OF ARTS AND SCIENCES. 193 



passing under other names. Dr. A. A. Gould, who had ex- 

 amined the specimens, confirmed Mr. Agassiz's statement. 



Dr. C. T. Jackson read the following extracts from a letter 

 of M. L. Elie de Beaumont to himself, dated Paris, March 23d, 

 1855. 



" You will see in the Comptes Rendus, that M. Gaston Plantc has 

 discovered at Meudon, near Paris, the remains of a gigantic bird, 

 which is nearly as large as those which left their foot-prints in the 

 new red sandstone (Gres bigarres) on the borders of Connecticut 

 River. This unexpected discovery will perhaps excite an interest 

 among American geologists, inasmuch as it will diminish the incre- 

 dulity with which many persons have opposed, during a long time, 

 (and erroneously as I think,) the interesting discovery of Ornithich- 

 nites 



" We have established in Paris a Meteorological Society on a plan 

 analogous to that of the Geological Society, and shall seek to bring 

 together and publish and compare the meteorological observations 

 made in all countries of the world ; and shall be very happy to have 

 collaborators in America, and to exchange publications with the 

 Scientific Societies of Boston." 



Professor Agassiz said that he was inclined to doubt whether 

 all the so-called footprints of birds in the Connecticut River 

 sandstone, were in reality produced by birds. Possibly they 

 may have been made by animals of a type not now existing, 

 in their organization coming between reptiles and birds. He 

 was inclined to this opinion, from having noticed that in many 

 of the tracks the impression of the so-called hind toe is round- 

 ed off, without any trace of the imprint of a nail, giving it 

 much more the appearance of a heel-mark. Among the im- 

 pressions, that of a so-called tarsus is apparent, and it is an un- 

 usual circumstance for birds to support themselves upon this 

 joint in walking; the only species in which this takes place 

 being the Cypselus, or Swift. 



Professor O. W. Holmes exhibited a new microscope by 

 Nachet, constructed upon a very small and compact scale, 

 and yet available for working pnrposes, the highest power 

 being about six hundred diameters. 



VOL. III. 25 



