200 Domestic Intelligence. 



probably they would prove to be carburelted hydrogen, 

 carbonic acid, «SiC. the usual products of vegetable putrefac- 

 tion- — but the quantity is certainiy extraordinary. — [^Edit.J 



6. Optical Trap. 

 [Communicated.] 

 To the curious it may not be uninteresting to be inform- 

 ed, that an ingenious sportsman in this vicinity (Newport, 

 R. I.) has lately invented Avhat appears to be an entirely 

 novel mode of trapping birds, animals, &c. This seems to 

 be founded on the principle of the fondness of many ani- 

 mals to associate with each other — and is effected merely 

 by placing a common mirror in a suitable trap, so situated 

 that the animal, in passing to and from its usual haunts, 

 may see itself reflected, and is some how or other curiously 

 impelled to approach the glass, and consequently entrap- 

 ped — for instance, in order to take minks, muskrats, &c. a 

 common box trap is made use of, with a mirror at the ex- 

 treme end, (opposite the mouth) this being placed on the 

 margin of a river, or pond of water, frequented by them — 

 they will necessarily see themselves in it, and, like Narcis- 

 sus, fall in love with their shadows, and are instantly taken. 

 The inventor has not only been successful in taking the 

 above animals, but he assures me that he has recently 

 caught rabbits, and partridges, in one of this construction, 

 and that no less than two dozen mice were taken in one 

 night, without any other bait. W. 



Remark. We believe that this mode is not entirely- 

 original, as we have seen the same thing represented in a 

 print, only the game was a tiger. — [Ed.'] 



7. On the conducting powers of various bodies in relation to 

 radiant matter. 



Extract of a letter to the Editor, from Dr. Hare, dated 

 Philadelphia, May 17, 1822. 



" I have found anthracite a tolerably good conductor of 

 the principle evolved by the deflagrator, under those cir- 

 cumstances in which the indications of electricity uncom- 

 bined with caloric, are very strong, as when the surfaces are 

 subjected to water alone. In these cases it was indifferent 



