Scientific Intelligence — Zoology — Arts. 383 



the superintendent took a tray and placed a handful from each pan 

 upon it. These he examined at the window, to see if they were uni- 

 form in colour ; and if the examination was satisfactory, he gave the 

 order to remove the tea from the pans, and the process was complete. 

 It sometimes happened, that there was a slight difference amongst 

 the samples ; and in that case, it was necessary to add more colour, 

 and, consequently, keep the tea a little longer in the pan. — {R. F., 

 Athenceiim, No. 1136, p. 790.} 



ZOOLOGY. 



25. Additional Observations on a new living Species of Hippo- 

 potamus of Western Africa. By S. G. Morton, 31. D., Penn. and 

 Edin., Vice-President Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia. (From the 

 Journal of the Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 1849.) — This new 

 species of Hippopotamus was first described by Dr Morton in the 

 Proceedings of the Academy, for February 184:4, and there named 

 H. minor.* As this name was previously used by Cuvier for a 

 fossil species, it is now changed to Hippopotamus (Tetraprotodon) 

 Liberiensis. The animal is slow and heavy in its motions, and 

 weighs 400 to 700 pounds. It lives on the river St Paul's, a 

 stream that rises in the mountains of Guinea, and passing through 

 the Dey country and Liberia, empties into the Atlantic to the north 

 of Cape Messurado. The description of the animal by Dr Morton 

 is drawn from two skulls in his possession, the only specimens which 

 have hitherto been brought from the African coast. — {The American 

 Journal of Science and Arts, vol. viii., No. 22, p. 152.) 



ARTS. 



26. The Portland Vase. — An account of the Portland Vase was 

 published by the late Mr Wedgwood, the father of the potteries, and an 

 accomplished philosopher ; it is, like its author, truthful and accurate. 

 On this famed vase being offered for sale, Wedgwood, considering that 

 many persons, to whom the original was unattainable, might be will- 

 ing to pay a handsome price for a good imitation of it, endeavoured to 

 purchase it, and for some time continued to offer an advance upon each 

 bidding of the Duchess of Portland, until, at length, his motive be- 

 ing ascertained, he was offered the loan of the vase on condition of 

 withdrawing his opposition. Consequently, the Duchess became 

 the purchaser at the price of eighteen hundred guineas. Jt is stated 

 that a limited number of copies were sold at fifty guineas each, and 

 that the model cost five hundred guineas ; probably, the celebrated 



* Si c .Silliinui,".w Jouiiinl, xlvii., p. 406, wliere wuodcuts are given. 



