412 Foreign and Miscellaneous Intelligence. 



small colony, which in 1828 fixed itself at Saratoga, increased so 

 rapidly, that in 1830 there were several hundred nests. 



These animals, therefore, have innate faculties, to which the name 

 of instinct may be given, and acquired faculties, variable according 

 to circumstances : they may create feeble arts (according to Buffon's 

 expression), and lose them as rapidly as they were acquired, if 

 circumstances be not favourable to the continuance of their practice*. 



2. ON THE RAPID FLIGHT OF INSECTS. 



In passing along the Manchester and Liverpool railway at a speed 

 of about twenty-four miles an hour, ascertained by a stop-watch, I 

 observed one of the smaller humble-bees, I think the Apis subinter- 

 rupta, flying for a considerable distance, and keeping pace with the 

 train, apparently without the slightest effort ; in fact, the little traveller 

 was going at a rate far more rapid than ours, for its accompani- 

 ment was not in a straight line, but in that well known zigzag mode 

 of flight, observable when these insects are hovering from flower to 

 flower in search of food. Several house blue-bottle and horse-flies 

 were also repeated visiters : our rapid motion seemed to have no 

 manner of effect upon them, for, when it suited their purpose, they 

 darted onwards for a few feet or yards, or balanced themselves 

 steadily over any given point, though in an instant, whenever their 

 efforts relaxed, or they thought it expedient to part company, they 

 were far away in our rear. I should observe, moreover, that the 

 wind at the time was blowing obliquely against us with a current of 

 such strength, that I occasionally had some difficulty in keeping my 

 hat on. Under all circumstances, therefore, of the wind's opposition 

 and their irregular motion, I considered that the locomotive powers 

 of these insects could not be well less than from thirty to forty miles 

 an hour. Compared with the beautifully arranged muscular powers 

 of these minute beings in the creation, how insignificant are those 

 which science, with all its advantages, has hitherto been able to 

 accomplish by mechanical means t ! D T. 



[It is to be presumed that these insects were not in any way 

 sheltered by the train, i.e. were not to leeward of or behind any 

 advancing part, for then they would find no difficulty in keeping pace 

 with the engines. But it would have been better if the fact had been 

 distinctly noticed and stated. Ed.] 



3. USEFUL ASTRINGENT IN CASES OF MERCURIAL SALIVATION. 

 (M. Virey.) 



It often occurs that in cases of mercurial treatment the various 

 astringents of tea, myrrh, bark, borax, alum, and even nitric acid, are 

 insufficient to arrest the flow of saliva, in consequence of which 

 injurious results have occurred, very difficult to remedy. It has 



* Rev, Eacy,, 1. p, 173, f Phil. Mag, N.S., x, p. 150. 



