1B6 Scientific Intelligence, 



ready to spring again when exposed to any sudden irritation ; though when 

 irritated too frequently the force of each successive spring becomes dimi- 

 nished. The use of this curious mechanism does not appear to he very 

 evident. It is supposed to be intended as a means of assisting the plant in 

 dispersing its pollen, the better to insure a fertilization of the ovary, which, 

 notwithstanding a close approximation of anthers and stigma, is perhaps 

 impossible to be effected by its own individual anthers, from the stigma not 

 becoming exposed till after the bursting of the latter. — N- S. Walts Paper, 



19. Singular phenomenon inihe Sensitive Plant. — Mr Burnet and Mr Mayo 

 have found that at the moment the expansion at the foot of the leaflets or 

 other parts of the sensitive plant was touched, so as to occasion the motion 

 of the plant, it changed colour. They also found that when a sensitive 

 plant had been made to droop, the part in which the moving power resides 

 is blackened, so as to absorb the light of the sun, the restoration of the plant 

 to its natural state is much longer in taking place. 



III. GENERAL SCIENCE. 



20. Notice of the Saline Lake of Loonar in Berar. — This curious lake is 

 contained in a sort of cauldron of rocks amidst a pleasing landscape, and 

 is of course the object of superstition. The taste of the water is uncom- 

 monly brackish. Mr Alexander, who describes it, found by a rough analysis 

 that 100 parts contains 



Muriate of soda, 20 parts 



Muriate of Hme, 10 



Muriate of magnesia, 6 



The principal purpose to which the sediment of the water is applied is 

 cleansing the shawls of Cashmere. It is also used as an ingredient in the 

 alkaline cake of the Mussulmans. — Trans, Lit. Soc. Madras y Part i. 



21, Inflammable Gas after boring for 5a/^— While boring for salt at Rocky 

 Hill in Ohio, about one mile and a-half from Lake Erie, the auger fell 

 when it reached the depth of 197 feet, and salt water spouted out for se* 

 veral hours When the water was discharged, great volumes of inflam- 

 mable air continued for a long time to issue from the aperture, and form- 

 ed a cloud ; and in consequence of its having been set on fire by the fires 

 in the workshops, it consumed and destroyed every thing in the neigh- 

 bourhood. — Trans. Phil. Soc» New York. 



22. Bequest to Science by Dr Wollaston and Mr Davies Gilbert. — In 

 order to promote the interests of the Royal Society by providing a fund 

 which may render it less necessary to elect members more for the sake of 

 the revenue they furnish than of their scientific attainments, Dr Wollas- 

 ton has bequeathed L. 2000 to the Society, and its eminent President, Mr 

 Davies Gilbert, has added L. 1000 for the same purpose. 



23. Adjudication of a Royal Medal to Dr Wollaston. — On the 1st De- 

 cember the Royal Society adjudged one of the lloyal Medals to Dr Wollas- 



