tW Nntu'ral-Hisiorical Collections. 



branchiae, no longer supported by the interposition of water between their lamina ; 

 aiid this idea has been confirmed in prolonging the life of fishes by artificially 

 keeping the laminee in the state of separation which the water produces. On the 

 other hand, by compressing the branchiaB under water similarly to their condition 

 in the air, death occurred as quickly as in the latter fluid. With the view of 

 proving that water exercises only a mechanical action on the respiration of fishes, 

 M. Flourens has put many of these animals into wine. They did not live as in 

 water, but their death was much longer delayed than in air. He explained this 

 action of the wine, by remarking that this liquid contains much less air than the 

 water. 



The Nuremberg Boy, Caspar Ilauser.- — There was published in Le Globe of 

 the 21st November last, an account of an unfortunate boy, named Caspat Hauser, 

 who had been immured for 12 years in a dungeon by an unknown tyrant. 



In the month of May 1828, there was observed at the entrance of one of the 

 gates of the city of Nuremberg, a young man who kept himself in a motionless 

 attitude. He spoke not but wept, and held in his hand a letter addressed to an 

 oflScer of the regiment of Light Horse in garrison in that town. The letter an- 

 nounced that from the age of four to that of sixteen years, the bearer had remain- 

 ed shut up in a dungeon, that he had been baptised, that his name was Caspar 

 Hauser, that he was destined to enter the regiment of Light Horse, and that it 

 was for this reason that the officer was addressed. 



' When it appeared' evident from the state in which the young man was, that 

 the statement contained in the letter was true, he was confided to the charge of 

 an enlightened professor of the most respectable character, and, by a decree of the 

 magistrates, was declared an adopted child of the city of Nuremberg. 



He is described as a young man, below the middle stature, thick, and with 

 broad shoulders. His pliysiognomy was mild and frank. Without being disagree- 

 able, it was no way remarkable. His eyes announced weakness of sight, but his 

 look, especially when a feeling of internal satisfaction or of gratitude made him 

 raise it towards the skies, had a lieavenly expression. He approached strangers 

 without embarrassment, and even with confidence. His carriage was modest. 



The style of the written narrative resembled that of a scholar of ten or eleven 

 years, and consisted of short and simple phrases, without errors in orthography or 

 grammar. The following is a brief account of it : — His recollections disclose to 

 him a dark dungeon, about five feet long, four broad, and very low ; a loaf of 

 bread, a pitcher of water, a hole for his wants, straw for a bed, a covering, two 

 wooden horses, a dog of the same material, and some ribbons, with which he 

 amused himself in decorating them. He had no recollection of hunger, but he 

 well remembered being thirsty. When he was thirsty he slept, and on awaken- 

 ing the pitcher was found full. W^hen he was awake, he dressed his horses with 

 the ribbons, and when his thirst returned he slept. The man who took care of 

 him always approached him from behind, so that he never saw liis figure. He 

 remained almost constantly seated. He recollects no feeling of uneasiness. He 

 is ignorant how long this kind of life lasted ; and wlien tlie man began to re- 

 veal himself and to speak to him, the sound of his voice became impressed upon 

 his ear. His words are indelibly engraved upon his memory, and he has even 

 retained his dialect. These words ran exclusively on fine horses, and latterly on 

 his father, who had some, and would give them to him. One day, the man 

 placed upon his legs a stool with paper, and guided his hand in order to make him 

 trace some characters upon it. When the impulse given by tlie man's hand 

 ceased, his hand also stopped. The man endeavoured to make him understand 

 that he was to go on. The motion being without doubt inopportune, the man 

 gave him a blow on the arm. This is the only feeling of pain which he remem- 

 bers. But the stool greatly embarrassed him, for he had no idea of how he should 

 put it aside, and was utterly unable to extricate himself from this prison within 

 aprison. One day, at length, the man clothed him, (it would appear that he 

 wore only a shirt, his feet being bare,) and taking him out of the dungeon put 



