MISCELLANY. 379 



general frequency of a species in the country or zone he is engaged on, and by 

 another number, from 1 to 10, the disposition of a plant to present, in a given 

 locality, individuals solitary or more or less grouped. Thus 1 to 10 express a 

 species rare in the country, but social in those places where it does occur; 10 to 1 

 point out, on the contrary, a common species which every where grows solitary. 

 The writings of M. Oswald Heee deserve to be consulted as much as M. 

 Wahlenberg's work on Swisserland, and even more, if we consider that M. 

 Heer has profited by the labours of the learned Swedish voyager, and has enjoyed 

 the superior advantage of residing in the country he describes. — Alphonse De 

 Candolle in the Bibliotheque Universale de Geneve. 



CHAPTER OF MISCELLANIES. 



ZOOLOGY. 



The Hedgehog's Method op taking its Food. — I once had much pleasure in 

 watching a Hedgehog making its meal in the day-time upon something which, 

 on account of the long intervening grass, I was unable clearly to see. When I 

 at last disturbed the animal, it rolled itself up, and partially enclosed within 

 itself a half-devoured Toad. I took the Toad from it, in order to ascertain the 

 fact beyond a doubt, and after examining it laid it down just by the Hedgehog, 

 when on my retiring to a little distance to watch it, it soon quietly unfolded 

 itself, took the remains of the Toad in its mouth, and ran off with it at a fair 

 trot into a neighbouring covert. — Thomas Meynell, jun., Esq., in a letter to the 

 Rev. F. 0. Morris. 



The European Dipper near Scarborough. — Any one desirous of an oppor- 

 tunity of observing the peculiar habits and manners of this brisk little fellow — 

 so ably described by various authors — may visit that sweet and romantic place 

 Haiburn Wyke, contiguous to the sea-side, a few miles north of Scarborough. 

 This bird is also found in Scalby Beck. I possess specimens from both places.— 

 Patrick Hawkridge, Scarborough, Aug. 7, 1837. 



The Museum of Boulogne. — When at Dover a short time since, I took the 

 opportunity of crossing over to Calais, and returned by the way of Boulogne. 

 The museum of this latter place is rich in the various departments of Natural 

 History. It is open to the public gratis from the hours of ten to four, on Sun- 

 days, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Foreigners may obtain admission any day by 

 showing their passports. I observed that a great many of the objects were 

 presented by Englishmen. — J. D. Salmon, Thctford, Norfolk, Sept. 6, 1837. 



