1&4 Scientific Intelligence — Meteorology and Geology. 



stone of Tula, to wliich a Spirifer remained adheiing, and which 

 was crowded with various Polythalamian forms. 



Ebrenberg states that, in many cases, " the Melonise of the ooli- 

 tic limestone are so changed into calc-spar, that the shells are no 

 longer divided. In other cases there is found in their interior a 

 small kernel of calc-spar, which might easily lead to the supposition 

 that a real incrustation of a grain of sea-weed had taken place, while 

 it is in fact only the internal commencement of the change to crys- 

 talline calcareous-spar, as may be recognised by the shining lustre. 



The author states, the microscopic organisms from Australia and 

 New Holland present less peculiarity than was expected, in conse- 

 quence of the remarkable forms of the larger animals of those re- 

 gions. Only one peculiar genus, Bhizonotia, was found, and all 

 the forms belonged to well-known orders, classes, and families. 



The following are the general results from all these examina- 

 tions : — 



" 1. Microscopic life, particularly in the forms which constitute 

 masses of earth and rock, appears to exist in the same manner over 

 the surface of the whole earth. 



" 2. The results already obtained by direct examinations have 

 proved, that in all zones of the surface of the earth, in all climates, 

 in low situations, and the bottom of the ocean, as well as on high 

 mountains, at the elevation of about nine thousand feet, (Niglherri, 

 Mexico,) and even in the smallest particles of humus, microscopic 

 life has not merely an existence, but is in exuberant abundance. 



" 3. The European microscopic organisms have been shewn to be 

 so related to those of other parts of the earth, that new orders, 

 classes, and families, are nowhere found ; but the forms all belong 

 to the generally siliceous, never calcareous shelled Poly gastric infu- 

 soria, and to the non-siliceous, but generally calcareous shelled 

 Polythalmia, which are not infusoria. 



" 4. Besides these independent microscopic forms of life, there 

 also are found in soil and in calcareous strata all over the earth, 

 astonishing numbers of small undecomposed regular parts of larger 

 organisms, which are either siliceous or calcareous, and both of 

 vegetable and animal oi-igin, which everywhere present the closest 

 I'esemblance in characters, however different may be the Flora or 

 Fauna of the localities. 



" 5. In place of orders, classes, or families, peculiar to different 

 parts of the world, there occur peculiar local genera ; which, how- 

 ever, are nowhere numerous ; while, on the contrary, there are very 

 numerous peculiar species of widely distributed genera. 



'* 6. Certain geographical latitudes have their characteristic forms 

 of minute animal life. Thus the proportionally large and slender 

 serrated species of Eunotia — E. tetraodon, pentodon, diadema, serru- 

 lata, &c. — have hitherto been found only in Sweden, Finland, and 



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