Miscellanies. 163 
legs of the birds, I would denominate them Vadatores, a much near- 
er approach to the English name, waders; and in order to maintain 
the same number of classes as used by Linneus, which are reduced 
to five by Mr. Vigors, I would suggest the combining of all the birds 
whose feet are formed for climbing into one class, to which the name 
of Scansores, or climbers, might be applied, and would consist of 
the parrots, toucans, woodpeckers, &c. birds which cannot well be 
ranked with any of the other classes. The table of classes would 
then be ;—1. Raptores or snatchers, 2. Perticatores, or perchers, 
3. Natatores, or swimmers, 4. Vadatores, or waders, 5. Rasores, 
or scratchers, 6. Scansores, or climbers.—Juvenis.—Idem. 
Edmonton, Oct. 9, 1830. 
4. Towchwood.—The wood which forms this substance has un- 
dergone, in the progress of decay, a remarkable change. Its solid 
texture has disappeared; it is light and friable; it easily takes 
fire, and is consequently used for tinder. When once kindled it 
burns for hours, until the whole is consumed without ever bursting 
into flame, and however small the part to which the spark of fire has 
been communicated ; and, what is still more remarkable, the whole 
mass of wood, even when not ignited, gives a bright light in the dark 
equal in intensity, and similar in color, to that given out by phospho- 
tus. On examining a piece of it, it contained neither phosphorus 
nor nitre. Tt is now pretty well ascertained that the glow worm, and 
other insects of the kind, do not produce their light by means of 
Phosphorus, The writer finds no information in the books respecting 
touchwood.— Idem. 
5, Habits of the crocodile.-—A remarkable peculiarity in the pul- 
moni¢ structure and functions of this animal is described by Gzorr- 
ROY Sawwr-Hinarre, in the lectures, delivered by him at the Garden 
of Plants in 1828, on the natural. history of mammiferous avimals. 
Itis thus described by a correspondent in Loudon’s Magazine of Nat- 
wal History, 
The crocodile, although furnished with a lung more perfect than 
that of any other reptile, is little excited by the use of that organ. 
On the land, where it breathes by the lungs only, it is timid, and has 
"© Confidence in itself, seizes its prey at unawares or by stratagem, 
Provides previously for security in case of resistance, and on any 
alarm astens to throw itself into the water. Here it is quite another 
animal 5 its energy is extreme ; its swimming rapid; and, rash even 
'0 excess, there is no enemy which it fears openly to attack, and 
