396 Scientific Intelligence. — Zoology- 



the consequences, which the author would draw from these facts, 

 for attributing to matter a general disposition to become orga- 

 nised, which would be independent of the ordinary mode of ge- 

 neration. — Mem. de VJcad, Roy. des, Sc. t. vi. p. cxxi. 



24. On the Animalcules that colour Oysters Green. — M. Gail- 

 Ion has sent new observations on the animalcules which colour 

 oysters, and which, after M. Bory de St Vincent, he names Na- 

 vicules vertes. He has remarked other species, which also pe- 

 netrate into the substance of the oyster, and give it different co- 

 lours, rendering it grey, brown, or yellowish. Among these are 

 the Vibrio bipunctatus, and tripunctatus of Miiller. It is re- 

 markable, that the green navicule does not exist in the waters 

 of the sea, nor even in the fresh water of the neighbourhood of 

 Dieppe. It only multiplies, in a certain degree, of saltness and 

 stagnation of the water, such as is known to produce it in the 

 pares, where the colouring in question is produced. M. Gaillon, 

 however, has seen some that issued from a conferva of the genus 

 Vaucheria found in fresh water about Evreux. 



25. Beaver. — The beaver of Europe M. Cuvier is now dis- 

 posed to consider as specifically distinguished from that of Ca- 

 nada, by the form of its head. Viewed in profile, instead of pre- 

 senting a nearly uniform curve from the occipital bone to the 

 end of the ossa narium, its outline is almost straight, being in- 

 flected only towards its middle ; its sagittal and occipital project 

 strongly, the zygomatic arch is broad, and much depressed, the 

 whole cerebral portion is considerably elongated backwards, and 



' the nasal bones advance far beyond the orbitar process of the os 

 frontis. These parts are obviously less developed in the Ame- 

 rican beaver, which also appears to be one-sixth smaller at the 

 same age than the living European one now in the Jardin du 

 Roi. In their habits there appears to be less to distinguish 

 them than has hitherto been supposed. The European species 

 evinces the same aptitude and ability in constructing a habitation 

 as are exhibited by the beaver of Canada, anecdotes in proof of 

 which are given by M. F. Cuvier (Zoological Journal). On these 

 observations by M. F. Cuvier, we would observe, that, on compar- 

 ing the skull of a Canadian beaver with the very fine specimen 

 which was dug up some years ago in Scotland, and which, in all 

 probability, belonged to an individual of the European variety 



