148 Scientific Intelligence. 
A Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism; by E. Mascarr 
weal J. Jousrert, translated by E. Atkinson, olume I, general 
phenomena and theory. 654 , 8vo. London, 1883 (Thos. De 
La Rue & Co.)—Professor Atkinson has rendered an important 
service to English students in bringing before them this valuable 
volume by the French physicists MM. Mascart and Joubert. The 
entire work is to be embraced in tw eee of which the first, 
now published, is theoretical, dey elopi ¢ the general principles 
of the science from the mathematical i the second is to be 
devoted to the description of the various phenomena, the methods 
a So and so on. The authors speak of the first vol- 
rming as it does, essentially, a distinct work, as an “ Essay 
on nthe ese anied Theory of Electricity,” a this will give some 
its scope. It is a work of high character, and should be 
eabetully studied by every student of electricity. 
tL. , GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY. 
1, Elevated Corat eine of is iba; by W. O. Crospy, (Proc. 
Boston Soe. Nat. Hist.)—Mr. Crosby Mestoibek, in this paper, the 
elevated coral r See of Cuba, and draws from them the appa- 
rently well sustained Soaueton that they indicate a slow subsi- 
ence during their formation, and hence, further, that Darwin’s 
theory of the origin of cain islands is the true theory. The low- 
est reef-terrace, of the northern side of the island, has a height of 
once, plainly, the perdi reef of the shore. The second reef- 
terrace rises abru uptly from the level of the lower to a height of 
200 to 250 feet, and bears evidence of having been of like origin 
with the lower. The altitude of the third reef is about 500 
eg and the fourth has a height east of Baracoa, near the 
umuri River, “ of probably not less than 800 feet.” "These old 
reef-terraces extend “ with slight interruptions—around the entire 
oast of Cuba; and in the western part of the island, where the 
erosion is less ‘rapid than farther east, they are the predominant 
formation, and they are well preserved on the summits of t 
highest hills. Mr, Alexander Agassiz states that the hills abou 
Havanna and Matanzas, which reach a height of over 200 feet, 
are entirely composed of reef. thiaentoue ‘ 
In the preci =e signs called El Yunque (the Anvil), five 
ce reef limestone, 1,000 feet thick, paprgee= 
the upper half of ches mmenntadn, the lower part, on which the reef 
rests, consisting of eruptive rocks and slates; and rraiatly the 
aEne r limit of this modern limestone formation must have been 
0 feet above the sea-level. Mr. Sawkins gives 2,000 feet as 
Be: maximum thickness of the Jamaica elevated coral reefs above 
the sea. 
Evidence that the reefs were not formed duri ing a progressive 
rising of the land is drawn from the thickness of the reefs. : 
Mr. Crosby observes that the reefs reaching to a height of 500 — 
