Lig $ 
Miseellanies. rie | 
remains of the Megalonyx were received portions of the skeletons of 
‘ the bos, the cervus, the ursus and a metacarpal human bone. 
Dr. Harlan has also described a fossil fucus of singular beauty, 
found in the compact sandstone subjacent to the coal formations, on 
one of the eastern ridges of the Alleghany, one hundred and fifty miles 
from Philadelphia, ten miles east of Lewistown, Mifflin County. A 
fragment of a stone, two and a half feet long by one and a half wide, © 
is completely crowded with the forms of this plant, lying upon each 
other three or four layers deep; the stone seen at a short distance 
presented the appearance of beautiful artificial sculpture. This fos- 
sil fucus not yy pom the fingers of a hand ‘branching from 
the palm. 
Only two fossil species "of faci have been before found in North 
America. It is observed by M. Brongniart, that the marine vegeta- 
tion, like the terrestrial, resembles that of our climates the more in 
proportion as it belongs to more recent formations, and more that of 
equatorial climates, as it belongs to 4 more ancient formation. 
_have not room to notice the other papers of this number of the Jour- 
‘ - nal of the ae: a of udeoe: do wihco to ipa Institution. 
19. New asinghily Sorc called The Friend of Mankind ; con- 
ducted by Prof. Rafinesque.—It is not tobe restricted to any particular | 
subjects, but is to embrace all kinds of useful knowledge, whether in é 
science, literature, or art, and is intended to give them a cheap and — 
popular form. Reviews will be introduced, containing notices of 
the increase of knowledge afforded by books. 
20. Proposed exchanges by the Franklin Society of Providence, 
R. [The Franklin Society have procured, by purchase, the ex- 
tensive collection that belonged to the late Dr. Samuel Robinson, 
which having a large number of duplicate specimens, will enable 
them to furnish valuable suites from that vicinity, and Massachusetts, 
to those who may be desirous of obtaining them in return for others, 
from different sections of the country. 
21. Destruction of Life by explosions of Steam Boilers.—Mr. 
Redfield has given, in the present number, a valuable document on 
this painful subject. We are glad to find the amount so much less 
than was stated, on the authority of a. correspondent, in a former 
number of this parca (Vol. XIX, p. 3). We shall be ready | 
