1819.) Scientific Intelligence. (5.5 



to be more known than hitherto. This animal, like many other 

 kinds of fishes as well as birds, is very social; and is, therefore, al- 

 ways found in flocks of 100 or 1000. When the inhabitants of 

 Feroe at fishing happen to observe such a flock, as they commonly 

 tumble about on the surface of the water, the seamen endeavour 

 to drive them into a sandy bay, nor are they unwilling to suffer 

 themselves to be driven before the boat ; and by the assistance 

 of more boats hastening to help, they are driven ashore in a 

 hurry, and are killed with lances or spears made for that purpose. 

 In the summer of the year 1817, the inhabitants of Feroe in this 

 manner caught in different flocks more than 600 grinds. This 

 species of grind, or delphinus, which is six or 10 ells long, is 

 not only found about the islands of Feroe, but also about Iceland 

 and the Orader ; in the latter place it is caught in the same 

 manner as on the Feroes, and is there called the ca'ing whale. 

 Besides this kind, there is yet another smaller species of delphi- 

 nus at the Feroes, which they there call bovhvidehval, and 

 which, partly by an erect fin on the back, partly by a snow-white 

 belly, and other singularities, distinguishes itself from the afore- 

 mentioned ; but as this species seldom appears, and was not 

 caught while the author was on the islands, he has not been able 

 to give any sufficient information of it ; but supposes from what 

 the inhabitants told him, that this kind constitutes a singular and 

 new species. 



The Society found this treatise to be worthy of being admitted 

 into its writings, and presented the author with its silver medal 

 as a mark of esteem. 



Article X. 



SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE, AND NOTICES OF SUBJECTS 

 CONNECTED WITH SCIENCE. 



I. Specific Gravity of Hydrogen Gas. 



A very careful set of experiments was made a few weeks ago 

 in my laboratory to determine the specific gravity of pure hydro- 

 gen gas. A quantity of zinc was distilled in a stone-ware retort 

 in order to have that metal in a state of complete purity. The 

 zinc thus purified was dissolved in dilute sulphuric acid, which 

 had been in the first place carefully distilled in a glass retort, 

 and afterwards diluted with distilled water. The hydrogen dis- 

 engaged was collected in glass jars. Its specific gravity was 

 taken in the usual manner by means of a large glass flask, which 

 was weighed while full of air, exhausted, and again weighed, and 

 finally filled with hydrogen gas, and weighed a third time. The 

 weight of the exhausted flask subtracted from that of the flask 

 Vol. XIV. N° I. E 



