Intelligence and Miscellanies. 191 



perfectly sound. The same gentleman presented specimens 

 of vegetable milk, from the vicinity of Rio Chico, S. America. 



Mr. J. Cozzens offered a suite of geological specimens 

 from Rhode Island. 



Dr. Swift presented specimens of bituminous coal from 

 Tioga Co. N. Y. This coal, which, since the message of 

 Gov. Clinton to the legislature of New York in January last, 

 has attracted much notice, is an important discovery, and 

 will prove highly valuable in domestic economy. It con- 

 tains about 65 carbon, 30 bitumen, and between 4 and 5 of 

 earthy impurities — not differing essentially from the best 

 Liverpool coal. (See vol. xiii, pp. 32 and 381 of this Jour.) 



Mr. Seth Hunt presented specimens illustrating the geolo- 

 gy of Alabama. 



A valuable collection of dried plants was received through 

 the Cor. Sec, from Dr. Steudel of Wurtemburgh, in Ger- 

 many. 



Mr. Barnes read a paper on magnetic polarity, detailing 

 some interesting experiments. (See this Jour. vol. 13. p. 70.) 



Mr. Cooper presented a suite of lavas from Vesuvius — 

 and a collection of volcanic products from France, Italy and 

 Germany, with specimens of the building stones anciently 

 employed in Italy and Egypt. 



May. — Prof I. A. Smith read a detailed account of the 

 anatomy of the Proteus of the Lakes ; with remarks on the 

 Syren Intermedia. (See An. Lye. vol. 2. p. 259.) 



Dr. Van Rensselaer read a paper on Oolite, as found in 

 Alabama. It seems to correspond with the lowest division 

 of Oolite, as described by Conybeare and Philips, and known 

 in England as " coral rag" — Its equivolent on the continent 

 of Europe is known as the " Stonesfield formation. " 



Mr. Gale presented minerals from Massachusetts — and 

 Mr. Cozzens a suite of Lavas from St. Helena ; and radia- 

 ted asbestos, serpentine and granite from this island in place. 



Maj. Delafield presented fossil organic remains from lake 

 Huron, and the western portion of the state of New York. 

 Also five specimens of Alcyonium from Warminster, (Eng- 

 land,) exhibiting a striking similarity to the alcyonium lately 

 found in the green sand near Annapolis. 



