NATURAL HISTORY MISCELLANY. 213 
In these statements the President struck the key-note of the pro- 
ceedings of the Geological section during the following were Never, 
probably, did the authors of papers, or those who took part 
cussions which they elicited, appeal so little to convulsion, soda, 
or catastrophe. — Quarterly Journal of Science, London. 
MICROSCOPY. 
Tue MICROSCOPE IN MEDICAL JURISPRUDENCE. — In a case of poi- 
soning by means of corrosive restr ate maliciously substituted for 
the proper medicine, and in which there was a doubt of the utmost 
importance to remove, as to the source of the poison, rendering it un- 
certain whether the child had met with its death by accident, careless- 
ness, or otherwise, Mr. Deane, by the aid of the microscope, deter- 
house of the child’s parents, where it died, thus rendering it quite 
certain that the death of the child was premeditated, and at the same 
time removing cated! trace of suspicion from innocent parties, whose 
an e had been called in question. — Address of the 
pak pais ahs. of the Microscopical Society, London. 
THE Potycystina.—In a paper on the structure and affinities of 
the Polycystina [one of which, Podocyrtis Schomburgkit, is figured on 
the left side, at the bottom of the title-page of the Narurauist], Dr. 
Wallich has furnished us with an elaborate account of this obscure 
and around which their soft part, or sarcode, is sus 
———+— 
EXPLORATIONS AND WORKS IN PROGRESS. 
The Lyceum of Natural History of Williams College, propose to 
Send out early this summer a scientific expedition to South Amer- 
ica. It will be under the charge of Prof. James Orton, of the Univer- 
ia of Rochester. The design of the party, to consist of twelve, is to 
collect specimens of Natural History, and study the physical geolo 
sad the Cordilleras, making Quito the base of their operations. $ 
-cial 
Fa 
This active society has already sent out five expeditions; two to 
Nova Scotia, one to Newfoundland, one to Florida, and one to Lab- 
tador and Greenland. S to aid the expedition are desired 
