C. B. ADAMS: Analysis of the group of species of Cyclostoma which is represented by C. Jamaicense of Chemnitz.--p. 56; with a note on the genus Stoastoma, p. 64.

J. CARSON BREVOORT: Description of the Selene argentea of Lacepede, a fish whose existence has been doubted.--p. 68, and pl. 4.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCEFourth Meeting, held at New Haven, Ct., August, 1850. 414 pp. 8vo, with several plates.

Sir CHARLES LYELL, F.R.S., Pres. Geol. Soc.: Address delivered at the Anniversary Meeting of the Geological Society of London, on the 21st of Feb., 1851. 60 pp. 8vo. This important paper, but for its length, we should be glad to transfer to the pages of this Journal,

A. KEITH JOHNSTON, Esq.: Historical Notice of the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in Scotland. 10 pp. 8vo. Edinburgh. 1851.

W. MITCHELL: On the Astronomical Observatory of Harvard University. 16 pp. 8vo. Boston. 1851.

PAPERS ON PRACTICAL ENGINEERING.-No. 5; an analytical investigation of the Resistance of Piles to superincumbent pressure, deduced from the force of driving, with an application of the formula to the foundations of Fort Montgomery, Rouse's Pt., N. Y., by Brevet Lieut. Col. James L. Mason, Capt. U. S. Engineers. 26 pp. 8vo. Washington. 1850.

JOHN WATSON, M.D.: On Thermal Ventilation. 41 pp. 8vo. New York. 1851. BENJAMIN COLLINS BRODIE, Esq., F.R.S.: On the condition of certain elements at the moment of Chemical Change. pp. 750-804 of Roy. Trans., part 2, for 1850. London. 1850.

ASTRONOMICAL JOURNAL: Contents for Vol. II, NO. 1, May 2.--Observations of Egeria and Metis; Prof. C. Rümker.-Observations of Clio, made with the Filar-Micrometer of the Washington Equatorial; James Ferguson.-Letters from Professor Hubbard to the Editor;--On the New Ring of Saturn; W. C. Bond.--On the Rings of Saturn; G. P. Bond-NO. 2, May 28.-On the Rings of Saturn; G. P. BondThe Catenary Curve treated by means of Peirce's Circular Coördinates; Rev. Thomas Hill--From a letter of Prof. Rümker to the Editor.--Latitude of Markree Observatory, by Observations with the Meridian-Circle; A. Graham.-Observations of Metis, made by the Meridian-Circle, at Mr. Cooper's Observatory, Markree; A. Graham.From a Letter of Lieut. Gilliss to the Editor.-Elements and Ephemeris of Iris, for 1853; E. Schubert.

ANNALES DES SCI. NAT. Paris. JUNE, 1850.-On the Brachiopoda; A.d'Orbigny. -On the Nicothoe; P. J. van Beneden.-Reproductive organs and embryology of Cyanea chrysaora; A. Derbes.--Absorption and exhalation of Plants; GarreauNew Melastomaceae; C. Naudin-Conspectus of the genera Desderia and Schouwia; Jaubert and Spach.—TOME XIV. NO. 1.—On vegetable growth; H. LinkComparison of the vegetation on a country in part extra-tropical with that of one tropical; St. Hilaire-New Melastomacea; C. Naudin.-On the family of the Ziphioid Cetacea, and more especially the Ziphius cavirostris of the Mediterranean; P. Gervais. On the genital armature of Insects; L. Duthiers.-On Pisciculture; M. Edwards-NO. 2.-On Brachiopoda; d'Orbigny--Osseous breccia and bones of caverns near Montpellier; Marcel de Serres and Jeanjean.--On the classification of fishes of the order Plectognathi; M. C. Dareste.-New Melastomacea; C. Naudin -Life and works of C. S. Kunth; A. de Jussieu.-New Cryptogamia of France; Desmazières. NO. 3.-New Melastomacea; C. Naudin.-On the female reprodue tive organ of the Balanophora, and Rafflesiacere; H. A. Weddell.-On the Embryogeny of the Larch; M. N. Geleznoff.-Classification of the Plectognathi; C. Dareste. On the Blochius longirostris;-Respirating system of Lacinularia socialis; M. d'Ude kem. On the seat of the Sense of Smell in the Articulata; E. Perris.-Note on the sense of smell and hearing in insects; L. Dufour.—On the cerebral folds in man, the order of Primates; P. Gratiolet.-Vascular system of the medicinal Leach; P. Gratiolet.—On the temperature of the human body in tropical regions; J. Davy. A. GREGORY, M.D., Prof. Chem. Univ. Edinburgh; Outlines of chemistry, Amer. edition, edited by J. Milton Sanders, M.D., LL.D., Prof. Chem. Pharm. Toxicol. in the E. Med. College of Cincinnati, and Prof. Nat. Phil. in the Lit. Dept. of the Memphis Institute. Soon to be published by Derby & Co., Cincinnati.

and

THE

AMERICAN

JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND ARTS.

[SECOND SERIES.]

ART. XVII-Observations on the Pluton Geysers of California; by FOREST SHEPHERD,* Prof. Economic Geology, in Western Reserve College, Hudson, Ohio.

THERE is a tradition among the Indians of California, that not many years ago, the Chrysopylæ or Golden Gates at the entrance of the Bay of San Francisco were part of the solid land, and that the inland sea receiving the waters of the Sacramento and San Joaquin overflowed the beautiful valleys of San José, Napa and Sonoma, and had its outlet in the vicinity of Monterey.

Other more recent California explorers affirm that in the present bay of San Francisco they have discovered standing trees completely petrified, to which they have made fast their boats at low tide. The numerous dislocations observed in the tertiary strata, together with the great number of specimens of petrified wood and deposits of lignite found upon the shores of the bay, also signs of thermal action at the southeastern section of the bay, induced me to give so much credence to the above and other traditions, as to enter upou some careful examinations with reference to them. In the course of my investigations, I have explored some remarkable geysers in the Pluton valley; and these form the main subject of my present communication.

On my way to the Pluton valley, I first coasted around the Bay of San Francisco in an open boat, examining the rocks in its vicinity. At the entrance of Napa valley and about two

* From a letter addressed to Thomas Denny, Esq., New York city, and communicated by him to this Journal.

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miles from the present tide, I discovered a belt of remarkably hard and heavy limestone, evidently fossiliferous and yet changed in some places by metamorphic action. In breaking into this bed of limestone, however, I was surprised to find imbedded in the solid rock, sharks teeth as perfect in their serrated edges as those of present living species swimming in the bay only two miles distant. I examined the range of hills eastward about one mile, which bounds and divides Napa valley from Suisun, and there I found the rocks to be a porphyry, with numerous springs flowing out at the base. I applied my thermometer and was surprised to find no two springs of the same temperature, they ranging from seventy-eight degrees Fahrenheit downward. I now travelled about thirty miles northward in Napa valley, following the above mentioned chain of hills to the thermal springs of Messrs. Ritchie and Tucker, where I found the temperature of different springs as follows:

These springs are all embraced in a half mile square of level bottom land near the base of a small hill or mound of conglomerate rock about one hundred and fifty feet in height. The same kind of rock also extends underneath the springs. There is little or no opportunity for surface cold water to commingle with them, and it is a remarkable fact that they are continually changing their temperature, so that one that is now moderately warm will in the space of a few weeks or months become hot beyond endurance. This shifting of the internal heat greatly excited my curiosity, and on enquiring, I learned from Mr. Cyrus that the Indians had pointed out a place near the foot of Mount St. Helena where the hot waters formerly flowed, but had now ceased. I believed this to be a good opportunity to test the truth of their tradition, and repaired to the spot. Externally there was no uncommon appearance to designate the locality. Neither a surplus nor scarcity of vegetation, and no appearance of scoria, tufa or travertine, as might have been expected. I found one place, however, slightly warm on the surface, which on excavating to the depth of two feet became so hot that I could not bear my hand in the mud and clay. I inserted the bulb of my thermome