Scientific Intelligence. — Meteorology. 385 



power which certain spiders possess of fixing their threads hori- 

 zontally between two perpendicular bodies placed at a distance 

 from each other. Likewise, a notice regarding a sort of fascina- 

 tion practised on small birds by the whitret or weazel ; in a 

 letter from the Rev. Alexander Duncan of Mid-Calder. — The 

 Rev. Dr Scot then read an essay on the Dishong of Moses or 

 Gazelle of the Plain, the pygarg of the English Bible. 



1830, Feb. 20.— David Falconab, Esq. V. P. in the chair. 

 — There was read an account of several new species of grouse 

 recently discovered by Mr David Douglas among the Rocky 

 Mountains, communicated by James Wilson, Esq. ; the speci- 

 mens at the same time being placed on the table. For a full 

 description of these species, see p. 372 of this Number. — The 

 Rev. Dr Scot read an essay on the mustard plant mentioned 

 in the Gospels, showing that it was probably the Sinapis nigra, 

 which grows five or six feet high in warm countries, rather 

 than the Phytolacca decandra, which probably did not exist 

 in Judea. 



SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE. 



METEOROLOGY. 



1. Climate of Britain — Of all the climates of Europe, Eng- 

 land seems to me most fitted for the activity of the mind, and 

 the least suited to repose. The alternations of a climate so vari- 

 ous and rapid, continually awake new sensations ; and the 

 changes of the sky from dryness to moisture, from the blue 

 ethereal to cloudiness and fogs, seem to keep the nervous sys- 

 tem in a constant state of disturbance. In the mild climate of 

 Nice, Naples, or Sicily, where, even in winter, it is possible to en- 

 joy the warmth of the sunshine in the open air under palm trees, 

 or amidst evergreen groves of orange trees, covered with odorous 

 fruit and sweet-scented leaves, mere existence is a pleasure ; 

 even the pains of disease are sometimes forgotten amidst the 



JANUARY— MARCH 1830. fib 



