S22 Wisconsin Academy of Sciences^ Arts, and Letters. 



Second Session. 



December 28th, 9 A. M 



After the election of several new members, Dr. Birge, of the State TJniver- 

 sity,read a paper on " The Theories of Hseckel and JSTsegeli on Variation.' 



Nsegeli refers variation to internal forces; Hseckel to external forces 

 exclusively. Neither theory is a complete explanation of the facts. Neegell 

 offers a teleological explanation as causal, and Hteckel calls in the grotesque 

 conception of the " atom soul " to aid his mechanical forces. 



Gov. Smith was introduced to the Academy by Pres. Hoy. Gov. Smith, 

 pleasantly responded. 



" The Corals of Delafield " was the title of a paper read by I. M. Buel, of 

 Beloit. [See page 185.] 



An interesting paper, entitled " Some Observations on the Recent Glacial 

 Deposits of Wisconsin and those of Switzerland," was read by Prof. T. C. 

 Chamberlin, state geologist. The writer correlated the glacial deposits of 

 Wisconsin with those of Switzerland. Stereoscopic views of the glaciers In 

 Switzerland were left at the disposal of the audience. 



The meeting adjourned at 12 o'clock. 



Third Sessioic. 



December 28, 2 P. M. 



The afternoon session was opened by a paper relating to " Some Points in 

 the Geology of the Region about Beloit," by Mr. G. D. Swezey, of Beloit 

 College. 



The paper following this was entitled " The Penokee Fault," by Prof. R. D. 

 Irving, of the State University. 



The description of the " fault " was illustrated by a map showing that the 

 magnetic belt or iron ridge had upon one side of " Bad river " slipped 800 

 feet below the corresponding ridge on the opposite side. Many interesting 

 facts were noted in connection with this displacement and the various 

 guesses as to the manner in which it had been produced were mentioned. 



Prof. Chamberlin next gave a careful and graphic description of the tor- 

 nado which occurred May 23, 1878, in Western Wisconsin. Prof. Chamberlin 

 was at Mineral Point with a party of explorers, and was able to watch the 

 phases of the storm and study the character of the cyclone. His remarks were 

 verbal, and prefaced the more elaborate description of the same storm In a 

 paper entitled " The Retardation of Wind in Tornadoes," by Prof Daniells, 

 of the University. 



The history of the storm in Wisconsin was only a fraction of its history — 

 its terrestrial career. The signal service had traced its origin to the Paciflo 

 coast. Tornado clouds were noticed in Texas, and various meteorological 

 disturbances observed in many regions remote from where the cyclone struck 

 the earth. Along the line of the storm — 65 miles — people who noticed it 

 saw wind clouds moving from various quarters and coming together before 

 spending their fury on the earth, thus giving rise to the idea that it was here 



