Natural History. 201 



20. Physiological Prize Question. — " A general and comparative 

 history of the circulation of the blood, in the four classes of ver- 

 tebral animals before and after birth, and at different ages." The 

 prize, a gold medal of 3000 francs value. Memoirs received till 

 Jan. 1, 1827. — Academy of Sciences, Paris. 



21. Salt on the Shore of the Severn.— During the wet weather 

 in the month of July last, while walking beneath the cliff of red 

 marl, which varies from about sixty to eighty feet in height, at 

 Gatcomb, in the parish of Awre, Gloucestershire, on the north- 

 west shore of the Severn, I was struck with the white appearance 

 of the mud at low- water. On examination I discovered that, from 

 the intense heat of the sun's rays, the stratum of mud was divided 

 into square sections of various sizes, perfectly dried up, and the 

 surface of the whole covered with a very fine salt. I moreover 

 found the ledges and hollows of the cliff, where any water had 

 lodged upon the reflux of the tide, covered to about the depth of 

 one-tenth of an inch with a similar substance ; and in both cases 

 the saline particles did not differ perceptibly in taste, as to the 

 degree of saltness, from a corresponding quantity of common salt. 

 —Letter from Rev. C. P. N. WUton, B.A., Fel. of the Camb. Phil. 

 Soc. 



The Burmese imperial state carriage, which has been captured 

 in the present sanguinary Indian war, is arrived in this country, 

 and is now preparing for public exhibition. It is without excep- 

 tion one of the most singular and splendid specimens of art that 

 can be imagined, presenting one entire blaze of gold, silver, and 

 precious stones. Of the latter the number must amount to many 

 thousands, comprising diamonds, rubies, sapphires, white and blue, 

 emeralds, amethysts, garnets, cats'-eyes, crystals, &c. The carv- 

 ing is of a very superior description, the form and construction of 

 the carriage most extraordinary, and the general taste displayed 

 throughout so grand and imposing, yet at the same time so chaste 

 and refined, as to defy all rivalry even from European workman- 

 ship. The enterprise and perseverance of this warlike people 

 excite universal attention at this juncture, and the present object 

 will prove that their skill in the arts even surpasses their prowess 

 in arms, in both of which their proficiency appears hitherto to have 

 been equally unknown to us. The carriage stands between twenty 

 and thirty feet in height, and is drawn by elephants. 



Vol. XX. 



