126 NOTES. 
system ; or unless other instrumental means far beyond the 
capacity of the spectroscope be devised to show minute connec- 
tions between changes on the sun’s surface and limited periods of 
phenomena on the earth, such as years of great heat, and earth- 
quake and voleanic activity, perhaps even years of pestilence. A 
long cycle of years may be required to demonstrate whether a law 
lies at the base of my suggestion. 
Like the observers who make their measures to determine the 
gradual elevation or subsidence of continental shores, we may not 
learn the result, but we can aggregate observations for discussion 
by the next generation.’ 
Mr. W. H. Dall submitted descriptions of new species of shells 
from the northwest coast of America with notes on species previ- 
ously described ; this paper includes a description of a new species 
of Voluta of the group Scaphella, particularly interesting as being 
the first of this family from so high a northern station (Shumagin 
Island) though allied forms have long since been reported from 
the Straits of Magellan. To this species, which is of large size, 
being over four inches in length, Mr. Dall has given the name of 
Voluta Stearnsit. Buccinum Kennicottii Dall, described in one of 
the latter numbers of the “ American Journal of Conchology,” 
proves to be a Chrysodomus. A new species of Littorina is also 
described in this paper as L. Aleutica Dall. 
Professor Davidson called the attention of the Academy to the 
earthquake waves recorded by the tidal gauges on this coast on 
the 23d to 27th of August and on the 16th to 17th of September 
last. He demonstrated by deductions from the relative rapidity 
and heights of the waves at different points, that the main shock 
of the first must have been near the northern coast of the island 
of Yesso, Japan, and that the latter had originated not far distant 
in z ocean from the points of observation. 
Mr. Stearns read a paper pointing out the predominance, in the 
Californian and Vancouver zoological provinces, of mollusks in- 
cluded in the Order Scutibranchiata (Vide Adams’ Genera) as 
compared with the Atlantic coast of America from the Arctic seas 
: to Georgia. 
_ H.M.S. “ Challenger” corvette, of 2306 tons, Commander G. S. 
Nares, has been despatched by the Admiralty on a cireumnavi- 
_ gation of the globe, for the purpose of dredging, sounding, and 
