190 Scientific Intelligence — Meteorology. 



taught: the inorganic elements into which the particles of organic 

 matter pass by their final decomposition are organically recomposed, 

 and fitted for the sustenance of animals, through the operations of the 

 vegetable kingdom. No animal can subsist ^on inorganic matter. The 

 vegetable kingdom thus stands, as it were, between animal matter and 

 its ultimate destruction ; but in this great ofHce plants must derive most 

 important assistance from the Poly gastric Infusoria. These invisible 

 animalcules may be compared, in the great organic world, to the minute 

 capillaries in the microcosm of the animal body, receiving organic matter 

 in its state of minutest subdivision, and when in full career to escape 

 from the organic system, and turning it back by a new route towards 

 the central and highest point of that system. 



SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE. 



METEOROLOGY. 



1 . Continued Daylight within the Arctic Circle — Nothing made so 

 deep an impression upon our senses as the change from alternate day 

 and night, to which we had been habituated from our infancy, to the 

 continued daylight to which we were subjected as soon as we crossed 

 the Arctic circle. Where^the ground is but little trodden, even trifles 

 are interesting ; and I do not, therefore, hesitate to describe the feel- 

 ings with which we regarded this change. The novelty, it must be 

 admitted, was very agreeable; and the advantage of constant day- 

 light, in an unexplored and naturally boisterous sea, was too great to 

 allow us even to wish for a return of the alternations above alluded to ; 

 but the reluctance we felt to quit the deck when the sun was shining 

 bright upon our sails, and to retire to our cabins to sleep, often de- 

 prived us of many h'burs of necessary rest ; and when we returned to 

 the deck to keep our night-watch, if it may be so called, and still 

 found the sun gilding the sky, it seemed as if the day would never 

 finish. What, therefore, at first promised to be so gratifying, soon 

 threatened to become extremely irksome ; and would, indeed, have 

 been a serious inconvenience had we not followed the example of the 

 feathery tribe, which we daily observed winging their way to roost, 

 with a clock-work regularity, and retired to our cabin at the proper 

 hour, where, shutting out the rays of the sun, we obtained that re- 

 pose which the exercise of our duties required. At first sight it 

 will, no doubt, appear to many persons that constant daylight must 

 be a valuable acquisition in every country ; but a little reflection 



