cellaria ; 5 Merganser; 20 Anas; 4 Pelecanus. This account was accompanied with interesting observations on the distinctions of several of the species, their changes of plumage at different ages and times of the year, and their kind of food; and specimens of some of the dubious species were exhibited.

Mr. Jameson, at the same meeting, read the following mineralogical queries, and stated the reasons that induced him to consider the objects pointed out by them as deserving the particular attention of mineralogists.

Mineralogical Queries.

1, In what species of rock are the metalliferous veins of tyndrum situated, and what are the minerals they contain?

2. Are the leadglance veins of strontian situated in sienite, and what are their other geognostic relations?

3. Are the trap-veins that traverse the mining field at Strontian, basalt, porphyry-slate, or green-stone; or do all these different species of rock occur in that district?

4. Does the quartz rock of Scuraben and Morven in Caithness, and of Portsoy in Banffshire, occur in an unconformable and overlying position, or does it belong to the conformable primitive rocks, as clay-slate or mica-slate?

5. Does not the granular rock of Ben Nevis rather belong to the sienite than the granite formation?

6. Does the rock of the Hill of Kinnoul near Perth belong to the flotz-trap or newest flotz-trap formation?

7. Is the mountain of Cairnsmuir in Galloway composed of old granite?

8. What are the extent and particular geognostic relations of the black pitchstone of Eskdale-muir in Dumfries-shire? 9. Does the black pitchstone of the Cheviot Hills belong to the newest floetz-trap formation?

10. On what formation does the porphyry-slate of Braed Hills near Edinburgh rest, and what are the venigenous and imbedded fossils it contains?

11. What are the geognostic characters and relations of the edge and flat coal beds or seams in Mid-Lothian ?

Vol. 30. No. 120. May 1898.

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12. On

12. On what formation does the Calton Hill near Edinburgh rest?

13. Does the greenstone of Corstorphin Hill belong to the independent coal formation?

14. Does the hill on which the town of Stirling is built belong to the coal formation?

15. What are the geognostic characters and relations of the veins that traverse or are included in the greenstone of the independent coal formation?

16. What are the characters of the transition greenstone of the south of Scotland?

17. What are the particular species of petrifactions that occur in the transition limestone near the Crook, on the road from Edinburgh to Moffat? P. N. Sec.

ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS, LONDON.

The Royal College of Surgeons have adjudged the Jacksonian prize for the best dissertation on "Diseases of the Eye and its Appendages, and the Treatment of them," to John Hyslop, Esq. Surgeon, Fenchurch-street. The same gentleman obtained the prize in 1805, for the best dissertation on "Injuries of the Head."

LXX. Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles.

M. CARNOT.

WITH Our present number we have given a head of the

above celebrated French author, whose excellent Treatises on the Infinitesimal Calculus, and on Machines, have appeared in this work. Of a character so well known among men of science, it is unnecessary that we should say more than merely that he has been successively a member of the first Legislative Assembly, the National Convention, the Directory, and the National Institute of France. In 1800 he was the French minister of war. Besides the works already enumerated, M. Carnot is the author of an Eulogium on Marshal Vauban, a discourse which gained the prize of the

Dijon

Dijon academy in 1784; a Collection of Fugitive Poetry; and of several Reports to the Convention, and Speeches made while President of the Directory; all of which have been printed and extensively circulated. M. Carnot was born the 13th of May, 1753.

COTTON.

M. Louis Dupoy, a colonist of St. Domingo, lately arrived in France with a variety of seeds and specimens of the cotton plant. The seeds have been distributed among the members of the agricultural society of Paris; and at a late meeting, several reports were read from members who had attempted the cultivation of this commodity in France: all these reports concur in giving a most flattering account of the success of the experiment. In Provence and Languedoc in particular, the crop of cotton was very abundant, and equalled in quality the production of the West Indies, as has been certified to the French legislature by several colonists.

TRAVELS.

M. Michaux, the author of Travels through North America, has been recently sent by the French government, a second time, to explore the forests of that vast continent. He is now actively engaged in fulfilling the object of his mission, and has transmitted to the professors of natural history in the French Institute, several specimens of seeds, with a view to the cultivation in France of the American oak and other useful trees.

PY ROSOMA ATLANTICUM.

M. Peron, in his late voyage, observed this animal, not described before by naturalists, in between the 3d and 4th degrees of N. latitude. Its luminous property renders it one of the most splendid of all known zoophites. The darkness was intense when it was first discovered, the wind blew with violence, and the progress of the vessel was rapid. All at once there appeared, at some distance, a vast sheet of phosphorus floating upon the waves before the vessel. The ship having passed through this brilliant part, the crew discovered that the light was occasioned by an immense number A a 2

f

of small animals, which swam at different depths, and assumed various forms. Those which were deepest looked like red-hot shot, and those on the surface resembled tubes of red-hot iron. Some were soon caught, and they were All the found to vary in size from three to seven inches. exterior surface was bristled with thick oblong tubercles, shining like so many diamonds, and these seemed to be the. principal seat of phosphorescence. In the inside there appeared a multitude of oblong narrow glands, which possessed the phosphoric property in a high degree. The colour, when at rest, is an opal yellow mixed with green; but on the slightest motion, or spontaneous contraction, the animal instantly becomes luminous. As it loses its phosphorescence it passes successively through a number of tints, such as red, orange, green, and azure blue.

CHINESE RADISH.

Experiments lately made at Venice show that the oil of the Chinese radish is preferable to any other kind known, not only for culinary purposes, and giving light, but also as a medicine. From the experiments lately made by Dr. Oliviero, it is found to be extremely useful in rheumatic and pulmonary affections, and has been employed with much success in convulsive coughs. It is not liable to spoil by keeping, like other oils, nor is the plant injured by the strongest frosts. The seed, which is very abundant, is gathered in May and June.

LECTURES.

Dr. Satterby and Dr. Young propose to give two Courses of Medical Lectures next winter at the Middlesex Hospital. Dr. Satterby's will be Clinical Lectures, and any of the pupils of the hospital attending them will have the privilege of seeing the patients whose cases are discussed. He will be assisted in the department of morbid anatomy by Mr. Cartwright. Dr. Young's Course will be on the Elements of the Medical Sciences in general, and on the Practice of Physic in particular. It has been erroneously stated in several periodical publications, that Dr. Young had a large

medical

medical work nearly ready for the press: the mistake arose from his having been for some time engaged in the preparation of these Lectures.

Mr. George Singer is now constructing a powerful Voltaic Battery; to be employed in a Course of public Lectures on the Chemical Agencies of Electricity. These Lectures will comprise the Exhibition of all the recent Discoveries and are arranged for delivery early in the month of June, at the Scientific Institution, No. 3. Prince's-street, Cavendishsquare.

Dr. George Pearson, F.R.S., and Senior Physician to St. George's Hospital, will recommence his Summer Course of Lectures on Physic and Chemistry, on Monday June 6, at No. 9, George-street, Hanover-square, at the usual Morning Hours; viz. the Therapeutics at a quarter before Eight: the Practice of Physic at half after Eight; and the Chemistry at a quarter after Nine.-Clinical Lectures are given, as usual, on the Patients of St. George's Hospital every Saturday morning, at Nine o'clock; and the Practice of Vaccination will be taught at the Institution in Broad-street, Golden-square, during the Summer Course.

LIST OF PATENTS FOR NEW INVENTIONS.

To Richard Willcox, of the parish of St. Mary, Lambeth, mechanist; for certain machinery, whereby all objects in the sea or clear water can be discovered from the surface thereof with accuracy; and for raising, suspending, and towing into harbour ships of war, and every other description of vessels that are or may be sunk at sea or near the seacoast, channels, harbours, road-steads, or other places, and removing sunken rocks or other obstructions in rivers, harbours, and channels. March 3, 1808.

To John Cowden and John Partridge, of Francis-street, Tottenham Court Road, stove-grate mauufacturers; for certain improvements in register and other stoves. March 3.

To Thomas Jefferson, of the parish of St. Saviour, Southwark, tanner and leather-dresser; Joseph Ellis, of the same parish, tanner and leather-dresser; and Alexander Galloway, of Holborn in the county of Middlesex, mechanist and engiA a 3

neer;