186 Scientific Intelligence. — Geology, 



8. Geological Constitution of North-eastern Africa. — The follow- 

 ing is a brief statement of the results obtained by Russegger, from 

 his geological investigations made in the north-eastern portion of 

 Africa, from the Mediterranean to near the Equator, and of which 

 a full account is given in a recent number of Leonhard and Bronn's 

 Jahrbuch. 1. Chalk and tertiary formations. Plains and moun- 

 tainous deserts. The cultivated land of the Nile and of the Oases. 

 Egypt. From the 31st to the 26th degree north latitude. 2. 

 Miischelkalk and bunter sandstone. Mountain-chains of abnormal 

 rocks. Plains and mountainous deserts, and, in the southern por- 

 tion, a transition to the Savannahs. The cultivated district of the 

 Nile. Egypt, Nubia. From the 26th to the 15th degree. 3. Bun- 

 ter sandstone and alluvial formations. Rarely outbursts of abnor- 

 mal rocks, although they form the fundamental basis of the country. 

 Savannahs. Plains north of Kordofan and Senaar. 15th to 13th 

 degree. 4. Granite and porphyry forming isolated mountain 

 groups in plains which are covered by alluvium. Savannahs. 

 Plains 1100 feet above the sea. South from Kordofan and Senaar, 

 Roserres. From the 13th to the 12th degree. 5. Granite, gneiss, 

 mica and chlorite slates of the Alps, with auriferous alluvium. 

 Mountain land south from Kordofan and Darfur. Great plain of 

 the White River. High mountain land on the Blue River. Ethio- 

 pian high land. The Plateaus reaching to a height of 3000 feet, 

 and the mountains to a height of 7000 feet, above the level of the 

 sea. Presenting the animal and vegetable development peculiar to 

 the tropics. The country of the Nubas, — the plains of the Binkas, 

 Fassokl, — the country of Berta, — the country of the Gumuss and 

 the Galla. From the 12th to the 10th degree. 6. Extensive un- 

 known plains south from Nuba, and in the countries of the Dinka 

 and Galla, traversed by large rivers. Savannahs. Beyond the lOtli 

 degree north latitude. 



9. Distribution of the Mammoth in Siberia. — Without entering in 

 this place into any speculations concerning the manner in which 

 these probably antediluvian remains came into their present situa- 

 tions, I would call attention to the remarkable fact, that the teeth, 

 tusks, and bones, which are called by the general name of Mam- 

 moth bones, but which probably belong to several different species 

 of animals, are not distributed equally over Siberia, but form im- 

 mense local accumulations, which become both richer and more ex- 

 tensive the farther one advances to the north. They are found in 

 the greatest abundance in New Siberia and the Lachow Islands, as 

 mentioned by Reschetuikow and Sannikow. Many hundred pood 

 (pood equal to 36 lb. avoirdupois) weight are collected there every 



