Miscellanies^ 397 



OTHER NOTICES. 



1. Exchanges of organized remains. — In a letter dated Heidel- 

 berg, May 17, 1830, to the editor, written by Prof. C H. Bronn, 

 that gentleman enquires, whether there are persons in this country 

 who are disposed to exchange fossil organized remains ; he is inclined 

 to obtain those of North America from persons situated in different 

 states where there are organized remains, to furnish those of Europe 

 in exchange, and to add the names which they sustain in Germany. 

 He mentions some of our most distinguished naturahsts, with whose 

 labors he appears to be well acquainted, and he wishes us to ex- 

 cite an interest among those, who have the best opportunity and 

 the strongest inducement, to collect specimens, principally from 

 the more ancient formations, which he regards as the most interest- 

 ing ; he is aware that they are extensively diffused in the states of 

 Pennsylvania, New York, (he names Trenton Falls, Albany, Black 

 River, Plattsburgh, Hudson city, Lakes Seneca, Erie, Ontario, &c.) 

 Canada, (Falls of Montmorency, Ottowa River, York, Lake Hu- 

 ron,) and in the Cattskill mountains. 



He adds, "If my offers should be acceptable to any person, I will 

 endeavor, in the course of half a year at most, to collect and prepare 

 what may be most interesting to them, (as soon as I shall have been 

 informed what may be agreeable.) That we may be mutually in- 

 formed what will be an equivalent, each should advise the other of 

 the number of species of petrifactions which he can furnish, and to 

 avoid unnecessary expense in transportation, that each particular 

 parcel {envoi) should neither be too small nor burdened with speci- 

 mens which are imperfect, or too heavy in proportion to their value." 



It will afford us much pleasure if, through the medium of this Jour- 

 nal, we can call the attention of naturalists throughout the United 

 States and Canada, to the interesting object proposed by Dr. Bronn. 

 Such exchanges cannot fail to be highly useful, and it remains prin- 

 cipally for our young and active collectors, not yet embarrassed by 

 too much duty, to avail themselves of tlie present advantageous op- 

 portunity. 



The field of organized remains in this country is vast, and much 

 of it is of the geological age indicated by Dr. Bronn, that is what 

 is usually called the transition and older secondary, which cover so 

 large a part of the states of New York, Pennsylvania, k,c. It is far 



Vol. XX.— No. 2. 51 



