3 2 3 3 2 3 Oxygen Ratio. RO:R, 03: Si 0, =1 : 2 : 3 =1 : 2 1. Meionite, (CaO,) Si 0, + 2 Al, О, Si O 1: : 2 : 4 : 5 4. Wernerite, 3 (CaO, NaO2) Si O, + 5 Al, 0, Si0,=1 : 2·5: 4 } (Pargas), 5. Nuttalite, SiO, RO SIO + Al, O2 SiO =1 : 3 : 6 The essential constituents of the original species appear to be : Soda. Alumina. Silica. II. In the transmutation of Wernerite, the following changes take place,— The quantity of silica is relatively increased or diminished ; whether any absolute alteration takes place, is difficult to determine. These changes take place together in various ways: The small numbers in brackets indicate the probable rela tive frequency of the changes. B. H. P. On the Palolo. Communicated by the Rev. Mr GILL, Missionary, in a Letter to R. CHAMBERS, Esq. One of the natural curiosities of the South Pacific Islands is the Palolo. The Palolo is the native name given by the Samoa islanders to a sea-worm, which appears regularly every year, near to a few of the boat-openings in the great barrier reef round the islands of Upolo and Savaii, the two largest islands of the Samoa group. There are many singularities connected with the Palolo, calculated to excite attention and to demand investigation. 1. The time of its appearance. It invariably appears on the morning of the day when the moon enters her last quarter, either in the month of October, if the moon quarters late in that month, or if not, it occurs in November; and this at the same time every year. A few of the Palolo may be seen on the previous morning, but the day of the moon's quartering is the grand day. After that forenoon not the least vestige is to be seen until that day in the following year. They appear in great quantities about the dawn of day, and continue on the surface of the sea until the sun is about two hours high above the horizon; they then break up into small fragments, dissolve into a yellow creamy matter, having to all appearance fulfilled their destiny. 2. The worm is found swimming in a spiral form, as if at random, often singly, but generally collected in shoals. They vary in length, from a few inches to two and three feet. In thickness none exceed the eighth of an inch, and the segments number according to the length of the animal. It has long hairs along each side, so that, with the exception of the head, it is not much unlike the Geophilus longicornis, or the Scolopendra electrica of Linn. The head is something like that of an earthworm. In colour they vary; brown, blue, and green of all shades. 3. Not the least singular fact connected with their appearance is the difficulty of ascertaining from whence they come. None are found outside the barrier reef, but always inside, in water three or four fathoms deep. The natives say, they come from seaward, but can give no reason for this conjecture. After many years' close observation, writes the Rev. W. Mills, I am still unable to decide; but from the suddenness with which they gather into clusters, I am inclined to think they rise from the bottom. The question then is: Is it one of the many Polypifera which are employed in constructing the coral, and which at that particular time escape from its many ramifications? The objections to this supposition are, first, That the Palolo is to be found at a very few places, not more than three or four in all the great extent of reef surrounding this island; whereas if it belonged to coral, it might be expected to appear at other places; unless it belong to some particular kind of coral, only found at those places where the Palolo appears; of the existence of which, however, there is no evidence. Secondly, The animal, when complete, terminates rounded at both ends, having no tentacula with which the coral building Polypifera are possessed to operate round the mouth of their cells. The natives calculate with great certainty the day the Palolo appears, and are never mistaken in their calculations. They go out in their canoes, each person having a basket, and with this he skims up the animal as it swims on the surface. It is cooked, and esteemed a great dainty. Those natives fortunate enough to secure it, carry it to their friends round the island, who live where it does not appear. From the day of its appearance the natives begin the six months, which they call Vae Palolo, or winter season. We have no instance on any of the other islands of this animal being found; yet on most of the land in the east the winter season is called Palolo or Paroro. VOL. LVII. NO. CXIII.-JULY 1854. K A Suggestive Paper on the Paleozoic Formations of the Earth. By E. PUGHE, B.A., Vicar of Bangor Cathedral. Communicated by the Author. The prevailing opinion relative to the Mosaic account of the creation, appears to me to be this: That it undertakes to represent that event as a phase in this world's existence, rather than as its genesis from chaos, or its original formation into its present planetary state, the crowning event in that phase or development being the creation of man. But the recent discoveries in geological science as to the different strata of the earth, and the existence therein of paleozoic remains, fossils, and flora, together with the inconceivably long epochs required in order to the solidifying of such formations, are as perplexing to the mind, as they are irreconcilable with the less learned, but more generally received, notions of the Mosaic theory. A new and somewhat easier solution of this difficulty has presented itself to my mind; and inasmuch as it militates not against the Inspired account, or the traditional notions of mankind on the subject, I humbly submit it to your more experienced readers, in order that, on scientific principles its probability may be tested. The first and most prominent point in the Inspired Record, is, that "the earth" (the materiel, I apprehend, from which the earth was created) "was without form and void,"-formless and opaque-a description that accords with our notions of the chaotic state of matters previous to the planetary formation of this earth; "and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the water,"-so moved upon it that by the powerful action of that element, teeming perhaps like its kindred chaotic substances with indigenous organic remains (a process which would account for marine strata in high altitudes, and increase the probability of drifts), the earth, as part of the solar system, which it was not previously, assumed its present spheroidal and illuminated form. But the hypothesis, which I would further suggest in order to the solution of geological difficulties, and their perfect reconcilableness with the Mosaic record, is this: Let us suppose the materiel above mentioned to consist of fragmentary portions of other planets (one or more) which, having discharged their functions in other spheres, contained in them (modified according to the transitional laws to which meanwhile they might have been subjected) the stratified remains of such animals and productions as had lived or grown upon them in different cycles of space and time; and that from the aggregation of such materials the outer incrustations or strata of this earth were consolidated. If we admit this theory, the embarrassingly long epochs assigned to the solidifying process of the earth's formations become more naturally reconcilable to our own perceptions, and easier of solution, comparatively speaking, as the result of foreign and extrinsical action-distant as to time and space; and such as, on the supposition that this globe (as such) existed for ages before the creation of man, it would be difficult to harmonize with the Inspired Narrative; in such case, too, no obstacle will present itself to the unqualified reception of that account as the simple record of this earth's original formation, and of that event being contemporaneous with the creation of man. We may further observe, if this hypothesis be admitted, that it will furnish corroborative proof of the existence of distinct species of animal and vegetable life in other spheres, subject, as to its gradations and developments, to the laws both physical and atmospheric, under which it may exist; and is there not much in the fossil remains of animals which we denominate extinct (and if extinct, how came they to be so?), that may be considered indicative of a foreign origin and of physical properties unsuited in many respects to our own planetary atmosphere and position? The theory of aërolites, combined with other discoveries, astronomical as well as geological, raises a presumption in favour of the existence of external matter, and the not impossible formation of this globe from the fusion of adventitious accretions; while the action of heat visible in the primeval strata leads also to the supposition, that the materials of which the earth consists may have been the fragmentary accumulations of worlds dissolved by fire precisely as our own world will in |