Foreign Literature and Science. 167 
ses of rocks, probably precipitated from the summits of the 
adjacent mountains, and heaped together in the most fantas- 
tic groups. Places of desolation of this kind, are frequent- 
ly met with among the mountains, connected, with the sea 
by water-falls, which are precipitated with tremendous ve- 
locity from the rocks covered with glaciers. I have no doubt 
- that such changes, caused by the bursting of glaciers, and 
the subsequent inundations, have produced these scenes of 
desolation; and that perhaps the Norwegian settlers perish- 
ed, and were buried in the ruins caused by such destroying 
powers.” — Ed. Phil. Jour. 
_ 4, On the Preservation of Zoological Specimens i 
the depredations of Insects; by Tuomas S. Trait, M.D. F. 
RS. E., &c.. Communicated by the Author. 
The author remarking upon those compositions which 
contain as ingredients, arsenic and corrosive sublimate, says 
“ they are well known to be very effectual, when properly 
applied ; but unless used with caution, they are apt to injure 
the natural. pliancy of the skins, and they can scarcely be 
effectually employed .to protect collections of insects. Lb 
have known these substances, even in the hands of the most 
expert, produce such tenderness of the skins impregnated. 
with them, as to form a considerable obstacle to setting up 
the imens.”. After speaking of tallow and hor, 
(the first of which he has not tried, the other has known to- 
~ *Thave found” says he, “‘ that nothing destroys insects so 
effectually as rectified oil of turpentine, and my method of 
using it is as follows: I put the turpentime into a bladder, the 
pared, in the box with the birds, or tie it to the pedestal on. 
which the birds are par: in acase. If there be an 
maggots on the birds, I have invariably found, that they will 
soon be dislodged from the feathers, fall to the bottom of the 
case, and die in the course of a few days. It is also stated 
that the turpentine is equally hostile and fatal to the com- 
mon house-fly, the large blue-bottle-fly, moths, and cock- 
