Miscellanies, 393 



thumb nail upwards, renders it probable that they are only a variety of ^. 

 cataracta. An undescribed species of Planorhis was found ahniidantly. 

 He first found it in Mansfield, and it has since been found by Dr. Gould 

 in Dedham, and he proposes to describe it under the specific name 

 hirsutus. It resembles the European alhus in the revolving lines of hairs 

 by which it is covered. A minute species of Paludina seems also to be 

 new. 



2. African 3Ideorite. — (From the London Nautical Blogazine.) — Ex- 

 tract from a letter, dated Nov. 24, 1838, written by a gentleman (on whom 

 reliance may be placed) residing at the Cape of Good Hope. " T have 

 taken the liberty to transmit under your charge, for Sir John Herschel, 

 the accompanying aerolite, another portion of an enormous aerolite, that 

 exploded in the department called the Cold Bokkeveld, about 1 12 miles 

 N N. E. of this place, on the morning of the 18th October, (I8;i8,) and 

 which for magtiitiide ranks with the largest on record of undoubted au- 

 thority. Judge JVlenzies, returning from circuit, saw it traversing the at- 

 mosphere about 60 miles from the estate, where it exploded uith a report 

 equal to the discharge of some heavy pieces of artillery, to the great as- 

 tonishment of the inhabitants, one of whom had a narrow escape from be- 

 ing destroyed by it. T am making strong efforts to secure a piece, said 

 to have made a hole in the ground that would admit a dining tible ! This 

 may be exaggerated. A man declares the hole is three feet in diameter. 

 Also to collect information regarding its velocity, course, altitude, &bc." 



3. Npav species of Argtdus ; notice from Dr. T. W. Harris. — It may 

 interest some of your readers to be informed of the discovery of another 

 species of Argulus in this country. It was found in the gills of a her- 

 ring, caught upon Brighton bridge from Charles river, during the month 

 of June last. It differs from Afi.avhvs foliaceiis of Europe, and from the 

 species described in a former number of your Journal, vol. xxxiv, p. 225, 

 in the size and form of the body, and in the shortness of the legs. Hav- 

 ing pre.«ented the specimen to Dr. A. A. Gould, for description, I shall not 

 attempt to anticipate him by giving a detailed account of its specific char- 

 acters at this time. 



Cambridge, (Mass.) Feb. 8, 1839. 



4. Cabinet of Minerals for sale. — The Cabinet of Minerals of the late 

 Dr. Young, of Edenville, N. Y., is offered for sale. This collection was 

 selected with great care by Dr. Young, and embraces the rare and beau- 

 tiful productions of Oranoe county, N. Y., and Sussex county, N. J. Its 

 crystals of spinelle, corundum, Franklinite, Brucite, Troostite, melanite, 

 hornblende, bronzite, idocrase, &bc., &lc., would be an invaluable acqui- 

 sition to any public cabinet. It has been generally pronounced by min- 



Vol. XXXVI, No. 2.— April-July, 1839. 50 



