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^rMr, Gordon^ Analogies bcimeen Plants and Animals. — Mr. 

 Gordon, in his ingenious communication (p. 405 — 412.), paral- 

 lelises on Dutrochet's theory of the agency of endosmose in the 

 circulation of the sap, and seems not to be aware of the fact 

 that Dutrochet has, some time since, abandoned this hypo- 

 thiesis as untenable. — J» M, - ■ 



0^ Tapirs in the Regent's Park Zoological Gardens, — To your 

 article on tapirs (p. 458 — 466.), it might have been added, that 

 two fine animals of the South American species (Tapirus 

 americanus) are exposed to pubhc inspection in the Zoological 

 Gardens. They are very interesting creatures, in the shape of 

 the head, extensibility of snout, and in the very remarkable 

 structure of the feet. One of them has, I v^as told, been but 

 very recently imported ; the other appeared sociable, and ate 

 lime and elm twigs out of my hand kindly enough. — D,^i 

 June, 18S2. . - > :^ ,- i ! 



o(£,cceniricity of Appetiiei.mid Worse and a Pointer' fD^ 

 T^ Sir^ One of your correspondents records the case of sin* 

 g«tlar caprice of appetite in the goat (p. 471.). This brings 

 ^.my recollection a somewhat similar instance, which fell 

 under my own observation, in other animals. Some years 

 Jigo, a quantity of peat soil was thrown down in a heap in the 

 coi'ner of a small field adjoining my house, for the purpose of 

 being used in the garden, as occasion required. A horse that 

 was turned out in the same field (which, I may observe, 

 afforded a good pasture) v/as in the frequent habit of going 

 tQ: this heap of peat soil, and feeding upon it with as much 

 apjiarenfc satisfaction as if it had been a rack of good hay. A 

 pointer dog, also, v/hich was usually kept tied up, on being 

 let loose, would almost invariably go to the heap of soil, and 

 devour lumps of it with avidity. The peat soil, I should ob- 

 serve, was of the dark brown kind, and evidently consisted 

 almost exclusively of vegetable matter ; and as it had been 

 br-ought from a great distance, and was difficult to procure in 

 this imimedvat© aieighbourhoody we removed it to a place of 



