184 A Miscellanies. 
free sulphuric acid, sulphur, and even an appreciable amount of sul- 
phate of magnesia are also met with. 
The fossil impressions in these beds are beautifully distinct, and 
appertain to all the species of shells which are found in perfect condi- 
tion in the subjacent strata. In the blue clayey marl beneath, there 
often occurs a notable proportion of green sand, which is also found 
in some of the other Miocene strata, mixed pretty largely with com- 
mon sand and clay, in beds destitute of fossils. 
The paper treats in detail of many of the more interesting localities 
in the Miocene district, describing the stratification, and presenting 
evidence of the relative fertilizing agency of the several beds. 
The fossil species which characterize the Miocene strata, are next 
enumerated. 
In the next section, an account is given of the arrangement and 
composition of the Eocene strata of the peninsula. 
In general, the lowest bed of the series is a dark greenish-blue 
mass, composed of clay, fine sand, and a little green sand; while 
above it, the strata are of various shades, yellow, greenishi-gray, and 
brown. Little uniformity prevails in their arrangement at different 
localities. 
A thin band of ferruginous gravel frequently overlies the EHocené 
strata, and forms a distinct line of demarkation between them and the 
bottom of the Miocene. 
The stratification of the Eocene at various localities is exhibited in 
detail, and the characteristic fossils specified, while the curious a. 
ical changes which these have undergone, are also discussed. 
Dr. Hays stated that he had received through a friend some of Rr 
vaccine virus, recently obtained by Mr. Estlin, of Bristol, from the 
cow, and had used it with the most satisfactory results. He exhibited 
a scab, which presented all the cared described by Jenner, 4 
appertaining to the genuine vaccine s 
April 19, 1839.—The Committee of Publication, reported the pub- 
lication of Part Second, Vol. VI, of the Society’s Transactions. — oi 
Professor Bache communicated at the request of the Committee on 
the Observatory, the following translation of a letter addressed to 
him by Professor Encke, Director of the Observatory of Berlin. ee 
The nature of the operations of an observatory must depend m : 
upon the individual taste and qualifications of the director than those 
of any other scientific establishment. There is still so much to be 
done in every department of Astronomy, in any one of which there 
is sufficient employment, that if a director shows a particular disp0 
‘or certain lines of research, it would be most profitable 
science that he should be allowed to follow them, and not be t 
hae! 
