Miscellanies. 187 



40. Rain. — An abundant rain of Mollusca, genus Bulimus, spe- 

 cies truncatus^ took place at Montpellier, after a violent storm, which 

 came from the west. The noise of the falling shells, resembled that 

 of hail, and they might have been collected in thousands. — Id. 



41. Yale Natural History Society. — An association bearing this 

 name has recently been formed in this city, the object of which is 

 the pursuit and critical investigation of Natural Science. The plan 

 of such an institution originated about two years since, with a few 

 individuals interested in natural science, and a society was then 

 formed under the title of the "Yale Institute of Natural Science." 

 From some unfavorable circumstances, however, it accomplished 

 but little, and was fast becoming extinct, when a few months since, 

 it was revived and re-formed under its present name. From the 

 interest manifested by its members since its reorganization, it is pre- 

 sumed that this Society will now go forward and do honor to itself, 

 and to our country. 



Our country is one of vast resources, in every branch of Natural 

 History, which yet remain to be rendered available to science, and 

 it is only by the combined efforts of members of scientific associa- 

 tions, affording mutual incitement to exertion, that this object can be 

 attained. Every institution of this kind, therefore, should receive 

 the aid and patronage of the friends of improvement. 



The Yale Natural History Society comes into existence, with as 

 promising prospects, as — under present circumstances — its friends 

 could expect for it. Funds to a considerable amount have already 

 been pledged towards the establishment of a library of natural his- 

 tory, and a splendid collection of eastern birds has recently been re- 

 ceived from one of its members, the Rev. Peter Parker, M. D. mis- 

 sionary at Canton. The Society already numbers, too, amongst its 

 members, some of the most zealous and successful cultivators of nat- 

 ural science in this country, and it is hoped that with such prospects 

 and in such hands, it will attain a high station amongst the scientific 

 associations of the present age. 



42. Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. — This In- 

 stitution has just received a munificent donation from its President 

 WiUiam Maclure, Esq. It consists of the whole of the Library pur- 

 chased by him in Europe, for his establishment at New Harmony. 

 This splendid collection of books embraces many of the most cost- 

 ly works in Natural History, the Fine Arts, Antiquities, Literature 



