286 Tanning. — IdithyOlogy. — Lectures, 



TAN'NING. 



M. Hermbstfidt, of Berlin, has announced that the Tor- 

 TuiiitiUa ereita (tornientil or septfoil), a plant which growij 

 almost every where ; and the Po/i/goituni b'lstorta (great 

 bistort or snakeweed), contain such a large quantity of tan- 

 nin as to make them preferable to oak bark for tanning. 

 One pound and a half of tornientil, or three pcninds of 

 bistort, will tan a pound of dry hide which requires seven 

 pounds of oak bark. He likewise recommends the use of 

 the leaves of the oak tree in tanning leather. 



ICHTHVOLOGV. 



A very uncommon fish was on Saturday the 22d of Au- 

 gust exhibited in Portsmouth market ; its shape bore re- 

 semblance to the smaller class of quadruped animals. It 

 had no appearance of fins ; its eyes were scarcely visible ; 

 it had two horns, which it put out at pleasure. Its appear- 

 ance in the water was very unpleasing but for the relief of 

 some beautiful variegation of colouring on its skin, shading 

 to purple and red. It was about ten inches long, but was 

 not of the species of sea cow. 



LECTURES. 



On Monday the 25th of January, Mr. Macartney will 

 conniicnee his lectures at St. Barlholomew's hospital upon 

 comparative anatomy and the laws of organic existence. In 

 these lectures the structure and functions of organized 

 heinirs are fully described, with a comparative analysis of 

 the mental operations of man and animals^ and the general 

 history of dise.ised actions. 



Mr. niair's plnsiological lectures, for the Information of 

 RCicntilic and professional gcntlevnen, amateurs of natural 

 history, students in the liberal and fine arts, &c. will re- 

 conunence on Tuesday the Sfh of .January, to be continued 

 every succeeding Tuesday and Friday, at eight o'clock in the 

 evening. Furtlier particulars may be learned at Mr. Blair's 

 house, Great Kussell-street, Bloomsbury-squarej where may 

 be had a printed syllabus of the lectures. 



At the theatre of anatomy, Blenheim-street Great Marl- 

 borough-strect, Mr. Brookes will commence his spring 



course 



