444 Miscellaneous Intelligence. 
_ their analogy with the primitive forests. Lakes occur in the centre of 
the peat-beds near Innergefild and Ferchenhaid. A swimming island, 
probably owing its origin to the central swelling and bursting of the 
peat, is seen in the last-named localit 
Cultivation is busy converting the peat- -beds into forests, meadows 
and arable-fields. These deposits, however, are of grea waposasas 
i i tio 
economy how far this cultivation may proceed without injurious conse- 
quences. The climatal and meteorological influence of the peat-beds 
and concentrated effect. By acting as natural sponges in periods when 
water is abundant, they attract the ‘superfluous humidity, and so prevent 
inundations. In seasons of drought they give up their accumulated 
waters. They are the real water-reservoirs in mountainous regions ; 
generally giving rise to the —— and rivers and keeping their water- 
Reptiles and Fishes are distinguished from each other, and attempted 
to demonstrate, that although there are but few osteological characters, 
through them that the two classes approach nearest to each other, yet 
there are no forms so completely intermediate, as to bridge over the 
space which separates them. 
made comparisons between the form and structure of the feet of 
reptiles and the fins of fishes, showing, that although they resemble ~ 
other as regards their ah he yet morphologically they are 
always distinct. There is no known fish, recent or fossil, the pectoral 
r 
Rogers. Although among Lophioid fishes, the jen fins are used 
for locomotion on the shores, yet they, in every instance, conform: to 
fish type—are fins and not feet. An analogous condition of things 
‘is found among Cetaceans and marine Saurians, where rie limbs serve 
the purpose of paddles, and may be compared to fins, yet, morpho- 
— they can be referred only to the Memeuile: or Reptilian 
Prof. —_ dieredata) sry that, in the present state of knowl- 
» there was no ground for denying that the soi ment 
= in the coal formations ea beg ae by Reptiles. 
