Scientific InteUigetice. — Geology. 199 



man well known in the scientific world), who went over on Moiw 

 day last, and proceeded with Mr Wallace to examine this extrsu 

 ordinary relic. After several hours incessant labour, an exca- 

 vation was made in the cliff to the extent of nearly four yards, 

 and the stone and sand which surrounded the bone were care- 

 fully cleared away, and the latter completely exposed to view 

 uninjured ; but such was the fragile state of the specimen, that, 

 upon attempting to remove it, the whole mass fell to pieces. 

 The length of the bone (including the portion broken off by 

 the labourer) was about twelve feet, being upwards of thirty in- 

 ches in circumference at the largest extremity ; when perfect, it 

 must have exceeded twenty feet in length. From the structure, 

 form, and size of the bone, there can be no doubt that it was a 

 portion of a rib of some species of whale ; and we believe it is 

 the only instance of the remains of this animal having been 

 found in the diluvial deposites of England. The stratum in 

 which it occurred is stated in Mr MantelPs Geology of Sussex, 

 to contain the bones and teeth of the elephant, horse, ox, and 

 deer ; an assemblage of organic remains not uncommon in simi- 

 lar strata in other parts of England. These beds lie above the 

 chalk : and the plain on which part of Brighton, the Palace, 

 New Church, &c. are situated, is formed by the alluvial detritus 

 or rubbish, which has filled up a valley in the chalk. Some of 

 the largest fragments of the bone are removed to Mr MantelPs 

 museum in this town ; others are in the possession of the labour- 

 er who made the discovery. 



28. Fossil DidelpMs. — Baron Cuvier presented to the French 

 Academy of Sciences, a portion of the fossil jaw-bone of a car- 

 nivorous animal lately discovered in the gypsum quarries of 

 Montmartre, which can only be compared with the Didelphis 

 cynocephala of Van Dieman's Land. — Ghhe. 



29. Artificial Lightning Tubes. — M. Beudant communicated 

 to the Academie des Sciences the results which hehas obtained, con- 

 jointly vdth MM. Hachette and Savart, respecting the formation 

 of artificial lightning tubes. Natural philosophers have, for a con- 

 siderable time, been satisfied as. to the cause to which the forma- 

 tion of the vitreous tubes occurring in elevated sandy districts 

 ought to be referred. The name of lightning tubes that has been 

 given them, sufficiently indicates their being regarded as pro- 

 duced by hghtning, which melts the sand to a considerable depth, 

 so as to form a tube, commonly sinuous, with solid and smooth 



