we doubt not, the fame with the larger willow-wren of Mr. White's Hift. of Selborne. It is a larger bird than the Metacilla Hippolais & M. Trochilus of Linné, and is diftinguished by a finer green colour in the upper parts, and a purer white

beneath.

Obfervations upon the Structure and Oeconomy of those intestinal Worms called Tania, by Mr. A. Carlisle. This well-written and interefting memoir, which particularly relates to the Tania Solium, the moft common in this country, accurately difplays the external and internal ftructure of this curious animal, elucidated by injections and figures, and interfperfed with phyfiological obfervations. Some of the figures refer to other fpecies of tenia, and to the Fafciola hepatica of the fheep.

A new Method of preferving Fungi, &c. by William Withering, M. D. This method confifts of immerfion in certain chemical mixtures, of which two formulæ are given; one of a folution of blue vitriol, the other of fugar of lead, with a proportion of fpirits of wine added to each.

Objections against the Perceptivity of Plants, fo far as is evinced by their external Motions, in Anfier to Dr. Percival's Memoir in the Manchester Tranfactions, by Rob. Townfon, Efq. This fhort paper chiefly turns on the approach of the roots of vegetables towards their food; which has been adduced as a proof of their poffeffing perceptive powers, but for which this writer thinks we may fufficiently account on the principle of equal action and re-action between the veffels abforbing and the fluid abforbed.

An Effay on the various Species of Sawfish, by Mr. J. Latham. Sawfish have generally been placed in the fqualus or shark genus, yet they have a refemblance to the genus Raia; and Klein wifhed to place them between the two, though he has not done it. Mr. L. has undertaken to form them into a new genus under the title of Priftis, which he characterifes in a Syftematic manner; and he defcribes five fpecies under it; the P. Antiquorum, P. Pectinatus, P. Cufpidatus, P. Microdon, P. Cirratus. The fpecies are diftinguished by their faws, of which figures are added.

Defcriptions of four new British Lichens, by the Rev. Hugh Davies. Thefe are entitled, L. Pilularis, L. Simplex, L. Concentricus, L. Varians. A coloured plate is added.

An Account of fome Plants newly discovered in Scotland, by Mr. James Dickfon.

Remarks on the Genus Dianthus, by J. E. Smith, M. D. This genus, hitherto involved in peculiar obfcurity, fo as to be a kind of opprobrium botanicorum, has exercifed the learned Prefident's powers of investigation in remarks on various of its fpecies. He fubjoins a fynopfis of all the fpecies, with descriptions of

fuch

fuch as feem to him new, and emendations of the erroneous characters of others.

The History and Defcription of a minute epiphyllous Lycoperdon, growing on the Leaves of the Anemone nemorofa, by Richard Pulteney, M. D. &c. &c. A fingular punctated or fpotted appearance on the under fide of the leaves of fonte wood-anemonies had been remarked by feveral of the older botanists, who formed a variety of that plant from the circumftance. By later writers, the fpots were attributed to infects: but the prefent learned and accurate inquirer, on viewing them with a magnifier, found reafon to fuppofe them to be parafitical vegetables of the fungus kind; and he here characterises and defcribes this fingular production by the name of Lycoperdon (Anemones) parafiticum fphæricum feffile difcretum album; ore multifido lacero; pulvere albo. It feems to be found only on diseased plants.

Extract of a Letter from Mr. J. Lindsay, Surgeon in Jamaica, to Sir fof. Banks. Mr. L., whofe fuccefs in raifing ferns from feed is related in a former paper, here informs the Prefident of the R. Society, that his trials of fowing the farina of Lycopodium cernuum, and of Bryum cafpititium, fucceeded in like manner; and also that, on fowing that part of the fructification of Marchantia polymorpha, which is compofed of fine elaftic filaments. and fmall globules, he had a produce of young plants of the fame kind. In fome additional remarks by Dr. Smith, it is noted that an humble ftudent of nature, Jofeph Fox, a journeyman weaver at Norwich, had obtained a fimilar refult from experiments made on Lycopodium Selago

Defcriptions of three new Species of Hirudo, by the Rev. IV. These small Kirby with an additional Note by Dr. Shaw. animals are called Hirudo alba; nigra; and crenata. Mr. K. obferves that the first two do not properly come under the Linnéan genus Hirudo; and Dr. Shaw refers them to that of Planaria. Figures of the crenata are given.

Additional Obfervations on Fucus Hypogloffum, by T. J. Woodward, Efq. In thefe obfervations, the ipecific character of this fucus, with remarks, is given from Dr. Solander's papers, which were not recovered when Mr. W. wrote his defcription in the 6th article. An additional note is given concerning Lycoperdon recolligens, from Mr. Bulliard's Hift. des Champignons.

Additional Remarks on the Wood Sandpiper, Tringa glareola, by W. Markwick, Efq The purpofe of this paper is to acknowlege that Mr. M.'s Tringa, of which an account is given in the first vol. of Linn. Tranf. is only a variety of the T. ocropus.

Botanical Obfervations on the Flora Japonica, by Charles Peter Thunberg, Knt. &c. &c. Thefe confift of a-feries of particular emendations

emendations of defcriptions in the illuftrious author's Flora Japonica, made by himself after a more accurate investigation.

Defcription of Sagina ceraftoides, a new British Plant difcovered in Scotland by Mr. James Dickfon. By the Prefident. The habit of this plant is altogether that of a Ceraflium: but its flowers being always quadritid have neceffarily caused it to be referred to the genus Sagina. The character given is S. caule diffufo dichotomo, foliis fpatulatis obovatifve recurvis, pedunculis fructiferis reflexis.

An Account of two new Genera of Plants from New South Wales, by the Prefident. The first of these is named by the Prefident GOODENIA, in honour of the worthy treasurer of the fociety, Dr. Goodenough. It is of the clafs and order Pentandria Monogynia, and is thus characterifed: CAPS. bilocularis, bivalvis, polyfperma; diffepimento parallelo. SEMINA imbricata. COROLLA fupra longitudinaliter fifa, genitalia exferens; limbo quinquefido, fecundo. ANTHERA lineares, imberbes. STIGMA urceolatum, ciliatum. Nine fpecies are enumerated.

the

The fecond is called PLATYLOBIUM, and ranks among Diadelphia Decandria. It is thus characterised: CALYX campanulatus, quinquefidus, laciniis duobus fupremis maximis, obtufis. FILAMENTA omnia bafi connexa, latere fuperiori diftincta. LEGUMEN pedicellatum, compreffum, dorfo alatum, polyfpermum. Only one fpecies is given, with the English name of Orange flat-pea, and it is faid to be a very beautiful plant.

Among the extracts from the minute-book of the fociety, is the following narration; which we think well worth copying: It is a general character of deer, that the females of every species except the rein-deer, are deftitute of horns, the contrary occurred here in September laft. A fingular inftance to of Cervus Elaphus, was shot by the Duke of Gordon, which had one A hind, the female horn perfectly fimilar to that of a tag three years old. It had never had a horn on the other fide of its head, for there the corresponding place was covered over by the skin, and quite smooth. feem to have ever produced a fawn, and upon diffection, the ovarium It did not on the fame fide with the born was found to be schirrous.'

The botanical reader will be able to estimate the contents of this volume from the short abftract which we have given of them; and for more minute information he will naturally wish to confult the work itself.

ART. VI. Heads of Lectures on a Courfe of experimental Philofophy, particularly including Chemistry, delivered at the New College in Hackney. By Jofeph Priestley, LL. D. F. R. S. &c. &c. 8vo. Pp. 202. 35. 6d. Boards. Johnfon. 1794.

PREFIXED to this treatife is a dedication to the ftudents of the college at Hackney, containing many pertinent obfervations

on

on the right mode of conducting their ftudies; with cautions. tending to reprefs the vanity of young proficients, and to temper their love of liberty and of mankind with a due regard to the exifting conftitution of their country. As thefe lectures were delivered only once in a week, we might naturally expect to find the heads of them fuperficial. They are written in the eafy current ftyle which Dr. Priestley ufually employs; and, notwithstanding the incorrect theory which fometimes obfcures them, they contain a neat abftract of chemical knowlege' in its prefent advanced state.

"

In a work which is profeffedly a compilation, there is little room for criticifm; we fhall therefore content ourselves with noticing a few paffages, in which we are difpofed to differ from this able experimenter.

In page 10, Dr. Prieftley affumes infinite divifibility as an effential property of matter. It muft, however, be remarked that, after all the parade of geometrical demonftration fo abSurdly applied to this fubject, the arguments which have been advanced refpect merely the extent of human conception, and amount only to this, that there is no limit to our idea of the diminution of magnitude. The componibility of the ingenious Bofcovich feems to remove the principal difficulties.

It is urged, in page 11, as a pofitive argument for the penetrability of matter, that the particles of light, after entering the denfeft tranfparent fubftance, do not feem to meet with any obftruction to their progrefs till they come to the oppofite fide.”. This affertion is inconfiftent with fact: the particles of light not only fuffer a difperfion at the furface of diaphanous bodies, but are abforbed in their paffage through the mafs; for, not to mention other confiderations, the lofs of light is well known to be greater in proportion to the thickness of the medium.

Pages 17 and 19, we have rules for determining the purity of a given quantity of air, founded on the principle that one meafure of pure oxygenous gas will faturate two measures of nitrous gas-but the diminution which takes place is owing to the nitrous acid formed by the union of the two gafes; and, as nitrous acid is a fubftance extremely variable, and capable of containing its ingredients in very different proportions, the application of the property to afcertain the quality of air muft ever be judged uncertain and fallacious.

Dr. P. remarks (p. 25) that oxygenous and nitrous gafes will act on each other through a bladder. Yet contiguity feems effential at least to chemical action. It is, therefore, probable that the fubftance of the bladder, or the humidity contained in it, ferves as a medium of combination, by abforbing one gas, and bringing it within the limit of the attraction of the other.

In page 39, the Doctor afferts that different kinds of air which have no affinity to each other, when once mixed together, will not feparate, notwithstanding any difference of specific gravity.' This remark is evidently irreconcileable with the principles of found philofophy: affinity may exift in every degree, nor is it always attended with any confiderable change in the bulk or form of the substances combined. No perfon can doubt that a certain chemical attraction fubfifts between common air and the carbonic and hydrogenous gafes; for, if these gafes be imperfectly confined in bottles, placed in an erect or inverted pofition according as the contained fluid is denfer or rarer than the atmosphere, they are found, after fome time, to have escaped, and to have given place to common air.

P. 42, it is repeated, probably from M. de Sauffure, that ⚫ when water becomes vapour, it takes the form of small globules, hollow within, fo as to be specifically lighter than air.' Admitting the existence of thefe globules, it is requisite that their internal cavity be either a vacuum or contain some gas extremely elastic. On the former fuppofition, we should ask, by what power is the aqueous fhell enabled to refift the compreffion of the furrounding atmosphere? The latter fuppofition is alike contradictory to reafon and to experience. The example of froth and fmall foap-bubbles is irrelevant, fince they are inflated with common air, and have a tendency to defcend.

It is alleged, p. 79, that filiceous earth is formed by nature from chalk by the introduction of some unknown acid. The only argument, which has been advanced to prove the identity of the filiceous and calcareous earths, is that flint is found in great quantities intermingled in the chalk cliffs of England :but thefe lumps of flint are generally rounded and covered with a fofter cruft, which feems to imply that they had fuffered from attrition, and from the attacks of the elements, during a lapfe of ages, prior to the formation of the calcareous matter which now envelopes them. These earths are also widely feparated by their natural properties; the calcareous is fufible per fe, and the filiceous is the most refractory of all the earths. Still more improbable it is that the filiceous earth fhould be a compound of the calcareous, fince all compounds are more fufible than their elements. Befides, if an acid entered into the compofition of flint, it would, from its greater volatility, be partly expelled by the application of an intense heat; and this muft occafion a certain alteration in the qualities of the flint.

P. 81, it is afferted that clay owes its, ductility to fome acid, and probably to the vitriolic. We can hardly conceive how an acid fhould communicate plafticity. That quality feems to refult principally from the extreme comminution of REV. MARCH, 1795.

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