232 Miscellaneous Ltlelligence. 



in the interior of the marble, about which the workmen pene- 

 trated the rock, and found a cavity much larger than usual, 

 lined with crystals, and containing above a pound and a half 

 of the fluid in question. In this cavity there was seen also 

 with astonishment a protuberance as large as the fist, trans- 

 parent, and which appeared to have all the other characters of 

 rock crystal. M. del Nero delighted to find himself possessor 

 of one of the finest specimens of hyalin quartz which had ever 

 been seen in the country, endeavoured to raise it at the base, 

 but to his inexpressible surprise he found an elastic and pasty 

 substance, which took any form he pleased under his hand, 

 but which was not long becoming hard, and taking on the 

 appearance of calcedony or porcelain. Provoked by the circum- 

 stance, the proprietor threw it from him amongst the fragments 

 of the rocks, where this specimen which would have interested 

 the curious so highly, was lost. He affirmed to me, and his 

 assertion was repeated by other witnesses worthy of confidence, 

 that the same fact has occurred more than once, and 1 made 

 him promise that if he again had the opportunity, he would 

 impress some seal on the soft matter, and when hard send 

 it to me at Florence, with the water which the cavity might 

 contain." 



This is a very extraordinary account, but it is given with 

 every appearance of ingenuousness and conviction. — Bib. 

 Univ, xviii. 203. 



4. Phenomenon attending the Earthquake at Zante. — At the 

 time when the desolating earthquake that occurred in Zante, in 

 the end of 1820 took place, a remarkable circumstance was 

 observed just preceding the shock. Three or four minutes 

 before there was seen at the distance of two miles from the 

 point or promontory of Geraca, which is to the S.E. of the 

 island, a kind of meteor burning and almost swimming on the 

 sea, and which continued luminous five or six minutes. At 

 the distance from which it was seen, it seemed to be five or six 

 feet in diameter. Could this be hydrogen gas emanating from 

 some volcanic submarine cavern, and which issuing out of the 

 water in an aeriform column, sought to come in contact with the 

 electricity of the atmosphere .'' This gas taking fire, continued 

 to burn till the inflammable matter was consumed. — Edin. 

 Phil. Jour. vi. 22. 



5. Preservation of Anatomical Specimens. — Dr. Macartney 

 of the Dublin University, has for some time employed a solu- 

 tion of alum and nitre, for the purpose of preserving anatomical 

 preparations. He finds that it preserves the natural appear- 

 ances of most parts of the body more completely than spirits 

 or any other fiuid heretofore used. The proportions of the 



