thing which she could not digest, and that it had probably brought on swelling and inflammation; but on dissecting her, and cutting through the outer skin of the throat, I was much surprised to find that though the lump occupied the usual situation of the craw, it was in no way connected with it or the œsophagus, but was entirely confined to the trachea which it quite encompassed, and which it had, by the portion of it intervening between it and the neck, forced out of its natural situation. The lump, which was composed of cellular substance, like the one on the hare, was quite round, about six inches in circumference, and presented no appearance of inflammation; it encircled the trachea immediately above its entrance under the breast bone. From its great size, and from its being retained in a fixed position by the windpipe, it had forced the craw quite to one side of the neck, and so entirely occupied the space allotted by nature to that necessary organ, that it could hold but a very small portion of food. The lump was, in every respect, similar to the one on the hare; except that from the upright position of the neck, and from its entirely surrounding the trachea, it was retained by it in a fixed position, and by that means prevented from becoming pendulous by its own weight as with the hare. The pressure, occasioned by the lump and its confined position, caused her death by producing strangulation of the trachea. It is, however, I think, probable, that it would soon have ulcerated, as I found an effusion of viscid brown matter nearly in the centre of it. As the hen presented no unusual appearance until lately, and as she was an old one, I think it cannot have arisen from an original malformation; it must, therefore, have been caused by some disease, and as there was not the slightest appearance of inflammation, or that callosity which is, I believe, always attendant upon cancer, and as the lump on her and the hare so exactly correspond with the description and position of what is termed goître in the human species, I am very much disposed to consider them similar. As I am not aware of this disease having ever been ascertained in the brute species, I feel some distrust in coming to this conclusion; but should it be correct, it might throw some light on that disease, and would, I think, satifactorily disprove the vulgar idea that it is caused by drinking snow water. Trusting, therefore, that the consideration of this subject, though it may appear trivial to many of your readers, will not be found unworthy of the attention of some who are more competent than myself to give an opinion on the subject, I remain, &c.- John V. Stewart. Ards House, Dunfanaghy, Sept. 29. 1828.

The Pygmy Bison. Had you inserted my article on the Pygmy Bison four months ago, you might have saved many individuals the mortification of being humbugged by another attempt of the same individual to appropriate some of their cash to his own use, by such unfair means as the exhibition of his Tarantula, or Sea Spider. V. May 23. 1829.

Your

Birds presented to the Hull Literary and Philosophical Society. informant (Vol. I. p. 289.) has committed an error in describing the birds I lately presented to the Society. They were not a male and female Rállus aquàticus, but Stúrnus Cinclus (or, as I conceive it should be, 66 cinctus," though all the authors I have consulted write Cinclus, which is a word of which I can make nothing). The Rállus aquáticus, of which you have given us an excellent engraving, was two or three years ago presented to the Institution by my nephew, Mr. B. B. Thompson, who shot it in this neighbourhood. I wish you would give us a good likeness of Stúrnus Cinclus, for I do not know of one; Bewick's specimen, though incorrect, is the best I have seen. I do not believe the story of its walking on the bottom of the beds of rivers, though doubtless it dives with ease. The authors who mention this seem to have followed each other; and the whole appears to rest upon the testimony of Mr. Herbert, who wrote the letter on the subject which M. Buffon has inserted in his work on birds. Stúrnus

Cinclus, though a shy bird, is to be found by streams on the moors of the * north of England; and if you could induce any who have an opportunity to favour you with observations on its habits, so as either to confirm or contradict this supposed habit of walking on the bottom of streams, I think it would be useful. — Thomas Thompson. Hull, Sept. 9. 1828.

The Solitary Snipe. - The beak of the solitary snipe (fig. 34. p. 147.) is made as long as that of the woodcock and common snipe, if not longer, whereas it is invariably shorter. Having seen many hundreds of those birds abroad, I have almost always found their beaks to be about [the dimensions destroyed by the wafer] of an inch shorter than those of the woodcock or common snipe. Your constant Reader. June 5. 1829.

Mountain Cock. - Has not J. M. made some confusion (Vol. I. p. 296.) in speaking of the birds which, at a particular season, form the immediate objects of the sportsman's attention. He mentions moorcock, ptarmigan, heathcock, and mountain-cock. If we except the Capucaila, or wood-grouse (Tétrao Urogallus), which, I believe, has long been extinct in this island, I am not aware that there are more than three other indigenous species of grouse, viz. the blackgame, or heathcock (T. Tétrix); the red-game, or moorcock (T. scóticus), and the ptarmigan (T. Lagòpus). It is not apparent, therefore, to what species the name of mountain-cock applies. Should it not be entirely omitted? — B. Coventry, Sept. 5. 1828. Rállus aquáticus. One complaint more, and I have done. In your figure of Rállus aquáticus (Vol. I. p. 289.), the bill is made straight at the apex, whereas it should have been slightly curved downwards. The bird also is in too erect a posture, and the figure entirely fails of expressing the character of the bird so admirably represented by Bewick. — Id.

Certain little Moths. In the Magazine of Natural History (Vol. I. p. 295.), speaking of the appearance of certain little moths, the larvæ of which had been so destructive to the leaves of plants, J. M. says, they prove to be the Phalæ`na Pýralis of Linnæus." I am at a loss to know what insect is meant by this. Pýralis is not the specific name of any Linnean species, but is employed by that naturalist to distinguish a family or subdivision of his genus Phalæ'na, under which he placed about eighteen species in his Systèma Naturæ: it is now adopted as a regular generic name for that particular family of moths. From J. M.'s account of the insects in question, I should suppose that they could not even belong to the genus Pýralis at all, but rather to that of Tórtrix or Tínea. - Id.

86

Tarsus of Chlànius vestìtus. — Sir, Having met with a curious formation in the tarsus of a specimen of Chlànius vestìtus, I send you the following account of it: By the accompanying figure (fig. 86.) you will see that the fourth joint of the tarsus, instead of being straight, is bent, and has a projection from one side of the base, upon which is fixed what appears to be a supernumerary joint of a very different shape from the other joint, and having a depression in the middle, as if for the articulation of a terminal joint. This supernumerary joint was perfectly visible when the insect was in a fresh state. All the other legs of this insect were formed in the usual manner. The tarsus thus affected is the intermediate one on the left side. To some the noticing of so minute a fact as the above may appear ridiculous; but it must be considered that insects having a horny covering to their bodies, and casting their skin many times before coming to perfection, are less likely to be deformed than most other animals. I therefore consider a variation so great as the above worthy of observation. I remain, Sir, &c. Cacale. Cambridge, April 10. 1829.

Zoological Researches. - In noticing the first number of my Zoological Researches and Illustrations, p. 51., of your Second Volume, the manner in which your critique is worded seems likely to deprive me of the merit of

the discovery I was fortunate enough to make of the metamorphosis in the Crustacea: thus you state that I " had the satisfaction of witnessing the metamorphosis first described by the Dutch naturalist Slabber;" now if you will take the trouble of reperusing my first Memoir, p. 8, and of inspecting Slabber's two figures copied into my first plate (fig. 1. a and 1. b,) you will readily perceive that, allowing Slabber to have seen what he describes, it is, at most, a change from one form of a natatory crustaceous animal into another natatory form wholly unknown, except to Slabber himself, and is hence a change which could never authorise an idea of the Decapoda undergoing metamorphosis. As you may observe, I doubt altogether that Slabber witnessed my change, and shall shortly show what his fig. 1. b really is, this constituting one of the many discoveries I have more lately made. I should probably have published this in my next Number, but that I have a still more interesting memoir on the Cirrípedes prepared for it, which will develope mysteries still more unexpected and important than the discovery of the metamorphosis in the Decapodous Macroúra. J. V. Thom

son. May 21.1829.

A singular Nidus. - I possess one of the same singular species of nidus as that mentioned by your correspondent (p. 104.). I, however, doubt its belonging to an aquatic insect, as mine was found by a friend (a botanist) in a hedge in a lane, and is attached to a small twig of the blackthorn. I have never met with it myself, although I am in the constant habit of exploring the country, at every season of the year, for insects and shells. Charles Blomen. Teignmouth, Devonshire, April, 1829. Bùlimus acutus and Hèlix virgata (fig. 40. p. 150.) were not distinguished in a part of our impression; the cut is therefore repeated (fig.87.); the snail (Hèlix virgata) being marked b, and the Bùlimus a.

b

British Land and Fresh-water Shells.Sir, I will thank you to make the following alterations in my paper on British Shells (Vol. I. p. 424.): –

After the observations on Lymnæ`a frágilis add, "Is this shell the immature L. stagnàlis, or a variety of it? I have specimens of a Lymnæ a sent to me as the L. stagnàlis, agreeing with Montagu's figure 7. plate 16., which is referred to as a representation of L. frágilis. I find little difference in the descriptions and figures, except in size."

After those on Hèlix fúsca add, "The Hèlix subruféscens of Fleming is only the young of this species, according to the observations of W. Bean, Esq., of Scarborough."

After those on H. carthusianella add, "The specimens labelled H. carthusianella in the Manchester Museum, however, are much less than either Draparnaud's figure or our English shell."

After those on H. ruféscens add, "Since writing the above, I have observed in the Manchester Museum this shell designated as the Hèlix córnea. I believe the label is in the handwriting of W. Swainson, Esq., but may have possibly been subsequently misplaced; for certainly our English shell differs very materially from the H. córnea of Draparnaud, to whose figure Lamarck refers." Yours, &c.-Joseph Kenyon.

Spinning Slugs (p. 69.). It is long since this supposed species of slug has been described. On very many occasions have I observed the descent of the common grey and common green-bellied slug from trees and bushes, but without ever having reason to suspect that there was a distinct species, having the property of spinning a web. The fact is, that any small snail, in good health, can let itself down from almost any height to the ground, by the tenacity of the slime exuded retromissively from the pores of the belly. The same muscular motion of the belly, exerted on giving

motion to this footless animal on the ground (and by which their slow and uniform progress is made), is also exercised in the air; adding thereby to the length of the suspending line till they reach the ground. Their descent in this manner is an accident, not a purpose, and the doubts of your valuable correspondent respecting them are, therefore, perfectly just and

rational. M.

The Fruit of the Artocarpus integrifolia.— In the Magazine of Natural History (Vol. I. p. 274.), quoting from the Botanical Magazine for July, it is stated that the fruit of the entire-leaved bread-fruit (Artocarpus integrifòlia) is a pod or pericarp. Having seen and eaten the fruit in its native country, I rather suspect there is some error here. If the pine-apple (Bromèlia), or the cones of the Scotch pine, can be called a pod, then the Botanical Magazine is correct. I very well remember having, in partaking of it, begun at the base, and pulling off, one after another, the subdivisions of the fruit. Each of these divisions contains a seed the size and shape of an almond, enclosed in a thin shell or membrane. The membrane is covered with a soft yellowish pulp, which is the eatable part. The centre of this aggregated fruit is occupied by a prolonged receptacle, to which all the subdivisions are fixed in the manner of a strobile, and the interstices are filled up by the eatable pulp. I never saw the seeds eaten in India; but I have no doubt they may be used like chestnuts.—J. M.

Fritillaria_tessellata. — Your correspondent D. S. announces (Vol. I. p. 289.) that he saw "Fritillària tessellata very abundant in some meadows near Harleston, Norfolk." I do not find any species of Fritillària in botanical works under that name, a name certainly not inapplicable to F. meleagris, which, I believe, is the only species indigenous to this country, and which is well represented by the plate annexed to p. 289., under the name of F. tessellata. F. meleagris is a rare, or at least a very local, plant, but it occurs plentifully near Oxford both with purple and with white flowers, particularly in the meadows near Ifley, in Christ-Church Meadow, and most abundantly in Magdalen Meadow.· -W. T. Bree. Allesley Rectory.

Our correspondent D. S. has adopted the name of R. A. Salisbury, in Gray's Natural Arrangement of British Plants. Cond.

The Weather, the Winds, and falling Stars.—I am happy to find occasional remarks on meteorology in your Magazine. It is a study yet in its infancy, but, I doubt not, will, in common with the many branches of natural history your publication embraces, be greatly perfected by a collection of facts and observations. I know very little of the theory of this science, but I believe the direction of the wind, and, consequently, the weather, both with us as well as in the southern hemisphere, depend on the degree of heat between the tropics. With respect to judging of the weather, I know no better criterion than that which our Saviour has given us: "When it is evening ye say it will be fair weather, for the sky is red; and, in the morning, it will be foul weather to-day, for the sky is red and louring." Doubtless, this has been noticed by almost every one, as well as the two other observations, that the livid appearance of the sun's rays bears witness to the moist state of the atmosphere, and that if it sets in dense clouds which reach below the horizon, these clouds will assuredly come up with a westerly wind on the morrow, accompanied by rain. As to any indication of the direction the wind may assume, from the appearance of the higher clouds, I think many mistakes have arisen from not making sufficient allowance for the different currents of air in the atmosphere. I have no doubt but the direction of the current might be ascertained by these clouds; but this same current may never reach us at all below. I am apt, however, to draw an inference quite the contrary to Mr. J. Rennie (see his Observations on the Modification of Clouds called Wind Reels, Vol. I. p. 454.), for I have noticed the direction of the wind to lie commonly at right angles with the greatest diameter of the cloud; and this is borne out

by the fact, that the clouds which arise successively in gales of wind, bringing with them heavy squalls and slight rain, assume a line which is at right angles with the wind. Neither do I allow the correctness of his remark, p. 456. (although it does not affect his argument in attempting to prove the influence of terrestrial magnetism), that "if the wind were the sole agent in determining their forms and positions, they ought always to stream in the direction of its current, as we see is uniformly the case in the analogous instance of smoke." This is doubtless the case when any vapour issues from an aperture, like smoke from a chimney; but it soon begins to assume the contrary form, and, when finally detached from its source, it takes a position with respect to the wind like the clouds before mentioned, as may be observed in the distance, after a steamer has passed, leaving a dark volume behind her. There are two other observations I have made, which I would mention, although not immediately connected with the preceding remarks. The first is, that the meteors commonly called falling stars are so much lower between the tropics than with us, that I have frequently known them to pass close to the masts of a vessel, and, bursting with a noise like the firing of a pistol, emit a number of brilliant blue sparks. The second is, that in long calms at sea, which sometimes, in certain latitudes, are of several weeks' duration, the clouds appear heaped one on the other, like mountains of snow, all round the horizon; whilst, in the zenith, the clear blue sky is as unsullied by a cloud as the watery mirror below is by a wave. I remember once a bucket was thrown into the sea, and so perfect was the calm that, during three days, we were not separated from it a stone's cast; and actually, the third day, it struck against the very part of the ship whence it was thrown.-W. H., R. N. Yeovil, April 22, 1829.

ART. XI. Biography.

Memoir of the late John Templeton, Esq., forming part of the Anniversary Address delivered on the 24th of May, 1827, to the Belfast Natural History Society, by the Rev. THOMAS D. HINCкs, M.R.I.A, &c., President of that Society. Communicated by Dr. Drummond.

(Concluded from Vol. I. p. 406.)

IN the year 1802, Mr. Templeton sent a new rose, which he had discovered in 1795 or 1796, in the neighbourhood of Belfast, and afterwards found in other parts of the north, to the Dublin Society, which he named Ròsa hibernica, but which was by many called the Templeton rose. This Society had offered a reward of 5 guineas for the discovery of new native plants, limiting the whole sum to 20 guineas. Mr. Templeton was of course adjudged this small sum, which has from some mistake been called 50%., and spoken of as a liberal premium, by Sir J. E. Smith, in different publications where he had occasion to mention it. A similar prize was obtained by Dr. Scott, Professor of Botany to Trinity College, Dublin, and by Dr. Wade, Professor of Botany to the Dublin Society, for some new mosses; but, either from the fluctuation attendant on the proceedings of a body constituted like the Dublin Society, or from a supposition that the end of offering the reward was sufficiently attained by directing the attention of botanists to discovery, the premium was dropped after 1803. Had it been continued, Mr. Templeton would have had an opportunity of again claiming it, not only for the Orobánche rùbra which he first discovered on Cave Hill in 1805, and which has since been found on basaltic rocks in other parts of the country and in Scotland,