work is a treasure of valuable information, and will be an enduring monument of the industry and learning of its author.

Dr. Harris was of modest and retiring habits, and so cautious to avoid error, so anxious for the whole truth, that his published writings fail to do justice to the full extent of his abilities. "Yet," to use the language of one who knew him well," he had abundantly the self-respect which belongs to unselfish labors to advance the world in the knowledge of the works of its Maker, and to the uniform tenor of a pure, useful, Christian life."

11. Rev. Zadock Thompson, Professor of Natural History in the University of Vermont, died at Burlington, January 19, 1856, aged 59. Mr. Thompson early interested himself in the study of the history and physical features of the state of Vermont, and in 1824 published a Gazetteer of the State which to a large extent was made from information gathered by his personal labots. In 1842 this work was incorporated in a much larger one of wider range of subjects entitled "History of Vermont, Natural, Civil, and Statistical, in three parts," a thick 8vo volume of 650 pages, one third of it devoted to the Natural History of the State. A supplement to this work, of 64 pages, appeared in 1853, bringing down the subjects of the Natural History and physical geography of Vermont to the date of publication. Among Mr. Thompson's researches, the discovery of the remains of a whale in the vicinity of Lake Champlain as a post-tertiary fossil was of special interest, proving that in the latest of geological periods preceding man, Lake Champlain was a cruising ground for northern Cetaceans. All his investigations were pursued with great zeal, fidelity, and success, and at the same time without ostentation. At the time of his death he was officially engaged in making a survey of the State of Vermont, embracing its Physical Geography, Geology and Mineralogy, Botany and general Zoology.

12. Theory of the Winds; by Captain CHARLES WILKES, U. S. N., (Read before the American Association at Providence, Aug. 20, 1855), accompanied by a map of the World, showing the extent and direction of the Winds; to which is added Sailing Directions for a voyage around the world. 116 pp., large 8vo. Philadelphia, 1856.-This volume, as the author states in his Introduction, forms part of his Report on Hydrography, the xviith volume of the Government Edition of the United States Exploring Expedition Reports. Capt. Wilkes speaks of his Report as a "sealed book," like the other Reports of the Expedition, "for there are only one hundred copies ordered by the Government for the use of the world!" He has therefore published a portion of the work for distribution. To give a just exposition of the Theory would require a review of many pages; and we have therefore to refer the reader to the volume itself. Capt. Wilkes combats the common doctrine that the rotation of the earth has any thing to do with the course or velocity of the Trade winds, and also observes that we have no satisfactory evi. dence of currents in the atmosphere passing from the polar to the equatorial regions. He lays down as the prominent point in his theory, that if there is a change of temperature in the atmosphere, there is a disturbance of equilibrium, the denser and colder portion seeking the warmer from every direction to restore the equilibrium in the most di rect lines it can follow and after remarking on this principle, he

points out the areas of greatest mean heat, and his inferences therefrom. Connected with this subject, he discusses the relations and influence of vapors in the atmosphere, and also of electricity in great

storms.

13. Description of a portion of the lower Jaw and a Tooth of the Mastodon Andium; also of a Tooth and fragment of the Femur of a Mastodon from Chile; by JEFFRIES WYMAN. 10 pp., 4to, with two plates. From Gilliss's Report on Chili, vol. ii.-Dr. Wyman sustains the view that there are remains of two species of Mastodon in South America, the M. Andium and M. Humboldtii; and possibly a third from Chili.

14. A Memoir on the Extinct Sloth Tribe of North America; by JOSEPH LEIDY, Prof. Anat. Univ. Pennsylvania, etc. 68 pp., 4to, with 16 lithographic plates, (from the Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge). Dr. Leidy has here reviewed the facts relating to the extinct Sloth tribe of North America, and added much that is new from specimens under his examination. The species described are Megalonyx Jeffersonii Harlan, Megalonyx dissimilis Leidy, Ereptodon priscus Leidy, Mylodon Harlani Owen, Megatherium mirabile Leidy (the North American Megatherium, which Dr. Leidy regards as distinct from the M. Cuvieri of South America.) The plates are excellent.

15. Contributions towards a Knowledge of the Marine Invertebrate Fauna of the Coasts of Rhode Island and New Jersey; by Prof. J. LEIDY, M.D. 18 pp. 4to, with 2 4to plates. Philadelphia, 1855. (From the Jour. Acad. Sci., Philad., vol. iii, 2nd Series.)-This paper contains enlarged views of the lasso-cells of the Astrangia, first made known and figured by Agassiz, besides descriptions and figures of several new species of worms, Polyps, etc., and one Crustacean, Cepon distortus, found in the branchial cavity of the Gelasimus pugilator.

16. An Essay on Meteorites; by R. P. GREG, F.G.S. 40 pp. 8vo, Nov., 1855. Manchester.-This important essay was originally issued as an article in the Philosophical Magazine for November and December, 1854, and is now published by the author with additions, in which he considers at some length the lunar theory of meteorites. He gives a catalogue of known meteoric falls, and compares them for different periods and countries. He concludes, that the origin of meteorites "is not within the limits of the atmosphere, and that some of them at least cannot have had a lunar origin;" that they are probably distinct in nature and orbits from ordinary luminous meteors; and that the falls are least frequent when the earth is in perihelion, and most so when it is in aphelion, the mean system or mass of the asteroids being in their perihelion; and finally, that they may be reasonably considered as belonging to the group of planetoids or asteroids, and therefore as of the nature and conditions of asteroids.

17. Synopsis of the Classification of the British Paleozoic Rocks; by the Rev. ADAM SEDGWICK, M.A., F.R.S., etc., with a Systematic Description of the British Paleozoic Fossils in the Geological Museum of the University of Cambridge, by FREDERICK McCoy, F.G.S., etc. 4to, pp. xcviii, and 407-622, with many plates, 1855.-This 3d Fasciculus closes the Palæontological volume of Prof. McCoy. The whole is a grand contribution to science under the auspices of Prof. SEDGWICK, and the Geological part is the result of his special labors. We defer to another number a farther notice of the volume.

18. Vienna Scientific Publications.-The scientific publications issued annually in Vienna are not exceeded by those of any other city in Europe.

The Academy of Sciences published in 1854, in its MathematicoNatural History section alone, 2 thick 4to volumes, printed in a style of unusual elegance, containing articles of the highest character in almost every branch under that section, and illustrated by numerous elegant plates; and besides this, the Bulletin of the Academy in 10 parts of 250 to 300 pages each, also finely printed and profusely illustrated. The Kais. Kön. Geologischen Anstalt publishes a quarterly Bulletin of more than 200 pages in small 4to; and in 1852 issued a volume of Transactions in large 4to, with many fine plates of fossils, etc. There is also a large 4to volume issued, entitled "Jahrbücher der K. K. Central-Anstalt für Meteorologie und Erdmagnetismus von KARL Kreil, which is brought out under the auspices of the Academy of Sciences. The volume for 1851 was published in 1855.

Volume ix of the Transactions of the Academy (1855) opens with an extended account (in Latin) of the structure and relations of the Chlamydophorus truncatus of Harlan, with many plates of great beauty, illustrating its anatomical structure, by JOSEPH HYRTL. The other papers are as follows:-Beitrag zur Kenntniss der Grundlagen von Piazzi's Sternkatalog, von K. v. LITTROW, 73 pages.-Beit. z. Kenntn. der Cephalopoden Fauna der Hallstätter Schichten, mit 5 Tafeln, von Fr. R. v. HAUER.Ueber zwei Polyparien aus den Hallstätter Schichten, mit 1 Tafel, von A. E. REUSS.-16 Gattungen von Binnenwürmern und ihrer Arten, mit 6 Tafeln, von Dr. K. M. DIESING.—Schildkrötenreste aus den Oesterreichischen Tertiär-Ablagerungen, mit 6 Tafeln, von K. F. PETERS, (including fine plates of several new species of fossil turtles.)-Ueber die Brachiopoden der Hallstätter Schichten, mit 2 Tafeln, von E. SUESS.— Ueber die Gastropoden und Acephalen der Hallstätter Schichten mit 2 Tafeln, von Dr. M. HORNES.-Brechung und Reflexion des Lichts an zwillingsflächen optisch-einaxiger vollkommen durchsichtiger Medien, von J. GRAILICH.

19. Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, New Series. Vol. III, Part II. 1855.

Art. VIII. Notice of Fossils from the Carboniferous Series of the Western States, belonging to the genera Spirifer, Bellerophon, Pleurotomaria, Macrocheilus, Natica, and Loxonema, with descriptions of eight new characteristic species; by J. G. NORWOOD and H. PRATTEN, of the Illinois Geological Survey.

IX. Plantæ Prattenianæ Californica: An enumeration of a collection of California Plants, made in the vicinity of Nevada, by Henry Pratten, Esq., of New Harmony; with critical notices and descriptions of such of them as are new, or yet unpublished in America; by ELIAS DURAnd. X. Relation of Atomic Heat to Crystalline Form; by J. A. MEIGS, M.D. (An important exhibition of the relations of bodies as to their atomic heat, crystalline form, atomic volume, etc.)

XI. Contributions towards a knowledge of the Marine Invertebrate Fauna, of the coasts of Rhode Island and New Jersey; by JOSEPH LEIDY, M.D.

XII. Descriptions of New Species of Psittacidæ, in the collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia; by JOHN CASSIN.

The Culture of the Grape and Wine making, by ROBERT BUCHANAN, with an Appendix containing directions for the cultivation of the Strawberry, by N. LONGWORTH. 6th ed. 142 pp. 12mo. Cincinnati, 1855.

The Unity of Matter: A Dialogue on the relation between the various forms of matter which affect the senses; by Alex. Stephen Wilson. 80 pp. 16mo. 1855, London: J. Highley.

Videnskabelige Meddelelser fra den naturhistoriske Forening i Kjöbenhavn for Aaret 1853. Udgivne af Selskabets Bestyrelse. Copenhagen, 1854-Opens with observations on the Papilionaces, Scrophularineæ, Labiatæ, Malpighiacea and Gentianeæ of Central America; by A. GRISEBACH and A. S. OERSTED. 58 pages.-Also contains a paper on Greenland Ornithology by J. REINHARDT; and on new Mexican Plants by F. LIEBMAN; and new species of Castelia by the same.

Handbuch der Metallurgischen Hüttenkunde, zum Gebrauche bei Vorlesungen und zum Selbstudium, bearbeitet von BRUNO KERL, Königl. Hannov. Hüttenmeister und Lehrer der Hüttenkunde und Probirkunst an der Königl. Bergschule zu Clausthal. 3 vols. Freiberg, 1855.

PROCEEDINGS BOSTON SOC. NAT. HIST.-Vol. V, DEC. 1855.-p. 257, Abstract of a memoir on the fossil foot-prints in the Carboniferous strata of Pennsylvania (advocating the view that they were Reptilian); J. Wyman.-On the so-called verd-antique marble of Roxbury, Vermont; A. A. Hayes. (Analyses show that the white portions are carbonate of magnesia).-p. 265, Note on the bones of the Mastodon found near Shell River, N. America.-p. 266 and 282, On the terminal velocity of raindrops of different diameters; W. B. Rogers.-p. 268, Oyster shells found in Charles River. On the cohesive properties of Gutta Percha pipe of different sizes; H. R. Storer and C. Stodder, with remarks by other members.-JANUARY, 1856.— p. 274, Notes on the dissections of a Chimpanzee; J. Wyman.-p. 275, On the footprint of a living Ostrich; J. Wyman.-Note on the Filaria Medinensis; S. Durkee. -p. 278, Parentage of the "Aztec" Children.-p. 279, Copper veins of the Phenix Mine on Eagle River, L. Superior.-p. 283, On the origin of the carbonate of iron of the Coal measures; W. B. Rogers.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACAD. NAT. SCI. PHILADELPHIA.—Vol. VII, No. XII, 1855. --p. 415, Descriptions of a few species of Coleoptera supposed to be new; P. R. Uhler.--p. 420, Catalogue of the Human Crania in the Collections of the Academy; J. A. Meigs. p. 423, Descriptive Catalogue of the Ranina (species of Rana, etc.) of the United States; J. Le Conte.--p. 431, Observations on the N. American species of Bats; J. LeConte.-p. 438, Notice of some new and little known Birds in the collection of the U. S. Exploring Expedition in the Vincennes and Peacock, and in the collection of the Academy; J. Cassin.-p. 441, Note on the Miocene and Postpliocene deposits of California, with descriptions of two new Fossil Corals and description of a new species of Pentamerus; T. A. Conrad.--p. 442, Descriptions of two new species of Hesperomys; J. LeConte.-p. 443, Notices of some Tape Worms; J. Leidy.-Enumeration of Mosses detected in the Northern U. States, not comprised in the Manual of A. Gray, some of which are new; T. P. James.

Works received from G. A. Koch's Verlagsbuchandlung, Th. Kunike:

Natalicia Regis augustissimi Friderici Gulielmi IV., A. D. xv. M. Octobr. Hora xii. in auditorio minore celebranda indicunt Universitatis Regiæ Gryphiswaldensis Rector et Senatus. Inest G. F. Schoemanni Dissertatio de veterum criticorum notis ad Hesiodi Opera et Dies. Gryphis-waldiæ. Typis Frid. Guil. Kunike, Reg. Acad. Typogr., 1855.

Index Scholarum in Univ. Litteraria Gryphiswaldensi per semestre Hibernum, Anni MDCCCLV-VI, a die xvi mensis Octobris habendarum. Inest G. F. Schoemanni Dissertatio de causa Leptinea.--Typis ibid.

Wörterbuch der Niederdeutschen Sprache älterer und neuerer Zeit, verfasst von J. G. L. Kosegarten. Ersten Bandes, erste Lieferung. A-Ai. Greifswald, 1856. Mythologische Beiträge zu den neuesten wissenchaftlichen Forschungen über die Religionen des Alterthums mit Hülfe der vergleichenden Sprachforschung, von Dr. K. Th. PYL, Docenten für Archaiologie und neure Kunstgeschichte an der Universität, Greifswald.-1 Theil, Das Polytheistische System der Griechischen Religion nebst einer literaturhistorischen Einleitung. 218 pp. 8vo. Greifswald, 1856.

THE

AMERICAN

JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND
AND ARTS.

[SECOND SERIES.]

ART. XXXI.-The Climate of San Francisco for the year 1855; by H. GIBBONS, M.D.

In the following observations the temperature is stated at sunrise, 9 A. M., noon, and 10 P. M. This is not critically accurate in regard to the observations at sunrise and noon. A thermometrograph was used for the former, by which the lowest degree is noted, occurring generally a short time before sunrise. The "noon" observation was made at the warmest period of the day, varying from 12 to 2 or 3 P. M.

Towards the close of the year 1854, the miners and the farmers throughout the State were in trouble for want of rain. On the last day of December, the whole amount of rain fallen since the summer was only 2.60 inches, and nearly all of this was in October. But on December 31st set in a storm which changed the prospect. One third of an inch fell on that day, and the new year was ushered in by the most violent gale witnessed for a number of years. The wind was from the south, accompanied with heavy rain. It is worthy of note that this storm was felt in all parts of the State, in a range of five or six hundred miles north and south, at the same hour-a remark that will apply generally, as far as I can ascertain, to the southerly or southeasterly rainstorms of California. Houses were unroofed or prostrated and trees uprooted at San Francisco, and in the mining regions of the northern counties, a few hours before day light on the 1st of January. The storm was brief, the wind changing SECOND SERIES, Vol. XXI, No. 63, May, 1856.

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