It is magnetic. Its weight is estimated at 500 pounds. The force with which it struck the rocks at the time of its fall had so shattered one end as to enable the discoverers to break off a piece that weighed eleven pounds. Its composition appears to be iron, nickel, cobalt, and copper, unequally distributed in its mass. In one part the nickel aud cobalt are largely in excess of the other metals, while in other parts iron forms the chief ingredient. These metals are aggregated and highly crystallized. A coating of the oxyd of iron half an inch thick has taken the place of the shining black crust observed on aërolites when they first reach the earth. The less oxydizable metals, nickel and cobalt, still remain in their metallic state in this coating of iron rust." It is pretty certain from this not satisfactory description, that this is an example of an iron meteor-mass found where it has fallen, the shattering of the mass and of the adjacent rocks being rarely observed. It was exposed by a freshet which had washed away the loose stones and earth. This is the same mass noticed by Prof. Shepard at page 250 of this issue, who appears to have been in possession of some scales from the concussion which disintegrated the specimen. We have taken steps to obtain more detailed information respecting it. 4. Reduction of the Observations of Fixed Stars made by Joseph le Paute d'Agelet, at Paris, in 1783-1785, with a Catalogue of the corresponding mean places referred to the equinox of 18000; by BENJAMIN APTHORP GOULD. 262 pp., 4to. From the Memoirs of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol. I. Washington, 1866.-This paper, which makes a worthy beginning of the Memoirs of the National Academy of Sciences, opens with some account of the astronomer d'Agelet, by whom the observations were made, a description of his instruments, explanations of the methods of reduction adopted, and remarks on other points of interest, and then proceeds with the tables of reductions. D'Agelet was appointed Professor of Mathematics at the Ecole Militaire in 1777. In 1785, after the last of the observations above mentioned were made, he left France as astronomer of LaPeyrouse's expedition around the world, and shared its fate, the vessels having been wrecked in 1788 (as ascertained forty years afterward) on the reefs of Malicollo, one of the New Hebrides, and all on board lost. D'Agelet had been very industrious throughout the course of the expedition, having established an astronomical observatory at each of the ports visited. But his commander did not allow him to send any of his results home, and none of them were saved. V. MISCELLANEOUS SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE. 1. The American Association.--The American Association for the Advancement of Science, after a suspension of its meetings for five years in consequence of the war, held its fifteenth meeting at Buffalo, N. Y., commencing on Wednesday, August 15th, and continuing until Tuesday, the 21st. The officers of the meeting were: Pres. F. A. P. BARNARD of Columbia College, President; Dr. A. A. GOULD of Boston, Vice President; Prof. ELIAS LOOMIS of Yale College, General Secretary; Prof. JOSEPH LOVERING of Harvard College, Permanent Secretary; Dr. A. L. ELWYN of Philadelphia, Treasurer. Though there were fewer members in attendance than at some former meetings, owing partly to the shortness of the notice, and partly to pecuniary and other considerations, yet in the number and value of the papers presented, the earnestness and ability of the discussions, and the general harmony of the proceedings, this meeting was throughout eminently successful, and will compare favorably with preceding ones. It left in the minds of the members a strong conviction of the importance of the Association to the science of the country, particularly as a means of stimulating research, and promoting friendly intercourse among scientific men. Several prominent members, unavoidably absent, expressed their regrets by letter, as well as their abiding interest in the Association. The feeling appeared to be general among the members that, hereafter, the meetings, from year to year, would be fully attended, as before the war. The success of the meeting was very greatly promoted by the cordial cooperation and generous hospitality of the citizens of Buffalo, who not only were prepared to entertain at their homes all who came, but, by social receptions, excursions on the lake and to Niagara, and many other acts of kindness and appreciation, contributed largely to the enjoyment of the members, as well as to their own reputation for intelligence and public spirit. The next meeting is to be held at Burlington, Vt., commencing on the 21st of August, 1867. The following officers were appointed for the year ensuing: Prof. J. S. NEWBERRY of N. Y., President; Prof. WOLCOTT GIBBS of Cambridge, Vice President; Prof. JOSEPH LOVERING of Cambridge, Permanent Secretary; Prof. C. S. LYMAN of New Haven, General Secretary; Dr. A. L. ELWYN of Philadelphia, Treasurer. The following titles of the papers read are from the newspapers of Buffalo, in which quite full reports were given: The Spots on the Sun; Prof. E. LOOMIS. On the period of Algol; Prof. E. LOOMIS. On the path of the meteoric fire-ball of 1860 which passed over Buffalo; Prof. COFFIN. The Dearborn Observatory of Chicago; Prof. T. H. SAFFORD, Mutual action of electrical currents; E. B. ELLIOTT. New method of illuminating apparatus for opaque objects under the microscope; Pres. F. A. P. BARNARD. Achromatic registration of meteorological phenomena; G. M. HOUGH, of Albany. Map of Magnetic Declination; J. E. HILGARD, U. S. Coast Survey. Effect of sunshine on fire; Prof. E. N. HORSFORD. On the automatic barometer; G. M. HOUGH. On the anthistometer; Dr. L. BRADLEY, Theory of meteors; D. KIRKWOOD, On the Aelloscope; HENRY A. CLUM. General meteorological features of the west; Prof. O, N. STODDARD, On fundamental Star-catalogues; Prof. T. H. SAFFORD of Chicago. On a new method for the construction of Life and Annuity tables; E. B. ELLIOTT of Boston. On the statistical systems of certain countries of Europe; E. B. ELLIOTT, On Decimal weights and measures; B. S. LYMAN, On the galvanic battery; Dr. BRADLEY. The Geology of Southern Minnesota; Prof. JAMES HALL. Structure of the mountains and valleys in Tennessee, Northern Georgia, and Alabama; JAMES HALL, On the Stromatiporida; Prof. A. WINCHELL. On the Rocks of Kansas; G. C. SWALLOW. The Laurentian Limestones and their minerals; T. STERRY HUNT. On petroleum; T. STERRY HUNT. On the internal structure of Athyris, Meristella, and the allied genera; JAS. HALL. On the structure and mode of growth of the spines on the cardinal area of Chonetes; JAMES HALL. On Cryophyllite, a new mica; Prof. J. P. COOKE. On a new chemical nomenclature; S. D. TILLMAN. On the genesis of auriferous sulphids; H. WURTZ. The Glaciers of the St. Lawrence; Col. WHITTLESEY of Cleveland. Glacial epoch in the valley of the Mississippi; Dr. NEWBERRY. On the drift and its origin; JAMES HALL. On the drift of the Western and Southern States, and its relations to the Glacier and Iceberg theories; E. W. HILGARD of Mississippi. Evidences of Glacial action in Southeastern New York; JAMES HYATT of Bengall, N. Y. On the supposed plasticity of pudding stones; B. S. LYMAN. On a section of the strata in Northeastern Ohio and Western Virginia; Prof. E. B. ANDREWS. On the origin of prairies; Dr. J. S. NEWBERRY, On steam-boiler explosions; Prof. O. N. STODDARD. On the effects of alum as used in making bread; Prof. E. N. HORSFORD. Proportional dimensions of the human frame; B. A. GOULD. A eulogy on the late President Hitchcock was delivered by Mrs. A. L. Phelps, and an address on scientific studies as a means of mental discipline, by Prof. J. P. Cooke. The Association passed a resolution in favor of the introduction into common use of the decimal system of weights and measures. 2. Addition to Article on Method of correcting Monthly Means (page 154); by E. L. DEFOREST.-In general, if we have any three consecutive monthly means given, and wish to infer from them, as nearly as possible, what the form of the curve must be, our knowledge respecting it comes under two heads. First, it must be a curve of three parameters; for the three given monthly means are sufficient to determine three, and only three, constants in the equation of the curve. Secondly, it ought to be a periodic curve, with an annual period; for we know that at the end of one, two, or any whole number of years, the same monthly means occur over again. Now the parabola satisfies the first of these two conditions, but not the second. The trigonometrical curve satisfies both; so that there is reason for preferring it in all cases. 3. Flint implements.-V. CHATEL has recently collected some hundreds of chipped flints, of the age of Stone, in the fields of his estate of Campandré-Valcongrain and the surrounding villages. They were found at the surface, especially after ploughing. Among them there is a saw well toothed, about six centimeters long; a whistle of stone which gave out a very acute sound. On the same estate there are wooded hills which contain several hundreds of Celtic tombs, some of which, of an oval form, are five to seven meters long and project above the surface more than a meter. There are also large blocks of stone, said to be Druidic, which Mr. Chatel regards as ancient altars, and which may belong to the age of Stone.-Les Mondes, p. 137, May 24. 4. Library of works on Earthquakes and Volcanoes of Prof. Alexis Perrey. Professor Perrey, of Dijon, has recently offered for sale his very extensive library-probably the best on the two topics of Earthquakes and Volcanoes in Europe. The catalogue of it which has been published shows that it contains 4015 works, including pamphlets. It would be an exceedingly valuable acquisition to any of the larger American libraries, and we hope that it may not fail to be secured to the country. Professor Perrey has been a long and earnest laborer in his favorite departments of science and has spared no pains to make his library a complete one. OBITUARY. Prof. JOHN A. PORTER.-John Addison Porter died at New Haven, Conn., on the 25th of August. Prof. Porter was born in Catskill, N. Y., March 15th, 1823, and graduated at Yale College in 1842. Possessed of literary as well as scientific tastes, he was called to fill the post first of tutor, and then of Professor of Rhetoric, in Delaware College, in Newark, N. J., where he resided from 1844 to 1847, when he went to Germany and studied chemistry under Prof. Liebig. Returning in 1850, he first filled the Professorship of Chemistry applied to the Arts in Brown University for two years, when he was called to take the place of Prof. John P. Norton, then recently deceased, as Professor of Analytical and Agricultural Chemistry in Yale College. In 1856 he was transferred to the chair of Organic Chemistry, which position he held until he felt constrained by his declining health to resign it, in 1864. He then spent a year in Europe, to avail himself of the best medical advice, and returned less than a year ago, apparently greatly benefitted in health. It was soon evident, however, that his disease was not wholly eradicated, and he has at length, after months of intense suffering, during which he exhibited a remarkable degree of fortitude and Christian resignation, gone to his final rest. In connection with the Sheffield Scientific School, the activity and zeal of Prof. Porter enabled him to do excellent service, both for the institution and the cause of agricultural science throughout the United States. He was chiefly instrumental in originating and conducting the very successful course of Agricultural lectures, which, in 1860, attracted large numbers of persons to New Haven from distant parts of this country. In the reorganization of the School, about the same time, he took an active part, and some important changes were largely due to his forecast and energy. Prof. Porter was a ready and forcible public speaker, with a clear and flexible voice and a fine personal appearance. His labors in behalf of the Sanitary Commission and in promoting in various ways the cause of his country, were particularly earnest and effective, so long as his failing health permitted him to work. He was ever zealous for truth and justice, and in carrying out his plans of usefulness, exhibited great fertility of invention, and the most unwearied assiduity. He is the author of a text-book on Chemistry, which has gone through many editions. VI. MISCELLANEOUS BIBLIOGRAPHY. 1. Geological Survey of Illinois: A. H. WORTHEN, Director. Volume I, Geology. xvi, and 504 pp. large 8vo, with maps and sections. 1866. Published by the authority of the Legislature of Illinois.-This first volume of the Geological Survey of Illinois, by its able Director, Mr. Worthen, has just been issued, and so near the publication day of these pages that we can at this time barely announce its appearance. The volume is full of matter of great interest to American geology and to science in general, and at the same time it must meet the demands of those at home who have looked to the State Geologist for an exposition of the mineral resources of the State. The various subjects are well treated, and evidently as the result of extended and faithful exploration. The style of publication is every way handsome and generous. Mr. Worthen has had the assistance of Prof. J. D. Whitney in the survey of the lead region; of Prof. Leo Lesquereux in that of the Coal formation and the subject of prairies; and of Mr. Henry Engelmann in the general field work and chemistry. The volume will be followed by another on the Paleontological part of the survey, in the preparation of which Mr. Worthen has been aided by Mr. F. B. Meek, Dr. J. S. Newberry and Prof. Lesquereux. This notice of the Geological volume is but an introduction to an abstract of its contents which we propose to give in another number. 2. Reliquiæ Aquitanica, being Contributions to the Archæology and Paleontology of Périgord and the adjoining Provinces of Southern France; by EDOUARD LARTET and HENRY CHRISTY. Parts I and II, Dec. 1865 and March 1866, each 24 pages 4to, with 6 lithographic plates. London. (H. Bailliere. Each part 38. 6.)-The Reliquiæ Aquitanica, or Aquitanian remains, are flint implements and the bones associated with them in Southern France (the region being part of the Aquitania of the Romans); and the work upon them bearing the above title treats of these implements and bones, and the bearing of the facts relating to them on European Archæology. As the preface states, the work was projected by Mr. Christy; and its first sheets were already in the press, and some of the plates engraved, when he died after a brief illness brought on by over-exertion in a visit to the Belgian bone-caves. The principal labor of preparing the work was thus thrown upon his fellow-worker, Mr. Lartet, who is now aided by Mr. P. l'Haridon of France, and Messrs. John Evans, A. W. Franks, W. Tipping and Prof. T. Rupert Jones, the lastmentioned taking the editorial duties. The work is issued in elegant style, both as to text and plates, and treats of one of the most interesting subjects in modern science. The figures give admirable views of the flint arrow-heads, chippings, etc.; of the bones, part of them carved or etched with figures of different animals upon them; and of the arrow heads, harpoon heads, etc., made of reindeer's horn. It is to be completed in about 20 parts of 24 pages and 6 plates each. Baird's Review of American Birds.—We have received sheets 21 to 28 inclusive (pp. 321-450) of Professor Baird's work. Geological Map of England and Wales, by Prof. A. C. RAMSAY, F.R.S. 3d edition. London. [Stanford.] On the Anatomy of Vertebrates; vol. II. Birds and Mammals; by R. OWEN, F.R.S. London. [Longmans.] |