ZOOLOGY.

3. New Fishes from Lake Superior.-Professor Agassiz gave an account of two new fishes obtained by him at Lake Superior, which he regarded as types of two new genera. The first is an entirely new type in the class of fishes. It is a small fish, five or six inches long, which, in some respects, resembles several families, but is most like the Percoids, though distinct from them. Fossil species with similar characters are found in the cretaceous formation. This is the second, Professor Agassiz remarked, of the "old fashioned" fishes, so to speak, corresponding in their structure to a fossil species, which has been observed in this country. The other fish is the only living representative of a large family of fossil species. The existence of these two species has undoubtedly reference to the fact, that America is the oldest extensive continent which has been upheaved above the level of the sea. In New Holland, two genera exist bearing similar relations to older families, a fish and a shell, which have their analogues among the oolitic deposits.-Proc. Boston Nat. Hist. Society. American Annual of Scientific Discovery, p. 310.

MISCELLANEOUS.

4. Resources of Russia.-The metallic produce of the Russian empire in 1848 was, according to the official returns, as follows, viz. :— 1826 poods of gold; pood of platinum; 1,192 poods of silver; 254,569 poods of copper; and 8,513,673 poods of wrought iron. The pood is equivalent to a little more than 36 lbs. avoirdupois. The gold from Russia, therefore, represents a value of £3,944,832, making allowance for the English alloy.

5. Use of Anesthetic Agents during Surgical Operations at an early period, by the Chinese.-Stanislas Julien has found, in examining the Chinese books in the National Library at Paris, the proof that the Chinese have been long acquainted with the use of anæsthetic agents during surgical operations. The extract which he gives is from a book published about the commencement of the sixteenth century, in fifty volumes quarto, and entitled, "Kou-Kin-i-tong"General Account of Ancient and Modern Medicine,-and refers to the practice of a celebrated physician, Ho-a-tho, who flourished between the years 220 and 230 of our era. It states that, when about to perform certain painful operations, "he gave the patient a preparation of hemp" (Hachich), and that at the end of a few moments "he became as insensible as if he had been drunk or deprived of life." After a certain number of days the patient was cured, without having experienced the slightest pain during the operation. In a subsequent notice, he also shews that the same physician used the hydropathic system as a cure for certain diseases; among others chronic rheumatism.

6. Analogy between Alpine and Arctic Vegetation.-There is no animal, and no plant, which in its natural state is found in every part of the world, but each has assigned to it a situation correspond

ing with its organization and character. The cod, the trout, and the sturgeon, are found only in the north, and have no antarctic representatives. The cactus is found only in America, and almost exclusively in the tropical parts. Humboldt, to whom the earliest investigations on this subject are due, extends the principle not only to the distribution of plants according to latitude, but also according to vertical elevation above the surface of the earth in the same latitudes. Thus an elevation of 14,000 feet under the tropics corresponds to 53° north latitude in America, and 68° in Europe. The vegetation on the summit of Mount Etna would correspond with that of Mount Washington, and this again with the summits of the Andes and the level of the sea in the Arctic regions. In the ascent of a high mountain, we have, as it were, a vertical section of the strata of vegetation which "" crop out," or successively appear, as we advance towards the north over a wide extent of country.

But in dwelling on the resemblances between the plants of high latitudes and those of high mountains, we must not lose sight of their not less constant differences. In the northern regions in general, we find the number of species comparatively small. Thus, in the region through which we have passed, and which has already a northern character, we find vegetation characterized by great vigour; the whole country covered with trees and shrubs, and lichens and mosses in great profusion, but the species few, and the proportion of handsome flowering shrubs small. In the Alps, on the other hand, vegetation is characterized by great beauty and variety, and the number of brilliantly flowering plants, of Gentianaceæ, Primulaceæ, and Compositæ, is very great. The plants, however, are dwarfish, and vegetation comparatively scanty; the lichens and mosses much less abundant. There is, then, not an identity, but an analogy only, and an imperfect though very interesting one, between Alpine and Arctic vegetation.-Agassiz on Lake Superior, p. 89.

7. The Kirkwood Analogy.-The following letter to Professor Piazzi Smyth from Mr S. M. Drach of Hampstead, we insert as received, deferring, from want of space, any observations on this important topic until a future opportunity :—

"DEAR SIR,-My attention having been directed to an article in the last part of the Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal, signed P. S., on Kirkwood's new presumed analogy of the planetary rotations and limits of gravitating influence, I beg to refer to the London Philosophical Magazine' for January 1841, especially paragraph 5, page 40, wherein I shewed that the period of rotation of a primary planet supposed to extend to the surface where its attraction-centrifugal force-is precisely that of a satellite moving at the same distance as deduced from the actual satellites. There are several other curious analogies in this paper which may possibly repay perusal. By noticing this communication in the next number of the Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal, you will much oblige, yours truly, "S. M. DRACH.

"To Professor Piazzi Smyth."

List of Patents granted for Scotland from 22d June to 22d September 1850.

1. TO WILLIAM WATSON, the younger, of Chapel Allerton, in the parish of Leeds, in the county of York, manufacturing chemist, "improvements in the preparation and manufacture of various materials to be used in the processes of dyeing, printing, and colouring."-18th June 1850.

2. TO WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office of the Patents, 66 Chancery Lane, in the county of Middlesex, civil engineer, "improvements in rotary engines;" being a communication from abroad.-21st June 1850.

3. TO JAMES WARD HOBY, of Blackheath, in the county of Kent, engineer, "certain improvements in the construction of parts of the permanent way of railways, and in shaping iron."-21st June 1850.

4. TO WILLIAM WOOD, of Over Darwen, Lancashire, carpet-manufacturer, "improvements in the manufacture of carpets and other fabrics." -24th June 1850.

5. To MOSES POOLE, of the Patent Office, London, gentleman, “ improvements in machinery for punching metals, and in the construction of springs for carriages and other uses;" being a communication from abroad.-28th June 1850.

6. TO PETER ARMAND LE COMTE DE FONTAINE MOREAU, of 4 South Street, Finsbury, in the county of Middlesex, patent agent, " certain improvements in the manufacture of sulphate of soda, muriatic, and other acids;" being a communication from abroad.—3d July 1850.

7. TO THOMAS DICKASON ROTCH, of Drumlamford House, in the county of Ayr, Esquire, "an improved mode of manufacturing soap;" being a communication from abroad.—3d July 1850.

8. TO ROBERT ANDREW MACFIE, of Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, sugar-refiner, "improvements in manufacturing, refining, and preparing sugar, also improvements in manufacturing and treating animal charcoal."-10th July 1850.

9. TO WILLIAM CORMACK, of No. 60 King Street, Danston Road, Haggerstone, in the county of Middlesex, chemist, " certain improvements in purifying gas, also applicable in obtaining or separating certain products or materials from gas-water and other similar fluids."-10th July 1850.

10. TO RICHARD ROBERTS, of Manchester, in the county of Lancaster, engineer, "improvements in the manufacture of certain textile fabrics, in machinery for weaving plain, figured, and terry or looped fabrics, and in machinery or apparatus for cutting velvets and other fabrics."-12th July 1850.

11. TO JAMES THOMSON, of Glasgow, in the county of Lanark, civil engineer, "improvements in hydraulic machinery, and in steam-engines." -17th July 1850.

12. TO JOHN STEVENSON, of Roan Mills, Dungannon, county Tyrone, flax-spinner," certain improvements in machinery for spinning flax and other substances."-17th July 1850.

13. TO TEMPEST BOOTH, of Ardwick, in the county of Lancaster, gumVOL. XLIX. NO. XCVIII.-OCTOBER 1850.

2 c

manufacturer, "certain improvements in the method of, and apparatus for, obtaining and applying motive power."-17th July 1850.

14. TO PETER WILLIAM BARLOW, of Blackheath, in the county of Kent, civil engineer, and WILLIAM HENRY BARLOW, of Derby, civil engineer," improvements in the permanent ways of railways."-22d July 1850.

15. TO RICHARD ARCHIBALD BROOMAN, of the Patent Office, 166 Fleet Street, in the city of London, patent agent, "improvements in types, stereotype plates, and other figured surfaces for printing from."-26th July 1850.

16. TO DONALD BEATSON, of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, mariner, "certain improvements in instruments, for taking, measuring, and completing angles."-29th July 1850.

17. TO JOEL SPILLER, of Battersea, in the county of Surrey, engineer, "improvements in cleaning and grinding wheat and other grain."— 29th July 1850.

18. TO WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66 Chancery Lane, in the county of Middlesex, civil engineer, "improvements in machinery or apparatus for making hat bodies, and other similar articles;" being a communication.-30th July 1850.

19. To JOHN GWYNNE, of Lansdowne Lodge, Notting Hill, merchant, "improvements in obtaining motive power, and in applying the same to giving motion to machinery."-31st July 1850.

20. TO WALTER NEILSON, of Hyde Park Street, in the city of Glasgow, North Britain, engineer, "an improvement or improvements in the application of steam, for raising, lowering, moving, or transporting heavy bodies."-2d August 1850.

21. TO GEORGE GWYNNE, of Sussex Square, in the county of Middlesex, Esquire, "improvements in the manufacture of sugar."-7th August 1850.

22. TO WILLIAM Cox, of Manchester, in the county of Lancaster, cigar-merchant, "certain improvements in machinery or apparatus for manufacturing ærated waters or other such liquids ;" being a communication from abroad.-7th August 1850.

23. TO WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66 Chancery Lane, in the county of Middlesex, civil engineer, "improvements in obtaining, preparing, and applying zinc, and other volatile metals, and the oxides thereof; and in the application of zinc, or ores containing the same, to the preparation or manufacture of certain metals, or alloys of metals;" being a communication from abroad.—8th August 1850.

24. TO MATTHEW GRAY, of 3 Morris Place, in the city of Glasgow, in the county of Lanark, practical engineer, an improved method of supplying steam boilers with water.”—9th August 1850.

25. TO WILLIAM WATT, of the city of Glasgow, North Britain, manufacturing chemist, "certain improvements applicable to inland navigation, which improvements or parts thereof are also applicable, generally, to raising, lowering, or transporting heavy bodies."-13th August 1850. 26. TO GEORGE AUGUSTUS HUDDART, of Brynkir, in the county of Caernarvon, Esquire, "certain improvements in the manufacture of cigars, and certain improved apparatus for smoking cigars." 14th August 1850.

27. TO JAMES RENNIE, of Gowan Bank, Falkirk, in the county of Stirling, in the kingdom of Scotland, gentleman, "a certain improve

ment or improvements in the construction of gas retorts and furnaces and in apparatus or machinery, applicable to the same."-14th August 1850.

28. TO CHARLES WILLIAM BELL, of Manchester, in the county of Lancaster, "improvements in apparatus connected with water-closets, drains, and cesspools, and gas and air traps."-14th August 1850.

29. To HENRY MEYER, of the Strand, in the county of Middlesex, gentleman, certain improvements in power looms for weaving."-14th August 1850.

30. TO READ HOLLIDAY, of Huddersfield, " improvements in lamps." -14th August 1850.

31. TO WILLIAM M'NAUGHT, of Rochdale, in the county of Lancaster, engineer," certain improvements in steam engines, and also improvements in apparatus for ascertaining and registering the power of the same."-16th August 1850.

32. TO ALFRED HOLL, of Greenwich, in the county of Kent, engineer, improvements in steam engines."-16th August 1850.

33. TO WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66 Chancery Lane, in the county of Middlesex, civil engineer, improvements in the construction of ships or vessels, and in steam boilers or generators;" being a communication from abroad.-20th August 1850.

34. TO EDWARD HIGHTON, of Clarence Villa, Regent's Park, in the county of Middlesex, engineer, "improvements in electric telegraphs, and in making telegraphic communications."-21st August 1850.

35. TO CHARLES WILLIAM LANCASTER, of New Bond Street, in the county of Middlesex, gunmaker, "improvements in the construction of fire arms, cannon and projectiles, and in the manufacture of percussion tubes."-21st August 1850.

36. TO WILLIAM DICK, of the city of Edinburgh, professor of veterinary medicine in the Edinburgh Veterinary College, "improvements in the manufacture of steel and gas."-22d August 1850.

37. TO THOMAS LUCAS PATERSON, of the city of Glasgow, North Britain, manufacturer and calico printer, "certain improvements in the preparation or manufacture of textile materials, and in the finishing of woven fabrics, and in the machinery or apparatus used therein."-22d August 1850.

38. To ROBERT WESTMORELAND HUTCHINSON, of Camberwell, in the county of Surrey, gentleman, "certain improvements in saw sets, mallets, and other tools, and in apparatus and machinery for manufacturing the same."-28th August 1850.

39. TO JAMES HALL, of Gercross, near Stockport, in the county of Chester, machine maker, "certain improvements in looms for weaving." -28th August 1850.

40. TO HENRY HOULDSWORTH, of Coltness House, in the county of Lanark, North Britain, iron-master, "improvements in the manufacture of iron and other metals."-28th August 1850.

41. To CHARLES LAMPORT, of Workington, in the county of Cumberland, ship-builder, "certain improvements in machinery or apparatus for lifting and moving weights, working chains, and pumping, which improvements are more especially adapted for ship's use."-2d September 1850. 42. TO ASTLEY PASTON PRICE, of Margate, in the county of Kent, and JAMES HEYWOOD WHITEHEAD, of the Royal George Mills, Saddleworth, near Manchester, "improvements in filters."-2d September 1850.

43. TO FREDERICK WOODBRIDGE, of Old Gravel Lane, in the county of