Natural History. ATI 



7. Earthquake at Celebes. — The Batavian Journals of April 

 give an account of an earthquake very destructive in its effects 

 which took place on the 29th of December 1820, on the south 

 coast of Celebes. It did immense damage, particularly at 

 Boelsekomba where the sea rose several times a prodigious 

 height, and then falling again with great rapidity, alternately 

 deluged and left the shores, destroying all the plantations from 

 Bontain to Boelcekomba. Many hundred persons lost their lives. 

 The forts of Boelsekomba and Bontain were much damaged. 



On the 4th of January this year, another shock of an earth- 

 quake occurred in the same neighbourhood. 



8. Mud Volcanoes in Bogs. — A small tract of bog, called 

 Forest Bog, about one mile and a half from Mount-mellick, 

 situate about sixteen miles in a north-east direction from the 

 Bog of Kilmaleady, has been strangely agitated for some days. 

 It boils upwards, rising to a considerable height, the matter 

 thrown up falling again into the basin from whence it issued. It 

 has not overflown ; but the people of the neighbourhood are in 

 dread of some catastrophe occurring. The phenomena resemble 

 those of the mud volcanoes of America, and are probably occa- 

 sioned by interned fermentation. 



9. Scottish Pearl. — A very fine pearl was found not long since 

 in the river Tay, and is supposed to be one of the finest ever 

 found in Scotland. It is hardly to be surpassed either for size 

 or beauty by any oriental pearl. It is in the possession of Mr. 

 C. Murray, Jeweller, in Perth. 



10. Rein Deer. — Mr. Bullock has succeeded in bringing 

 specimens of the Rein Deer to this country, and hopes are en- 

 tertained that they may lead to the colonization of our mountain- 

 forests by this animal. While on a tour in Norway he pro- 

 cured a herd of twenty, which were destroyed by eating a 

 poisonous plant which grew on a small island on which they 

 were kftpt. He then bought a second herd of twelve, and suc- 

 ceeded in bringing them alive and well into the Thames. Here 

 however, in consequence of the custom-house officer not feeling 

 authorized to allow the deer to be land, d, eight died on board 

 the vessel before permission could be olitained from the autho- 

 rities in London. The remnant saved consists of a male and 

 female, a fawn (since dead), and a male which has been cut. 

 The latter is about ten hands high and proporlionably stout. 

 The others are a hand or two lower. Their fur is very thick and 

 fine, and delicately warm and soft. Their horns brancli beauti- 

 fully and arc covered with a short fur. The antlers of the largest 

 animal are three feet in length. Their hoofs are very broad and 

 flexible between the divisions, enabling them to clamber up pre- 



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