NOTES. 249 
opposite chemical and polar elements of the battery are to the 
current of the helix, so (may be) are the polarities of the sperm-cell 
and germ-cell to the spiral phyllotaxis of plants and symmetrical 
(usually “ssn organo-taxis (a new term) of animals. 
16. A close (but reversed) analogy exists between heat-force 
and vital force. A spark of fire may “light” and so burn succes- 
sively an indefinite amount of combustible matter. A s spark o 
ife may animate an indefinite amount, successively of ans, 8 
matter. The former, combustion, reduces complex substances, 
which are unstable, to more stable compounds. The latter, life, 
elevates similar substances to more complex states; but with 
constant transmutation of their forms. 
17. Such analogies are as yet crude, and do not solve the 
ife. 
18. But the facts on which they rest justify and encourage the 
Physical investigation of vital actions; including their study. under 
ara -dpa physics. 
9. Such a ew of life is in no manner antagonistic of theism 
or of ‘tele olog "any more than i is the now priar reduction of 
; ical or Bhiveical kaarre All such analy eat ‘inquiries are, 
moreover, legitimate, so lor g as they are accurate; whether they 
Point to biogenesis or abiogenesis; to the origin of types by inter- 
rupted appearances or by evolutio 
February 2d.—Prof. Geo. B. Wood communicated further results 
of his experiments with salts of potassa on vegetation, and espe- 
cially on grain and fruits: 
He e stated that in a field of grain in which the soil had been 
oy exhausted by bad culture, one-half was enriched by barn 
Manure, the other with the same with wood ashes added. The 
effects of the latter were especially marked, and much greater than 
ch ae former. The most striking results were obtained by the 
f the hed of the poke, Phytolacca decandra. 
oa Cope read a paper on the “ Families of Fossil Fishes of the 
Cretaceous strata of Kansas.” — 
— greater part of these were shown t o be Physostomous 
ine of three families, viz.: the Saurodontiæ, the Pachy- 
i dontidæ, and the Siete cade Of the first, four genera 
en s 
sev 
orm provided with multitudes of minute shovel-headed 
AS a general result the great resemblance of this fauna 
