-wheels, 333 on the cran, 338 Rana, mein ; ae 385 Reliquie dil , 196 Reptils, doubt pie ograph of, 268 Review of Newton’s Principia, 238 hodiam with a » 298 Rod, divining, 201. Pa Rossian drinks, 392 Salamandra, 276 Sandwich Jigen observations on, 1, 362 Sea te rpent, Shell marl phir of Virginia and Maryland, 64 Siren, 4 Skins, preservation of, 397 Sugar fro ri tit ne "the reduction of, 392 Topaz of Connecticut, 192 Twining, A. C., observations on meteors, 184 Dr.J., on the fossil mastadon, 246 4 Van Ransselaer, Dr. eee prem * * Tiiieatio® treatise o Voleanic character of Hawa, 1 olcal cof Ki Water-wheels, A. B. Quinby on, 333 Webster, Dr. J. W., manual of ‘chemistry, 377 Zeus teil described by Pr. Mitchill, 144 _ Zurlite, 254 ty teen Lewes ves Plate. 6. <2 SS> Za ae PS se te 2 PORDAS Pa I Voh. Xt. p. 158, ay A Doolittle sa é Vol. Xi.p.1st a ‘ C ——_ ‘ol. XLp. MoO. Pia, 44. ote eee iS eee a 2 ~ 2 Ia ‘ C. ke ereit Distt ‘a E, Vol. XI. p. 313 Vol. X1.p. 314. : - 7 OMPORMHCE, Pres i, Bi x. me . Pap weeyor, , \ bi by pda Vol. XL.p. 367. "4 > ff ( 2 AMES: A: Vol. XL p-36.