GEOLOGY. 285 



and sulphurous water, that bound its western shores, would them- 

 selves, if submerged for a few feet, convert the lake into a far-extend- 

 ing inland sea. At present they glisten with ^salt-crystals, whose 

 brilliant glare is interrupted occassionally by oases of artemisa and 

 greasewood. The two valleys that lie at the southern end of the lake 

 are the only parts of its shores adapted for human habitation. 



Although not directly stated, several facts are given, in the report ot 

 the expedition which seem to imply that there are no fish in the lake 

 itself. A curious feature in its zoology is the immense accumulation 

 on its shores of the larva-cases and other exuvise of dipterous insects, 

 probably preserved in such quantities through the peculiar qualities of 

 the water. No mention is made of molluscous animals or their shells. 

 The mammals collected from the neighborhood are stated to belong 

 to the Rocky Mountain series. The most interesting is the great- 

 tailed fox, Vulpes Marcrourus, described for the first time. Several 

 interesting new plants were gathered. The difficulty of finding fresh 

 water around its shores, the necessity of carrying with them all 

 their provisions, the barren and savage character of a great part of 

 the region traversed, rendered the survey unusually arduous and pro- 

 tracted, and would have proved fatal to its progress had not the 

 climate been one of exceeding salubrity, so that, with all their trials 

 and fatigues, the members of the exploring party enjoyed uninter- 

 rupted good health. 



EARTHQUAKES OF 1852. 



THE following is a record of the various earthquake phenomena 

 which we find reported through different sources, as having occurred 

 during the vear 1852. Editor. 



O * 



January 10. In Massachusetts. In this instance, which has not been 

 generally noticed, the shock was sensibly felt throughout the whole 

 length of the State, from New Bedford to Springfield, on the Connec- 

 ticut River. Shock, very slight. 



Jan. 1 7. Slight shock at Galveston, Texas. 



Jan. 26. Throughout the State of Mississippi, and in the south of 

 France. At Bordeaux, the shocks were very severe, though momen- 

 tary. On the same day, also at Messina, Sicily, and at this latter place 

 throughout the month, shocks were frequent 



March 31. Throughout northern India- 

 April. 10. At St Michaels, Azores, at 2 A. M., producing great 

 devastation. 



April 14. At the Sandwich Islands. Severe shocks, followed on the 

 fifteenth by a volcanic eruption. 



April 2 7. At Valparaiso. 



April 28. At the Azores. 



April 29. Smart shocks experienced in Man-land. Virginia and 



"XT 1 1 /~4 1 A * O 



JSorth Carolina. 



May 9. In South Wales. 



