469 



' PART IV, 



MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 



Art. I. Natural History in Foreign Comitries, 



FRANCE. 



Dr. Gall's Mode of studying the Characters of Animals. — After present- 

 ing my letters of introduction to him at seven o'clock in the morning, he 

 showed me into a room, the walls of which were covered with birdcages, 

 and the floor with dogs and cats, Sec. Observing that I was surprised at 

 the number of his companions, he observed, " All you Englishmen take me 

 for a birdcatcher. I am sure you feel surprised that I am not somewhat 

 differently made to any of you, and that I should employ my time talking 

 to birds. Birds, Sir, differ in their dispositions, like men j and if they 

 were but of more consequence, the peculiarity of their characters would 

 have been as well delineated. Do you think," said he, turning his eyes 

 to two beautiful dogs at his feet, which were endeavouring to gain his 

 attention, " do you think that these little pets possess pride and vanity like 

 man ? " — " Yes," I said, "1 have remarked their vanity frequently." — 

 " We will call both feelings into action," said he. He then caressed the 

 whelp, and took it into his arms. " Mark his mother's offended pride,'* 

 said he, as she walked quietly across the chamber to her mat. " Do you 

 think she will come if 1 call her ? " — " O yes," I answered. — " No, not 

 at all." He made the attempt, but she heeded not the hand she had so 

 earnestly endeavoured to lick but an instant before. " She will not speak 

 to me to-day," said the Doctor. 



He then described to me the peculiarities of many of his birds, and I was 

 astonished to find that he seemed familiar also with their dispositions (if I 

 may be allowed the word). " Do you think a man's time would be wasted 

 thus in England ? You are a wealthy and powerful nation ; and, as long 

 as the equilibrium exists between the two, so shall you remain : but this 

 never has existed, nor can, beyond a certain period. Such is your industry, 

 stimulated by the love of gain, that your whole life is spun out before you 

 are aware the wheel is turning; and so highly do you value commerce, that 

 it stands in the place of self-knowledge and an acquaintance with Nature 

 and her immense laboratory." {E. A. T.'xn Med. and Phys. Jour.y Nov.) 



The Chameleon^ Antipathy to Black. — Whatever may be the cause, the 

 fact seems to be certain, that the chameleon has an antipathy to things of 

 a black colour. One, which Forbes kept, uniformly avoided a black board 

 which was hung up in the chamber ; and, what is most remarkable, when it 

 was forcibly brought before the black board, it trembled violently, and 

 assumed a black colour. {Oriental Mem., i. 350.) 



It may be something of the same kind which makes bulls and turkey- 

 cocks dislike the colour of scarlet, a fact of which there can be no doubt. 

 — J.i2. 



Young of the Fresh-water Muscle. — M. Raspail, on observing the fresh- 

 water muscle microscopically, perceived it eject a granular parcel, which, 

 when torn, gave out a number of small bivalves, very lively, one third of a 



