142 MISCELLANEA. 



They adhere so strongly to the rock, that their precise external 

 appearance has not been determined. In the inside of this mass 

 small black grains may be seen resembling small seeds, the black 

 matter of which is carbonaceous. When this is burnt off, the re- 

 mainder of the fossil has been found on analysing it to consist of 

 phosphate and carbonate of lime. It is supposed that the black 

 grains are seeds which have passed undigested through the intes- 

 tines, and have assumed in the passage such positions as these 

 foreign bodies would and often do in the faeces. 



A remarkable and beautiful result has been obtained by the 

 application of the power of chemical analysis to these fragments. 

 These are found to contain uric acid in the proportion of about 

 one-half per cent., and from the circumstances under which it 

 occurs it is concluded that the coprolite must have been dropped 

 by a bird rather than any other animal. It also appears that the 

 animal was in all probability omnivorous, a conclusion suggested 

 by the analysis of the coprolite, and confirmed by the probable 

 presence of seeds, as above alluded to. 



II. Memoranda of Earthquakes in Upper Assam from January 

 1839 to September 1843. By Capt. Hannay, B.N. I. 



[From the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, No. 58.] 



1839. January 14th, 9 p. m. Shock of an earthquake felt at 

 Suddeeah. Direction apparently from S. W. to N. E., preceded 

 some days by rain and heavy snow in the mountains, air very cold. 

 June 3d, 8 p. m. At Suddeeah, apparently from S. to N., strong 

 N. E. wind. Burrumpooter high, wet and disagreeable weather. 

 Season unusually rainy from March up to this date. Small-pox 

 prevalent. 



1840. March 4th, 1 p. m. A total eclipse of the sun. When the 

 sun was obscured the air-was unusually cold and disagreeable to the 

 feelings, even to nausea. About an hour after the eclipse (about 

 1 p. M.) a smart shock of an earthquake, and about ten minutes 

 afterwards another ; both shocks appeared to have come from the 

 south. Sky cloudless, but atmosphere hazy. 



1841. Feb. 9th or 11th. Felt at Gowhatty. This earthquake 

 was different to those above mentioned ; it was accompanied by a 

 low rumbling noise ; was sharp and stunning, as if a blow had been 

 struck under the jaw ; the others alluded to appeared, on the con- 

 trary, to have more of a trembling or rocking motion. 



N.B. In February, 1841, at night, a splendid meteor was seen at 

 Seebsagur *, and in other stations in Upper Assam. It passed from 



* Most of the shocks felt at Seebsagur do not appear to be felt lower down 

 the valley, but at Fezpoor earthquakes are said to be very frequent. There are 

 no volcanoes in the neighbourhood, but the line of the Naga hills (nearer 

 ranges) abound in iron and coal and numerous Petroleum springs, and in the 

 Singpho country are springs of white mud. 



