Amphodelite-Bytownite-Latrobite Indianite-Linseite. st The following minerals probably belong to the Felspar Family; viz., Saccharite-Barsowite-Couzeranite-Saussurite.—(Bronn, Jahrbuch, 4 Heft, 1851. ZOOLOGY. } I 10. The Animals of a Coral Reef, by John Magillivray, Esq.During our stay we were fortunate in having fine weather, light winds, and low tides, which enabled such as were inclined to look for shells upon the reef, to do so under the most favourable circumstances. This reef is of a great extent, with all the varieties of coral, mud, and sand,' and proved a most productive one. A sketch of the distribution of the principal of its productions may be of interest to some. Many kinds of fishes, Murena, Diodon, Balistes, Serranus, &c., are found in the pools among the coral blocks; the first of these, of bright colours, variously striped and spotted, resemble water snakes, and are exceedingly active, gliding through the interstices in the coral, and hiding in its hollows, they bite savagely at a stick presented to them, and are by no means pleasant neighbours while wading about knee deep, and with bare arms turning over the coral which they frequent. On a former occasion I had been laid hold of by the thumb, and the wound was a long time in healing. Crustacea are also numerous; blue and green Gonoductyli leap about with a sharp clicking noise-legions of" Mycteris subverrucata traverse the dry sands at low water—and in the shallow muddy pools, dull green Thalamitæ and Lupeæ swim off rapidly, and smooth Calappa seek refuge by burrowing under the surface. Of mollusca, two species of olive (0. erythrostoma and Q. leucophaa) were found on the sandy margin of the islet-several Cerithia and Subule (S. maculata and S. occulata) creep along the sand flats, and, with some fine Naticæ, and a Pyramidella, may be found by tracing the marks of their long burrows. Several Strombi and Nassa coronata inhabit the shallow sandy pools; the egg-shell and many Cypræide occur under coral blocks, which when over sand, often harbour different kinds of cones-of which the handsome C textile is the commonest. A delicate white lima (L. fragilis) is abundant here, merrily swimming away in the pool under an upturned stone, and leaving its fringe-like tentacles adhering to the hand when seized. Lastly, it would be improper to omit mentioning the very fine oysters adhering to the roots of the mangroves. But these are only a small portion of the shell-fish collected here. Among radiate animals, several Ophiuro and Ophiocome and other Asteriada, with two kinds of Echinus, are also plentiful under blocks of coral (Astrea and Meandrina) in the pools; one of the last, remarkable for its very long, slender, black spines, has the power of giving an exceedingly painful puncture, if carelessly handled-for a few minutes the sensation is similar to that caused by the sting of a wasp; of the others, a fine Ophiura is remarkable for its great size and grass-green colour, and an Ophiocoma for the prodigious length of its arms.-(Voyage of H. M. S. Rattlesnake, vol. i., p. 102. Commanded by the late Capt. Owen Stanley. By J. Macgillivray.) 11. Cause of the Jet from the Blow-Holes of Whales.-At a meeting of the Boston Society of Natural History, for February, Dr Wyman made some remarks on the probable cause of the jet from the blow-holes of whales. While on a recent visit to Labrador, he had an opportunity of observing this phenomenon. Three causes for this jet had been assigned, namely, the water taken into the mouth with the food of the animal, the water in the nasal cavities, As it appears in the form and the secretions of the bronchial tubes. of a sudden discharge of vapour, he thought a fourth explanation might be added, the sudden rarefaction of the air when inhaled, followed by a sudden condensation when emitted. He thought it was partly due also to the small quantity of water which entered the outer extremity of the nasal passages. He had succeeded in imitating the appearance in question, by introducing a small quantity of water into the end of a syringe and suddenly expelling it, with the body of air behind it, with considerable force. Dr Pickering said he could not think the condensation of the air when expelled from the lungs of a whale was a circumstance of much importance in forming the jet, as in tropical climates, where this could hardly occur, the jet was as complete as in colder latitudes. Dr Wyman said, that in some instances he heard the inspiration It follows the expiration inas well as the expiration of Cetacea. stantaneously, but it is much shorter and less audible. Mr Ayres, from his own observations, confirmed Dr Wyman's views. He had noticed in a young porpoise that the act of breathing is much more slowly performed than in the adult.-(American 1851, p. 337.). Journal of Scientific Discovery for BOTANY. 12. On the Palo de Velus or Candle-Tree (Parmentiera cereifera, Seem.) By M. Berthold Seemann-This tree is confined to the valley of the Chagres, where it forms entire forests. In entering them, a person might almost fancy himself transported into a chandler's shop. From all the stems and lower branches hang long cylindrical fruits, of a yellow wax colour, so much resembling a candle, as to have given rise to the popular appellation. The fruit is generally from two to three, but not unfrequently four, feet long, and an inch in diameter. The tree itself is about twenty-four feet high, with opposite trifoliated leaves and large white blossoms, which appear 1 throughout the year, but are in greatest abundance during the rainy season. The Palo de Velas belongs to the natural order Crescentrace, and is a Parmentiera, of which genus, hitherto, only one species, the P. edulis, De Cand., was known to exist. The fruit of the latter, called Quanhscilote, is eaten by the Mexicans; while that of the former serves for food to numerous herds of cattle. Bullocks, especially if fed with the fruit of this tree, Guinea-grass, and Batatilla (Ipomea brachypoda, Benth.), soon get fat. It is generally admitted, however, that the meat partakes in some degree of the peculiar apple-like smell of the fruit; but this is by no means disagreeable, and easily prevented, if, for a few days previous to the killing of the animal, the food is changed. The tree produces its principal harvest during the dry season, when all the herbaceous vegetation is burned up; and on that account its cultivation in #tropical countries is especially to be recommended; a few acres of it would effectually prevent that want of fodder, which is always most severely felt after the periodical rains have ceased.(Hooker's Journal of Botany.) MISCELLANEOUS. 13. The Sources of the Nile.-At the last meeting of the Bombay Geographical Society, a paper was read by Mr Jolm Smith on the discoveries made by the East African Missionaries on what appear to be the Sources of the Nile. This mysterious river is said to arise from two lakes, one of which is of great dimensions nearly under the line, and they seem fed by the melting snows of the gigantic range, which rises to the altitude of 22,000 feet at least, close by. The description of this long looked for locality coincides exactly with that given of it by Ptolemy, two thousand years ago.-(The Bombay Times, February 18th 1852.) 14. Bonpland the Botanist.-An American traveller has sent an account to the Geographical Society at Paris, of his meeting with M. Bonpland, Humboldt's celebrated companion, near San Borga, where he lives happily with his family, constantly making additions to his Herbarium, which he considers as belonging to France, and which contains at least 3000 plants; the collecting of it seems to have obliterated the bitterness of his forced detention by Dr Francia. -(Journal of the Royal Geographical Society, vol. xxi., p. 93.) 15. The Shortening of Voyages between the Old and New Worlds. -Much attention has been paid in America towards impinging upon time and space, as respects the communication between the Old and the New Worlds; and especially as to shortening the time of passage between New York and London. The most received project is founded on the fact, that railroads are three times as expeditious as steamers; consequently, instead of embarking at New York, it is proposed that passengers should proceed by land as far eastward as a railroad can be carried—that is, to the utmost verge of Nova Scotia and there embark. They then should make the best of their way to Galway Bay, and take the railway for Dublin. Now, after what has been achieved in international communication of late, we may reasonably hope for farther improvements. A voyage to the East Indies and back in former times occupied a couple of years or more; ordinary merchantmen can now manage the same in nine months. In 1750, a time when the trade-winds where pretty well understood, three fine Indiamen-the "Ilchester," "Anson," and Shaftesbury," sailed from the Downs on the 5th of April, and arrived at Bombay in September: in 1850 the same voyage is averaged to occupy 75 days, and news is carried by the overland mail in less than a month. This is owing to a proper application of science and experience; and I cannot but augur that Lieut. Maury's inquiries, las shewn in the charts I mentioned, will still further abridge our longest oceanic voyages.(Journal of the Royal Geographical Society, vol. xxi. p. 90.) 16. On the mode of manufacturing Pemmican.In April 1847, I had the advantage of an interview with Sir George Simpson, Governor-in-chief of Rupert's Land, who was then on a visit to England, and of concerting with him the measures necessary for the future progress of the expedition; and I may state here that he entered warmly into the projects for the relief of his old acquaintance Sir John Franklin; and from him I received the kindest personal attention, and that support which his thorough knowledge of the resources of the country and his position as Governor enabled him so effectively to bestow. He informed me that the stock of provisions at the various posts in the Hudson's Bay territories was unusually low, through the failure of the bison hunts on the Saskatchewan, and that it would be necessary to carry out pemmican from this country, adequate not only to the ulterior purpose of the voyage to the Arctic Sea, but also to the support of the party during the interior navigation in 1847 and 1848. I therefore obtained authority from the Admiralty to manufacture, forthwith, the requisite quantity of that kind of food in Clarence Yard; and as I shall have frequent occasion to allude to it in the subsequent narrative, it may be well to describe in this place the mode of its preparation. The round or buttock of beef of the best quality, having been cut into thin steaks, from which the fat and membranous parts were pared away, was dried in a malt-kiln over an oak fire, until its moisture was entirely dissipated, and the fibre of the meat became friable. It was then ground in a malt-mill, when it resembled finely grated meat. Being next mixed with nearly an equal weight of melted. beef suet or lard, the preparation of plain pemmican was complete; but to render it more agreeable to the unaccustomed palate, a proportion of the best Zante currants was added to part of it, and part was sweetened with sugar. Both these kinds were much approved of in the sequel by the consumers, but more especially that to which 6 the sugar had been added. After the ingredients were well incor porated by stirring, they were transferred to tin canisters, capable of containing 85 lb. each; and having been firmly rammed down, and allowed to contract further by cooling, the air was completely expelled and excluded by filling the canister to the brim with melted" lard, through a small hole left in the end, which was then covered ~ with a piece of tin, and soldered up. Finally, the canister was painted and lettered according to its contents. The total quantity" of pemmican thus made was 17,424 lb., at a cost of 1s. 74d. a pound. But the expense was somewhat greater than it would otherwise have been, from the inexperience of the labourers, who required to bạn trained, and from the necessity of buying meat in the London market at a rate above the contract price, occasioned by the bullocks slaugh... | tered by the contractor for the naval force at Portsmouth being into adequate to the supply of the required number of rounds. Various temporary expedients were also resorted to in drying part of the meat, the malt-kiln and the whole Clarence Yard being at that time fully occupied night and day in preparing flour and biscuit for the relief of the famishing population of Ireland. By the suggestions of Messrs Davis and Grant, the intelligent chief officers of thẻ [ victualling yard, and their constant personal superintendence, every 2 difficulty was obviated. As the meat in drying loses more than three-fourths of its original weight, the quantity required was considerable, being 35,651 lb.ft and the sudden abstraction of more than one thousand rounds of beefs from Leadenhall market occasioned speculation among the dealers, and a rise in the price of a penny per pound, with an equally sudden I fall when the extra demand was found to be very temporary megsz The natives dry their venison by exposing the thin slices to the [ heat of the sun, on a stage, under which a small fire is kept, morēz Lard, the By drying, this was reduced to about 8000 lb. Particulars of the estimated expense of penimican manufactured Royal Clarence Victualling Yard in midsummer quarter 1847 sei Jano side Fresh beef, 35,651 lb. at 6d. per lb.-fall be€979 1071 197 bonisırsı 7,549 at 888. per cwt. nyob co * 296 11 -4 Xoos someteib 1,008 at 84s. per cwt, god as o 37 160, giới chi là No Me Torról €13175150049 51010 one few of b. 284. 1995988 us to 915W 8 1 Sugar, 280 at 31s. 2d. 3 17 11 Oak slab, 46 fms. at 22s. 6d. per load, Tod. £47 Hire of kiln and cartage, 1 } Quantity of pemmican manufactured, 17,424 lb.;-average cost per lb,, ls. 7¡d.: |