MISCBLLANT. til 



this tissue which acts when excited, insomuch that what ia termed u vegetable 

 irritability," is found to belong to a fibrous tissue which acts by oxygenation and 

 by curvature. The word irritability, which has no precise meaning, ought there- 

 fore to be here replaced by incur vability, adding that this power of incurvation is 

 associated, in the case under consideration, with excitability, or the power of 

 receiving the influence of stimulants, which govern the action of the incurvable 

 fibrous tissue. — Annales des Sciences Naturelles, Tome Siziime, pp. 185 — 9. 



CHAPTER OF MISCELLANIES. 



As notices on Natural History published in provincial newspapers are only locally 

 read, and meet the eyes of very few naturalists, we consider them almost equal 

 in value to similar paragraphs supplied by our correspondents, if properly 

 authenticated, or bearing the stamp of truth. We therefore take every oppor- 

 tunity of collecting these scattered facts, invariably acknowledging the source* 

 from which they are obtained. — Ed. 



ZOOLOGY. 



Oological Cabinets. — At page 167 of the second volume of The Naturalist, 

 your valuable correspondent, Mr. J. D. Salmon, is so kind as to give us some 

 instructions on mounting birds' eggs. It would impart much additional value to 

 his communication if he would inform us of the relative depths that he has his 

 drawers, as it would give the tyro considerable assistance, in ordering a cabinet. 

 I have seen a small collection in Liverpool, in which the eggs were placed on 

 mahogany sawdust, which can be procured from the cabinet-makers. It is very 

 fine, and I thought the colour gave great effect to the eggs ; and by forming in it 

 a slight depression for the specimen, the security is materially increased. — T. B. 

 Hall, Woodside, Liverpool, Feb. 3, 1838. 



Rare Birds captured during the late Frost. — The late severe weather has 

 given our townsman, Mr. Henry Bluett, an unusual opportunity of adding to 

 his fine collection of birds. Last week a female Goosander (Mergus merganser) 

 was brought to him, and within two days after he was furnished with the Red- 

 breasted Merganser and the Blue-winged Shoveller, deemed by ornithologists the 

 most beautiful of the Duck tribe. They are all rare birds, especially the Red- 

 breasted Merganser. — Taunton Courier, March 7, 1838. [" Blue Shoveller" is 

 merely a provincial name for the Common Shoveller (Spathulea clypeata), and 

 the Red-breasted Merganser is the well-known Mergus serrator of Lhumeus. 



SfS 



