284 Miscellaneous Intelligence. 
sues was the shen san of oxygen, and the disengagement of carbonic 
acid great function of the vegetable tissues was the absorption 
of carbonic “acid and the disengagement of oxygen. The processes 
in the history of the life of the two kingdoms in which these distinctive 
functions appeared to be reversed, were not exceptions to the law, but 
were due to other agencies than those connected with the essential life of 
the plant or the animal. Thus carbonic acid was given out by plants at 
night, during fructification and germination. In the first instance, the 
as in the growth of all other vegetable cells. The development of the 
carbonic acid arose from the decomposition of the starch and the sugar 
of the albumen of the seed. In the cases where animals had been 
found to give off oxygen, it was doubtful as to whether planis were not 
present or even mistaken for animalcules 
mposition of a series of vegetable and animal p®oducts was 
exhibited ; and attention was drawn to the fact, that in all cases the 
vegetable compounds were formed from carbonic acid and water, or 
from carbonic acid, water, and ammonia, by the loss of oxygen. Acetic 
acid was referred to as an exce ptional instance ; but it was shewn that 
it was more probable, where acetic acid occurred as the result of veg- 
ise n exception was also referred to in the a | kingdom in 
which fat is supposed to be formed by the deoxydation of sugar; but 
attenti as drawn to the fact that this mis ocess ad itte of an ther 
no instance was known of the animal appropriating and for 
ganic substances out of these compounds. ‘This was the piemeeti 
ing feature of the life of the plant, and the liberation of oxygen 
most constant_result. The 9 con of substances noe {fo rmed, 
and the uniting them once more to oxygen gas, was the indi, a5 
— ure of animal life, and the teat of carbonic acid gas its most 
onstant result. Minor c changes occurred ; but cae were ie “grand 
diningsishing features of the two kingdoms, the recognition of whic h 
e, function, or aoe could alone enable us to distinguish 
rhe Sate and anim 
Letter on the Snide Institution, by Prof. Acassiz, ad- 
dressed to the Hon. Charles W. Upham.—Dear Sir :— goes scien 
tific man io this country has been watching with intense interest 
“proceedings of the Smithsonian Institution ever since its foundation, 
Satisfied, asall must be, that upon its prosperity the progress of scl 
@nce in . in a measure depends. 
