1835.] the Advancement of Science. 235 



Professor Babbage made some remarks upon a whirlpool observed 

 at the Island of Cephalonia, through which the sea has poured for 40 

 years. He had applied to Lord Nugent, the Governor of Corfu, to 

 know whether he was acquainted with the fact, and that nobleman 

 gave him a statement upon the subject, which he would endeavour to 

 report, although perhaps, not with sufficient accuracy, as he had not 

 taken notes at the time. A hole is seen between two rocks, and an 

 excavated channel conveys the sea water into a pit, 100 yards 

 round, and four feet below the surface. The sea that enters rushes 

 in with considerable velocity. The water rises in the pit through 

 the sluice, to the height of two feet, and is then discharged 

 through some means not yet ascertained. Mr. Babbage said that the 

 waters which disappeared might go into vast hidden receptacles not 

 yet filled up, or else the volcanic agency supplying heat might, as 

 the waters descended into the earth, cause eruptions. 



Professor Wheatstone showed his speaking machine, and explained 

 the principles upon which this ingenious machine is invented. 



The business of the Meeting concluded, by the thanks of the As- 

 sociation being given to the Presidents, &c., and to the Public Insti- 

 tutions in Dublin for the accommodation granted to them, and espe- 

 cially to Sir John Tobin of Liverpool, who gave one of his fine Steam 

 Vessels, for the conveyance of members of the Association to and from 

 Ireland. 



This terminated the proceedings of the British Association for 1835. 



Article IV. 



SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE. 



I. — Live Toad found embedded in a Stone. By Andrew 

 Pollock, Esq. f To Dr. JR. D. Thomson. J 



16, Capel Street, Dublin, I9th August, 1835. 

 My dear Sir, 

 Mr. Sturge of Birmingham, called on me to-day, in the way of 

 business, and I took the opportunity of learning from him the parti- 

 culars concerning the live Toad, which was found embedded in stone, 

 on the new line of Railway betwixt London and Birmingham, and 

 an account of which, he gave last week at one of the Sectional Meet- 

 ings of the British Association. 



It appears, that the Toad in question, was found in apiece of free- 

 stone which had in it no perforations or other possible means for the 

 animal's respiration ; that, on the Toad being discovered by the acci- 

 dental breaking of the stone, its skin shewed a bright colour approach- 

 ing to yellow; that in 15 or 20 minutes afterwards, the colour 

 changed to dark greyish approaching to black ; that it at first appeared 

 to breathe with difficulty, but gradually shev\?ed more freedom of 

 respiration ; that it lived for about four days, and probably, would 

 have lived longer, had sufficient caution been used in avoiding too 

 great exposure in its new state of existence. 



