. 



418 Foreign and Miscellaneous Intelligence. 



10. CRYPTOGAMIA IN MOLASSES. Virey. 



Van Dyk and Van Beck of Utrecht have observed a black substance 

 in molasses which rapidly extends and enlarges, and is, according to 

 them, a cryptogamous plant identical with the conferva mucoro'ides 

 of Agardh (Syst. Algarum, Lund., 1824) ; or more recently, the 

 syncollesia mucoroides (in algae confervoidece fungince.} The genus 

 syncollesia of Nees is thus characterised by Agardh : globuli minu- 

 tissimi, in fila repentia, ctzspitosa, coaditnati, leviter inundati. 

 The Dutch authors make a species of that mentioned above, syncol- 

 lesia sacchari; different from the hyphomycetus of Martius, the 

 aleuryoma granulosum of Martius, and the sporotrichum densum 

 and 8. vitellinum of Link, all of which are observed in molasses. 



These mouldy productions appear to be due to the impure waters 

 with which the sugar moulds are washed : lime water kills them*. 



11. ALGERINE SIROCCO. 



When the south wind blows at Algiers, the temperature rises rapidly 

 5 or even 10 C. (9 or 18 F.) On the 17th of September, 1830, 

 the thermometer rose to 39 C. (104 F.) in the shade. It was 

 then as if all were in a furnace, and men and animals found respira- 

 tion difficult. Captain Boissel, who superintended the works on that 

 day in the suburb of Babazon, remarked that drunken men fell sense- 

 less ; those who were not so drunk resisted the effect a little, but at 

 last fell ; and those who had drunk only a little too much suffered 

 from very violent head-ache and were obliged to sit down f. 



12. ATMOSPHERIC ELECTRICITY. 



Storms are not very common in the climate of Algiers, nevertheless 

 several occurred (towards the end of 1830), breaking upon Mount 

 Atlas. On the 8th of October, in the evening, the air towards the south 

 was powerfully charged with electricity, the whole horizon seemed 

 on fire, and the thunder was continual. At the same moment a strong 

 white light was seen at the extremities of all the poles of the pavilions 

 which were within Algiers, or in the neighbouring forts, and 

 which continued for half an hour. Artillery officers who were pro- 

 menading bare-headed on the terrace of fort Babazon were very 

 much astonished to feel their hair rise upright on their heads, and 

 to observe, with those which were visible, a small star of light at the 

 extremity of each. When they raised their hands in the air, stars 

 formed at the extremities of their fingers ; these disappeared when 

 the hands were lowered. During the whole time of this storm 

 every one felt nervous sensations, and great lassitude over the whole 

 body, but especially in the legs. These effects were observed, and 

 are described by M. Royet J. 



* Journ. <le Pharm., 1831, p. 393. f Revue Ency., 1., p. 619. { Ibid. 



