On the other hand, if we proceed to view this appendage as a proboscis, or ventral tube, connecting with the ventral side of the body, we are met by the objection of its extreme proportional length, slenderness, flexibility, and the fact that it seems to taper off nearly to a point at its free end. In Mr. Dyer's collection there is a piece, apparently of the free end of this organ, about an inch in length, and agreeing exactly in size, form and structure, with that of L. Dyeri, that is broken at one end, and tapers to a slightly blunted point at the other end, which is composed of very minute pieces drawn together. In other examples, where three or four inches in length of this appendage can be seen attached to the disk at one end, it tapers off until it becomes exceedingly slender at the free broken end. This character of its termination, especially when viewed in connection with its length, slenderness and other characters, would seem to be a strong objection to the conclusion that it is a ventral tube or proboscis. Still there might have been a minute opening at the extremity, closed by diminutive pieces, as we often see is the case with the opening of much larger crinoids.

While examining the specimens of this type, several solutions of the mystery of its structure suggested themselves, the first one of which was, that possibly the disk, viewed as the body, might really be only a peculiarly constructed root, or base of attachment of a crinoid, the body of which grew at the free end of the long column-like appendage. This suggestion derives some support from the fact that the disk, although usually growing on the flat surfaces of shells, etc., is sometimes found growing upon the side of the columns of other larger crinoids, as well as on other uneven surfaces, and in such cases, it is bent around to conform to the curve of the surface of attachment, just as we see in crinoid roots similarly situated; while its whole interior is so filled with radiating lamellæ, as to leave extremely little, if any, space for the viscera of an animal, and is, as already stated, apparently hermetically sealed, excepting the minute canal leading up into the long appendage. It is true that the roots of crinoids are generally formed of thickened and anchylosed rings or segments of the column, but Mr. Billings has figured the root of one type (Cleiocrinus grandis), apparently composed of an accidentally folded expansion of minute polygonal plates; and it is worthy of note, that the column attached to this root is longitudinally divided by five sutures. It is also true, that there is no example, so far as known to the writer, of any such system of radiated lamellæ being connected with the root of a crinoid; but this objection would doubtless apply with even greater force against the conclusion that this disk is the body of one of these animals.

On the other hand, among the strong objections to the suggestion that these disks are roots, may be mentioned their very regular symmetrical form, and the fact that no indications of a body at the free end of the column-like appendage have yet been observed, nor of a detached body with adhering portions of a col

umn agreeing with this; while no free criniod that might have been attached to this column in its early stages of growth, is known in these rocks. In addition to this, the tapering and pointed extremity of this appendage would seem to render it at least improbable that it had ever supported a body at that end.

Two other solutions of the difficulty suggest themselves, one of which is, that possibly the specimens, as we now see them, may not be the mature condition of the animal, but only one of the stages of development of some Crinoid, which, if known in its adult condition, is supposed to be an entirely distinct type. The other is that the disks, as we now see them growing fast to other bodies, may be the adult condition of a Crinoid that in its earlier stages of growth was supported on its little column, as in other types, being otherwise free, and that at a later period of its growth, the column became free at its lower end, and was, for a time, trailed about by the floating body, which finally inverted itself and grew fast to other objects by what was originally its vault. The fact, however, that these disks attain a diameter of at least half an inch, with the elongated appendage four inches or more in length, would, even, if known analogies supported such a view, seem to be a very strong objection to the conclusion that these are immature, or embryonic forms; while to say nothing of other strong objections that naturally present themselves against the last mentioned suggestion, the occurrence of these disks of all sizes, from the largest down to others less than a tenth of an inch in diameter, all alike growing fast to other bodies by the side opposite the column-like appendage, seems to demonstrate that this is their mode of growth. from the first.*

In view of all that is now known of this curious fossil, it seems to me, without undertaking to express a positive opinion on the subject, that the weight of evidence (supposing that these disks are really the body of the crinoid) favors the conclusion that the long appendage is a ventral tube; but if the appendage is a col umn, then I should incline to the opinion that the disk is a peculiarly organized root, and that the body may be yet unknown, unless as an entirely distinct crinoid.

For the use of specimens of this fossil, I am under obligations to Mr. C. B. Dyer, Mr. U. P. James, Mr. D. H. Shaffer, Dr. H. H. Hill and Dr. R. M. Byrnes, of Cincinnati. Mr. Dyer's collec tion, however, contains much the most complete and instructive series. Full illustrations, showing all of its known characters, will be prepared for the reports of the Ohio Geological Survey. The two known species, L. Dyeri and L. crateriformis, occur in the Cincinnati group of the Lower Silurian, near Cincinnati, Ohio.

In a few very rare cases, the disk has been found detached, and showing the flat side marked by very regular radiating striæ. It is almost certain, however. from the fact that hundreds of specimens have been found growing firmly to other bodies, that these few separated individuals had become detached by the disintegration of the object upon which they grew, and that the radiating stre are only the edges of the lamella within, exposed by weathering, as we also sometimes see on the upper side of weathered specimens.

1

ART. XXXVIII.-Discovery of a new Planet, and the Elements of the 114th Asteroid; by Dr. C. H. F. PETERS. (From a letter to one of the editors, dated Litchfield Observatory of Hamilton College, Clinton, Oneida Co., N. Y., September 11, 1871).

On the night of the 8th inst. a new planet was found, which probably will receive the number (116) of the asteroid group. The weather has favored me, and I have obtained the three following observations:

These positions may be slightly modified by adopting more correct places of the stars of comparison. The planet is somewhat brighter than 11th magnitude.

Of the 14th asteroid (which has been named Cassandra), I have computed the following elements, from observations of July 28, Aug. 8 and 18:

These represent an observation of Sept. 9 to within a few seconds, and therefore must be very nearly accurate. From them we learn, further, that the planet is really not so very small, but only appeared so in its present opposition. For, we find that it is now in the remoter part of its orbit, near its aphelion.

SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE.

I. PHYSICS.

1. Researches in Electricity :-Inaugural-Dissertation for the attainment of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the GeorgAugust-University, Göttingen; by THOS. R. BAKER, of Pennsylvania, U. S. A.-The prominent part of these researches was the Comparison of the spark length of a given quantity of electricity with its density, and also the spark length with the quantity itself. The apparatus used was the Lane discharging jar, the sinus electrometer of R. Kohlrausch, and a large multiplicator

employed by Professors Weber and R. Kohlrausch in their determination of the magnetic and mechanical units of electricity. The sinus electrometer is an apparatus by which the density of electricity is determined by the efforts of a charged magnetic needle (a small magnet) against the horizontal intensity of the earth's magnetism. By means of the multiplicator, the quantity of electricity is estimated by measuring the influence of a current many times multiplied upon a small magnet within it.

The jar and electrometer combined were used for the first part of the investigation. The apparatus was charged, and then by means of a micrometer the negative was made to approach the positive ball of the jar until the spark appeared, and at this instant the position of the needle was noted.

The jar combined with the multiplicator served for the second part of the investigation. The balls of the jar were placed at fixed distances apart; and then the electrical machine, also connected with the apparatus, turned until the appearance of the spark.

The examination of the relation was made by seeking the straight line or curve whose equation the expressions for the elements of comparison in question regarded as coordinates most nearly satisfied.

From the results obtained it is concluded that the relations sought in both parts of the investigation most nearly approach that of the coördinates of the hyperbola, though that relation is not presented as clearly the physical law in the case.

The relation of the electrical condition of the atmosphere to its moisture, temperature and pressure, and the effect of motion upon the escape of electricity from the needle, were investigated at the same time. In the latter it was shown that the needle when in motion lost its electrical charge considerably sooner than when at rest.

Millersville, Pa., Aug. 14th 1871.

2. Water unfrozen at a temperature of 18° C-BOUSSINGAULT finds that by preventing the dilatation of water, it may be kept unfrozen down to -18° C. He experimented with a gun barrel of steel, into which a steel ball was dropped before filling it with water. During the cold days of December 26, 27 and 30, last, the temperature fell to -12° and -18°, and yet on shaking the tube the ball was found to move freely, showing that the water was not frozen.-L'Institut, July 12.

II. GEOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY.

1. Glaciers.-Canon Moseley has a paper entitled, "On the Mechanical impossibility of the descent of glaciers by their weight alone," in the Philosophical Magazine for August.

2. Time of the Glacial epoch.-Lieut.-Col. Drayson in discussing before the Geological Society the "probable cause, date and duration of the Glacial epoch," starts from the fact that the pole of the ecliptic would be the center of polar motion as the pole

aried its distance from that center. He indicated the curve which he pole did trace, and this curve was such as to give for the date 3,000 B. C., a climate very cold in winter, and very hot in sumner, for each hemisphere; the duration of the glacial epoch he Fixed at about 16,000 years. He stated that the calculation resultng from this movement agreed accurately with observation.—Phil. Mag. Aug., 1871.

3. Das Elbthalgebirge in Sachsen, von Dr. HANNS BRUNO GEINITZ. 1st Part. I. The Sea Sponges of the Lower Quader. 42 pp. 4to. with 10 plates. Cassel, 1871. (Theodor Fischer).— This valuable memoir by Dr. Geinitz notices or describes and admirably figures the following sponges: Spongia Saxonica Gein., Cribrospongia subreticulata Münster in litt., Cr. isopleura Reuss, Cr. heteromorpha Reuss, Cr. bifrons Reuss, Plocoscyphia pertusa Gein., Amorphospongia vola Michelin, Sparsispongia varians de From., Tremospongia (d'Orb.) pulvinaria Goldf. sp., Tr. rugosa Goldf. sp., Tr. Klieni Gein., Cupulospongia (d'Orb.) infundibuliformis Goldf. sp., C. Roemeri Gein., Stellispongia Plauensis Gein., St. Reussi Gein., St. Goldfussiana Gein.., St. Michelini Gein., Epitheles (de From.) tetragona Goldf. sp., E. foraminosa id., E. robusta Gein., E. furcata Goldf. sp., Cherendopora undulata Mich., Ch. pateraformis Mich., Elamostoma (de From.), Normanianum d'Orb. sp., El. consobrinum id. Siphonia pirifor mis Goldf., S. annulata Gein., S. bovista Gein. The memoir is a very important contribution to this department of paleontology.

4. Sieboldtia Davidiana.—M. Blanchard has described under this name a large Salamander from the north of China, which appears to be different from that of Japan.-L'Institut, July 12.

It

5. Bivalve Crustaceans. A paper on recent Ostracoids, bivalve crustaceans, from the Gulf of St. Lawrence, by G. S. Brady, is contained in the Canadian Naturalist, No. 4 of Vol. V. includes notices of 29 species, 5 of which are illustrated by 13 figures.

6. On the early stages of Terebratulina septentrionalis, by EDWARD S. MORSE, Ph.D. 12 pp. 4to, with two plates. A paper showing careful research, from the Memoirs of the Boston Society of Natural History, Vol. II, Part I, No. II.

7. Glacier Scratches along valleys. (Appendix to Art. XXXII.) -Prof. Emmons, in his N. Y. Geological Report (1842) at page 422, says that the direction of the glacier scratches in northeastern New York "conforms to that of the great valleys; in the Champlain valley it is north and south; in the St. Lawrence valley, southwest." The particular localities where his observations were made are not mentioned. He describes deep and broad channelings of the Trenton limestone west of Watertown, on Black River, which have a southwest course, and extending to the shore of Lake Ontario, a distance of ten miles; and states that the scorings of the rocks are parallel to the valleys, which here run southwest. Among western observations on this point not published in this Journal, are those of Prof. C. A. White in his Iowa Report, and those of Dr. Newberry.