420 
NATURE 
[ Sept. 21,1871 

broken. The separation of the crystals was caused by weather- 
ing, as in some specimens they were still aggregated. A thin 
section under the microscope showed that the rock was composed 
of augite, nephaline, and titanite, imbedded in a green vitreous 
matrix. Dr. Blake also read a paper on the diatoms found in 
the Puebla hot spring, Humboldt county, Nevada. The tem- 
perature of the water where they were collected was 163° F. 
They were con‘ained in the decomposing layers of an abundant 
growth of red algze, which formed a membranous covering at 
the bottom of the channel, through which the waters of the spring 
were discharged. This growtk consisted of oscillarize and a minute 
hair-like alga, which presented nothing but a mere outline even 
when magnified 700 diameters. This alga seems identical with 
the ygrocrosis Bischof found by Cohn in carnallite. By the 
interlacement of its fibres it formed a tough membranous layer 
covering the bottom of the channel, but this layer was coloured 
red, apparently by the oscillarize. In the upper layer of these 
algze but few diatoms were found, but those layers which had 
been covered in by new growths, and which were in a semi- 
gelatinous state, afforded a nidus in which the diatoms seemed to 
flourish with the greatest luxuriance both as regards species and 
individuals, In one slide, without any previous preparation of 
the deposit, as many as forty-six species were observed. But the 
most interesting point in connection with them is their almost per- 
fect identity with the diatoms found in the infusorial strata in Utah, 
and which have been so fully described by Ehrenberg in his recent 
memoiron the Bacillarize of California. Amongst the more marked 
species which were peculiarto the Utah strata, Cocconema unciale- 
Hyalodiscus Whitneyi, Stephanolithis hispida, and Cosmiolithis 
Henryi were readily recognised ; in fact, had it not been for the 
presence of a small quantity of these hair-like algze in the recent 
specimen, it might have been regarded as having been taken 
from the Utah beds. The resemblance of form between these 
hot spring and Utah diatoms, and the fact of their growing so 
luxuriantly in water so hot as to render it unfit to support any 
other form of living being, makes it more than probable that the 
Utah infusorial layers were formed in an inland fresh-water sea, 
the temperature of which was probably about the same as that 
of the Puebla hot spring. The great difficulties in explaining 
the formation of these extensive infusorial deposits have been the 
time required for their formation, and also the entire absence of 
all other fossil remains in strata that were evidently quietly 
deposited in fresh water. Both these difficulties are removed by 
admitting that the inland sea in which they were formed was of 
a temperature which is seen to be most conducive to their rapid 
growth, and which, at the same time, was incompatible with the 
existence of other forms of living beings. It is probable that the 
temperature of the air was not much below that of the inland 
sea, so that no land plants or animals could exist at the time 
when the Utah beds were being deposited. The admission of 
the existence of such an extreme climate even in the temperate 
zone at so recent a period as the post-pliocene (the position these 
beds are supposed to occupy) would certainly lead to important 
modifications in our views as regards the condition of the surface of 
the earthat that period. The author thinks it probable that these 
Utah infusorial beds are miocene, as at the close of that period we 
know that the temperature of the Arctic region was some fifty or 
sixty degrees warmer than at present. He proposes in a future 
communication to enter more fully into this question, and also 
to consider the bearing of the discovery of the production of 
these low forms of living beings in such apparently abnormal 
conditions on the origin of living matter. — Prof. Whitney 
gave an account of the investigations carried on during the 
progress of the Geological Survey of California, having 
for their object the determination of the value of the baro- 
meter as a hypsometrical instrument, the expectation being, 
that after a sufficient stock cf observations shall have been accu- 
mulated and reduced, it will be possible to designate the hours 
of the day for each month when the result will approach nearest 
to the truth ; and in general to give practical rules in regard to 
the times of observing and the methods of reduction, the follow- 
ing of which will secure a close approximation to accuracy than 
can now be attained. An elaborate series of observations with 
this end in view was begun on this coast some ten years after 
by Colonel R. S. Williamson, of the U, S. Engineers ; but the 
work was suspended by the Engineer Buseau just before being 
completed. Colonel Williamsons results, however, were pub- 
lished in the form of a superb quarto volume, as an ** Engineer 
Paper,” and this contains a large amount of valuable material, | 
so that the work of the Geological Survey is only to be looked | 
upon as supplementary to that so ably commenced by him. 
The stations at which observations are bzing carried on at 
present, under the direct'on of the Geological Survey, are along 
the line of the Central Pacific Railroad, and their elevations are 
presumed to be accurately known from the levellings of the rail- 
way surveyors. The points selected are San Francisco, Sacra- 
mento, Colfax, and Summit, approximately 0, 30, 2,400, and 
7,000 feet above the sea-level. The observations have already 
been continued at these points nearly a year, and are made at the 
Smithsonian hours (7 A.M.,2 P.M, andgPp.M.). The greatest 
care has been taken \hat the instruments should be kept in per- 
fect order, well placed for accurate results, and carefully and 
punctually observed. The observations of the first ten months 
have already been partially worked over by Prof. Pittee, of the 
Geolozical Survey, and the results attained indicate very clearly 
that valuable assistance will be derived from the completed series 
in the reduction of the copious barometric determinations of 
altitude made during the progress of the survey. 


BOOKS RECEIVED 
EnGuisu.—Hardy Flowers: W. Robinsor (Wame and Co.). 
AMeERICAN.—Mammals and Winter Birds of East Florida: J. A. Allen. 
ForeiGn.—Verhandlungen des naturhistorischen Vereines der preus- 
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Foreicn.—Le Chiffre Unique des Nombres —Sulle Distribuzione delle 
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CONTENTS Pace 
Tue SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION . . . . « « © © « « «© « « 40% 
PuysIoLoGicAL RESEARCHES AT GRATZ . . . «. 6 « « «© « « 402 
Our Book SHEER gee) 5) eye ee) fe) oon ols le) Hinde tod OY 
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR :— 
The/Science’andwArt Depaktimient: <).) +) ll aunt) Naun(onne fe ucn eno! 
Elementary Geometry.—A FATHER; R. A. Proctor, F.R.A.S. . 404 
Captain Sladen’s Expedition.— Dr. P. L. ScLaTer, F R.S. . . . 405 
Deschanel’s Physics —Prof J.D. EVERETT . . . . .- . « 405 
Newspaper Science. —Davip Forses, F_R.S. 406 
Tue New Ganoip FisH (CERATODUS) RECENTLY DISCOVERED IN 
QuzENsLAnD. By Dr. A GunTHeR,F.RS. .... . « . » « 407 
Tue ExoGENous STRUCTURES AMONGST THE STEMS OF THE COAL 
Measures. By Prof. W. C. Wittiamson, F.R.S. Seo eb set 
METEOROLOGY IN AMERICA: The United States Signal Service. 
(VERA Mustrarionss) si... soy oe Nol cathy cs oe asta en 
OPENING OF THE Mont Cenis TUNNEL, . «©. « » « «1 « « «© 415 
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Books AND PAMPHLETS RECEIVED ©. 2) 3s 6 3) 0) ss ss 420 


ErratumM.—Page 383, second column, lines 4, 11, for ‘“‘ Geneva” read 
““Genoa.” 



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