SCIENTIFIC SUMMARY. 
399 
the older continental beds being, as far as I am able to judge, very 
different, if M. de Blainville’s memoir may be relied on. I, therefore, for 
the sake of perspicuity and convenience, propose to call this species Hyaena 
antiqua provisionally. If at any time, further material should identify it 
with any known species, my name must be rescinded.” — Yide Annals of 
Natural History , No. 73. 
Elevation of the Coast of Chili. — That the latter coast is being gradually 
elevated, would appear from the fact that for half a century the harbours 
of the country have been diminishing in depth. This change, however, 
might be accounted for by supposing the existence of currents bringing in 
debris. M. Pissis gives other proofs. On examining the coast between 
Concepcion and Rio Maule, the various escarpments of schistose rocks will 
be found to present several cavities formed in other times by stone-boring 
mollusks ; these markings succeed each other without interruption from 
high-water level to a height of from 8 to 10 metres (about 30 feet). The 
upper ones are much more crowded than those below, thus proving that 
the elevation has been gradual ; for had it taken place at various intervals, 
there would be a series of interruptions in the series, which do not exist.-- 
See Comptes Re?idus, January 1 1th, 1864. 
MEDICAL SCIENCE. 
Nature of the Red Blood Corpuscle.— Dr. Lionel Beale, continuing his 
interesting inquiries into the distinction between the nature of formed and 
germinal matter, has communicated a paper on the above subject to the 
Microscopical Society of London. He arrives at two conclusions : first, 
that the blood corpuscle is not a cell, and possesses no trace of a cell wall ; 
and, second, that the red substance is formed matter, and as such does not 
possess vitality, any more than cuticle, or the hard portion of horn or nail. 
That there is no distinct envelope is proved by the following facts : — 
1st. The corpuscles may be seen to alter their form under the microscope. 
This change is not due to pressure, because other globules having the 
normal form may be observed beneath those which are altering their 
shape. 2nd. If frogs or other large blood corpuscles are carefully sub- 
jected to sudden pressure under very thin glass, — as, for example, by 
drawing a needle point quickly and firmly across the thin glass, — several 
corpuscles will be divided into smaller ones. 3rd. Portions of the nucleus 
of a frog’s blood corpuscle may be seen to pass completely through the 
coloured material, which of course would be impossible were this of a 
membranous character. This observation of Dr. Beale’s is borne out by 
the statement of Dr. Roberts, who says, a I have on several occasions 
witnessed, after adding magenta, the total extrusion of the nucleus both 
in the frog and the newt, without the least collapse of the corpuscles .” 
4th. The corpuscles of guinea-pigs’ blood shoot out into tetra-hedral 
crystals a few hours after being removed from the animal’s body. Of 
this phenomenon, Professor Beale writes : “ After a few minutes, these 
small particles were seen to change their form, and become angular, and 
gradually, very minute, but most distinct tetra-hedral crystals were 
