Miseellatiies. 415 



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, ou 

 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 unaptly resembles the fingers of a hand branching from 

 the palm. 



Only two fossil species of fuci 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 a more ancient formation. We 

 have not room to notice the other papers of this number of the Jour- 

 nal of the Academy, all of which do credit to that Institution. 



19. JYew monthly Journal, called The Friend of Mankind ; con- 

 ducted by Prof. Rafinesque. — It is not to be restricted to any particular 

 subjects, but is to embrace all kinds of useful knowledge, whether in 

 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. I. — 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 Journal, (Vol XIX, p. 3)= We shall be ready 



