418 TRANS. OP THE ACAD. OF SCIENCE. 



once in the year — on April 20th, in the night. In the whole 

 year, the paper showed no reaction at all 19 times in day- 

 time and 28 times in the night. In September, from 1st to 

 10th and from 11th to 17th, the night observations gave 

 constantly 0, while the average quantity in day-time was 

 about 6. 



I take this occasion to make a remark further about thun- 

 derstorms, Having noted for years the precise time of their 

 appearance, I have come to the conclusion that by far the 

 greatest number appear in the hottest part of the day, be- 

 tween 2 and 4 o'clock P.M., and next from 12 to 2 o'clock 

 A. M.; but that very few appear in the morning from 8 to 

 10, and still less at the same hours in the evening. The 

 course of thunderstorms may form therefore a curve, with 

 2 maxima and 2 minima, similar to the barometrical and 

 positive electrical curves, but in opposite direction, and 

 representing perhaps the curve of negative electricity of the 

 atmosphere. 



Notice of remains of the Horse in the Altered Drift of 

 Kansas. By. Prof. G. C. Swallow. 



Columbia, Mo., March 10, 1866. 



Dr. Shumard — My Dear Sir: The following facts are of 

 sufficient importance to find a place in the proceedings of the 

 Academy. These remains are especially interesting in con- 

 nection with the announcement of Francis S. Holmes, of 

 Charleston, S. C, made in 1858, of the remains of the Horse 

 and other animals from the Post-pliocene of South Carolina, 

 and of Prof. Emmons of the discovery of similar remains 

 in deposits of the same age in North Carolina. I have seen 

 and carefully examined and compared a portion of the low- 

 er jaw containing two molar teeth, which differ in no re- 

 spect, so far as I can determine, from the living species of the 

 horse. Other portions of the skeleton were obtained, but I 

 have not been able to see them. These interesting fossils were 

 obtained by the Hon. E. C. Manning, at Marysville, Kansas, 

 while sinking a well, forty-five feet below the surface, in beds 

 of stratified sand which lie beneath the Bluff formation and 

 above the Drift. These sand deposits, containing small 

 pebbles, are found extending over large areas in Missouri, 

 Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa, and are called Altered Drift 

 in the geological reports of Missouri and Kansas. I have 

 observed these beds of sand in hundreds of places in the 

 States mentioned above, and I feel very certain there can be 

 no doubt of the geological position of these fossils in the 

 sands between the Bluff and the Drift. 



I did not see the locality, but Mr. Manning's descriptions 

 of the strata passed through were so distinct and definite that 

 I am satisfied there can be no mistake in the matter. 



