quail discovered with one eye some poppy seeds, which are very small and inconspicuous. (Schmid, Bliken en den Haushalt der Natur, p. 26. edit. 1826.)

Of the Sight of Arachnidæ, Scorpionidæ, and Stemmatous Insects. - The smooth eyes of these animals are very analogous in their construction to those of fishes; only the anterior chamber of the eye is totally wanting, and the iris is nothing more than a band of pigmentum bordering the anterior surface of the glassy substance. The crystalline is not enchased in the glassy substance; the corresponding surfaces of these two bodies are convex, and scarcely touch each other except in one point. The small space which the crystalline leaves between it, the cornea, and the glassy substance, is, probably, filled up with a liquid in the living animal. In every case refraction should be considerable in the stémmata, for it takes place, 1. by the convexity of the cornea; 2. by that of the crystalline, which is denser than the cornea; 3. by the posterior convexity of the crystalline to the passage of light in the space occupied, probably, by a liquid; 4. and lastly, by the glassy substance. In consequence of this disposition, the eyes, which are here treated of, must necessarily be purblind. Thus spiders only see at very short distances. The position of these eyes, in a great number of insects, and the fact that larvæ have, in general, only stémmata, since they have nothing to see afar off, tends to confirm this opinion. The field of sight in smooth eyes can be only very small: to this condition their immobility and the diverging of their axis unite, to prevent, in spite of their plurality, the different visual fields from covering themselves again, and the double or multiple sight from taking place.

In the Solpùga the large eyes diverge under an angle of 90°, the field of vision cannot surpass that extent; and in other Arachnìdæ in which the diverging is less, there is even some visual scope. The small pediculate eyes of the Solpùga are situated anteriorly upon the same plane, and their fields of vision should cover themselves; in other Arachnidæ, the eyes are always placed upon an arc of the external integuments, sometimes united by pairs, but always with diverging axes. The large eyes of the Solpùga, and of other scorpions, are probably less myopic than the small, less developed, and less diverging stémmata of other Arachnidæ. (Müller, zur Vergleichen Phys. des Gesicht.)

Rock Blocks.- M. Hausmann, whose profound knowledge of geology is well known, has published an excellent memoir in Latin, under the title of De Origine Saxorum per Germaniæ Septentrionalis Regiones arenosas dispersorum. He describes the dispersion and gradual wearing down of the innumerable erratic blocks found in the sandy plains of Northern Germany; though, as M. Brongniart justly remarks, they are by no means confined to this district, but extend east and west, as well as along the course of the Danube.

All their phenomena indicate a violent catastrophe which the northern portion of the globe must have sustained at the period of its last general change. M. Hausmann mentions the several theories devised to account for these. Some geologists are of opinion that the blocks in question have been formed in the localities which they now occupy, being the remains of mountains which anciently occupied those plains. This opinion has been defended by Beroldinger, and lately revived by Muncke; but, though at first sight it appears simple, it is disproved by the great diversity of the species of rocks found indiscriminately together, though varying very far in the dates of their formation. Some, for example, are enveloped in sand, in clay, and in marl; whilst others, entirely naked and isolated, rest upon a posterior alluvion. The blocks, moreover, are not surrounded with stones in such a manner as to support this opinion; and their smooth surface, whether it be plain or rounded, proves that they must have long been exposed to the influence of water. Other geologists suppose them to have been

thrown out from volcanoes, or to have fallen from the firmanent; opinions which it requires little expense of argument to disprove. The prevailing hypothesis is, that the rock blocks have been detached from mountains, more or less distant from their present position; some referring to the mountains in a northerly, and others to the mountains in a southerly, direction. M. Hausmann himself is of opinion that the rock blocks in question have been rolled in a direction from north-east to south-west, and supports the theory by referring to Braunschweig, Hanover, the valley of the Weser, &c., where are found the porphyry of Elfdal and other stones which abound in Dalecarlia, as well as in the neighbouring mountain chains. In Mecklenburg, also, and Pomerania, are found the debris of the rocks of Gottland and Oeland; and the dispersion of these blocks extends even through Denmark and into the interior of Sweden, as has been more fully explained by M. Brongniart in a paper of which we have elsewhere taken notice. (Bulletin des Sciences.)

HOLLAND AND THE NETHERLANDS.

Libellula distinguished from E'shnæ. - Monsieur M. I. Van der Hoeven, professor of natural history at Leyden, has given the following distinctions of Libéllulæ and E'shna: :

1. In the anterior wings of Libéllulæ, and near their base, is a humeral or discoidal cellula, presenting the figure of a reversed rectangular triangle, terminating in a point in the base. In E'shna, on the contrary, instead of this triangle, there is found a cellula of greater size, and horizontally shaped, while there is no difference between their anterior and posterior wings.

2. Æ'shna which have their eyes widely separated (such as the Æ'shna forcipàta of Fabricius, . unguiculata), and forming the second division of this genus in the system of M. Vander Linden (Æ’shna bononiénsis) in 4to, 1820, have a triangular cellula, like that of Libéllulæ, but shorter and more broad. In other respects, their anterior and posterior wings resemble those of other 'shna, which never occurs among Libéllulæ. Agrions may, perhaps, be distinguished by the feebleness of their brachial nervures, and the narrowness of their wings. (Annales des Sciences Naturelles, December.)

SWEDEN.

The cartilaginous envelope of the brain in the Myxìne glutinòsa, which forms the cranium, has for a base a thin cartilage of a brown tint, and of a structure peculiar to this subdivision of chondropterygian fishes, the Cyclostómmata. This supporting cartilage nearly resembles in form the lyre of Apollo, consisting of an arch, of which the two sides are symmetrical. Behind, this arch is supported by the anterior part of the vertebral column and by the labyrinth; and, before, it enlarges and terminates by two recurrent branches in form of an S reversed. (Retzius, Act. Acad. Sauv. Stockholm.)

DENMARK.

Flora Dánica. Professor Hornemann lately read to the Society of Copenhagen, a report upon a recent number of the Flora Dánica. It contains 30 species of cotyledonous plants, of which 18 have been added to the Danish Flora. There are two, the Pýrola grænlandica and Pediculàris lanàta, both from Greenland, which the Professor considers as new species. Among 38 acotyledonous plants, the Alcyonídium attenuàtum, from Greenland, is also unedited. It may likewise be considered, that there are 22 new species of this family, which have been discovered by Professor Schumacher,

and which have not before been figured in any botanical work. Besides the descriptions of new or rare plants, the author has given details respecting their uses and cultivation. (Oversigt over det Danske videnskab. Selskabs forhandl.)

ASIA.

Vision of Birds of Prey. It always appeared to us most extraordinary, indeed unaccountable, that birds of prey could scent carcasses at such immense distances as they are said to do. We were led to scepticism on this subject, some twenty years ago, while observing the concourse of birds of prey, from every point of the horizon, to a corpse floating down the river Ganges, and that during the north-east monsoon, when the wind blew steadily from one point of the compass for months in succession. It was extremely difficult to imagine, that the effluvia from a putrefying body in the water could emanate in direct opposition to the current of air, and impinge on the olfactories of birds many miles distant. Such, however, were the dicta of natural history, and we could only submit to the general opinion. We have no doubt, now that we know the general opinion to be sometimes wrong, that it was by means of the optic, rather than the olfactory, nerves, "that the said birds smelled out their suit."

The toucan is a bird which ranks next to the vulture, in discerning, whether by smell or by sight, the carrion on which it feeds. The immense size of its bill, which is many times larger than its head, was supposed to present, in its honeycomb texture, an extensive prolongation of the olfactory nerve, and thus to account for its power of smelling at great distances. But, on accurate examination, the texture above mentioned in the bill is found to be mere diploe to give the bill strength. Now the eye of this bird is somewhat larger than the whole brain, and it has been ascertained, by direct experiments, that where very putrid carrion was enclosed in a basket, from which effluvia could freely emanate, but which concealed the offal from sight, it attracted no attention from vultures and other birds of prey, till it was exposed to their view, when they immediately recognised their object, and others came rapidly from different quarters of the horizon, where they were invisible a few minutes before.

This sudden appearance of birds of prey from immense distances, and in every direction, however the wind may blow, is accounted for by their soaring to an altitude far beyond our sight. In this situation, their prey on the ground is seen by them, however minute it may be, and therefore their appearance in our sight is merely their descent from high regions of the atmosphere to within the scope of our optics. The toucan, in India, generally arrives a little in the rear of the vulture, and remains till the larger bird is glutted, while smaller birds of prey, at a still more retired distance, pay similar homage to the toucan. (Dr. James Johnson, in Medico-Chirurg. Review.)

ART. II. Natural History in the English Counties.

MIDDLESEX.

THE Chiff-chaff arrives among the first of our summer birds, about the latter end of April, and may be seen moving briskly from right to left in the top branches of some tall tree, calling the peculiar note from which it receives its name. I send you one for inspection which was lately shot in this neighbourhood. — A Constant Reader. Sept. 15. 1829.

We have sent the specimen, for which we return our best thanks, to Mr. Sowerby's museum; Mr. Sowerby says it is the Lesser White Throat (Motacílla Sylviélla Lin., Currùca Sylviélla Flem.).— Cond.

YORKSHIRE.

Scarborough Museum. Amongst the numerous interesting objects with which Scarborough abounds, the new museum now stands most prominent and attractive. It is situate to the south of the bridge, on an ascending piece of ground, and is seen from the sands rising majestically above that beautiful erection.

The museum is a rotunda of the Roman Doric order, 37 ft. 6 in. in external diameter, and 50 ft. high. The basement contains, pro tempore, the library, keeper's room, and laboratory. When sufficient funds are obtained, it is proposed to place these accessories in wings radiating from the central building, which will then be entirely used as a museum. The principal room is 35 ft. high, and is lighted by a central eye or opening. The beautiful Hackness stone, the munificent gift of Sir John B. Johnstone, Bart., has been employed in this building. The fossils, which are very numerous, are arranged on sloping shelves, in the order of their strata, showing at one view, the whole series of the kingdom. A horizontal shelf below sus tains the generic arrangement of fossil shells. Amongst the collection of fossils, which is one of the most perfect in England, are two admirable assemblages of local fossils, one purchased of Mr. Williamson, and the other presented to the Society by Mr. Duesbury, being the valuable collection of the late Mr. Hinderwell. The birds and animals are placed above the geological arrangement; so that every part of the museum can be seen at once. The whole expense of the building, fitting up, &c., will be about 1400l., of which 11007. has been raised. The remainder, if not contributed by the liberality of the friends of science, must be raised by loan, on interest. A donation of 251. constitutes a proprietor's share, which is transferable at all times by will or sale, and confers a perpetual right of admission on the family of the owner. A donation of 51. confers the same perpetual right on the families of strangers. The terms of admission to casual visitors are reasonable; and the receipts from this source go to pay the keeper, Mr. Williams, who is always there to explain the geology of the district.

The building has been erected from designs by Mr. R. H. Sharp, architect, of this city, on whom it reflects much credit.

At a public dinner on the opening of this museum, on the 31st of August, an interesting history of its rise and progress was given. It appears that Mr. Dunn, the secretary, convened a meeting at his own house in 1820, which consisted, he states, " of Mr. Hinderwell, the possessor, at that time, of the best collection in the town, and which has since been liberally presented to the museum by Mr. Duesbury; Mr. Travis, whose botanical researches are acknowledged by some of the best writers of the day; Mr. Bean, who was then aspiring to the meridian of glory which he has since attained; and Mr. Smith, the father of English geology, whose connection with any institution would form one of the brightest gems in its diadem. After maturely considering whether a society could be formed at Scarborough or not, Mr. Hinderwell informed us he had promised his own collection to his nephew, and from his age and declining health could not take an active part in its formation. We consequently postponed the accomplishment of our wishes till a more favourable period; hoping, that when Sir John Johnstone resided in our neighbourhood he would patronise our undertaking. In this we have not been deceived, and before Sir John made his tour to Italy, he offered to call a meeting together; but the intellectual atmosphere of Scarborough had not yet acquired that temperature which would be congenial to the growth of so tender a plant. I cannot but lament the circumstance, because if we had been ripe enough we might have formed the first link of that splendid chain of philosophical institutions which has since adorned this country. But if we had not the courage to dare to lead, we deserve to follow. As to the objects of the institution. allow me to say, that to give

energy, concentration, and effect to native talents; to examine the great laboratory of the earth; to establish the locality of natural objects; to trace analogies with distant parts of the earth; to explore worlds of organised beings till lately unheard of, and to make acquaintance with Others now in existence, of which we were before ignorant; to collect, and to arrange in a simple, harmonious, and intelligible form, the various objects of natural science; and, in fact, to trace the finger of the Almighty in his multiplied and magnificent operations, are some of the sublime objects of this Society; and if by some they may be considered futile, because they do not seem immediately to produce their return in pounds, shillings, and pence, it is because a certain preparation of mind is necessary beyond the limited calculations of commercial views, to appreciate these objects. But, Sir, when the handicraft of Naples discovered the application of the magnet, who could have foreseen it would have led to the navigation of the world? When Galileo found that, by the adjustment of a few convex glasses, distant objects could be approximated, who could have believed that it would have led to such an intimate acquaintance with the heavenly regions? And when the Marquess of Worcester published his History of Inventions, or still more lately, Dr. Black, his History of Latent Heat, could any man have foretold that it would be followed by so gigantic an application of the power of steam as we have lived to see? And if such results are the consequences of man's labours, what may we not expect from closely attending to those of Omnipotence? Mr. William Vernon has strikingly observed, in a small work well worthy your attention, 'That to a mind educated in the school of natural history, mankind are indebted for the most extensively beneficial of all the discoveries of the present age.' The same process of thought which led to the observations of the habits of the swallow or the cuckoo, when applied to the diseases of the cow, enabled the immortal Jenner to make the discovery of vaccination, which, with few exceptions, has preserved mankind from one of the greatest of human afflictions. But the mind as well as the

body must be fed with milk before it can bear strong meats. The uses of such societies as ours are to adapt their aliment to all classes. The philosopher of many years' standing will have abundant opportunities of enlarging his knowledge: and whether he takes the comprehensive views of the geologist, or descends to particulars with the naturalist; whether he examines the formations of a world, or the elegant arrangements of the petals of a rose; the mountains of the Himalaya, or the wings of a butterfly; the plains of a Pampas, or the convolution of a turbo; the variegated carpet of nature, or the no less varied coat of a caterpillar; - he will be insensibly led by his sublime contemplations from nature up to nature's God.' The child, whose time has been hitherto spent in the study of the dead languages, the practical application of which is confined to two or three professions, will have his eyes opened to new objects, from which his father's have long been closed, and his mind directed to a language more ancient than that of Homer, the language of nature, a book which he can never lay aside with an unholy thought. If the human mind, even in the humblest form, cannot be as agreeably entertained in such a sanctuary, as in the purlieus of a pothouse; if, when oppressed with disappointment and sorrow, it cannot here find diversion which will both chasten and enlarge, elevate and refine it from the foul dross of worldly anxieties, then deem this institution unworthy of your patronage, and denounce its secretary as an impostor. Gentlemen, I beg to conclude in the language of the best of our modern historians, Mr. Sharon Turner: To be intelligent is now even more necessary than to be affluent, because mind is become the invisible sovereign of the world; and they who cultivate its progress, being diffused every where in society, are the tutors of the human race; they dictate the opinions, they fashion the conduct of men. To be illiterate, or to be imbecile, in this illumed day, is to