fl2> Natural-Historical Collections., 



tain similar nuld qualities in other species of Taberna-montana, especially in their 

 young branches, or when the sap is on the ascent, and before it be elaborated. 

 Among the Asclepiadew of Brown, which have similar baneful properties, and 

 which many botanists, indeed, consider a mere section of Apocynece, an in- 

 stance is also known of the milk being wliolesome ; I allude to a plant found in 

 Ceylon, which the natives call Kiriaghuna, from Kiri, (milk), and employ its 

 milky juice when the milk of animals cannot be procured ; its leaves are even 

 boiled by them as a substitute in such dishes as require to be dressed with milk 

 —it is the Gymnema lactiferum of Brown. The young shoots of several species 

 of plants belonging both to the Asclepiadece and Apocynece are used as food*" 



Volcano in New South Wales, ( Notasia. ) — M. Mackie, of Cockle-bay, has 

 discovered a volcano, situated on the banks of Pag's river, New South Wales. 

 It is only distinguishable at a quarter of a mile's distance ; in the day-time, if 

 the sun shines, a great volume of flames suddenly strikes the eye ; it is generally 

 mixed with smoke, especially in gloomy weather, and when the atmosphere is of 

 a dull reddish tint. During the night, the flame may be distinctly seen, rising in 

 a bluish sulphureous column, and spreading through the air. The mouth of the 

 volcano is situated between the peaks of two mountains, which the natives name 

 Ouingen. The crater is 30 feet long, and 12 feet wide; the earth, at a great 

 distance from its margin, is black and bituminous, and destitute of humidity. 

 M. Mackie, who has visited this volcano, states, that he did not meet with any wa- 

 ter along the steep sides of the mountains, between whose summits this crater was 

 found ; the earth wanted consistence, and was scorched ; and for the distance of 

 about a mile and a half, in descending, with the exception of some carbonized 

 stumps, there was not the least appearance of vegetation. 



From the mouth of the crater, for a mile and a half below, there is nothing but 

 a rugged, barren, arid waste ; and the crater seems to be constantly extending its 

 boundaries. During his visit to the volcano, the combustion was making rapid 

 progress ; the surface, at a certain distance from the crater, was incessantly crack- 

 ing and falling down ; and, from time to time, masses of earth separated from the 

 margin, and fell into the volcano, whose flame, damped for a moment, seemed to 

 increase on its new aliment. M. IMackie, one day, having given instructions to 

 his companions to dig in a particular place, to ascertain the state of the soil, walk« 

 ed over a part where the surface was broken, and sank in, and much effort was 

 necessary to save himself in this dangerous situation ; fortunately an emollient 

 resinous application diminished, in a singular degree, the pain of his burns and 

 bruises. 



It did not appear that any eruption had yet taken place, and M. Mackie re- 

 marks, that there was not the least vestige of lava at the base or on the sides of 

 the mountains between which the volcano is situated. It is evident, however, 

 that a vein of bitumen maintains the subterranean fire — Bull, de la Soc. Geog, 

 Dec. 1829. 



Stature of Man Professor Quetelet, of Brussels, has found, from an exami- 

 nation of the militia registers of the province of southern Brabant for five successive 

 years, that the mean stature is constantly more elevated in the towns than in the 

 country, not only in the whole province, but in each arrondissement. One arrOU' 

 dissement alone formed an exception for a single year. 



JM. Villerme' had already arrived at similar results in France, from admeasure- 

 ments of a great number of young recruits. 



This fact is the more interesting, as it is contrary to the generally received opi- 

 nion. 



Characters of the New Wild Swan, (Cygnus Bewickii.) — In a late Number 

 we announced the discovery of a new species of wild swan, by Mr. R. R. Win- 

 gate of Newcastle, from a specimen sent to him, to be preserved for the Newcas* 



