1 54 Miscellanies, 



rica. Within the tropics they are seen only in a serene and azure 

 sky, and often leave a train behind them for several seconds, always 

 impelled by the wind, and shooting in the direction to which it blows, 

 which latter fact, strongly indicates their meteorological origin. The 

 sudden dispersion of the luminous particles, causes the gleams and 

 shivers which appear like a pale blaze or train in the line of their 

 descent. M. Arago passed whole nights in watching these beauti- 

 ful meteors with intense and philosophic interest. His observations 

 mark the same results, particularly their fidelity to the direction of 

 the wind. He states that in some instances they fell in one course 

 for several consecutive hours, and changed their direction when the 

 wind shifted, always obeying its variations however small, and to 

 whatever point it veered. With great respect, I am Sir, yours. 



New York, March, 1S31. 



4. Compendium of American Ornithology, by Thomas Nuttall, 

 A. M., F. L. S., &c. — Messrs. Hilliard & Brown, booksellers to the 

 University of Cambridge, have issued proposals for the above work, 

 with a specimen illustrative of the same ; and they wait only for a 

 moderate subscription to be formed, in order to commence the pub- 

 lication. The work will embrace "a general history of all the birds 

 indigenous to the most extensive limits of the United States, and of 

 Canada ; ivith their habits, manners, uses, and systematic arrange- 

 ment, illustrated with faithful and original delineations of about two 

 hundred of the most important species : to be printed in royal octavo, 

 upon good paper, and to be comprised in two closely printed vol- 

 umes, in a good sized type, and to be delivered to subscribers in half 

 volumes, or numbers, as they are completed. The price to subscri- 

 bers will be f 5.00 a number, or, with colored plates, ^6.50." The 

 names of subscribers are desired previous to the 1st of May, 1831. 



We take much pleasure in announcing the foregoing proposals ; 

 feeling that a work, which can be afforded at a moderate price, upon 

 this dehghtful branch of natural history, is a great desideratum ; and 

 having the utmost confidence in the ability of its author. No indi- 

 vidual has been more favored than Mr. Nuttall, in opportunities for 

 observing the habits of our birds. He has traversed, repeatedly, the 

 whole extent of the United States, and has passed entire years in 

 the natural resorts of the feathered tribe. His character as a philo- 

 sophical naturalist will be a sufficient pledge for the scientific ar- 

 rangement of llie work : and his well known attainments in botany 



