214 Proceedings of Learned Societies. 
opposite direction. The bottle, in its course, will have travelled 
nearly along the track of the ship in 1840. It must have taken 
the longer route, and travelled over a distance of 9,000 mile9, 
even if it made no detours. “ Supposing,” says the Scotsman, 
“that the detours did not exceed 1,000 miles, and that the 
bottle had newly reached the strand at Port Phillip when dis¬ 
covered—as the time spent in the voyage was years, or 1,270 
days, it follows that the current had moved at the rate of about 
seven miles per day." 
Nov. 9, 1846.—Extract from a letter from Colonel Ilelmersen 
was read, who observes that the remarkable similarity between 
the Australian mountains and the Ural—they being alike in direc¬ 
tion, height, and geognostic character—leaves no doubt on liis 
mind that auriferous and platiniferous sands will be found in the 
former, as they eVist in the latter; and strongly recommends 
researches with a view to their discovery. The same features are 
also observed in Borneo, whence gold and platina have for years 
been extracted.— Atlienceum. 
ROYAL INSTITUTION OF LONDON. 
Feb. 6, 1846.—Prof. Owen “ On the Geographical Distribu¬ 
tion of Extinct Mammalia.” 
The Professor announced his purpose to develope the law or 
principle on which mammals are, and have been, distributed over 
the surface of this planet. [A mammal was described as being 
characterized by a hairy skin, quick respiration, and, therefore, a 
temperature usually higher than that of the surrounding atmos¬ 
phere, and by bringing forth living young.] He stated that 
recent researches had led him to defined views on the following 
subjects 1. Comparative development as between mammals of 
the Old and New World. 2. Peculiarities of mammalian 
distribution in Australia and the neighbouring islands. 3. Pro¬ 
bable final causes of several instances of this development. 4. 
Inquiry whether the extinct species of mammals were localised 
like the present races. 
Thus,—1. On the comparative mammalian development in the 
New and Old World of geographers. The Professor stated, that 
