Kansas University Weekly.
273
MISGELLANEOUS.
Living Fossils.
The following extraordinary facts, respecting what may be termed Living Fossils, appear to be well authenticated says an English magazine. During the construction of the Erie Canal, while the workmen were cutting through a ridge of gravel, they found several hundred of live molluscous animals. They were chiefly of the mya cariosa and mya purpurea. 'I have before me,' says Professor Eaton, 'several of the shells from which the workmen took the animals, fried and ate them. I have received satisfactory assurance, that the animals were taken alive, from the depth of forty-two feet. In addition to this discovery in diluvial deposits, mention is made of a similar one in a much older formation. In laying the foundation of a house at Whitesborough, England, the workmen had occasion to split a large stone from the millstone grit. It was perfectly close-grained and compact. On opening it, they discovered a black or dark brown spherical mass, about three inches in diameter, in a cavity which it filled. On examining it particularly, they found it to be a toad, much larger than the common species, and of a darker color. It was perfectly torpid. It was laid upon a stone, and soon began to give signs of life. In a few hours it would hop moderately on being disturbed. They saw it in the yard, moving about slowly for several days; but it was not watched by them any longer, and no one observed its farther movements. They laid one-half of the stone in the wall, so that the cavity may still be seen. The millstone grit,' continues the author above mentioned, 'in which this toad was found, is the oldest of the secondary rocks. It must have been formed many centuries ago. Was this toad more than 4000 years old? or was it from an egg introduced, through a minute and undiscovered cleavage, into this cavity or geode, made precisely to fit the size and form of a toad? I was particular in my inquiry, and learned that the whole stone was perfectly compact, without any open cleavage which would admit an egg. Besides, it is well known that the millstone grit is neither porous nor geodiferous. If this rock stratum was deposited upon the toad, it must have been in agueous, not in igneous solution, and the toad must have been full grown at the time. Toads are often found in compact, hard, gravelly, diluvial deposits, in situations which demonstrate, that they must have lived for ages. I think I am warranted in saying this without citing authorities, as it is a common occurrence.
THE DISCOVERY of that important article of food, the beef-steak is attributed to Lucius Plaucus, a Roman senator, who lived during the middle ages. He was compelled by the Emperor Trajan, for some slight offence, to act as one of the menial attendants at a sacrifice to Jupiter, when fragments of the offering were laid upon the fire, the unfortunate senator was obliged to turn them. In this process of roasting, one of the slices fell from the fire and was caught by Plaucus. It burned his fingers and he inadvertantly thrust them into his mouth. At that moment he made the grand discovery that the meat thus prepared was better than that cooked by the Roman women. He ate every slice upon the alter, the beef-steak was thus discovered and a gigantic stride in human advancement was made.
THE SUN and moon have conspired this year to make the little Japanese Island of Yeso the place of pilgrimage of those devoted scientists who wish to observe a total eclipse. It is probable, however, that before long these expeditions will be unnecessary as a method has lately been discovered in Germany by which the corona of the sun can be photographed any clear day as well as during the few, heretofore precious, moments of total obscurity at the time of an eclipse.
A PURE life is a mirror in which the average person sees his faults clearly reflected.