Miscellaneous. 95 



The Russian company for promoting discoveries in the 

 north-west of America has taken possession of the island 

 of Sachin, in the sea of Ochosck, This island, which 

 extends from 45° to 52" of north latitude, has been de- 

 scribed by La Pey rouse. M. de Kruseustiern examined 

 it, and delerniined astronomically different points of it, 

 upon his return from Japan, so that it is now perfectly well 

 laid down. M. de Krusenstiern has made a v^ery minute 

 chart of if. He has also verified what was advanced by 

 La Peyrouse, namely, that thc-e was no passage for ship- 

 ping between thic- island and the eastern coast of Tartary. 

 The northern part of (he island is inhabited by Tartars, sind 

 the south-east part by Japanese. 



The Spanish government [las presented to the botanists 

 who are occupied in ihe completion of the Flora of Peru, 

 eleven drawings, perfectly executed and coloured on the 

 spot, of so many new species of Quinquina, which were 

 sent to Spain from Peru, in January last, by don Juan Ta- 

 falla and don Juan Mazanilla, both eminent naturalists. 

 It is said that the above are in reality new species, and not 

 simple varieties of the same genus : thus we have now draw- 

 ings and descriptions of twenty-nine species of Quinquina. 

 Thirty additional new -.pccies are still expected, which have 

 been long known to exist in Peru. 



The Austrian archduke John, who is much o-iven to the 

 study of natural history, is employed at this time in a grand 

 botanical work, in which he gives a description of a o-reat 

 number of plants hitherto unknown, of which he has lound 

 specimens in his travels in the Tyrol, in the country of Saltz- 

 bourg, and Lower Austria. Some sheets of this work, which 

 is ornamented with a great many prints, have just appeared ; 

 but booksellers are not permitted to sell tlicin. The arch- 

 duke destines the whole edition for his j)articular friends, 

 and persons distinguished in the science. The same prince 

 has just purchased the beautiful cabinet of minerals which 

 belonged to professor Jacquin, of Vienna, for 21,000 florins. 



mi:thoko- 



