Scientific Intelligence.^- Zoology, 393 



of the rein-deer. Darelli, a Swedish gentleman, published, some 

 years ago, in the Transactions of the Academy of Sciences (Ve- 

 tenskaps Academiens Handlingar), an interesting account of the 

 habits, as well as singular docility and sagacity, displayed by a 

 ' male elk, which, having been caught when young, upon his 

 property, had been kept domesticated by him for many years. 

 He introduces some curious speculations upon the uses to which 

 these animals might be applied in time of war ; asserting, that a 

 single squadron of elks, with their riders, would put to immediate 

 route a whole regiment of cavalry ; or, employed as flying artil- 

 lery, would, from the extraordinary rapidity of their motions, 

 ensure the victory. The facility with which they are able to 

 cross rivers and broad fiords, would render them likewise ex- 

 tremely serviceable during a campaign, for the purposes of re- 

 connoitring, conveying despatches, &c. A remarkably fine liv- 

 ing specimen was recently sent over to this country from Ver- 

 meland, where it had been taken when young, and was intend- 

 ed as a present to his Majesty from Mr Wise, the consul-gene- 

 ral of Sweden. Notwithstanding it was tractable to a singular 

 degree, an accident most unfortunately befel it, owing to the 

 stupidity and neglect of its attendants, when on its road be- 

 tween Harwich and London, which was the occasion of its death. 

 Although not more than two years old, it was of the surprising 

 height of nineteen hands (i. e. 6 feet 4 inches), being thus very 

 much above what is considered a great height for a horse, viz. 

 sixteen hands ; it had still not arrived at its full growth, and, in 

 all probability, would have attained an additional foot *. — 

 Brooke's Travels in Lapland-^-. 



ARTS. 



40. Green Fire. — This is made of equal parts of pounded 

 nitrate of barytes and charcoal, well mixed together. It is used 

 in ghost scenes, and gives out a greenish flame with a white 

 smoke, and makes the covmtenance assume a deadly hue. 



41 . Object of Embalming in Egypt. — A French chemist, M. 

 Julia Fontenell, in a discourse delivered on occasion of the open- 

 ing of an Egyptian Mummy in the Theatre of the Sorbonne at 



• Mr Pennant says, that the greatest height of the elk is seventeen hands, 

 f A fine skeleton of the elk has been lately presented to the Edinburgh 

 College Museum, by Mr Seton of Stockholm. 



