468 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
case of the celebrated skeleton of the “Trish giant” in the 
Hunterian Museum), as the fatty matter in the medullary cavity 
is melted and pervades the whole osseous tissue, and generally 
leaves the bones discoloured and greasy, as may be seen in most 
of those that have been cooked for the table. 
2. Burying in the ground may be resorted to when there are no 
conveniences for maceration, but it is even a slower process. The 
effect upon the bones is the same, but they are nearly always stained 
brown by the colouring matter in the soil, and the small ones are 
apt to get lost. 
3. It has occurred to me, following out a suggestion of Mr. 
Seymour Haden’s, in his excellent letters entitled ‘ Earth to Earth,’ 
relating to the best mode of disposing of the dead, to clean 
bones by burying them in a basket of charcoal, and though the 
experiments are not quite complete they promise excellent results, 
especially as all the disagreeable odour of maceration is entirely 
obviated, and the process may even be carried on in inhabited 
rooms without any inconvenience. 
BIRDS OBSERVED BETWEEN CAPE FAREWELL 
AND CAPE CLEAR. 
By H. W. Ferxpen, F.G.S., C.M.Z.S., &c. 
In the month of October, 1876, 1 sailed from Davis Strait for 
Ireland on board H.M.S. ‘ Alert... We met with foul winds and 
dirty weather coming down the middle of the Strait, and strong 
baffling winds in the longitude of Cape Farewell, which accom- 
panied us most of the way across the Atlantic. The greater part 
of the day was passed by me on deck, and the officers when on 
watch, knowing my proclivities, invariably called me when any 
bird out of the common came in sight. 1 think therefore that we 
noted amongst us most of the individuals that came near the ship 
during daylight. I have purposely avoided mentioning our daily 
latitude and longitude, as, to many persons who may not have 
a chart at hand, constant repetition of figures does not aid the 
memory, but has rather the contrary effect,—at least I know that 
is my experience,—but I have given the approximate distance 
