XVIII NOTES BY THE EDITOR 



serial contents, and tables of the results for each. The parcels ex- 

 amined and here described amount to two hundred and forty-seven, 

 eighty-five of which are from Texas, four from Arkansas, thirty-six 

 from the Washita and Neosho, etc. The number of microscopic spe- 

 cies observed by Ehrenberg and Bailey in the Southern United States 

 is eight hundred and fifty-five ; of these one hundred and forty-eight 

 are brackish water and marine species, about half of them being fossil 

 and half living. 



An interesting contribution to our knowledge of Organic Morpholo- 

 gy has been made during the past year by Mr. John Warner, of Potts- 

 ville, Pa. This name is used to designate that branch of science ~which 

 seeks to explain organic forms upon mathematical or mechanical 

 principles. The subject has attracted much attention in Europe, but 

 has received but little notice in this country. Mr. Warner's contribu- 

 tion consists of a pamphlet, illustrated by nearly two hundred engrav- 

 ings, containing an account of the labors of foreign Physicists in this 

 field, besides some original formulae for the construction of curved lines, 

 accompanied with the figures of the curves themselves, and of the or- 

 ganic forms which they resemble. 



It is worthy of notice that the author has succeeded in bringing the 

 curves representing, at least approximately, the types of first, the egg, 

 and then of several organic forms, under one general equation, the re- 

 lation of which to the revolving orbit of Newton, and to the curves of 

 Grandus, is also shown. This, we believe, is a new result. The 

 Curves of Grandus had long been forgotten or neglected ; Mr. War- 

 ner is, we believe, the first to notice them in connection with Morpho- 

 logical history, as also to introduce some other historical matter gleaned 

 in the field of Mathematics. As the author declines to speculate on 

 the manner in which the vital forces may cause matter to assume the 

 forms represented by his curves, we shall not undertake to supply what 

 may be needed in this respect. We would say, however, that the sub- 

 ject promises to continue to engage the attention of Physicists, and 

 we incline to the belief, which the author appears to entertain, that 

 Organic Morphology will one day become a strict science. 



The third volume of Observations made at the Magnetic al and Me- 

 teorological Observatory at Toronto, Canada, under the general su- 

 perintendence of Gen. Sabine, R. A., has been published during the 

 past year by the British Government. 



The main body of the work is occupied by a record of the obser- 

 vations ; but Gen. Sabine has appended to the apparently dry figures 

 a chapter entitled Comments and Conclusions, which contains many 

 interesting remarks and curious deductions. It has been found that in 

 the north-solstitial months, easterly disturbances preponderate, and in 

 the south-solstitial months westerly predominate. The equinoctial 



