MISCELLANEOUS COMMUNICATIONS. 345 



cellent condition, that was shot, on the 25th of April, 1837, in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Askern, near Doncaster. It had three companions, but we are 

 unable to say whether they were of the same species.— Eds. 



The Brake Nightingale (Philomela luscinia) is Norfolk. The 

 Brake Nightingale is tolerably abundant in this part of the country, resort- 

 ing to the thick underwood plantations and shrubberies. I have repeatedly 

 heard half a dozen singing at the same time in a warm, still evening, when 

 walking beside a favourite resort of the species, namely, a belt of underwood 

 surrounding a park consisting principally of blackthorn.— J. D. Salmon, 

 Thetford, Norfolk^ April 12, 1836. 



A Shower of Black Worms — Some time since, during a snow-storm, 

 a shower of black worms, wholly unknown to the agriculturists of the dis- 

 trict, fell in the parish of Bamford Speke, Devonshire. They measured 

 about three-fourths of an inch long. 



Phrenology at New York — A friend has brought to us, from New 

 York, A Phrenological Chart, representing a Synopsis of the Science, by O. S. 

 and L. N. Fowler, assisted by S. Rishman, which is remarkably comprehen- 

 sive and correct in its descriptions of the organs. The cuts are not so good. 

 A handbill also announces " liCctures on Phrenology and Examination of 

 Heads" at New York, commencing on the 12th of October, 1836, by Messrs. 

 Fowler, who style themselves " Practical Phrenologists." They throw out 

 the following challenge : — " The lecturers pledge themselves to demonstrate 

 the truth of Phrenology in any and in every honourable way which the in- 

 genuity of the incredulous may devise or pi'opose. They throw out the chal- 

 lenge to opponents and disbelievers boldly, and without condition or reserva- 

 tion. They will meet opposition publicly, and on any ground ; either by fair 

 argument, or by an application of the principles of the science to the heads 

 and skulls of animals, or to the heads of individuals selected by the audience^ ei- 

 ther with or without their eyes covered, and let Phrenology stand or fall by 

 this test." From a variety of testimonials appended to this challenge, they 

 seem successfully to redeem their pledges. The Washington Mitror of No- 

 vember 28, 1835, contains two letters by Mr. O. S. Fowler in defence of 

 Phrenology, against an attack made on it by "Maxwell Macdowall, M.D., 

 of Baltimore, in the Baltimore Literary and Religious Magazine.''^ The let- 

 ters are well and temperately written, and show a creditable knowledge of 

 the science. We are glad to see so much ability, combined with practical 

 skill, as these gentlemen exhibit. They announce a new organ, " whose 

 function is to furnish its possessor with an intuitive knowledge oi human na- 

 ture, or to enable him readily to perceive the state of mind or feeling possess- 

 ed by others, and thus successfully to adapt himself to, and operate upon, 

 the minds and feelings of his fellow mdn." The situation of it is "between 

 the reflective organs upon the one side, and Benevolence and Imitation on 

 the other." Mr. L. N. Fowler says he has made numerous observations 

 and experiments upon it, and is disposed to believe in the above function. 

 We presume that he means that the new organ is situated above Comparison 

 and Causality, and below Benevolence and Imitation. We observe, certainly, 

 that men whose foreheads are very high in that region — such were the heads 

 of Shakspeare and Sir Walter Scott — have an extraordinary and almost intui- 

 tive talent of becoming acquainted with human nature ; but we have hitherto 

 regarded that configuration as indicating a large development of the ascer- 

 VOL. VI. — NO. XX. XX 



