Albatross; the Diomedea exulans or Common Albatross (and not the Yellownosed species, as erroneously supposed by the newspapers) being the largest. -EDS.

STATISTICS.-At a recent meeting of the Statistical Society of Glasgow, a notice was given, by J. P. Nichol, Esq., Professor of Astronomy in the University of that city" to move for a committee to collect materials for a statement of the chief kinds of manufacture which foreign nations produce, under present circumstances, at a cheaper rate than is possible in this country; discriminating in each case whether the superiority of the foreign nation springs from the operation of natural and fixed causes, or from the comparative knowledge, peculiar habits, or economical condition of its people; and endeavouring to ascertain, in reference to the latter class of causes, how the agencies of an advancing civilization—especially those agencies which alter the proportion of manual labour and fixed capital in the production of commodities—may be expected to remove or diminish our inferiority.”—We rejoice to find that an inquiry calculated to produce such important results, is about to be instituted by a society so well able to execute the task. If the committee will favour us with their Report, when published, we will present our readers with an analysis.

A DWARF has lately made his appearance at Paris, who has become an object of interest to the scientific men of that city. He comes from Illyria, not far from Trieste, where he was born of respectable parents, and is called Gulia. The peculiarity of his case is, that, up to the age of five, he was a child of ordinary proportions; but his growth then suddenly ceased, and he is now, at 22, just the size that he was at that period. His height is exactly three feet; he was, therefore, not born a dwarf. His figure is beautifully proportioned, and he possesses mind and intelligence not common to other dwarfs. He speaks fluently five languages, the two which are common upon the Adriatic, German, French, and Italian. He is, besides, accomplished, plays the violin, and mounts and manages a horse with considerable grace. The check to his development at the age of five, and his invariable good health ever since, are, however, the circumstances worthy the attention of the physiologist.

SITE OF THE NEST OF THE YELLOW BUNTING, Emberiza citrinella.— Syme says that this bird "makes choice of a low bush or hedge (for its nest), though we have seen one in a moist mossy bank above a streamlet, canopied by a plant of Avens." Also "but the Yellow Bunting rarely builds on the ground."-Rennie says (Architecture of Birds) that this is contrary to his observation, and that he has seldom found the nest except on the ground. The situation in which I have generally met with the nest, has been amongst the long grass on old sod fences, which are rather common in the North of England. I never remember to have found it in the bushes of a hedge, though it is often made amongst the tall herbage sometimes allowed to grow at the bottoms of hedges. The Yellow Bunting shows great caution and secretiveness in approaching its nest if any one be near, and will often not attempt to enter for a long time if it supposes itself watched.-W. R. SCOTT, Doncaster, Feb. 2, 1837.-[Under peculiar circumstances, the Yellow Bunting will build a few inches above the ground; but Professor Rennie and our correspondent are quite correct in stating that the nest is usually found on the ground.-Eds.]

VOL. VI.-NO. XIX.

X

REFORMED EDUCATION.-The Monthly Repository for February contains a very interesting account of Mr. Heldenmaier's school at Worksop, in which the ruling principle is love and respect, and not, as is usually the case, fear. Prizes and punishments are wholly excluded; the classics are not cultivated more than they deserve, things rather than words being aimed at. We have long known Mr. Heldenmaier as a most zealous and able instructor of youth, and recommend all our educational friends to pay a visit to his seminary; we can assure them they will not regret the time thus spent. In the mean while let parents and school-masters peruse the article which we have noticed above, and profit by it. It will prove to them-what probably they never dreamt of before—that instruction may be so imparted as to be equally pleasing to the pupils with their out-of-door recreations.

CUNNING OF THE DOTTEREL PLOVER (Charadrius morinellus, LINN.)— Having lately read, at page 5 of Mr. Salmon's pamphlet," the fact concerning the Dotterel Plover, I may mention a confirmatory incident which occurred to myself thirty years ago. In the height of summer I was ascending, in company with my eldest son and an experienced guide, from Keswick, the conical mountain Red Pike, which rises over the upper end of the Lake of Crummock. We pursued a very steep route, as the shortest. Close to the top we had to clamber up a breast-work of rock, nearly perpendicular, which entirely sheltered us from observation until our heads emerged above it. There we at once found ourselves close to a flock of Dotterels, all of which, except one, instantly flew off to distant places of safety. The lingerer, with which I was almost in contact, immediately dropped its wing, and limped and fluttered before me on its side, like a wounded bird, which I was simple enough thoroughly to believe it to be, and also every moment to imagine, while stooping over it, that I should infallibly pick it up at the next trial. Various fruitless attempts, however, followed. The wily bird always kept just, and but just, out of my reach: and when at length it had drawn off its unsuspecting pursuer to a sufficient distance from its young, which, no doubt, were hidden among the broken and overhanging stones near the spot where we first presented ourselves (and where the guide had been sedulously but unsuccessfully searching for them during the whole of my chase), it suddenly sprang up with expanded wings, and vigorously flew across a valley to an opposite hill. I never was more fully deceived; nor do I ever recall the circumstance without being heartily amused at the cunning of the bird and at my own credulity.-T. GISBORNE, Yoxall Lodge, Staffordshire, January 24, 1837.

SHOOTING STARS.-The Paris journals state that, during the night of the 13th of November, about one hundred and fifty shooting stars were seen in the heavens; but there were no appearances to sustain the astronomical expectations founded on the American accounts, of thousands of planetary bodies approaching the earth's sphere at this annual period. Shooting stars are usually seen between the 13th and 15th of November.

QUALIFICATIONS OF TEACHERS.-When will a knowledge of human nature be deemed an essential qualification of a teacher? In other words, when will he, whose business it is to mould minds and dispositions, be expected to have some acquaintance with the materials he has to deal with ?—F. HILL on National Education, vol. i., p. 70.

*A Catalogue and Account of some of the rarer Birds of Norfolk, by J. D. Salmon ;printed for private circulation.-EDS.

PATENT-LAW GRIEVANCE.-In the March number of the Magazine of Popular Science, we find the following observations on the Letters-Patent Law: "The inventors of this country, and the introducers of inventions of other countries into this, were obliged to pay down to the attorney-general and other agents, &c., of the government, during the past year, above £42,000. What did the attorney-general effect, in return for this vast and oppressive extortion? The penalties inflicted on the inventive genius of Britain during the present year, up to the 25th ult., in the shape of government stamps and fees on patents, amount to more than £6000!" We hope and trust the bill introduced by Mr. Mackinnon and Mr. Baines, "to alter and amend the Patent Laws, and for better securing to individuals the benefit of their Inventions," will this session receive the royal assent. The thanks of scientific men are eminently due to the editor of the very ably conducted Periodical above quoted, for his continued exertions in exposing a system of extortion which is a positive disgrace to the legislature.

COCK FIGHTING.-It would appear, by an announcement in the York Herald, that the demoralizing sport of Cock fighting is still but too prevalent in this country. Now we do not object to Cock fighting on the score of cruelty to the birds-for, as Mowbray justly observes, they would fight as fiercely were they to meet in a desert, as when surrounded by hundreds of spectators-but for its demoralizing effects, which must produce the worst results to those addicted to such sports. Every country gentleman ought to discourage these barbarities as much as possible in his own neighbourhood; and ought, further, to supply in their stead rational employments, calculated to improve the moral and intellectual faculties of the people.

THE BRAMBLE FINCH (Fringilla montana) IN YORKSHIRE.-The Bramble Finch has been somewhat abundant in the neighbourhood of Doncaster; we have more than once met with flocks of ten or twelve at Campsall, and according to the observations of others, several have been seen in the same district.

SONG OF THE GREY WAGTAIL (Motacilla cinerea, WILL.)-In the Naturalist, Mr. Neville Wood has recorded the fact that the Grey Wagtail pos. sesses a song. Ardent as I profess to be in the pursuit of Nature, and especially of the habits of our native birds, it may seem strange that I had never previously noticed the song of this amusing little bird; nor, I believe, have other ornithologists had better fortune. Since, however, I have frequently heard and enjoyed its sprightly notes. Even Mr. Wood, at the time that he wrote his interesting and popular volume on British Song Birds, was not aware of the circumstance.-N. C. PERCIVAL, M.D., Leamington, January 5, 1837.

THE ACADÉMIE DE MÉDECINE OF PARIS AND ITS DECISION ON HOMEOPATHY. We perceive, by the fourth number of the British and Foreign Medical Review, for January, 1837, that the French Academy of Medicine (whose verdict on Phrenology is recorded in our last number) has recently been called upon to decide the important question of Homœopathy. The system was denounced as a piece of quackery which ought to be speedily put down. The only comment we shall here make on this decision is contained in this simple query-Had the academicians, previously to the solution of the question, impartially studied the system, either in theory or practice ?—-EDS.

EXTRACTS FROM FOREIGN JOURNALS.

ZOOLOGY.

REMARKABLE INSTANCE OF INTELLIGENCE IN A DOG.-M. Alph. De Candolle has communicated the following observations on the instinct of animals -Being last October in the neighbourhood of Aiguesmortes, I had occasion to observe a remarkable instance of intelligence in a Dog. The day was hot, and the season unfavourable, by reason of the trade winds so troublesome on the shores of the Mediterranean. After walking several hours in the desert which separates the town of Aiguesmortes from Camargne, we arrived at a plain where we found, in the midst of a whirlwind, some remains of a shipwreck. Out of three Dogs which had followed our guide, two only accompanied us to this spot. Their black hair attracted the rays of the sun, and the poor creatures, like ourselves, seemed to find the sand somewhat too warm to be pleasant. I sat down on a mat half buried in the sand. One of the Dogs quickly conceived the idea of establishing itself near me. It nestled close to a horizontal plank, by way of procuring a little shade, but finding this insufficient, it hollowed the sand until it came to the part moistened by the sea. It then stretched itself with delight in this fresh and shady bed. There, said I, is an undoubted instance of reason. Had it been instinct, every animal of the same species placed in similar circumstances, would have acted alike. But the other Dog, though of the same race and also weary,' knew not what to do; it writhed on the hot sand. One of these Dogs evidently remembered that by hollowing the sand hillocks, a cool and moist part is arrived at, and it applied the reminiscence to this particular case. It may perhaps be said that the Dog which made no burrow, had never been on the plain, and had therefore had no opportunity of ascertaining the coolness of the sand underneath. But this is not probable, since both Dogs had been accustomed to the sea shore. This, again, is another difference between instinct and reason; instinct acts without previous experience. The Dog of Peccai, the less sagacious of the two, might perhaps one day have learnt to burrow to the cool part of the sand hills.-[From our own observations, we are convinced that M. De Candolle is right, and that many animals, as the Horse, Dog, &c., &c., possess reason-some individuals even in a considerable degree.-EDS.]

MONOGRAPH ON THE ARVICULES OF LIÈGE.-The smaller quadrupeds are among the vertebrated animals which present considerable difficulties to the naturalist, in the discrimination of species. M. Sélys Longchamps has endeavoured to disembrangle the history of the Arvicules; he has found five species in Belgium, three of which were already known in France and Germany, and the other two are new. The number of Arvicules in central and western Europe amounts, then, to six. Here follows an enumeration of the five Belgian species :—Arvicola fulvus, Desm. Length of the body, 3 in. 21., of the tail, 111.; ears scarcely visible.—A. amphibius, Desm., ( Mus amphibius, Linn.). Length of body, 6in. 31.; tail, 3in. 4l.—A. arvalis, D.S.L. (Mus

arvalis, Linn.). Length of body, 3in. 91. ; tail, lin. 11. ; ears of moderate size. A. subterraneus, D.S.L. Body, 2in. 91. ; tail, lin. 11.; ears of moderate size, tail black above, whitish beneath; eyes very small.-A. rufescens, D.S.L. Body, 2in. 91.; tail lin. 41. ; ears rather large; tail black above, whitish below; eyes prominent. This monograph contains four plates, figuring four of the species of the natural size, and giving the heads of two.

A NEW INSTANCE OF A SHOWER OF TOADS.-M. Pontus, a Professor, at Cahors, has communicated to the Académie des Sciences of Paris, another instance confirming the truth of the showers of Toads which have already often occupied the attention of the Academy. "In the month of August, 1834," he writes, "I was in the diligence from Alby to Toulouse; the weather being fine and clear. About four o'clock in the afternoon, three leagues from Toulouse, a dense fog suddenly covered the horizon, and loud peals of thunder were heard. This mist burst upon the road, at about 120 yards (60 toises) from where we were. Two horsemen, returning to Toulouse, whither we were going, and who found themselves exposed to the storm, were obliged to put on their great coats; but what was their surprise and consternation when they were assailed by a shower of Toads. They quickened their pace, and eagerly pressed forward, as soon as they met the diligence, to relate what had happened. I still saw some small Toads upon their cloaks. When the diligence reached the spot where the fog had burst, we beheld the road, and the fields on both sides, covered with Toads, of which the smallest was at least an inch in length, and the largest about two inches, which led me to suppose they were one or two months old. There were three or four layers super-imposed one above the other. The feet of the horses and the carriage wheels crushed many thousands. On the road thus covered we travelled at least a quarter of an hour, at the usual pace.”—Bib. Univ. de Genève.

BOTANY.

NEW FOSSIL PLANTS FOUND IN NORTH AMERICA.-Dr. Harlan has published, at Philadelphia, a thick volume entitled Medical and Physical Researches, &c., 1835. This work contains various papers on Medicine, Zoology, &c. We extract the following notes on various species of fossil plants, recently found in the United States :-Pecopteris obsoleta. This species bears considerable resemblance to P. Cistii of Brongniart, but differs in having the veins of the segments of the leaves slightly, or not at all marked. It occurs in the sandstone of the bituminous strata of coal.

Pecopteris Milleri.-P. Pinnulis obliquis rectis linearibus elongatis vix distinctis nervulis simplicibus valde obliquis. Found in the same localities as the preceding, and resembles the P. Beaumontii, Brong.

Equisetum stellifolium.-E. caule erecto simplici lævi cylindrico, diam. 1-8 pollic. subæquali, ramulis 10-12 ad articulationes caulis verticillatis stelliformibus, articulis vix distinctis superne approximatis, vaginis indistinctis. Occurs in coalfields and bituminous earth in Pennsylvania.

Fucoides Alleghaniensis.-F. fronde compressâ rugata apice recurvâ obtusâ, ramis inæqualibus digitatis et fastigiatis enervibus nudatis. Found in the compact sandstone under the coal formations, on the mountains bordering the river Juniata, near Sesquehanna.