1892.] Geology and Paleobiology. 45 



for the growth and distribution of the fishes' food", by the bridging 

 over of the cold current. 



The effect of the wind on the modification of the northern boundary 

 of the Gulf Stream was pointed out, and it was shown that it had been 

 moving towards the New Jersey coast at the rate of sixty miles per 

 year. The pilot charts of the North Atlantic coast, in which were 

 given the direction and velocities for the last three years, were exhibited 

 to support this view. Further, the influence of these changes in the 

 conditions in temperature and moisture upon our climate were pointed 

 out and some explanations offered. 



GEOLOGY AND PALEONTOLOGY. 



The Earthquake in Japan.— In a recent letter to the New York 

 Tribune, Mr. Kairiyama, a Japanese resident of New York, states he 

 has received letters from Japan containing manv particulars of the 

 terrible earthquake in that country, which took place October 28. The 

 section chiefly afflicted was the great island of Hondo, which is the 

 main island of the Japanese empire, embracing many provinces. The 

 surface of the ground at the time of the disturbance was terribly 

 shaken. No person could stand. Houses were instantly thrown down ; 

 fire instantly raged, roasting the imprisoned victims. The shocks 

 took place at intervals during four days, and varied from 100 to 600 

 in different localities. Relief funds are being subscribed in this and 

 other countries. 



The London Daily Graphic says : " Twenty-six thousand five hun- 

 dred people were killed and wounded; 90,000 houses destroyed; 

 200,000 people homeless. Not even the distance between them and us, 

 which robs the facts of so much of their import, the 'figures of so 

 much of their meaning, can deprive them of all. There are people 

 starving, too ; and this is a tangible ill, which we may attempt to les- 

 sen as well as to appreciate. An appeal has been made by the Japan- 

 ese people to our charity. The disaster which has overtaken them is 

 not within human power to foresee or to prevent; but some of the 

 consequences it is only human to attempt to alleviate." 



The steamer China, which recently arrived at San Francisco from 

 Hong Kong and Yokohama, reports that, while the steamer was 

 between Hong Kong and Yokohama on the return trip to San Fran- 

 cisco, an imposing sight was witnessed by the passengers and crew. 



The great earthquake at Yokohama had taken place a short time 

 previous, and many of the islands in the Yellow Sea were in a state 



