I 



Scknt'tfic News, Accounts of Books, ^c. 331 



Several learned men in Germany, Holland, and Italy, who approve the object of my 

 labours, have fupplied me with valuable information, accompanied with drawings relating 

 to the foilil bodies which are found in their refpedtive countries, or which are depofited in 

 their cabinets. On account of the war, I have not, till now, had an opportunity of 

 foliciting the. like afliftance from the philofophers of England; but I hope I fliall ex- 

 perience the fame liberal afliftance from them. 



Under this fuppofition, I would requeft. an account of fuch folTil bones of quadrupeds, 

 as may be contained in the Britifti Mufeum, or in other colledlions in London; whether 

 derived from Great Britain, or from other parts. I am particularly defirous of thofe 

 which were buried in. the mountain of Gibraltar, of which there mud be numerous 

 fpecimens in London. I am ready to make my acknowledgements in return to thofe 

 who may thus favour me by informing them of every thing which can be interefling to 

 them in this country on the fubjefts of natural hiftory and comparative anatomy. 



I ftiall be ftill more obliged if they will, at the fame time, fend me drawings of thefe 

 foflils executed in a manner nearly Cmilar to thofe which I now fend as fpecimens 

 of engraving, and I engage to defray every expence which may be occafioned by fuch 

 drawings. 



It is needlefs to obferve that I fliall, in my intended work, publicly acknowledge 

 my obligations to thofe who may have enriched it by their contributions. 



G. CUVIER, 

 j^u yardin des Plantes Member of the National Inftitutc, 



a Paris. 1 5 Therm. and Secretary to the Clafs of 



An. 8. {lAouJi 1800.) Natural Philofophy. 



Hydraulic Engine operating hy Mercury, 



The refpeftable correfpondent who has forwarded a description and (ketch of an engine 

 for raiGng water by mercury, has rightly conjedtured that the expedient was ufed before. 

 Mr. Jofliua Hafkins, at the beginning of the century, made an engine of this kind, 

 which was improved by Dr. Defaguliers, and is defcribed very much at large in the 

 fecond volume of his Courfe of Experimental Philofophy. The mercury is merely a fub- 

 Ititute for leathering, and has lefs fridtion: but it has many difadvantages, which are 

 evident from that defcription, particularly that it cannot with convenience be ufed when 

 the column or re-afting force is great ; and it may alfo be expedted that the mercury 

 would foon be converted into a black duft or oxide, and carrried off in the water. I fup- 

 pofe this to have been the caufe of its being abandoned. 



U u 2 Philofophicat 



