458 Miscellaneous Intelligence. 



alcoholic tincture of musk. The external and delicate parts of 

 animals, as the feathers, skin, Sfc, may be easily preserved by 

 this powder. For this purpose they are to be sprinkled with 

 the powder, and then, the excess being removed, they are to be 

 placed in a damp situation ; the particles will attract water, and 

 will form a sort of gum on the parts. They may then be placed 

 in a dry atmosphere : the covering, without interfering in the 

 slightest manner with the appearance, will preserve them 

 perfectly. If the soap be required in a soft state for applica- 

 tion to the skin, it may easily be made so by adding the cam- 

 phor, whilst in solution in the tincture of musk, to the powdered 

 soap, and making the whole into a paste. 



M. Drapiez ascertained the perfect security afforded by this 

 process by placing specimens so prepared under glasses with 

 the larvce, which are so generally destructive to them. They 

 remained untouched, and in perfect preservation. 



15. Observations made during the late Solar Eclipse. — During 

 the solar eclipse which took place on the 7th of last September, 

 some observations were made by M. Necker, of Cologny, near 

 Geneva, with two very delicate thermometers, graduated by 

 Reaumur's scale, one of which was placed so as to receive the 

 full force of the sun's rays, and the other near the first, but on 

 the north side of a tree in the shade ; both were about four feet 

 •from the ground. The following are some of the results : 



Ther. in the sun's rays, max. 29 (97.25 F.) min. 16.5 (69.12 F) 

 Ther. in the shade, . . . .max. 17 (70.12 F.) min. 14.75 (65.18) 

 Difference of the maxima of the two thermometers 12R. (27°F.) 

 Difference o^the minima of the thermometers . . .1.75 (4° F.) 



