184 Scientific Intelligence—Zoology. 
14. Heat from Solid Carbonic Acid.—There is a remarkable reaction 
between solid carbonic acid and the caustic alkalies. If a small piece of 
solid carbonic acid be wrapped in cotton, with a little pulverized caustic 
potash, and the whole be pressed between the fingers, so much heat is 
evolved as to make it uncomfortable to hold. This is the most remark- 
able illustration of heat from chemical union. One of the agents em- 
ployed is the coldest substance in nature with whieh we are acquainted, 
that which we select to shew the effects of extreme refrigeration. The 
other is at the natural temperature. Both, moreover, are in the dry or 
solid state. Yet their union or simple contact produces heat sufficient, 
at least, to inflame phosphorus. This reaction is noticed, as it suggests 
some striking experiments. It has very possibly been observed by others, 
though it is not referred to in various works on the subject Ww. F. 
Cuannine, Boston, May 2, 1843, American Journal of Science and Arts, 
Vol. xlvi. No. 1. p. 215. 
ZOOLOGY. 
15. Professor E. Forbes's Bathymetrical Rese rches.—The secretary 
then read part of a letter from Professor Loven of Stockholm on the 
subject of Professor E. Forbes’s bathymetrieal researches. After re- 
marking on the close correspondence between his own researches and 
those of Professor Forbes, he says—‘‘ As to the regions, the Littoral 
and Laminarian are very well defined every where, and their charac- 
teristic species do not spread very far out of them. The same is the 
ease with the region of Florideous Algw, which is most developed 
nearer to the open sea. But it is not so with the regions from 15 to 
100 fathoms. Here is, at the same time, the greatest number of 
species, and the greatest variety of their local assemblages; and it ap- 
pears to me that their distribution is regulated, not only by depths, 
currents, &e., but by the nature of the bottom itself, the mixture of 
clay, mud, pebbles, &c. Thus, for instance, the same species of Am- 
phidesma, Nucula, Natica, Eulima, Dentalium, &c., which are cha- 
racteristic of a certain muddy ground of 15 to 20 fathoms, are found 
together at 80 to 100 fathoms. Hence it appears, that the species in 
this region have generally a wider \ertical range than the Littoral, 
Laminarian, and, perhaps, as great as the Deep Sea coral. The last 
named region is with us characterised in the south by Oculina ramea 
and Terebratula, and in the north by Astrophyton, Cidaris, Spatangus 
purpureus of an immense size,—all living between Gorgonie and the 
gigantic Alcyoniwm arborewm, which continues as far down as any 
fisherman’s line can be sunk. As to the point where animal life 
ceases, it must be somewhere; but with us it is unknown. As vege- 
tution ceases at a line far above the deepest regions of animal life, of 
course the zoophagous mollusca are altogether predominant in those 
parts, while the phytophagous are more peculiar to the upper regions. 
The observation of Professor Forbes, that British species are found in 
the Mediterranean, but only at greater depths, corresponds exactly with 
what has occurred to me. In Bohnslau (between Gottenburg and 
Norway), we find at 80 fathoms, species which, in Finmark, may be 
readily collected at 20; and. on the last-named coast, some species even 
