72 Scientific Intelligence. [July, 



familiaris) have their toes placed in the usual manner, viz. three 

 before and one behind, and yet run up and down trees with great 

 facility. From these and similar cases Mr. S. considers theses 

 scansoritis as intended not for climbing, but for secure prehension ; 

 and hence it is found in the woodpecker and others which, hav- 

 ing to procure their food by penetrating the wood with their 

 strong bills, require a firm footing, which is effected by the 

 arrangement of their toes as already stated. 



Article XI. 



SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE, AND NOTICES OF SUBJECTS 

 CONNECTED WITH SCIENCE. 



I. Attempts to penetrate into the Interior of Africa, 



In the Journal of Science and the Arts, v. 146, we have the 

 following account, which we believe is the only authentic docu-r 

 ment, that has yet been published, of the unfortunate termination 

 of the expedition under Major Peddie. 



" A letter from Sierra Leone mentions the return to that place 

 of the scientific expedition for exploring the interior of Africa, 

 They were completely unsuccessful, having advanced only about 

 150 miles into the interior from Rio Nunez. Their progress was 

 then stopped by a chief of the country ; and after unavail- 

 ing endeavours, for the space of four months, to obtain liberty 

 to proceed, they abandoned the enterprize and returned. Nearly 

 all the animals perished. Several officers died, and but one 

 private, besides one drowned, of about 200. Captain Campbell 

 died two days after their return to Rio Nunez, and was buried 

 in the same spot where Major Peddie and one of his officers 

 were buried on their advance." 



Our expectation of penetrating into the interior of Africa has 

 received a still more cruel disappointment in the death of that 

 intrepid and adventurous traveller Burckhardt, which took place 

 on October 15, last, at Cairo. He had resided nearly eight 

 years in Egypt and Syria, and had diligently occupied himself 

 in exploring these countries, and in making himself thoroughly 

 acquainted with the language, manners, and religious ceremonies 

 of the Arabs. He had so far attained this object as to have 

 adopted their dress and costume, and under the denomination of 

 Sheich Ibrahim, had effectually concealed his European origin. 

 Having completed all his preliminary arrangements, he was 

 anxiously waiting for the arrival of a caravan from Mourzouk, 

 which he proposed to accompany on its return, when he was 

 seized with an attack of dysentery, which in ten days terminated 

 fatally. 



This succession of disappointments has not, however, repressed 

 the ardour of adventure, and we learn that Mr. Ritchie, late 

 private secretary to Sir Charles Stuart, has undertaken to reach 



