Miscellanies. 379 



6. Reports on the Fishes, Reptiles and Birds of Massachusetts. 

 Published agreeably to an order of the Legislature, by the Commis- 

 sioners on the Zoological and Botanical Survey of the State. Bos- 

 ton. 8vo. pp. 426. 4 plates. — This volume, prepared under the fos- 

 tering care of the enlightened and liberal State of Massachusetts, is 

 a most valuable contribution to science. The first and second reports 

 are drawn up by D. H. Storer, M. D. ; the third (on tlie Birds) by 

 Mr. W. B. O. Peabody. The report on the Fishes is by far the best 

 treatise on this department vv^hich has been published in our country. 

 That on the Reptiles, being prepared at short notice and under several 

 disadvantages, is probably less complete than it may hereafter be 

 rendered ; but it is nevertheless a work of which the auihor has no 

 reason to be ashamed. The birds of our country having been so 

 thoroughly described by Wilson, Bonaparte, Audubon, Nultall, and 

 others, Mr. Peabody considered it unnecessary to copy at length 

 their scientific descriptions, and has therefore very properly given 

 especial attention to an account of their habits. The remarks upon 

 these reports, by a committee of the Boston Nat. Hist. Society, (pub- 

 lished at p. 393,) render it unnecessary for us to say any thing more 

 in their praise. 



7. Telescopes. 



To the Editors — Agreeably to your request, I forward you a de- 

 scription of my telescope, with many thanks for your kind offer. 



It is fitted up in very handsome style, near 8 feet long and 5 in di- 

 ameter, objective treble glass, with a magnifying power of about 

 180; price, $4,000. 



In 1821, while at Warsaw, the Emperor Alexander ordered me to 

 make a telescope for his college, such as the one I have now finished, 

 but could not undertake it in consequence of the difficulty of obtain- 

 ing a suitable piece of flint glass. In travelling through England and 

 France, I met with a piece which enabled me to finish one of the 

 above power, and which I am confident will give satisfaction to men 

 of science. 



I have one in hand, of much larger dimensions, viz. 16 or 18 feet 

 long, and 12 or 14 inches diameter, objective glass, but from want of 

 means, cannot proceed with it. 



If any society here would advance me $1,000 on the above instru- 

 ment, they might use it, and I then could proceed with the larger one. 



I have to lose a great deal of time in sending to England and France 

 for flint to grind here, but have some now on the way. 



I have encouraged the glass manufacturers in this country to make 

 flint glass, and I hope, ere long, to be enabled to get it here instead 

 of having to send to Europe. 



