398 Scientific Intelligence. — Astronomy, 



Jan, 26. — Robert Jameson, Esq. P. in the chair. — Dr 

 Grant read the first part of his account of the anatomy of the 

 Perameles nasiita of Geoffroy, a rare marsupial animal from 

 New Holland. The Rev. Dr David Scot of Corstorphine then 

 read a memoir on the Emerald of the Ancients. At the same 

 meeting was read a notice by Mr G. Milroy, regarding the ha- 

 bits of a living specimen of the Jacchus vulgaris or Ouistiti, 

 lately brought by him from Bahia ; and the specimen was exhi- 

 bited to the meeting. 



Feb. 9. — Robert Jameson, Esq. P. in the chair. — The Se- 

 cretary read a notice respecting the occurrence of a rare bird, 

 the Cursorius isabcllinus, or swiftfoot, in Leicestershire ; com- 

 municated by Prideaux John Selby, Esq. of Twizel House. 



Mr James Stuart Menteath, younger of Closeburn, then read 

 a memoir on the Geology of Nithsdale, chiefly as connected 

 with useful purposes, and contrasted with that of the neighbour- 

 ing valleys ; illustrated by maps and specimens. (The first part 

 of this interesting communication will be found iq the present 

 Number of this Journal, p. 614, &c.) 



SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE. 



ASTRONOMY. 



1. Appendix to the Nautical AlmanacJc. — 'J'he Board of Lon- 

 gitude has published an appendix to the Nautical Almanack for 

 1828, which contains a list of moon-culminating stars. This has 

 been done as the beginning of an experiment which will be con- 

 tinued, until it is ascertained whether such a list is likely to be 

 permanently useful. 



2. Reduction of the Observations made by Sir T. M. Bris- 

 bane in the Southern Hemisphere. — The Royal Society of Lon- 

 don is about to undertake the reduction of the observations made 

 by Sir T. M. Brisbane in the Southern Hemisphere. It is ex- 

 pected that this labour will tend to settle the places of the prin- 

 cipal stars in that region of the heavens, a thing much wanted. 



3. Voyage of Experiment and Discovery. — Captain H. For- 

 ster is appointed to the command of the ship Chanticleer for a 



