1 96 Zoological Society. 



The author verified, both at Liverpool and at London, the exist- 

 ence of a fact similar to that which M. Daussy had ascertained at 

 Brest, namely, the rise of the ocean when the barometer is depressed ; 

 and remarks that the correction due to changes in the atmospheric 

 pressure is by no means inconsiderable. He suggests the question 

 whether the surface of the ocean rises in narrow seas simultaneously 

 with the depression of the barometer, or otherwise. With a view to 

 the solution of this question, he gives a tabular diagram showing the 

 correspondence between the calculated and the observed heights, in 

 their relation to the heights of the barometer at Liverpool and at 

 London, from which it would appear that the effect of changes in the 

 atmospheric pressure on the tide is immediate. 



" On an improved mode of constructing Magnets," By James 

 Cunningham, Esq., Member of the Cork Scientific and Literary So- 

 ciety. Communicated by North Ludlow Beamish, Esq,, F.R.S., 

 President of that Society. 



The material recommended by the author for the most economical, 

 as well as effectual method of constructing magnets, is cast iron, 

 which should be formed in small castings in the form of a horse-shoe, 

 each weighing about seven ounces ; these he finds, on being touched 

 in the usual manner by a small compound magnet, received and re- 

 tained the impregnation better than any which he had previously 

 constructed of steel. 



The Society then adjourned over the long vacation, to meet again 

 on the 16th of November next. 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



December 13, 1836. — Part of a paper by M. Frederick Cuvier was 

 read, on the Family of the Dipodidcc, including the Jerboas and Ger- 

 billas*. 



Notes on the anatomy of the Spermaceti Whale, (JPhyseter ma- 

 crocephalus, Auctorum,) principally relating to its dentition, and to 

 the structure and appearances presented by the soft parts, by Mr. 

 F. Debell Bennett, Corresponding Member of the Society, were 

 then read. 



Mr. Bennett remarks that a greater disproportion exists between 

 the sexes in this species of Whale than is observed in any other 

 cetaceous animal ; for while the usual length of the largest male 

 Cachalots, taken in the South Seas, is about 60 feet, that of full- 

 grown females is only 28, and rarely, if ever, exceeding 35. 



When the young male Cachalot has attained the length of 34 feet, 

 its teeth are perfectly formed, though not visible until it exceeds 28. 

 The upper jaw usually described as toothless, has on either side a 

 short row of teeth, sometimes occupying the bottom of the cavities 

 which receive the teeth of the lower-jaw, but generally corresponding 

 to the intervals between them. The entire length of these teeth is 

 about three inches ; they are slightly curved backwards, and elevated 



* The abstract of this and the concluding part of the Memoir will be 

 found in the Proceedings for December 27, 1836. 



