

Natural History. 185 



and seven grains. The surface is even, of a dark-grey colour, and an- 

 swers in every respect to the meteoric stones described in Jameson's 

 Mineralogy, and Murray's Elements of Chemistry. 



The above account is taken from the New Monthly Mag, ix. 383, 

 but the evidence of the nature of the stone is somewhat uncertain and 

 doubtful. — We put no faith in it. 



12. Direction of Lightning. — It is said to have been observed, from 

 a series of observations, in Germany, that the general direction of 

 lightning is from east to west, comparatively seldom from north to 

 south. From another series of observations, also made in Germany, 

 it is stated to appear, that most of the lightning rises in the west and 

 extends towards the east. We suppose it is meant that the direction 

 of the lightning is parallel, or nearly so, to a line running east and 

 west, for whether it goes in the one or the other direction, would, 

 consideringjis velocity, be a difficult thing to determine. Perhaps, 

 however, it is meant that the place from whence the lightning arises 

 in a storm, is successively removed from east to west, or west to east. 



13. Observations on the Boletus Igniarius, by Professor Eaton. — Few 

 persons take the trouble to watch the growth of cryptogamous plants, 

 therefore, accidental observations may with propriety be preserved. 

 The boletus igniarius, or the common touchwood, is a very durable 

 fungus. We often observe it full grown, and generally several years old ; 

 but few persons have observed its progress while in the growing state. A 

 fungus of this species first appeared growing from the trunk of a de- 

 caying Lombardy poplar in my yard, about twelve inches from the 

 ground, in July, 1821. During that season it grew to the extent of 

 four inches in diameter. Last June it commenced growing again, and 

 about the 1st September following, it was fifteen inches in diameter, 

 measured across the base of the semicircle. The first season it ap- 

 proached a globular form, though it was an unfinished, and rather 

 shapeless, mass. Now it has assumed its regular form, and seems to 

 have completed its growth, which, if correct, proves it to be a biennial 

 plant. 



The most remarkable fact observed in the growth of this fungus, 

 was its flesh-like property, manifested when its parts were severed. A 

 deep gash was cut in its periphery, in August, and the severed parts 

 shortly after united by the process which surgeons denominate first 

 intention. A piece was broken from another part in the same month, 

 and after lying on the ground two days it was joined on again. The 

 piece united, as in the case of the incision before mentioned, and con- 

 tinued to grow with the other parts of the fungus. Now there is not 

 even a cicatrice, nor any other evidence left of the incision or the 

 fracture.— Si7//n/erw J own. vi. 177- 



14. On the employment of Electricity in the treatment of Calculous 

 cases, by MM. I'rcvost and Dumas. — These philosophers have, in 



