376 /Miscellanies. 
tothe extremities.of the other diameter. On the north of the Cir- 
cle a small are of fire was visible. During the continuance of this 
phenomenon the atmosphere was pure and tranquil, and the cold did 
not rise beyond seventeen degrees of Reaumur; a short time after, the 
thermometer descended _to twenty nine degrees below freeging.— 
Rev. Encyc. Mai, 1831. 
33. Improved Blowpipe.—This instrument, as simplified by M. 
Dancer, (V. Am. Jour. Vol. 17, p. 163) has been found by expe- 
rience to answer a very valuable purpose in the blowing and work- 
ing of glass. It is far less expensive, and is stated to be more pow- 
erful and manageable than the enamellers’ lamp. M. Danger has 
acquired so much skill in the use of his blowpipe, as to manufacture 
a great variety of philosophical apparatus in glass, such as sucking and 
forcing pumps, steam engines, air pumps, &c. and he so adapts the 
different parts of these instruments to their respective purposes as 
to enable the operator when a particular piece is broken, to replaceit 
by another, without the necessity of procuring a new instrument. 
M. Danger has reduced the art of glass blowing to a few simple prin- 
ciples which are applicable to the construction of all sorts of appara- 
tus; and the best proof that can be given of the readiness with which 
he communicates them, is the number of pupils which he has taught 
within two years;—four hundred at least, have learned from him 
every thing necessary to the construction of the most complicated 
apparatus. ‘Twelve lessons are quite sufficient for acquiring the 
whole detail of the operations, and even six may be sufficient to enable 
the pupil to dispense with further instruction.—Report of de Claubry. 
Bull. @ Encour. Jan. 1831. 
STATISTICS. 
1. On the law of increase in the human stature, by M. QuetELeET, 
Brussels.— After a few general considerations, the author mentions 
the facts which he has ascertained relative to the mean stature and 
the growth of man in Southern Brabant. 
The size of children, taken at the moment of birth, as derived from 
a hundred eases of actual and careful measurement, in the foundling 
hospital at Brussels is as follows, viz. 
Minimum. Mean. Maximum. 
Boys, 16 in. 2 lines. 18 in. 52 lines. 19 in. 8 lines. 
Girls, 16 2 18° 114 20 6 
