300 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVEEY. 



is at rest ; but, if it is put in motion by an earthquake, the pencil makes 

 broken marks, which show the strength, direction and period of the earth- 

 quake. 



ON SUPERFICIAL CHANGES IN THE MERIDIONAL STRUCTURE 



OF THE GLOBE. 



At the last meeting of the British Association Mr. E. Hopkins read a paper 

 on the meridional and symmetrical structure of the globe, its superficial 

 changes, and the polarity of all terrestrial operations. This paper was illustrated 

 by maps and diagrams, including a section, on a large scale, of the Cordilleras, 

 from the plains of the river Meta to the shores of the Pacific Ocean. 

 Among other speculations, he said that 9,000 years ago the site on which 

 London now stands was in the torrid zone, and, according to perpetual changes 

 in progress, the whole of England would in time arrive within the Arctic 

 circle. The views of the expositor were stongly controverted by Professor 

 Eamsay and Professor Nicol. 



MODERN ELEVATION OF LAND. 



General La Marmora, who has been employed twenty-four years on a geo- 

 graphical and geological survey of Sardinia, recently presented an outline of 

 his researches in the latter department to the Geological Society of France. 

 In this paper he states that near Cagliari he found a raised beach containing 

 shells mixed with works of human art (pottery), at an elevation of 19*7 feet 

 (60 metres) above the sea. It seems to be slightly inclined', and he speaks of 

 another deposit, probably a newer one, a little further on, which is horizontal 

 and almost at the level of the sea. He estimates that at Alghero, 100 miles 

 N.N.W., the. rise produced by the same upheaval has been 328 feet, not at- 

 tested however, by human remains, but by the position of a "quaternary sand- 

 stone." The extreme rarity of raised beaches containing such remains ren- 

 ders these facts interesting. Mr. Lyell refers only to three "one which I have 

 seen, at Putzuoli, 20 feet above the present sea level ; another near Stock- 

 holm, 60 feet above it, and a third in Peru, seen by Mr. Darwin, 85 feet. It 

 now appears that some parts of Sardinia have been upheaved 197 feet since 

 the island was occupied by man." 



ON THE EXISTENCE OF ACARI IN MICA. 



At the British Association, Sir David Brewster stated that while recently 

 examining with a microscope a thick plate of mica from Siberia, about five 

 inches long and three inches wide, he was surprised to observe the remains 

 of minute animals, some the 70th of an inch, and others only the 150th of an 

 inch in size. Some of these were inclosed in cavities, round which the films 

 of mica were in optical contact. These acari were, of coarse, not fossil, but 

 must have insinuated themselves through openings between the plates of mica, 

 which afterward closed over them. 



