Thompson exhibited to the Section a very decisive experiment. He showed that in a vial partly filled with wine, no motion, of the kind described, occurs as long as the vial is kept corked. On his removing the cork, however, and withdrawing, by a tube, the air saturated with vapor of wine, so that it was replaced by fresh air capable of producing evaporation, a liquid film was instantly seen as a horizontal ring creeping up the interior of the vial, with thick-looking pendant streams descending from it like a fringe from a curtain. He gave another striking illustration by pouring water on a flat silver tray, previously carefully cleaned from any film which could hinder the water from thoroughly wetting the surface. The water was about one-tenth of an inch deep. Then, on a little alcohol being laid down in the middle of the tray, the water immediately rushed away from the middle, leaving a deep hollow there, which laid the tray bare of all liquid, except an exceedingly thin film. These and other experiments, which he made with fine lycopodium powder dusted on the surface of the water, into the middle of which he introduced alcohol gently from a fine tube, were very simple, and can easily be repeated. Certain curious return currents which he showed by means of the powder on the surface, he stated he had not yet been able fully to explain. He referred to very interesting phenomena previously observed by Mr. Varley, and described in the fiftieth volume of the Transactions of the Society of Arts, which he believed would prove to be explicable according to the principles he had now suggested.

6. On the Absorption of Matter by the Surfaces of Bodies; by Sir D. BREWSTER, (Proc. British Assoc., from Athenæum, 1458.)-If we smear very slightly with soap the surface of a piece of glass, whether artificially polished or fused, and then clean it perfectly with a piece of chamois leather, the surface, when breathed upon, will exhibit in the most beautiful manner, all the colors of thin plates. If we breathe through a tube, the colors will be arranged in rings, the outermost of which is black, corresponding to the centre of the system of rings formed between a convex and a plane surface. In repeating this experiment on the surfaces of other bodies, Sir David found that there were several on whose surfaces no colors were produced. Quartz exhibited the colors like glass, but calcareous spar and several other minerals did not. In explaining this phenomenon, the author stated that the particles of the soap, which are dissolved by the breath, must either enter the pores of the bodies or form a strongly adhering film on their surface. This property of appropriating temporarily the particles of soap, becomes a new distinctive character of mineral and other bodies.

7. On the Existence of Acari in Mica, etc.; by Sir D. BREWSTER, (Proc. Brit. Assoc., Ath., 1458.)-While examining with a microscope a thick plate of mica from Siberia, about five inches long and three inches wide, he was surprised to observe the remains of minute animals, some the 70th of an inch, and others only the 150th of an inch in size. Some of these were inclosed in cavities, round which the films of mica were in optical contact. These acari were, of course, not fossil, but must have insinuated themselves through openings between the plates of mica, which afterwards closed over them.—Sir David also read a notice on the Remains of Plants in Calcareous Spar, from King's county,

Ireland, and an account of the analysis of the mineral made for him by Prof. Andrews, of Belfast. The same notice contained an account of specimens of calcareous spar from India, in which copper and iron pyrites were disseminated through them in minute crystals and arranged in strata with clear spaces interposed, parallel to the faces of the primitive rhombohedron.

8. On the Phenomena of Decomposed Glass; by Sir D. BREWSTER, (Proc. Brit. Assoc., 1855, Ath., 1458.)-A notice on the phenomena of decomposed glass, as exhibited in specimens from Nineveh, given to him by Mr. Layard, and in others found among the ruins of St. Leonard's College, St. Andrews. He gave a brief explanation of the manner in which the decomposition took place round different centres, and by which the brilliantly colored films were formed. In the St. Andrews specimen the silex had been restored to its crystalline state in minute prisms, while the manganese took a separate place in opaque crystals. 9. Floral Calendar, for part of 1855, in Lauderdale Co., Ala.; by THOS. P. HATCH, Prof. of Nat. Science in La Grange Coll., Florence, Ala.-The early spring was at least two weeks later than usual. Later, the progress of vegetation was so rapid as to bring it up with ordinary seasons. In the following, lus. is a contraction for leaves, fr. for fruit, (ripe.) When neither of these follow their specific name, inflorescence is understood. The plants are classified in accordance with Torrey & Gray's N. A. Flora.

MARCH, 1st to 6th; Sambucus Canadensis, lvs.-5th to 10th; Hepatica triloba; Claytonia Virginica; Acer rubrum; Prunus Americanus; Saxifraga Virginica; Hedyotis cerulea; Syringa vulgaris, lvs.; Alnus serulata.-10th to 15th; Myosurus minimus; Isopyrum biternatum; Thalictrum anemonoides; Arabis lævigata; Cardamine rotundifolium ; C. hirsuta; Dentaria diphylla, D. laciniata; Draba brachycarpa; Capsella bursa-pastoris; Sagina decumbeus; Cerastium nutans; Oxalis violacea; Aesculus pavia, Ivs. ; A. glabra, lvs.; Rubus villosus, lvs. ; R. trientalis, lvs.; Senecio aureus; Mertensia Virginica; Phlox glutinosa ; Benzoin odoriferum; Ulmus racemosa, U. fulva; Pachysandra procumbens; Quercus castanea, Ivs.; Sisyrinchium anceps.-15th to 20th; Anemone Caroliniana; Aquilegia Canadensis; Cerastium vulgare; Negundo aceroides; Cerasus serotina; Rosa rubiginosa, lvs. ; Symphori carpus vulgaris; Antenaria plantaginifolia; Phacelia bipinnatifida; Ellisea microcalyx; Phlox divaricata; Sassafras officinale.-20th to 25th; Leavenworthia aurea; Viola palmata, V. pedata; Acer dasycarpum; Vaccinium arboreum, Ivs.-25th to 31st; Ranunculus repens, R. abortivus; Liriodendron tulipifera, Ivs. ; Uvaria triloba; Podophyllum peltatum; Viola sagittata, V. cucullaria; Arenaria patula ; Silene virginica; Oxalis stricta; Vicia Caroliniana, V. tetrasperma; Potentilla Canadensis; Cornus florida; Viburnum prunifolium, lvs.; Erigeron bellidifolium; Pedicularis canadensis; Lithospermum latifoli um; Phlox pilosa, P. reptans; Syringa vulgaris; Celtis occidentalis ; Quercus nigra; Carpinus americana; Ostrya virginica, Ivs.; Liquidamber styraciflora, lvs.-Between the 1st and 15th, Cercis canadensis; Amelanchier canadensis.-Between 15th and 31st, Ranunculus Carolinianus; Vaccinium corymbosum.

SECOND SERIES, Vol. XXI, No. 62.-March, 1856.

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APRIL 1st to 5th, Thalictrum dioicum; Sanguinaria Canadensis; Claytonia Caroliniana; Tilia heterophylla, Ivs.; Acer saccharinum, A. dasycarpum, lvs.; Negundo Aceroides, Ivs.; Crataegus punctata; Veronica arvensis, V. peregrina; Quercus nigra; Carpinus americana, Ivs.; Erythronium americanum.-5th to 10th, Clematis viorna; Oxalis corniculata; Rhus toxicodendron, lvs. ; Acer nigrum; Aesculus pavia ; A. glabra; Robinia pseudacacia; Rubus occidentalis; Hydrangea quercifolia, lvs.; Cornus florida, Ivs.; Krigia Virginica; Taraxacum dens-leonis; Verbena aubletia; Benzoin odoriferum, Ivs.; Carya alba; Pinus inops; Allium striatum; Uvularia flava.-10th to 15th, Actea alba; Corydalis aurea; Stellaria pubescens; Silene antirrhine; Acer saccharinum, lvs., A. nigrum, lvs.; Trifolium repens, T. pratense, T. procumbens; Gleditschia triacanthos; Rubus villosus; Sedum ternatum; Azalea nudiflora; Halesia tetraptera, lvs.; Dodecatheon media; Veronica serpyllifolia; Callicarpa americana, Ivs.; Lithospermum canescens; Cynoglossum officinale; Nyssa nudiflora, lvs.; Carya tomentosa; Quercus alba; Q. obtusiloba, Q. falcata, Q. tinctoria, Q. rubra, Q. montana; Platanus occidentalis, Ivs.; Morus alba, lvs. and fls.; Hypoxis erecta; Trillium sessile; Uvularia perfoliata.-Between 1st and 15th, Vaccinium stamineum; V. frondosum; Conopholis Americana; Plantago Virginica; P. pusilla.-15th-20th, Sagina decumbens, fr.; Geranium Carolinianum; G. maculatum; Staphylea trifolia; Fragaria virginica; Osmorhiza longistylis; Lonicera sempervirens; Viburnum prunifolium; Krigia virginica, fr.; Cynthia dandelion, C. virginica; Teconia crucigera; Salvia lyrata; Myosotis nana, M. stricta; Phlox maculata; Nyssa nudiflora; Iris cristata.-20th-25th, Ranunculus pusillus; Delphinium tricorne; Liriodendron tulipifera; Viola pubescens; Stellaria aquatica; Rhus toxicodendron; Rubus trientalis ; Crataegus crus-galli; Hedyotis purpurea; Coreopsis auriculata; Senecio lobatus; Sonchus asper; Halesia tetraptera; Gratiola sphaerocarpa ; Calistegia sepium; Chionanthus virginica, Ivs.; Asarum canadense; Castanea vesca, lvs.; Salix nigra; Urtica dioica; Arum triphyllum ; Smilax quadrangularis; Medeola virginica; Polygonatum multiflorum. -25th-30th, Ranunculus recurvatus; R. parvulus; Sanguinaria canadensis, fr.; Sisymbium canescens; Lepidium virginicum; Wisteria frutescens; Psoralea melilotoides, P. eglandulosa; Trifolium reflexum; Baptisea leucantha, B. leucophia; Calycanthus floridus: Heuchera Americana; Maruta cotula; Apogon humilis; Specularia perfoliata; Styrax grandifolium; Gratiola floridana; Verbena angustata; V. bracteosa; Monarda Bradburiana; Scutellaria parvula; Lamium amplexicaule; Ellisea microcalyx, fr.; Physalis viscosa; Amsonia tabernæ-montanum; Chionanthus virginica; Euphorbia corollata; Smilacina stellata; Chamaelirium luteum; Tradescantia virginica; Secale cereale. Between 15th and 30th, Kalmia latifolia; Scylla esculenta.

MAY 1st-5th, Fragraria virginica, fr.; Rosa lucida; Hydrangea quercifolia; Bellis integrifolia; Apogon humilis, fr.; Sonchus asper, fr.; Prunella vulgaris; Euphorbia peplus.-5th-10th, Menispermum canadense; Sisymbrium canescens, fr.; Amorpha fruticosa; Oenothera sinuata, O. linearis; Sedum pulchellum; Itea Virginica; Philadelphus grandiflorus; Gallium aparine; Spigelia Marilandica; Circium

altissimum; C. Virginianum; Sagittaria simplex; Allium canadense.10th-15th, Viola primulæfolia; Tephrosia Virginica; Heliopsis lævis ; Vaccinium arboreum; Blephilia ciliata; Marrubium vulgare; Onosmodium Carolinianum; Smilacina racemosa.-Between the 1st and 15th, Clematis cylindrica; Delphinium consolidum; Euonymus Americana; Vitis cordifolia; Gillenia stipulacea; Diospyros Virginiana; Sanicula Marilandica; Erigeron annuum; Gnaphalium purpureum; Plantago lanceolata; Verbascum blattaria; Leonurus cardiaca; Samolus floribundus; Pentstemon pubescens, P. digitalis; Solanum Carolinense, S. nigrum; Rumex acetellosa.-15th-20th, Polygala ambigua ; Rosa setigera; Gallium circazans; Coreopsis senifolia; Leucanthemum vulgare; Frasera Carolinensis.-20th-25th, Magnolia Fraseri; Polygala incarnata; P. purpurea; P. Boyrinii; Ceanothus Americanus; Rubus trientalis; Dianthera Americana; Monarda festulosa; Castanea vesca; C. pumila.-25th-30th, Tephrosia spicata; Trifolium arvense; Schrankia angustata; Decumaria barbara; Gallium trifidum; Cacalia reniformis; Salvia urticifolia.-Between the 15th and 30th, Opuntia vulgaris; Ascyrum crux-andreæ ; Hypericum rosmarifolium; Linum virginicum; Lespedeza repens; Cryptotenia canadensis; Erigeron strigosum; Silphium scaberrimum; Lepachys pinnata; Dipteracanthus hybridus; Leonurus carsiaca; Teucrium canadense; Scutellaria integrifolia, S. pilosa; Datura stramonium; Asclepias variegata, A. obtusifolia, A. tuberosa; Anantherix viridis; Polygonum hydropiper; Phyllanthus Carolinensis; Aristolochia serpentaria.

JUNE 1st-5th, Passiflora incarnata; Hydrangea radiata.-5th-10th, Anemone Virginana; Astragalus, n. sp.; Sambucus Canadensis; Actinomeris helianthoides; Phlox acuminata.-10th-15th, Cornus sericeus; Sericocarpus solidagineus; Achillea millifolium; Euphorbia maculata. -Between the 1st and 15th, Hypericum corymbosum, H. angulosum; Stylosanthes elatior; Sambucus pubescens; Leptopoda brachypoda; Lobelia glandulosa; Gerardia flava; Nepeta cataria; Calamintha nepeta; Hypopitis lanuginosa; Polygonum aviculare; Lilium Carolinianum.-15th-20th, Eupatorium rotundifolium.-20th-25th, Callicarpa Americana; Martynia proboscidia.-25th-31st, Portulacca oleracea ; Diervilla trifida; Andromeda arborea; Verbena spuria.-Between the 15th and 31st, Cleone pungens; Impatiens pallida, I. fulva; Petalostemon violaceum, P. canadense; Rhyncosia tomentosa; Crotalaria sagittalis, C. ovalis; Rhexia mariana; Cephalanthus occidentalis ; Pycnanthemum linifolium; Lobelia inflata; Tecoma radicans; Sabbattia angularis; S. calycosa; Phytolacca decandra; Polygonum Pennsylvanicum; Cypripedium pubescens.

JULY 1st-5th, Conoclinum cœlestinum; Hedeoma pulegeoides.-5th-10th, Agrimonia eupatoria; Cuphea viscosissima; Scrophularia nodosa.-10th-15th, Nelumbium nucifera; Desmodium nudiflorum; Circium lanceolatum; Euphorbia hypericifolia.-Between the 1st and 15th, Lathyrus palustris; Vernonia fasciculata; Pycnanthemum incanum; Commelina erecta.

Ferns.-Pteris atropurpurea; Adiantum pedatum; Camptosaurus rhizophyllus; Aspleneum ebeneum, A. pinnatifidum; Polystichum acrostichoides; Osmunda cinnamomea; Botrychium virginicum; Ophioglossum vulgare.

10. Death of Dr. T. W. Harris.-Died at Cambridge, Mass., on the 16th January, 1856, THADDEUS WILLIAM HARRIS, M.D., widely known as an eminent entomologist. He was the son of Rev. Thaddeus Mason Harris, D.D. of Dorchester, Mass., and was born in that town, Nov. 12, 1795. He was graduated at Harvard College in 1815, and after going through a regular course of medical study, he established himself in the practice of the profession in the town of Milton. Early imbued with an ardent love of nature, he relieved the laborious duties of his profession by the study of natural science. In 1831, on the death of Mr. Benjamin Peirce, he was appointed the Librarian of Harvard College, and he filled the office with credit and usefulness to the close of his life.

While faithfully discharging the duties of this station he found time for the pursuits of natural history, directing his attention chiefly to the important, but much neglected, field of Entomology. In this department of science he rose to distinction, and since the death of Say, he has unquestionably stood at the head of American entomologists. His earlier contributions in relation to insects appeared in the New England Farmer of Boston, and in other agricultural journals, and like his later papers were marked by accuracy and thoroughness. In October, 1832, he delivered the anniversary discourse before the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, (Camb. 1832, pp. 54 and 42, 8vo), in which he set forth in an interesting manner "the relations subsisting between insects and plants, and the useful results to be obtained by the cultivator from a knowledge of the habits and economy of insects." In 1833, in the Fourth Part of Prof. Hitchcock's Report on the Geology, &c. of Massachusetts, was published Dr. Harris's Systematic Catalogue of the insects of that State. This list, comprising 2350 species, nearly all contained in his own cabinet, although as he freely admitted, quite imperfect, is noticeable as the first printed general catalogue of the insects of any part of our country;—that of Melsheimer, published in 1806, being confined to the Coleoptera.

In 1837, he was requested to prepare a report on the insects of Massachusetts, to be included among the Reports of the Commissioners on the Zoological and Botanical Survey of the State. In so vast a range as lay before him, he wisely determined to limit himself to such a treatment of his subject as would best promote the agricultural interests of the Commonwealth. No person in this country was better qualified to undertake the task, and no one but Dr. Harris could have accomplished it so satisfactorily. His report was published by the State in 1841. A small impression of the work, with slight alterations, was issued at Cambridge in 1842 under the title of "A Treatise on some of the Insects of New England which are injurious to Vegetation," (Cambr. pp. 459, 8vo.) A second edition of the book, revised and enlarged, was published in 1852, (Bost. pp. viii, and 513.)

This admirable treatise was received with great favor both by the cultivators of the soil, and by the cultivators of entomological science. In a style simple, clear, and exact, Dr. Harris gives, after a general view of his subject, a systematic account of such of our insects as are specially important on account of their injuries to plants or fruits, describing with much fullness their forms and their habits, and pointing out the best methods of preventing or remedying their attacks. The