Miscellany. 439 



Pied Wagtail's Nest on a Railway Line. — On Monday week the nest of 

 a Pied Wagtail, containing six eggs, was discovered underneath one of the 

 switches on the line of the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway. The bird seems 

 not at all disturbed, but continues to sit upon its nest, and is frequently seen to 

 go in and out of it. — Doncaster Gazette, June 8, 1838. 



Mode of restoring Frozen Potatoes. — In consequence of some careful expe- 

 riments made by himself, M. Payen recommends that frozen Potatoes should be 

 exposed to a violent heat, in order to be perfectly dried. In this case their 

 alimentary properties are preserved, and they may be rasped or bruised in a 

 mortar, as food for cattle. — Athenmum, June 2, 1838. 



New Shell allied to Cyclo&toma. — A curious shell has been found in Bengal, 

 which has been erected into a new genus by M. Troschet, of Berlin, under the 

 name Steganotoma. It approaches the genus Cyclostoma, but is distinguished by 

 the peculiar form of its aperture. Its spire is but little prominent, but consists 

 of six whorls^ separated by sutures ; its lip presents a deep notch, close to the 

 spiral part, which forms a rounded tube, touching the last whorl but one ; it has 

 an operculum, and is encircled by a brown band, spotted and striated in a zig-zag 

 manner. — Id. 



Pippin Cros&bill {Crucirostra cinerea, Ryl.) in Cheshire. — A flock of Cross- 

 bills was observed last February in the neighbourhood of Tarvin, Cheshire. — 

 Peter Rylands, Bewsey House, Warrington, May 12, 1838. 



An Electrical Lady. — A respectable physician, in the last number of S Hit- 

 man's Journal, gives the following curious account of an electrical lady. He 

 states, that on the evening of Jan. 28, during a somewhat extraordinary display 

 of the northern lights, the person in question became so highly charged with 

 electricity, as to give out vivid electrical sparks from the end of each finger to the 

 face of each of the company present. This did not cease with the heavenly 

 phenomenon, but continued for several months, during which time she was 

 constantly charged, and giving off electrical sparks to every conductor she 

 approached. This was extremely vexatious, as she could not touch the stove 

 nor any metallic utensil without first giving off an electric spark, with the 

 consequent twinge. The state most favourable to this phenomenon was art 

 atmosphere of about 80 Fahr., moderate exercise, and social enjoyment. It dis- 

 appeared in an atmosphere approaching zero, and under the debilitating effects 

 of fear. When seated by the stove, reading, with her feet upon the fender, she 

 gave sparks at the rate of three or more in a minute ; and under the most favourable 

 circumstances a spark that could be seen, heard, or felt, passed every second ! 

 She could charge others in the same way, when insulated, who could then give 

 sparks to others. To make it satisfactory that her dress did not produce it, it 

 was changed to cotton and woollen, without altering the phenomenon. The lady 



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