194 Miscellanies. 



For the information of those who feel disposed to aid in the attain- 

 ment of the Academy's wishes as expressed above, it is observed, 

 that quadrupeds and birds which cannot be sent entire, should be 

 skinned, leaving the head and feet attached. The skins should be 

 freely rubbed on the flesh side with arsenic or some other preserva- 

 tive, and afterwards filled with tow or cotton. Reptiles, fish, crabs 

 and other crustaceous animals, spiders, the hard-winged insects, and 

 soft animals of small size, may be preserved in spirits. Other in- 

 sects should be impaled through the body with a small pin, and put 

 up in closed boxes, their wings being properly expanded. Shells 

 and minerals may be wrapped in paper, or when delicate and fragile, 

 in cotton or some other soft texture. Plants should be pressed and 

 dried between sheets of spongy paper. It is desirable that a note 

 should be made of the locality of all specimens. 





50. Meteorological Observations, made at the Apartments of the 

 Albany Institute, Albany Academy, for thirty-seven successive hours, 

 commencing 6 A. M. of the 21st Dec. 1835, and ending 6 P. M. of 

 the following day. (Lat. 42° 39' 3", Lon. 73° 46' 38" W.) 

 The Albany Institute having learned that, " on four fixed days in 

 each year, the 21st of March, 21st of June, 21st of September, and 

 21st of December, (unless any of these days should fall on Sunday, 

 in which case for the 21st substitute the 22d,) horary observations of 

 the barometer, thermometer, wet and dry thermometer, clouds, 

 winds, meteors, &c, were to be made by scientific men in different 

 parts of the globe, at the commencement of each hour, (per clock,) 

 mean time at the place, for 37 hours : beginning at 6 o'clock on the 

 morning of the 21st, and ending at 6 o'clock on the evening of the 

 22d ;" and that it was deemed highly desirable that the points of 

 observation should be multiplied by the co-operation of societies and 

 individuals : have, by a committee of their body, made the following 

 observations on the 21st and 22d of December. It is, however, to 

 be regretted that the accuracy of the instruments employed has not 

 been verified by comparison with acknowledged standards. The 

 thermometers which were used, agree with that kept at the Acade- 

 my, and by which the observations there taken under the direction 

 of the Regents of the University, are made ; but the barometer, al- 

 though probably the best in the city, (the property of the President 

 of the Institute, by whom it was loaned for this occasion,) is defec- 

 tive in not having any adjustment to ascertain the height of the mer- 



