226 Scientific Intelligence. 
Nordstedt himself in Italy and the Tyrol. The desmids were 
determined by Nordstedt and the GEdogonie by Wittrock. The 
species from Brazil, which with two exceptions are desmids, were 
collected by A. Glaziou and E. Warming. Ww. GF. 
10. A new Species of Chimera from American Waters ; by T. 
Gitt.—One of the most unexpected discoveries recently made 
in American ichthyology is that of a species of the genus Chi- 
mera, of which a specimen has lately been sent to the Smithso- 
nian Institution. It was caught southeast of the La Have bank, 
in lat. 42° 40’ N., lon. 63° 23’ W., at a depth of 350 fathoms, 
with a bait of halibut. A close comparison of the specimen with 
individuals of the European Chimera monstrosa renders it evi- 
dent that it does not belong to that species, but is an entirely dis- 
tinct specific form. It may be named Chimera plumbea, and 
diagnosed as follows:—A Chimera with the snout acutely pro- 
little above the level of the inferior margin of the orbit ; the dor- 
sals close together; the dorsal th its anterior surface 
rounded; the ventrals trian and pointed; the pectorals 
ormly plumbeous. By these characters the species is readily 
separable from the Chimara monstrosa and other species of the 
genus.—Proc. Phil. Soc,, Dec. 22, 1877, Washington. 
11, Dr. W. M. Gabb on Dr. Warring’s paper on the growth- 
rings of exogenous plants a proof of alternating seasons, in the 
3 
clusions arrived at by the Doctor are e only demu 
at one ave never seen an exogen without rings (3).- ¢ 
ny tree grows here at the average rate of one inch 
_ The mahoga 
diameter per annum. Now the one-half inch radius certainly 
contains an average of three rings—which cannot in any manner 
might go farther: Santo Domingo is eighteen to nineteen de- 
grees north of the Equator. But I have seen the same facts 
amply proven ten degrees farther south, where there is practically 
no variation of temperature, where the rainy season lasts twelve 
months in the year, and where the trees are, to all appearances, 
ually vigorous at all seasons of the year, 
IV. Astronomy. 
1. On the age of the Sun in relation to Evolution ; by JAMES 
/ROLL.—One of the most formidable objections to the theory of 
evolution is the enormous length of time which it demands. On 
