254 NATURAL HISTORY MISCELLANY. 
GEOLOGY. 
GIGANTIC FOSSIL SERPENT FROM NEW JERSEY.— Professor Marsh de- 
Scribes in ** American Journal of Arts and Sciences," under the name of 
Dinophis grandis, a new and gigantic snake from the Tertiary formation 
of New Jersey. He says ‘‘the earliest remains of Ophidia, both in 
Europe and this country, have been found in the Eocene, E nearly all 
the species from strata older than the Post Pid appear to be more or 
less related to T constricting serpents. Remains of this vem are 
not uncommon in European rocks, but in this country two species wi 
one founded on a single vertebra, have been described hitherto, peo 
of these were discovered in the d argen of New Jersey." Me 
vertebra described ** would indicate an animal not less than thirty — in 
length; probably a sea-serpent allied to ite Boas of the present era.’ 
In closing, the author states that “the occurrence of closely related 
species of large serpents in the same geological formation in Europe and 
America. just after the total disappearance in each country of Mosasaurus 
and its allies, which show such marked ophidian affinities, is a fact of pe- 
have led 
gists, familiar with these groups, to confidently diaaa: will rS 
at no distant day, reward explorations in the proper geological horizon.” 
MICROSCOPY. 
MICROSCOPE OBJECTIVES. — À performance of a 4-10 objective made for 
me by Mr. William Wales, of this city, is of such a superior character that 
I have no doubt it will be of interest to many of your readers. With di- 
rect or central light in i Erico cS s to oblique, and with the diatom 
mounted not dry, but in balsam, the Pleurosigma angulata is beautifully 
resolved ; de three sets of lines being Vitis into view with great dis- 
tinctness, and this with the No. 1 or A eye-piece. Amplification 210 di- 
ameters. With no equal power of Powell & Leland's of London, of 
Hartnack of Paris, of Tolles & Grunow of this country, or of Gundlach 
of Vienna, various objectives of each and all of which makers I have 
examined, have either, I myself, or other microscopists of my acquain- 
tance been able to effect this. Another feat which I had recently the 
honor of exhibiting to several members of the “ Bailey ae sed 
Club" of this city was a resolution of the podura scale with its "s 
central markings with this same 4-10. The resolution ed the stri 
uman muscular fibre by a 3-inch objective,*also made by Mr. Winisió 
Wales of this city, again challenges our admiration. un J. HIGGINS, 
M. D., 23 Beekman Place, New York. 
[We referred this note to Mr. E. Bicknell, who kindly sends the follow- 
ing reply. — Eps.] 
