March 29, 1883 | 
NAT ORT. 
Sy) 
stance to resist pressure, but destined in the long run to 
decompose, would, if resting on the sea-bottom, become 
covered with sand or silt, if such deposit were taking 
place. (@.) As the weight increascd above, its under- 
surface \, ould become pressed into the bed upon which it 
‘chanced to be resting. (6.) As it decomposed, infiltrated 
sediment would replace the organic matter (c.), until 
finally the decomposition being complete, the sediment 
from above entirely fills in the space, leaving on the 
under-surface a reproduction in semi-relief of the decayed 
‘organism, while the upper part is merged in the sand. 
we 
SS a 
x — a = 
SSS 
(d.) Instances of this form of fossilisation are by no 
means rare, but cases in which all carbonaceous matter 
has disappeared from vegetable impressions are still more 
common, especially with sea-weeds, which, as M. Grand 
’Eury has remarked, decompose into a semi-fluid gela- 
tinous matter when imbedded in mud. Nor does the 
destruction of carbon cease when the mass they are 
buried in becomes consolidated, for percolating water 
brings oxygen to them, which slowly destroys every 
remaining vestige of organic matter. 
The author is careful in the present work only to select 
specimens for illustration about which little or no reason- 
able doubt can exist. Commencing with impressions 
from the Tertiaries of almost existing species of sea-weed, 
he compares these with the more doubtful secondary Chon- 
drites. The Chondrites of the Flysch, strongly impregnated 
as they are with carbonaceous matter, are admitted on all 
hands to be Alge, and the author asks how the same 
origin can be denied to casts. of specifically identical 
Chondrites of the Cretaceous, and so on to the Liassic 
forms. The algous nature of most of those selected for 
illustration is indeed so obvious that no shadow of doubt 
respecting them can exist. The gigantic Liassic Lami- 
narias with reticulated structure are more problematic, 
but it seems at least highly improbable that any move- 
ments of invertebrata could have produced such markings. 
The Alectoruridz, an extinct group of algee which existed 
from the Silurian into the Tertiaries, and their equally 
extinct ally Glossophycus, whose vegetable nature is 
even more apparent, may challenge reasonable criticism 
on account of their divergence from recent alge. While 
the algous nature of these, and many other types, is main- 
tained, the author does not hesitate to acknowledge that 
many forms which it was previously considered might be 
alge, are probably tracks of invertebrates. He simply 
holds that Dr. Nathorst’s generalisations are far too 
sweeping, and in many cases utterly against the evidence. 
The true nature of Bilobites, however, is still open to some 
question. They are always preserved in semi-relief, a pro- 
cess explained above, but the arguments, while abundantly 
proving that they cannot be due to tracks of invertebrates, 
fall short of absolute proof that they must be Algae, and 
can be nothing else. In like manner the Eophyton of the 
Lower Cambrian, alleged by Nathorst to be furrows made 
by moving sea-weed on a muddy bottom, is almost proved 
by its occasionally cylindrical form and interlacing frag- 
ments, and wholly confined as it is to this most ancient 
formation, to be something more than mere scratches 
upon ooze, however produced, yet the evidence does not 
prove conclusively that it is a plant. The discussion has 
at least produced two most valuable works, the one serving 
to show how even the most accomplished palzophytolo- 
gists may be deceived in dealing with so perilous a subject 
as fossil algze, and the other proving that in spite of nume- 
rous errors, there is a considerable basis of truth in even 
the most speculative branch of their science. J. S. G. 
NOTES 
WITH reference to the scheme of the Grocers’ Company for 
the encouragement of sanitary research, it is stated that so far as 
the administration of the scheme will involve scientific considera- 
tions, the Court proposes to act with the advice of a committee of 
eminent scientific men, and the following gentlemen have con- 
sented to form the first committee :—Messrs. John Simon, C.B., 
F.R.S., John Tyndall, F.R.S., John Burdon Sanderson, M.D., 
F.R.S., and George Buchanan, M.D., F.R.S. 
A PRIVATE test took place on Monday of a telephone between 
New York and Chicago, a distance of 1000 miles, and the result 
was a complete success. Previously the longest distance over 
which a telephonic message had been sent was 700 miles, 
between New York and Cleveland. The present result is not 
due solely to the telephone, although that possesses some 
novelty, but is mainly due to a novelty in the conductor, This 
consisted, it is stated, of a steel wire core, copper plated, the 
electrical resistance of which to Chicago was only 1522 ohms. 
This new achievement is regarded as marking a new era in the 
development of telephonic communication. 
AFTER assuming threatening proportions, the eruption of 
Mount Etna has almost subsided. Eleven new fissures had 
opened on the side of the mountain, giving out smoke, scoriz, 
and showers of small stones, accompanied by a rumbling sound, 
and a trembling of the earth. Strong shocks of earthquake 
were felt at various parts of the surrounding country, and 
crevices were formed in the earth. A telegram from Prof. 
Silvestri, dated the 25th, states that the eruption is without 
importance and seems ceasing. Later news on Monday night 
states that there is still cause for some uneasiness in respect to 
Etna. The lava has not flowed, but has formed a new cone. 
On Monday strong shocks of earthquake were felt at Pedara, 
and slight ones at Catania. The site of the present eruption is 
further down the mountain than any previous eruption in modern 
times, and it is the first eruption which has occurred on the 
southern side of the mountain for more than a century. 
WE regret to record the loss to science of a gifted and ener- - 
getic young worker through a gun accident. A telegram from 
Hong Kong informs us that Mr. Frank Hatton, mineralogist and 
scientific explorer for the British North Borneo Company was 
killed by the accidental discharge of his gun while hunting in the 
jungle. The deceased gentleman was the only son of Mr 
Joseph Hatton, and gave promise of a brilliant and useful scien- 
tific career. He was a student of the Royal School of Mines, 
South Kensington, where he distinguished himself by the extra- 
ordinary rapidity and accuracy with which he worked through 
the course of studies in that institution. He was especially dis- 
tinguished in the Chemical Section, in which he made and pub- 
lished some valuable researches on Bacteria, &c., for which he 
obtained the Frankland prize of the Institute of Chemistry, 
entitling him to the degree of Associate. Mr. Hatton had great 
linguistic aptitude, and this, with a considerable amount of 
natural tact, contributed much to his success in dealing with the 
natives of Borneo during his exploring expeditions for the 
Company. During the last eighteen months he has explored 
the greater part of the Company’s dominion, an area about as 
large as France, without losing a man, and in regions in which 
