THE TREELESS PRAIRIES OF THE WEST. 207 



the unequal cooling of sub-marine regions, fissures were produced here and there 

 in the granite, and the heavy silicates with bases of chalk and iron, were project- 

 ed upwards to the surface, where the water with carbonic acid in solution, decom- 

 posed the silicates, and the lime set free was carried off by the seas. Life suc- 

 ceeded this putting into circulation of lime. But these is nothing analogous to 

 all this in the moon ; her presumed volcanoes are mere circuses with depths three 

 miles in profundity, while the deepest of mines is not more than one-third of a 

 mile. The moon is exempt from physical commotions — all there is tranquil ; 

 nothing will be changed there again ; it is a desert-death forever. 



M. Hausez has conducted some very curious experime. ts respecting the 

 faculty of odor in insects. He placed before several insects glass rods dipped in 

 turpentine and vinegar, the moment he brought these near the antennas of the 

 insect, the latter agitated their antennae and immediately returned , their route. 

 Clearly they experienced the odor; but the moment the feeU ^^^ were cut, the 

 same insect when placed in contact with the rods, gave no mor^' ^signs of aversion. 

 Ordinary flies that had been attracted by a morsel of corrupted meat, had one of 

 their antennae cut off anci then set free, they flew about as usual, but were no 

 longer able to detect where the rotten meat was. 



Tooth grafting appears to be on the increase. Dr. Magital has introduced 

 several improvements likely to make the process still more general, and which was 

 rather in vogue during the eleventh century. '' 



Dr. Boudet is on the point of making a valuable discovery; that of treating 

 pains by means of mechanical vibrations; he has cured several cases of persistent 

 bad headaches and neuralgia. The use of metals as remedial agents has given, 

 since two years, very extraordinary and happy results. 



F. C. 



BOTANY. 



THE TREELESS PRAIRIES OF THE WEST. 



PROF. THOMAS MEEHAN. 



At a late meeting of the Academy of Natural Sciences, of Philadelphia, Mr. 

 Thomas Meehan remarked that the absence of timber or arborescent growth on 

 the grassy prairies of America, still continued to be a matter of controversy, but 

 he believed that in the light of accumulating evidence, we might now come to a 

 positive decision in regard to the question. The most prevalent belief had been 



