A52 Miscellaneous Intelligence. 
tertain a doubt that we shall be liberally repaid by his able review and 
exploration of our country. 
5. Lake Torrens, South Australia ; (Atheneum, No. 955, Feb. 
1846.)—Much has been written about Lake Torrens, which Mr. Eyre 
first stated to exist to the north of Spencer Gulf in South Australia, near 
latitude 30° and longitude 189° or 140°. Ascending an elevation, it ap- 
peared to him to stretch away to the northeast as far as the eye could 
reach, apparently about 30 miles broad, and seeming to be bounded on 
its western shores by a low ridge or table land, beyond which nothing 
could be seen. In 1843, Captain Frome visiting the region, found the lake 
to be only a semblance of one due to mirage, and its islands low sandy 
ridges. A salt crust was seen at intervals on the surface of the sand 
at the margin of the lake, or, as it would be more properly styled, the 
desert. The same region was visited by Mr. Poole in 1845, who en- 
camped on the eastern margin of the lake in longitude 141° 40’, and 
latitude 29° 40’. He found a sandy desert, and only some pools of 
water, forming a succession of lakes, produced by the drainage of the 
hills: He remarks, however, “that the country on approaching Lake 
‘Torrens is so peculiar that any one looking down upon it from such lofty 
eminences as Mount Serle and Mount Hopeless would naturally con- 
clude that the whole was the large bed of a lake.” 
- 6. Infusoria in Guano.—In connection with the statement on page 
442, from an English source, reference may be made to J. W. Bailey’s 
observations, Vol. xlviii, p. 338, of this Journal. 
7. The Collection of Fossils of Herr Munster of Bayreuth has 
been purchased by the government of Bavaria. According to the 
Munich accounts it consists of 150,000 specimens and is one of the 
richest in existence. The greater part of the specimens are from the 
rocks of Bavaria and the adjoining countries. 
8. Height of Vesuvius; (L’Institut, No. 628, Jan. 1846, p. 10.)— 
M. Pentland makes the height of the highest point of Vesuvius, above 
the sea, (la Punta del Palo,) 1203} metres, or 3864 feet. It is stat 
that this point has not varied its altitude for many years. 
9. Italian Congress of Science.—The eighth scientific congress of 
Italians will be held at Genoa in the beginning of May, and preparations 
are said to be made to give the Savans a hospitable reception. 
10. The Queen has conferred the honor of Knighthood upon Roderick 
Impey Murchison, F. R.S. This distinguished geologist has also been 
knighted by the Russian emperor, being made a knight of the first class 
of the Imperial Russian Order of St. Stanislaus. 
~The honor of Knighthood has also been conferred upon Dr. John 
Richardson, F. R.S., the celebrated Polar traveller, and medical in- 
spector of hospitals and fleets. 
