376 Miscellanies. 



The irregular fluctuations of the barometer during the year 1837, 

 have been somewhat remarkable. For the first ten days in January, 

 which included alternations of stormy weather, the mean height of 

 the barometer was only 29.68 inches. The mean of the first ten days 

 in March was 30.47 inches, this too being a period of variable weath- 

 er, with heavy gales on the Atlantic, passing near our coast. From 

 the 18th of September to the 18lh of October, an entire month, the 

 mean of the barometer was 30.32 inches, the mercurial column hav- 

 ing but once in this period fallen to 30 inches for a single observation, 

 although several violent storms traversed the southern coasts of the 

 United States, and over the north Atlantic during this time, on routes 

 not greatly distant from this part of our coast. Other periods during 

 the summer and autumn were distinguished by similar results. This 

 may show that, while the barometer is known to fall when under the 

 action of these storms, a contrary effect is produced upon the exte- 

 rior border of the storm, a fact which might be inferred from the 

 known rotative character of these gales. 



New York, February, 1838. 



2. Notice of a Bramah Press attached to the eyes of certain fish- 

 es ; by Dr. W. C. Wallace, Oculist, New York. — When tracing the 

 nerve which supplies the muscle of the crystalline lens in the halibut, I 

 noticed at the bottom of the socket, an aperture communicating with a 

 passage of some extent, and intersected by numerous bands. As I had 

 often before observed an effusion of water when cutting out the eyes 

 of this animal, I procured another head and injected water into the 

 socket: the eyes were immediately elevated, and the field of vision 

 enlarged. This provision for projecting the eyes according to the 

 wants of the animal, and for withdrawing them in case of danger, ex- 

 plains the necessity for a thick coat of jelly, or of fat behind the retina, 

 to keep the fine filaments of the nerve at a proper temperature. 



The socket of the turtle contains cavities, into which air may be 

 forced, and the eye blown out. The air cavities are intersected by nu- 

 merous tendons and fleshy columns, to keep the eye from being push- 

 ed out too far. By this contrivance, the eye may be sunk so far in 

 the socket, that there is no danger of striking the organ against the 

 shell, as the head advances or recedes. 



3. Maynard's Catalogue of Mathematical and Philosophical books. 

 — A very extensive catalogue of mathematical and philosophical 

 books, has been lately published by Mr. Samuel Maynard, of London. 

 The books are offered at reasonable prices, and among them are many 

 that are rare and valuable. Mr. Maynard confines himself to the sale 



