THE species of Ophiùra represented in p. 237. is not, as it is there doubtingly stated to be, O. granulata: the figure is a magnified one of O. rósula, represented by a figure in p. 231.; but, as the figure in the latter page is not a very accurate copy of the drawing, the figure in p. 237. supplies its deficiencies exceedingly well. G. Johnston. Berwick upon Tweed, May 28. 1836.

ART. VI. Remarks in Furtherance of the proposed Institution of a Society of Meteorologists in Britain. By J. G. TATEM, Esq.

METEOROLOGY is a science in which I feel too much interested not to have rejoiced at the proposal for establishing a society to promote its study [p. 251. 305.]. I therefore request a space in your pages to express my anxious wish to be permitted to join any association having for its object the collecting together and reporting observations made at different stations. To prove that I have long wished for such an institution, I might refer to the Monthly Magazine, April, 1823 (vol. 55. p. 207.); where, in a letter addressed to the editor, I have endeavoured to show the utility of a meteorological society, and suggested the propriety of the observations being "made with instruments of the same construction, and under circumstances as nearly similar as possible." Your correspondent Mr. W. H. White has recommended this practice [p. 251.305.], in which every meteorologist will agree. The chief difficulty, as appeared to me, was the finding some medium through which the observations might be made known; and the sanction and authority of a society seemed the most likely to obtain notice, and receive support; but many obstacles will always arise to the formation of such a society; perhaps I should now say, such new society: not to enumerate others, it may be sufficient here to state, that the persons most inclined to become members, and best qualified to conduct proceedings, are widely separated by residence, most probably unknown to each other; and their meeting together, to devise means to effect their object, would be attended by inconvenience, fatigue, and expense. Under these circumstances, you, being the conductor of this Magazine, might render the most essential services, by permitting the persons desirous of uniting with such a society to communicate their intentions to you, and by announcing in your pages their names to your readers. I have said, above, new society, because it should be knowu that, in October, 1823, a society was

instituted in London, under the title of "The Meteorological Society of London," but which society, although not absolutely dissolved, is now scarcely in a state of existence. Whether that society should be revived, or a new one should be raised, your aid is of the utmost importance, as among your correspondents there are, no doubt, many who would not only be willing to assist, but would be able to propose the means to attain that which has so long been a desideratum, the union of the meteorologists of the kingdom.

The fear of trespassing too much on your indulgence makes me refrain from entering into any detail of the benefits a meteorological society would afford to agriculturists, the valetudinarian, the traveller, when journeying on the land; and the mariner, while traversing the wide waste of waters. Wycombe, Bucks, June 13. 1836.

ART. VII. An Approval of the Proposition of instituting a Cooperative Use, in different Stations in Britain, of uniform Meteorological Journals; and a Notice of a Kind of Rain Gauge. By T. K.

I was very glad to see the proposal, in p. 305., by Mr. White, of a union of meteorological journals, through the medium of your Magazine. I think that the subject is of much importance, particularly as regards the shifts of wind; as, by means of many observers in proper places, a chart of the winds for any moment of time, in these islands, can be easily constructed; and I strongly suspect that currents of wind are occasionally very local. Isolated journals are of slight use; but, when combined with others, their importance is at once perceived. I have been for some years in the habit of daily noting down the height of the barometer, thermometer, &c.; and, if observations made in so westerly a county as Tipperary would be acceptable, I should be very glad to forward them at the stated times. Some definite plan of observations should, certainly, be struck out by some able meteorologist, or by some scientific body, which could be made known, to those who would undertake the task, at the places fixed on, through your pages.

[A kind of Rain-Gauge.] I send beneath the plan of a rain-gauge (fig. 62.); which is, I think, simple, and yet indicating accurately so small a quantity of rain as the thousandth of an inch. Any of your correspondents could construct one for himself. a, a tin funnel, japanned; b, a glass tube, bent twice, so that the extremity of it may form a

d

62

siphon, and conduct the contents, when filled up to d, into the jar c. The funnel having a square orifice of 5 in. or 10 in., the proportion between the surface exposed and that in the tube is easily arranged: for instance, the funnel's orifice, 10 in. square, one hundredth of an inch of rain falling, gives 100 times that quantity, or exactly a cubic inch of rain in the tube; which is easily graduated by pouring in that bulk of water, accurately measured, and marking with a file where it rises to in the first two legs. The division

into ten parts for a thousandth of an inch may afterwards be done by a rule. The graduation in the jar must be for successive contents of the tube. The whole is to be enclosed

in a small box.

Toomavara, Ireland, June 13. 1836.

[WE are disposed to render what service we can to the promotion of the prosecution of meteorology, in so far as to the inserting of general recommendations and treatises on principles; but we wish to stand disengaged from publishing individual meteorological journals, and of preparing and publishing general conclusions from them. One may here notice, in obedience to the latter profession, that in the Edinburgh New Philosophica Journal, the number for July 1. 1836, are two treatises, whose titles indicate a great likelihood of their conducing to the elucidation, and the direction of the prosecution, of meteorology: their titles are as follows: Questions for Solution relating to Meteorology, Hydrography, and the art of Navigation; by M. Arago;" 46 pages, and yet but a continuous portion from a portion published in a previous number. "Instructions for making and registering Meteorological Observations at various Stations in Southern Africa, and other Countries in the South Seas, and also at Sea:" drawn up by the meteorological committee of the South African Literary and Philosophical Institution, the editor believes by Sir J. Herschel, for circulation, and printed in No. I. of the second series of the South African Quarterly Journal; 14-15 pages. Most of our readers are probably aware that the journal of the weather, kept at the Royal Society of London, is regularly published in the Athenæum, monthly; and that, in the Literary Gazette, a meteorological journal kept at Edmonton, by Mr. Charles Henry Adams, is published weekly.]

ART. VIII. A Notice of Two hitherto undescribed Species of Radiària, from the Marlstone of Yorkshire; and Remarks on the Organic Remains in that Stratum. By Mr. W. C. WILLIAMSON, Curator to the Manchester Natural History Society.

THE OCCurrence of remains of Radiària in the marlstone of Yorkshire has been for some time known by the collectors of fossils on that coast; but they have chiefly consisted, until lately, of Ophiùra Milleri Phillips. A little time ago, there were found traces, of an imperfect nature, of what was apparently a true Astèrias, with five rays; only, however, showing the lateral papillæ of the rays, which were sufficiently distinct to prove its being different from Ophiùra. The oc

currence of true Astèriæ, however, was decided by the discovery of the fossil now figured (fig. 63.), which was found in

I I

the marlstone at the point where it is carried up into the cliff, to the north of the great fault, at the Peak Hill, near Robin Hood's Bay (see Phillips's Geology of Yorkshire), near the lower part of the stratum, where it blends with the lower lias. The figure represents the object reduced to two thirds of the real size. The slab on which the fossil is preserved is of a rather micaceous nature, a matrix generally unfavourable to preserving minute characters; and a portion of the fossil having adhered to the upper part of the rock, which fell in pieces, the view presented is rather that of the internal than the external structure of the animal. The central circle, the situation of the mouth, is preserved very distinctly; and, proceeding with considerable regularity from this, is a series of rays 20 in number. Those rays near their base bear the sulcus (furrow) which runs under those of recent Astèriæ; but towards their apex they become more worn and thin, showing, in several places, a small wiry line, with short ribs branching off at right angles, apparently a species of appendage, resembling what represents the vertebral column and ribs in the turtle, and which is observable in recent Astèriæ. There are also slight traces of transverse grooves on the whole surface of each ray; but these are generally almost obliterated. Along the margins are extremely regular rows of small rhomboidal perforations, or cells, from which proceed a series of lateral filaments, or delicate lengthened papillæ; but on the surface of the fossil, it merely presenting to us the interior, no papillæ are preserved. The apex of such rays as have not been broken off prior to the animal's being entombed are obtusely pointed. Having met with no species with which this corresponds, I will venture, as one more slight tribute to the high scientific character of R. I. Murchison, Esq., to call it Astèrias Murchisòni.

Fig. 64. represents a species of Ophiùra [reduced to two thirds of the real size] from the same stratum; but not so low in the series, and found at Staithes, a few miles further to the north. It bears some resemblance to Ophiùra Milleri, but differs in two or three particulars. [A figure of O. Milleri, copied from that in Phillips's Geology of Yorkshire, pl. 13. fig. 20., is given in our III. 275.] The base of each ray has been protected by two strong heart-shaped plates, the spaces between which would seem to have been rather flexible, but protected by small orbicular scales, or plates, which are, however, rather indistinct. The most evident distinction is in the arrangement of the plates of the rays: as in O. Mílleri, we have here three rows; but, instead of the dorsal row being, as in that species, of double the width of the lateral ones, the