156 Zoological Collections. 



about, they most commonly get out, or put one foot out, slew the train 

 partly round, and say " vena isse," (vertex ici,J or as the Canadians pro- 

 nounce it, " vena issit/' making a motion with the little whip at the same 

 time. It is astonishing to see with what facility dogs are taught and ma- 

 naged. I own a train of dogs, one of which I broke myself. They are a great 

 amusement to me in winter. I frequently ride over the river, and a mile 

 or two round for amusement, and have, with three dog-, taken my wife 

 and little boy a mile, to make calls on a genteel family, over the river, 

 (a Mr Erwatingen,) who has resided here ten years, carrying on the fur 

 trade. 



As to the traveller's sleeping, you will hardly believe what I tell you. 

 Those who travel with trains, think no more of sleeping in the woods, in 

 the coldest nights, than you would of sleeping on your dining-room carpet. 

 There is a little management necessary, however. They first endeavour to 

 select a thicket : they next dig away the snow to the ground, with a snow 

 shoe, which they always carry, and build a large fire. They then; (after 

 boiling their chocolate, &c. &c.) cover a spot close to the fire, with some 

 small boughs of evergreens, such as hemlock or spruce, and if it storms, 

 raise a little covering of evergreens over them, a little resembling a rural 

 cot. There, with two blankets, they will lie down by their fire, dogs and 

 all, and sleep comfortably all night. — Prof. Sillimans Journal. 



5. Rare Insects. — Furia Infernalis and Meggar- 

 There exists in Livonia, a very rare insect, which is not met with in more 

 northern countries, and whose existence was for a long time considered 

 doubtful. It is the Furia Infernalis, described by Linnaeus in the Noveaux 

 Memoires de I'Academie d'Upsal, in Sweden. 



This insect is so small that it is very difficult to distinguish it by the 

 naked eye. In warm weather it descends from the atmosphere upon the in- 

 habitants, and its sting produces a swelling, which, unless a proper remedy 

 is applied, proves mortal. 



During the hay harvest, other insects named Meggur occasion great in- 

 jury both to men and beasts. They are of the size of a grain of sand. At 

 sunset they appear in great numbers, descend in a perpendicular line, pierce 

 the strongest linen, and cause an itching and pustules, which, if scratched, 

 become dangerous. Cattle, which breathe these insects, are attacked with 

 swellings in the throat, which destroy them, unless promptly relieved. 

 They are cured by a fumigation from flax, which occasions a violent 

 cough. 



6. Account of a shower of Herrings which fell in Ross-ihire in Scotland. 



A remarkable, though not unprecedented occurrence, happened on Monday 

 last in the neighbouring county of Ross. As Major Forbes Mackenzie of Fod- 

 derty, in Strathpfefier, was traversing a field on his farm, he was not a little 

 surprized to find a considerable portion of the ground covered with herring 

 fry, of from three to four inches in length. The fish were fresh and en- 

 tire, and had no appearance of being dropped by birds — a medium by which 



