JMiseellanies. 191 
a pine stick, of one half or three fourths of an inch square, being 
then laid across the two glasses, so that its two ends may rest upon 
the two contiguous edges of the glasses, thus; 
Aa: 
ine 
it 
ils 
htt 
strike the stick at right angles, in the middle, with a heavy cane and 
it will break in two, without breaking the glasses. The two pieces 
of the broken stick fly up to the ceiling, while the glasses remain, 
not only uninjured, but are not even moved from their places. I 
have often, successfully, repeated this curious experiment; when, 
however, the glasses are thin and the stick is too strong, they will 
break, and they will break in any event, if the stick does not; for it 
is obvious that their safety depends upon their being strong enough 
to resist the first impulse of the blow, and that the pressure upon 
them is relieved, the moment the stick begins to yield in the middle, 
and that it is entirely removed, when it breaks and the ends fly up- 
wards. 
FOREIGN. 
28. East Indian Ferns.—Descriptions and figures of a select 
number of new or imperfectly known East Indian ferns, compiled 
chiefly from the collections of the honorable the East India Compa- 
ny, made by Dr. Wallich in various parts of the Company’s posses- 
sions, and by Dr. Wight in the peninsula of India, (with the assist- 
ance of the MSS. of these botanists ;) by William Jackson Hooker, 
LL.D. F.R. A. & L.S., and Regius Professor of Botany in the 
University of Glasgow, and R. K. Greville, LL. D., F.R. & 
A.S.E., & F.L.8. Only a limited number of copies will be pub- 
lished. It will be in two large folio volumes, each containing one 
hundred colored plates, with dissections, and Latin descriptions, and 
remarks in English. 
To appear in eight parts,—price two guineas for each part, con- 
taining twenty five plates with the appropriate letter press. 
John Hunneman, Esq., No. 9 Queen street, London, receives the 
names of foreiga subscribers. 
