474 Natwal History in Foi'eign Countries, 



" Siich,*' said M. Cassini, " are the external appearances. But must we, 

 from these, necessarily conclude that the internal nature, and all the pro- 

 perties and functions, are absolutely the same, in bodies of so different 

 origin ? On this we have not had the temerity to decide ; it can only be 

 done after researches much more numerous and profound than we have 

 been able to make." {Le Globe, Dec. 13.) 



GERMANY. 



Munich, November 6. — The attachment of the late King of Bavaria, 

 Maximilian Joseph, to the pursuit of natural history, was evinced by the 

 expedition of Drs. Spix and Martins to examine the natural productions of 

 Brazil ; by the botanic garden at Munich, and by the rich collection of 

 exotics in the hot-houses at Nymphenburg, in the neighbourhood of that 

 capital. The Museum of Natural History is also much indebted to the late 

 King, and especially for the Museum Brasilianum, which contains a great 

 number of articles, collected by Drs. Spix and Martins. The present king 

 does not neglect natural history, and has lately purchased in Holland 

 upwards of twenty large specimens of palms, which have been conveyed to 

 Nuremburg ; but his attention is chiefly directed to the advancement of 

 agriculture and other arts of industry^ and to the fine arts. New roads are 

 projected ; a rail-road (the climate being unfavourable for canals) to join the 

 Rhine and the Danube is talked of; an immense building for containing a 

 collection of pictures is in progress, and one for a collection of antique 

 sculpture nearly completed. Works like these constitute the capital of a 

 country, by which its industry is employed to advantage ; and though gal- 

 leries of pictures will not return to the nation the same interest on their 

 cost, as money laid out on roads, bridges, general drainages, &c., yet in the 

 way of attracting strangers, such expenditure will bring something; and, at 

 least, more than money laid out in multiplying palaces, which are much less 

 interesting to mankind in general, and which cannot, like gardens, mu- 

 seums, and collections of objects of art, be enjoyed by every body, and 

 afford instruction and entertainment at the same time. 



The Museum of Natural History at Munich may be divided into two 

 parts ; the original collection, and that from Brazil. The former is arranged 

 according to the Linnean system, and may be considered as extensive. 

 Among the Mammalia are good specimens of the rhinoceros, the elephant, 

 the reindeer, the elk, and, as an interesting curiosity, the horse of the late 

 Count Rumford, on which he is said to have rode out of Munich, to hold 

 a conference with the army of Conde, and on which occasion he prevented 

 the threat of that army to burn the town from being carried into execution. 

 The collection of birds combines also a collection of nests and of eggs. 

 The birds are placed on sloping stages, enclosed in upright glass cases ; the 

 advantage of the slope is that the objects receive the light from the win- 

 dows, and reflect it to the eye of the spectator, at a better angle than when 

 placed in ranges of shelves rising perpendicularly. Among the insects is an 

 excellent collection of exotic butterflies, and the Mollusca and Zoophites 

 are numerous. 



The Museum Brasilianum, besides a great many domestic, personal, 

 warlike, and regal instruments and ornaments of the Indians, contains large 

 specimens of the siren and the dolphin ; a beautiful assemblage of birds ; 

 a snake above 30 ft. in length ; skeletons of Mammalia, including those of 

 two alligators ; and a great many specimens of amphibious animals, fish, 

 shells, and insects. Among the minerals is a large fragment of meteoric 

 stone. Respecting the description of this collection Dr. Martins has pub- 

 lished the following 



" Liilerary Notice. — The sudden death of his fellow-labourer and travel- 

 ling companion has given occasion to Dr. Martius to notify to amateur^, 



