204 Scientijic Intelligence. — Zoology. 



found, under a block of porphyry, many moths, some dead, 

 others alive, which appear to have been carried upwards into 

 this snowy region by an ascending current of air. In the same 

 dreary region, a live species of beetle was found, which, from 

 its nature, must be considered a native of this lofty situation. 



33. Sfiir on the wing of the Rallus Crex. — The wing of the 

 Rallus Crex, or Corncraik, is furnished with a spur, as is the 

 case with a good many other birds mentioned in a former Num- 

 ber of this Journal. 



34. An Electrical Molluscous Animal. — Mr Calder mentioned 

 to the Asiatic Society of Calcutta, a molluscous animal, which 

 has the property of giving electric shocks, like the torpedo and 

 gymnotus ; but neither genus nor species of the animal is no- 

 ticed. We hope Mr Collier will inquire after the animal, and 

 let us know what it is. 



35. Species of Mussel exclusively employed as Bait in the 

 Newfoundland Cod Fishery. — The utility of the inhabitants of 

 shells (shell-fish) to mankind is well known. The following 

 fact, as it is connected with an important branch of commerce, 

 is a further proof of the value of these animals in an econo- 

 mical point of view. It was communicated to M. Sander Rang 

 by Bellanger, the captain of a French frigate, and is inserted in 

 Sano-'s valuable work on the Mollusca. The captain, endea- 

 vourino- to ascertain how it happened that the French cod-fishers 

 on the Banks of Newfoundland were not so successful as the 

 Americans, discovered that it was owing to these latter employing, 

 as a bait, the animal of a species of mya (mussel), which abounds 

 on several parts of the American coast ; and he was the more con- 

 firmed in the truth of this fact, by observing that the French 

 fishers, towards the conclusion of the season, purchased from 

 the Americans the remaining portions of their bait, in order that 

 they might the more speedily complete their cargo. Bellanger, 

 who is well versed in conchology, examined this mya very care- 

 fully, and found that it was a species met with abundantly on the 

 coasts of the French channel. To our readers interested in the 

 kinds of bait used in the Newfoundland fishery, we recommend 

 the perusal of Mr Cormack's valuable communication, vol. i. 

 of the New Series of this Journal. 



