146 Scientific Intelligence. 



1. The formation of the principal valleys about the hills of 

 central Long Island and northward to the Sound was concur- 

 rent with the closing period of the ice over the region, but some 

 deepening has taken place by water from rainfall, both from its 



■ 

 of the valleys. 



2. The great fiord valleys were contemporaneous with the 

 progress of the ice period. 



3. The " plain valleys " have been formed by streams from 

 both surface an: 1 under-draina _re. ami originated 'in older valleys 

 which determined the flow of the eroding waters. 



4. A further conclusion is suggested that the volume of 

 precipitation over the region was greater at a former period 

 than at the present time. 



SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE. 



I. Chemistry and Physics. 



1. On the /'..•/•;7<"-.'//,,„ ,.f If./Jr,,,,, ,, ,/,t$. Although the use of 



hydrogen gas as a reducing agent in analytical operations has 

 become quite general since it was proposed by Hose, yet no 

 method of his gas has been described. Scho- 



big has made a series of experiments upon the use of a saturated 

 solution of potassium ] purpose, the results 



of which appear to be quite satisfactory. Tli purines , ih-h 

 were introduced were the hydrogen compounds of sulphur, phos- 

 phorus, arsenic, antimony and carbon. The permanganate was 

 used as neutral, acid, and alkaline solution, contained in a Bun- 

 sen wash-bottle. Careful examination of the gas after passing 

 through a layer 10 cm. thick of the solution, either when only a 

 eurity was present or when all were mixed together, 

 failed to shew'a trace of foreign su'ostanee. Hydrogen sulphide 

 was found to be best removed lee an alkaline solution; the other 

 suli-tunees l.v ;, m-utral or acid one. Even coal gas after passing 

 slowly through a thickness of ten centimeters of the solution, 

 deposited no carbon when passed through an ignited tube, the 

 carbon being oxidized to carbon dioxide. As to the question 

 whether hydrogen itself is not oxidized by the permanganate, the 

 nade comparative experiments with neutral, acid and 

 alkaline solutions, which showed that oxidation does take place, 

 the maximum rate heiug ahout a third of a cubic centimeter per 

 hour under the conditions employed, and this in the neutral solu- 

 tion. With the hydrogen thus perfectly purified the author 

 su , ,,,_..,, , , i n the daik and in the 



absence of organic matter. In diln er separated 



