.A will tumble down the mud-huts, to get at hoards of grain, which they discover with singular sagacity; while chetas and bears are scarcely less troublesome visitors. The highland cottagers subsist principally on jagery, a sort of coarse sugar obtained from the Caryota urens. On their rugged hills, the plantain grows spontaneously, and bears fruit of a comparatively small size. At Welle-malloo, the thermometer in the tent reached 100°.-On the 2d of April, the party encamped on the left bank of the Gangaloo-oya, with Adam's Peak rising immediately from the opposite bank, like an immense acuminated dome, and covered with jungle to the upper portion, which is a huge cone of granite, bearing a partial and scanty vegetation. Next morning, before the ascent was commenced, the native attendants performed their ceremonies of ablution in the river, preparatory to presenting their offerings at the shrine of the impression of the holy foot; a tribute which generally consists of small pieces of copper coin, shreds of cotton, rice, cocoa-nuts, flowers, &c., wrapped in a bit of cloth, and borne in a handkerchief tied round the head. On leaving the river, the pathway led up a deep ravine, the bed of a mountain-torrent, and bordered with thick jungle and large trees, which greatly interrupted the view: but the height of the trees diminished with the ascent. At about two-thirds from the top, needles and thread, or rather a needle and a thread, were presented on a stone to Buddhoo. The track on several parts of the superior cone was abrupt, and on the shelving rock were cut out steps, with chains fixed along them, to assist pilgrims in ascending and descending. -The apex is surrounded by a wall, in which there are two distinct openings, corresponding to the two tracks by which the mountain can be ascended, one by the route we came, and the other from the district of Suffragam. The area included within the wall is about twenty-three paces long by eighteen broad. Nearly in the centre of the area there is a large rock, one side of which is shelving, and can be easily ascended. On the top of this mass of granite there is a small square wooden shed, which is connected with the rock, as also with the outer wall, by means of heavy chains. The roof and post of this little building we found adorned with flowers and artificial figures made of party-coloured cloth. The use of the shed is to cover the Sri Pade (Holy Foot). This impression has been in part formed by the chisel, and partly by elevating its outer border with chunam (lime). Its length is about 54 feet long, and its breadth above 23 feet. The depth is irregular, and varies from about 1 to 2 inches. Much of the margin of the impression, and all the elevations which mark the spaces between the toes, are made of lime and sand. A border of gilded copper, in in which a few valueless gems are set, encircles the impression. According to the books respecting Buddhoo, it appears that he stepped from the top of the Peak to the kingdom of Siam. The Buddhists profess to believe the impression is a mark made by the last foot of Buddhoo which left Ceylon. But so little did the contrivers of the fable know of geography, that even the direction of the impression is destructive of the credibility of the story regardng the stepping of Buddhoo from Ceylon to Siam.' Owing to the superstitious notions of the natives, and of one of the resident priests, it was not without much difficulty that Mr. Sawers was allowed to pass the night on the top of the Peak. The ceremonies observed by pilgrims of all ages, in presenting their offerings before the holy impression, are minutely detailed. Even the Mussulmans of Hindostan make pilgrimages to this mountain, under the belief that the impression is that of the foot of Adam, our first parent. It is of more consequence to observe, however, that the height of the Peak above the level of the sea, as ascertained by barometrical measurement, is about 6500 feet; commanding a striking view of the very rugged country immediately underneath, and of the trackless forests which extend over most of the island. The rapid formation, dissipation, movements, and transitions of the clouds, under the eyes of the spectators, particularly arrested their attention, convincing them of the existence of various currents of air in the atmosphere; and some appeared even to have a vertical direction. The strata of vapour all subsided during the night, and exhibited, in moonlight, the appearance of a white fleecy mantle, spread over the earth. The temperature of the air, in the shade during the day, varied from 64° to 68°; and, at three o'clock in the morning, it was 514°. By descending in another direction, the party enjoyed an awful and terrific perpendicular view, to the extent of almost the whole height of the Peak. A striking feature in the moral habits of the Kandyans is polyandrism, one woman sufficing for all the brothers of a family, unless they should happen to exceed seven. At the same time, a man may call as many women to his bed as he pleases; and, when he chuses, he may send them back to their relations, provided that he returns the property which they brought with them. Separations of this description are attended with no disgrace to either party: but the privilege of repudiation is not reciprocal; for a woman cannot desert her husband, unless she can prove that he has failed in supplying her with food and clothing suitable to his rank. Another sort of connection is that of a female in her own or in her father's house with one or more males, whom she may dismiss at pleasure. The The exposure of female infants, born under what an astrologer deems an unlucky star, is far from an uncommon occurrence: but, if the infant be found alive after the first day, it is frequently restored to the mother, who then consents to nurse it. In consequence of a proclamation by the governor, prohibiting infanticide, it is hoped that this barbarous practice will soon be discontinued. Some Observations on the Falco Chrysaetes and F. fulvus of Authors, proving the Identity of the two supposed Species. By P. J. Selby, Esq. Remarks on the different Opinions entertained regarding the specific Distinction, or Identity, of the Ring-tailed and Golden Eagles. By James Wilson, Esq. We cannot enter on the consideration of the conflicting arguments of these respectable ornithologists: but the reasonings which are adduced by Mr. Wilson appear to us, on the whole, to be the most conclusive, and to establish the nonidentity of the species in question. On the Natural Expedients resorted to by Mark Yarwood, a Cheshire Boy, to supply the Want which he has sustained from Birth, of his Fore-arms and Hands. By S. Hibbert, M.D.A few instances are recorded of the total privation of arms from birth having been, in some measure, compensated by superior skill and dexterity in the use of the feet and toes: but the case of the subject of this memoir is still more remarkable, since he can write, make a pen, and perform various acts of prehension, by means of two prolongations, one on each stunıp, but neither of them much exceeding an inch in length. That on the right being well protected with muscles and cellular substance, and that on the left only thinly covered with an integument of skin, the boy, by means of the bony and unyielding extremity of the left stump, can press any solid body which he purposes to carry against the fleshy cushion that invests the termination of the right limb, and thus form for its reception a bed or hollow. The strength and activity with which he wields his stumps, either in parrying or inflicting blows, are well known to his companions; and he has also the reputation of being the best marble-player in the school. The extremities of his stumps are, obviously, indued with a sensibility and accuracy of touch not inferior to those which physiologists have ascribed to the structure of the hands. In performing the more complex acts of feeding or dressing himself, tying a bow, or the like, he has recourse to the organs of the mouth, the knees, toes, &c. It is not a little remarkable that, in the short space of six months, he has been taught to produce very legible writing, which appears from the fac-simile annexed to Dr. Hibbert's interesting account of his feats. The cases re - ported ported in the Appendix are those of individuals deprived of their arms from the shoulder-joint, and obviating the defect by the nearly exclusive use of the feet and toes, Notice in regard to the Temperature of Mines, By Matthew Miller, Esq., 51st Light Infantry. The author of this paper ascribes the increased temperature of deep mines, principally, to the condensation of the air transmitted from the surface for the purpose of ventilation: a simple and ingenious theory, which the facts seem to justify. Remarks on some of the American Animals of the Genus Felis, particularly on the Jaguar, Felis Onca, Linn. By T. S. Trail, M. D. &c. The very imperfect manner in which the American species of the feline families of quadrupeds have been described and delineated, even by naturalists of the first eminence, has induced Dr. Trail to lay before the Society the drawing of a beautiful Jaguar from Paraguay, which was some time ago alive in Liverpool; and to describe the Felis puma, from the inspection of several skins belonging to Mr. Edmonston, who had killed these animals in the interior of Demerary. - Observations on some Species of the Genus Mergus. By James Wilson, Esq. The main object of this ingenious paper is to prove that Mergus merganser and M. castor form the male and female of the same species; and that, consequently, the latter should be cancelled from the nomenclature. The author's reasoning on this long unsettled point chiefly rests on analogical discrepancies observable between individuals of the two sexes, among the other species of Mergia suffi ciently legitimate mode of argumentation, when more direct evidence is unattainable. Mr. Wilson, moreover, indicates an useful discriminating character between the adult of M. serrator and M. merganser, which so nearly resemble each other externally; namely, that in the latter the bill is uni formly deeper at the base, laterally, and the nostrils farther removed from the frontal feathers, i. e. nearer to the point of the bill than the former. 1. Observations on the Sertularia Cuscuta of Ellis, with a Figure. By the Rev. John Fleming, D. D. A small tuft of Sertularia, which the author happened to find on the beach in the Frith of Tay, has enabled him to describe it more completely than either Ellis or Pallas appears to have done. Abilgaard's description in the Zoologia Danica is more minute: but he probably errs in representing the tentacula as twelve; at least Dr. Fleming could discern only eight; and it is worthy of remark that each of them is furnished laterally with a row of short hairs, or plates. The small egg-shaped bodies, bodies, in some parts of the branches, are the rudiments of young polypi.--In his forthcoming Synopsis of British Animals, Dr. Fleming purposes to include this species and S. uva under a new genus, to be denominated Walkeria, as neither of them properly belongs to Sertularia.On the stem of the present species were found specimens of a Vorticella, nearly allied to the citrina of Muller, and which the author proposes to name V. coalita. Remarks on the Guanaco of South America. By Thomas Stewart Trail, M. D.-Several living specimens of the Guanaco having been brought to Liverpool, Dr. Trail availed himself of the opportunity of describing this species at considerable length, and of procuring an accurate drawing of it from the pencil of Mosses, a young artist of great promise. The specimens brought to Liverpool fed on hay, from which they selected the moister portions. On their arrival they would not taste oats, though they seemed fond of barley; a preference, no doubt, owing to their Spanish education: for the horses and mules of Spain will not eat oats, when they can obtain barley. The Guanacoes seemed fond of apples, but would not eat cabbage. They were tame and gentle; seemed to love being caressed by those who approached them, and smelt their hands and clothes; but were impatient when their mouths and ears were handled. They occasionally uttered a faint sound or groan when much teazed, and usually accompanied this with a hissing ejaculation of saliva." On a reversed Species of Fusus (Fusus retroversus). By the Rev. John Fleming, D.D. &c. - This interesting addition to British conchology, three specimens of which the author detected in shell-sand from Noss, in Zetland, scarcely exceeds a line in length. In the figures, it is represented magnified. Notice of a Specimen of Larus Eburneus, or Ivory Gull, shot in Zetland; and further Remarks on the Iceland Gull. By Laurence Edmonston, Esq. The specimen in question was that of a lean male, supposed to be of the second year, and shot in December, in Balta Sound. The author's observations on two individuals, the one killed in the same Sound in April, and the other in the Frith of the Clyde, have led him to the conviction that there are two species of Iceland Gull, namely, the Greater and the Lesser. Observations on the Formation of the various Lead-Spars. By Mr. James Braid, Surgeon, Leadhills. The purport of Mr. Braid's communication is to state the facts and reasoning on which he grounds the opinion, that the other modifications of lead-ore originate in the decomposition of galena; which is the most generally diffused of all the forms of that metal, and which |