412 Miscellaneous Intelligence. 



ance of any external injury. The pearls are solid and nearly orbi- 

 cular, with a small pedicel, which is continued so as entirely to cover 

 the wire. They may be perforated and used so as to show their 

 whole surface, which I did not expect could ever be the case with 

 any artificial pearls ; but they must, doubtless, unlike the artifi- 

 cial pearls formed by the other means, be a considerable time in 

 coining to any useful and valuable size. — Ann. Phil. N. S. x. 389. 



9. Flying-Fish in the Channel. — Sir — In going down channel on 

 the 23d of August last, with light winds from the E.N.E., in- 

 clinable to calm, when off Portland, we were surprised by the ap- 

 pearance of a rather large shoal of what is commonly called the 



flying-fish. They were evidently closely pursued by some one of 

 their numerous enemies, from the frequent and long flights which 

 they took ; but it was impossible to discover what he was, though 

 passing close to the vessel. 



I am not aware that I have ever heard of this fish having been 

 seen in the English Channel before ; and the fact may possibly 

 interest some of your numerous scientific readers. 



Sunderland, Dec. 2, 1825. J. C. W. 



10. Age of a Yew-tree. — In the original charter for building 

 the church of Peronne, in Picardy (now the department of Somme), 

 dated in the year 634, a clause was inserted, directing the proper 

 preservation of a yew-tree, which was in existence in 1790, about 

 1150 years after this notice of it in the charter. — M. M., lx. 359. 



11. Phosphate of Lime accompanying Iron-Stone in Coal-beds. 

 Collier.) — MM. Manby and Wilson sent various specimens of 

 minerals, which were proposed to be worked for iron, to the 

 school of Mines ; and one of them, being examined by M. Berthier, 

 proved to be a new variety of phosphate of lime. This obser- 

 vation is of considerable interest as relating to the source of phos- 

 phorus sometimes found in iron obtained from the argillaceous 

 iron-ore. 



" Among these specimens," says M. Berthier, " one was found 

 which contained very little iron, and which I soon ascertained to 

 be principally composed of phosphate of lime : this specimen had 

 exactly the same appearance as the argillaceous carbonate of iron, 

 and the ticket accompanying it indicated that it was found in the 

 same circumstances, i. c, in lumps in the bituminous schist accom- 

 panying the coal. It was lenticular, about the size of the fist, 

 homogeneous, and fine-grained, having some degree of lustre in a 

 bright light, and of a deep gray colour. The argillaceous car- 

 bonate of iron of the coal -formations often contains phosphoric 

 acid, even in considerable proportions ; but pure phosphate of lime 

 has never before been observed in these circumstances." 



