148 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



Leone on the 14th of February. Leaving on the 21st of Feb- 

 ruary, the vessel proceeded in a straight line to the island of 

 Harbadoes, a distance of about 2800 miles, and thence returned 

 to New York. 



What especially concerns us in the present instance, how- 

 ever, is the fact that the voyage was utilized in the interest 

 of science by a series of deep-sea soundings and dredgings, 

 prosecuted between Sierra Leone and Barbadoes, these rang- 

 ing in depth from 500 to 3100 fathoms, and embracing in the 

 results specimens of the sea bottom, as also temperatures at 

 various depths. The results of the voyage in this respect 

 have been ably discussed by Professor Henry Draper, of the 

 New York University, and a report published by the Depart- 

 ment of Public Charities and Corrections. 



As a general conclusion, he informs us that there exists, all 

 over the bottom of the tropical Atlantic and the Caribbean 

 Sea, a stratum of cold water, the temperature of which is be- 

 low 50 Fahr. The general observations, in Professor Dra- 

 per's opinion, confirm the theory of Dr. Carpenter in regard 

 to the existence of a general movement of the lower water 

 of the Atlantic toward the equator, and a corresponding flow 

 of the surface water toward the pole. 



GREAT WATERFALL IX DEMERARA. 



The Kaieteur Fall, in Demerara, is to be added to the list of 

 remarkable waterfalls, as its height is asserted to be greater 

 than that of any other known. The perpendicular descent, 

 according to careful observation, amounts to 750 feet, with a 

 width during the rainy season of 100 yards. The water, aft- 

 er passing over the edge, preserves its consistency for only a 

 short distance in the central portion, every where else being 

 only a sheet of fine foam or spray, in appearance very much 

 like snow. One interesting feature connected with this fall 

 is the fact that the cavern behind it is the home of thousands 

 of swallows, which issue from it in the morning and return in 

 large flocks at night. The precise species to which these 

 swallows belong is not indicated, and it is quite possible that 

 they are actually swifts, and, therefore, belong to a very, dif- 

 ferent family. 12 A, December 8, 1870, 108. 



