Description of the Menagerie at Scheenbrunn in Austria, 249 
As Sir H. Davy had recommended that the wire cylinder 
should he oiled when not in use, to preserve from oxidation, it 
was of importance to ascertain whether, should the flame of the 
fire-damp from its intensity set fire to the oil on the internal 
surface, it might not, by possibility, communicate with that 
on the exterior. For this purpose I obscured with naphtha on 
both sides a central portion of wire-gauze containing 3,600 
meshes to the square inch, and having ignited this on one side, 
Tfound it did not communicate with that of the other, nor to 
alcohol, ether, or sulphuret of carbon applied by means of a 
camel. hair pencil. I find T can even burn alcohol on each side, 
separated only by the fine open curtain of wire-gauze, without 
the flames “‘ mingling into one,” and this is beautifully illus- 
trated from different colours being imparted to flaming alcohol 
by nitrates, copper, and strontites. My isan with in- 
flammable gases led to similar results. 
I could not, by means of the blowpipe, force flame through 
this plexus, even when red hot, to fire ether applied by a pencil 
to the opposite side. I need not insist on the varied experiments 
I instituted. The application of wire-gauze to cut off the com- 
munication of flame is as extensive as the necessities and con- 
veniences of life. Enveloped in a mantle of wire-gauze lined 
with woollen, we may run the gauntlet of flame, and defy its 
power. 
Imprisoned in the cylinder of wire-gauze the, captive fire- 
damp possesses no cause for alarm, exhibiting to the astonished 
eye an impressive and beautiful phenomenon. 
I am respectfully, sir, 
Very obediently yours, 
Whitehaven, April 2, 1816. J. Murray. 
LIV. Description of the Menagerie at Scheenbrunn in Austria. 
Ly M. Marce. DE SERREsS*. 
Tie menagerie of Schcenbrunn is the most extensive in Europe. 
All the animals which it contains are separated from each other, 
and have a commodious asylum against the severity of the 
weather, and abundance of space for exercise. It is in the valleys 
of the fine park of Schoenbrunn that the dens or cages are to be 
seen for the various animals. The extremity of these rows of 
¢ages is merely closed with an iron gate, and the public have 
therefore a full view of all the animals in the menagerie. All of 
mem haye every thing they want beside them. Thus they have 
* Annales des Arts et Munufactures, tome ly. p. 248. 
water 
