1865.] Botany and Vegetable Physiology. 271 



the Eev. W. Bleasdell, M.A., rector of Trenton, on the 6th June, 1862, 

 and which he proposed to name the Bleasdell boulder. The following 

 measurements of it are given : — 



Length, 44 feet ; breadth, 24 do. ; height, west end, 19 do. ; height, 

 east end, 22 do. ; greatest width of base, 21 do.; longitudinal circum- 

 ference, 114 do. ; lateral do., 77 do. 



It lies due east and west, and is surrounded by a grove of iron- 

 wood, overtopped by maple and beech. The following plants were 

 found growing upon this huge stone : Bubus strigosus, Bibes cynos- 

 bati, B. rotundifolium, Silene Bennsylvanica, Fragaria vesca, Mitella 

 diphylla, Solidago Canadensis Abies balsamea, A. alba, Lastrea inar- 

 ginalis, Bolypodium vulgare, Adiantum pedatum, Hedwigia ciliata, 

 Leptobryuni pyriforme, Bryum roseum, Scyphophorus pyxidatus, 

 Feltidea polydactyla. 



The most characteristic boidder plants in Canada are Barmelia 

 conspersa, F. cyanea, Schistidium apocarpum, Polypodium vulgare, 

 Hedwigia ciliata, and Scyphophorus pyxidatus. 



The occurrence of organic matter similar in composition to lignite 

 and peat, is said to have been noticed by MM. Cloez and Wohler, on 

 a meteoric stone which was observed to faU at Orgueil, in France. 

 Besides the usual inorganic matters an amorphous black matter like 

 humus was seen, which on analysis was found to consist of carbon, 

 hydrogen, and oxygen. The analysis of this meteorite would lead to 

 the conclusion that organized matter existed in the region whence it 

 came. 



According to Unger, the Eocene fossil flora resembles much that 

 of Australia at the present day ; and the Tertiary flora has a marked 

 resemblance to that of North America. 



Dr. GreviUe continues his observations on Diatoms, and he has 

 recently described the following new species from the South Pacific : — 

 Campylodiscus humilis, Melosira nobilis, Auliscus Australiensis, 

 Bhizosolenia striata, Cymbella Lindsayana, Navicula Bobertsiana, 

 N. sulcata, Stauroneis decora, S. obesa, Mastogloia Macdonaldii. 



Mr. Charles Martins, of MontpeUier, has shown that in high moun- 

 tains there is an extraordinary heating of the soil, compared with the 

 temperature of the air. He remarks that a solar ray falling on the 

 summit of a mountain ought to be warmer than one faUing on the 

 plain, since the latter has lost most of its heat in traversing the dense 

 atmosphere below. This is confirmed by observations made on the 

 top of the Faulhorn, by Peltier and Bravais, in August, 1842 ; and by 

 Bravais and Martins, in September and October, 1846. No less than 

 125 observations were made, and these showed the mean temperature of 

 the soil during the day to be 53 0, 1 Fahr. ; that of the air being 41°-7. 

 Since that time Martins has made observations on the heating of the 

 sun's rays of the same space of soil on an open plain at Bagneres de 

 Bigorre, and the Pic de Midi. The two points are distant hori- 

 zontaUy nine miles, and they are under the same meridian. The Pic 

 isolated from the Pyrenees chain, rises to the height of 9,439 feet 



