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Miscellanies. 393 
thumb nail upwards, renders it probable that they are only a variety of A. 
cataracta. An undescribed species of Planorbis was found abundantly. 
He first found it in Mansfield, and it has since been found by Dr. Gould 
in Dedham, and he proposes to describe it under the specific name 
hirsutus. It resembles the European albus in the revolving lines of hairs 
by which it is covered, A minute species of Paludina seems also to be 
new, 
2. African Meteorite—(From the London Nautical Magazine.) —Ex- 
tract from a letter, dated Nov. 24, 1838, written by a gentleman (on whom 
reliance may be placed) residing at the Cape of Good Hope. “T have 
taken the liberty to transmit under your charge, for Sir John Herschel, 
the accompanying aérolite, another portion of an enormous aérolite, that 
exploded in the department called the Cold Bokkeveld, about 112 miles 
N N. E. of this place, on the morning of the 13th October, (1838,) and 
which for magnitude ranks with the largest on record of undoubted au- 
thority. Judge Menzies, returning from circuit, saw it traversing the at- 
mosphere about 60 miles from the estate, where it exploded with a report 
equal to the discharge of some heavy pieces of artillery, to the great as- 
tonishment of the inhabitants, one of whom had a narrow escape from be- 
ing destroyed by it. I am making strong efforts to secure a piece, said 
to have made a hole in the ground that would admita dining table! ‘This 
may be exaggerated. A man declares the hole is three feet in diameter. 
Also to collect information regarding its velocity, course, altitude, &c.” 
3. New species of Argulus; notice from Dr. T. W. Harris.—It may 
interest some of your readers to be informed of the discovery of another 
species of Arcutus in this country. It was found in the gills of a her- 
ring, caught upon Brighton bridge from Charles river, during the month 
of June last. It differs from Arautus foliaceus of Europe, and from the 
species described in a former number of your Journal, vol. xxxiv, p. 225, 
in the size and form of the body, and in the shortness of the legs. Hav- 
ing presented the specimen to Dr. A. A. Gould, for description, I shall not 
attempt to oe him by giving a detailed account of its specific char- 
acters at this 
Cambridge, ia Feb. 8, 1839. 
4. Cabinet of Minerals for sale—The Cabinet of Minerals of the late 
Dr. Young, of Edenville, N. Y., is offered for sale. This collection was 
selected with great care by Dr. Young, and embraces the rare and beau- 
tiful productions of Orange county, N. Y., and Sussex county, N. J. Its 
crystals of spinelle, corundum, Franklinite, Brucite, Troostite, melanite 
hornblende, bronzite, idocrase, &c., &c., would be an invaluable eter 
Sition to any public cabinet. It has been generally pronounced by min- 
ol. xxxv1, No. 2.—April-July, 1839. 50 
