416 Miscellanies. 



ries of sandstone with their beds o£ salt and gypsum — the immense 

 oolite formation — the chalk and the tertiary, with immeasurable 

 masses of diluvium and alluvium have all succeded, in ages subse- 

 quent to the coal. 



We beg leave again to recommend the researches of Mr. Witham, 

 to the kind and seasonable aid of American Geologists. He is very 

 desirous of receiving portions of fossil stems from our coal fields, 

 and from the anthracite, and the transition limestone group ; that a 

 fair comparison may be made between the fossil plants and trees of 

 this continent and those of Europe. 



We have already distributed a few copies of Mr. Witham's work 

 among geologists, whose position and pursuits may probably enable 

 them to promote this very interesting research ; and to persons who 

 can act effectually upon this subject, we might have it in our power 

 still to cornmunicate a copy or two more. 



It is indispensable that the exact geological and geographical sit- 

 uation of the fossil wood should be made Jcnown, or the pieces will 

 not answer the purpose of a comparative investigation, which, as 

 things are now situated, must be made in Edinburgh, as no such ex- 

 periments are, so far as we are informed, made any where else. — Ed. 

 January 1, 1835. 



Zodiacal Light. — We have received from Professor Olmsted 

 the following notice of this phenomena, with the promise of a more 

 extended article on the subject, for a future number of this Jour- 

 nal. — Ed. 



My attention was first attracted to the appearance of the Zodi- 

 acal Light in the morning sky, on the 11th of October. At that 

 time it presented a pyramidal form, resting its broad base on the 

 horizon, and terminating in a faint indefinite extremity near the 

 Nebula of Cancer. 



On the 5th of November, I inserted in one of our daily papers, a 

 brief notice of this light, with the hope of directing the attention of 

 astronomer* towards it. In the same article were suggested the 

 queries, ' whether this light has any connexion with falling stars, 

 and whether it would sustain any remarkable change on or about the 

 13th of November ?' The " change" contemplated was, that it 

 would about that time pass by the sun, apparently, and become vis- 



