Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

Marine plants and animals also contain Brome. The ashes of the Janthina violacea afforded minute portions of it; also the mother-water of barilla, employed for the preparation of iodine; and it was detected in a mineral water from the Eastern Pyre

nees.

24. Iodine and Lithion in the Mineral Springs of Theodoreshall at Kreutznach.-M. Mettentreimer of Frankfort, has detected in the waters of these springs, of which the principal constituent parts are muriate of soda, muriate of lime, and muriate of magnesia, also iodine and lithion.

25. Thickness of Salt Water Ice.-Lieutenant Ross tried the thickness of the salt water ice during different periods of the winter, by digging holes in that formed upon the canal by which the ships had entered, and found it to have increased in the following ratio :

[merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][subsumed][merged small]

26. Sword Fish caught in the Frith of Forth.-Mr Slight, one of the assistant engineers under Robert Stevenson, Esq. has sent to the College Museum a remarkably fine specimen of the sword fish, which was found, in the month of September last, lying on the banks of the Forth between Stirling and Alloa. It is seven feet in length; perfect in all its parts; and will form a most interesting addition to our Museum.

་ I

27. Discovery of the Circulation of the Blood in Insects.Carus of Dresden, the celebrated comparative anatomist, has, it is said, discovered the circulation of the blood in insects.

28. Turf-Leech.-Weber has published an interesting account of a species of leech, which brings a great price, and is found in the turf-bogs in Germany; it is named Hirudo stagnalis.

29. Notice of two new species of British Sponges.When on the west coast of the island of Islay, in the summer of 1825, I observed, at low water, many small pools, in the gneiss and mica-slate cliffs near Portnahaven, completely lined with millepores, from whose elevated lobes large specimens of the Corallina officinalis, and tufts of the delicate Corallina rubens, shot up their jointed branches. On the lower part of the rocks, I found some dwarfish specimens of the Sertularia pumila, and Alcyonium gelatinosum, clinging to the leaves of the Fucus serratus and vesiculosus, and, along with some flustræ, adhering to the cuplike portions of the Fucus loreus; the deeper parts between the precipices waved with lofty forests of the Fucus palmatus. At the bottom of the cliffs, which are excavated into fearful caves, and long narrow coves, by the action of an ever tempestuous sea, I perceived, amidst a rich display of marine vegetation, numerous specimens of the Spongia papillaris, and of the Spongia tomentosa, which appears to be only a variety of the same species. My attention was attracted at this place by a substance of a deep blood red colour, about two inches in diameter, and spread as a thin layer on the under surface of one of the rocks. From its dangerous situation, I could only obtain some particles of it, sufficient, however, to show that it was a species of sponge hitherto unknown to me. This summer (1826) I met again with the same blood red species on the shores of Iona, and abundantly on Staffa; and on landing at ebb-tide at the entrance of the spar cave (Macalister's Cave) in Skye, I found it in large patches on the under surface of the slaty projections, on the left side of the cove, which leads up to these magnificent subterranean vaults. I have represented the form of its spiculum magnified fifty times, (Pl. II. fig. 9.); and as the concurrent opinion of my friend Dr Fleming leaves no doubt in my mind of its being a new species, I have termed it Spongia sanguinea, from its very striking blood-red colour in the living state. It spreads on the under surface of rocks to the extent sometimes of six inches in diameter, with a thickness of more than half an inch, and it has always the same deep red colour. The general surface is flat; but, on minute examination, it is found to be covered with numerous small round elevations and depressions, and the fecal orifices, which are numerous and small,

are always observed in the depressed parts. The pores are very minute, and appear like perforations made by needles of dif ferent sizes. This species feels very slimy when torn, and abounds nearly as much with parenchymatous matter as the Spongia panicea, to which it has a close affinity in its general form and habits. Its spicula are silicious, rather long, (taking always that of the Spongilla friabilis (Pl. II. fig. 1.) as a standard of comparison), curved, equally thick throughout, obtuse at one end, and pointed at the other, (see Pl. II fig. 9.). The spicu lum which I have represented in Pl. II. fig. 3., belongs to a sponge, which I likewise believe to be an undescribed British spe cies, and which I have named Spongia cinerea, from its remarkable blackish grey colour. I met only with a single specimen of this sessile species, about two years ago, in the Firth of Forth, and I have not since observed it on any other coast. It grew on the inclined side of a rock, had an irregular outline, and was about three inches in length, one in breadth, and half an inch in thickness. My attention was attracted to this speci men, from its perfect resemblance to a dark putrid sponge, but on immersing it in water, I found it still in a high state of vitality. Its surface was smooth, convex, fleshy and transparent. Its pores required a lens to be distinctly seen, and its fecal orifices were few, very large, regularly circular, and lay rather deeper than the general surface. Its spicula were remarkably uniform in size, rather small, curved, equally thick throughout, pointed suddenly at both ends, and silicious, (see Pl. II. fig. 3.) -Dr Grant.

30. South African Museum.-(1st Series.). The attention.... of the public is particularly requested, by Dr Smith, Superintendent of the South African Museum, to the following Queries, and information on the points to which they allude is most earnestly solicited from such individuals as may have had opportunities of acquiring it. 1. Does the Tiger Wolf, or what is generally denominated the Cape Wolf, carry away its prey orl does it always devour it on the spot where it first finds it?2. If he ever carries it away, what seems to be his reason or rea-191 sons for so doing? 3. When he happens to fall in with more a than he can at once consume, does he simply abandon the sur plus, or does he carry it away? 4. When they have young,

how do they furnish them with food; that is to

do they

[ocr errors]

carry away a portion to their haunts, or do they first swallow the whole, and then regurgitate or bring up a portion of it on their return, for the purposes stated? 5. Are bones ever found in holes, or in other spots, which form the resort of Wolves; and if so, do those ever occur in great quantities? 6. In what siquation do the Cape Wolves generally live; that is to say, do they always remain exposed in the open air? 7. Does more than one ever resort to the same habitation; or are they ever found in considerable numbers in large dens? 8. At what age and size do the young generally begin to accompany their dam in search of food?

as alte

31. South African Museum.-(2d Series.) Out of the various important communications which have been received as answers to the preceding inquiries relative to the wolf, the following additional queries have been suggested. 1. Does the wolf ever attack the human species; and if so, under what circumstances are such attacks generally made,-that is to say, does hunger, rage, or some other particular state or situation urge them? 2. In those parts of the country where the Wolf generally sleeps in the open air, does he form any sort of artificial bed for himself; or does he simply lie down on the natural surface of the ground? (In a very interesting communication lately received from Mr Wentworth of Wynberg, it is stated, upon most respectable authority, that they usually form slight hollows in the ground for their sleeping places, somewhat similar to those that are occasionally made by dogs for like purposes.) 3. If he pursues the former plan, are such formations ever observed in considerable numbers about particular spots ? 4. How many young has this animal generally at a birth? 5. During what particular time or times of the year have they their young? 6. Are they, when at their full growth, ever met with in considerable numbers together; and if so, on what occasion? 7. Do they ever swallow clay; and if so, under what circumstance? 8. In what sort of weather is the wolf most frequently, most daring, and most destructive? 9. Are animals more likely to suf fer from his attacks during moon-light than in dark nights; or is the reverse the case? ANDREW SMITH, M. D. Superintendent. -The perusal of the above interesting queries, (communicated

[ocr errors]

by Sir James Macgrigor), circulated throughout Southern Africa, by Dr Smith, whose zeal and activity in every thing appertaining to the Natural History of Africa, cannot be too much prized, will interest our readers.

32. Narcotic Spider.-In the caves in Pennsylvania, there is found a black species of spider, spotted with blue over its ab domen, and which has been given internally with success in certain fevers. It has the narcotic property, although in a less degree than opium. Mr Hentz, who relates this fact, mentions another species of spider which possesses a similar property in America, in which it is also indigenous. Spiders are known that have the property of raising blisters, and others which, on being swallowed, have caused an excitement of the genital organs like that produced by cantharides.-Journal de Phar

macie.

33. Power of the Stomach of Birds.-M. Constantin, in the Archives of the Society of Pharmacy of Northern Germany, mentions as a remarkable example of the power of the stomach, in resisting a mass of undigested matter, a fowl in the stomach of which there were found three large pieces of flint, three metal buttons, fourteen iron nails, several of which were still very sharp, and a great number of small stones. With the exception of some slight scratches on the inner membrane, the stomach was in its natural state.

34. Vulture shot in Somersetshire.-Our intelligent friend W.C. Trevelyan, Esq. informs us, that a vulture was shot in June last, at Kilve, near Bridgwater, in Somersetshire. It was first observed walking on a road, and, on being pursued, flew towards the coast of the Bristol Channel, distant abont a mile, when it was found sitting on the beach, and shot. It had recently gorged itself with a putrid lamb, which may probably have been the cause of its allowing itself being approached within shot on opening it for the purpose of stuffing, the smell was excessively offensive. Another bird, apparently of the same species, was seen near the place where this was killed, but it evaded pursuit. The specimen killed measured from the tip of the beak to the end of the tail, 2 feet 3 inches; from the tip of one wing to the tip of the other, 5 feet 6 inches. A notice of the interesting fact,

« ПредишнаНапред »