178 Miscellanies. 



The annual average of rain and snow at thirty one places is 37.03^ 

 inches; greatest quantity, at Union and Erasmus Hall, 51.83 inches. 

 An average of all the observations made for eight years at forty three 

 places gives 36.61 inches of rain and snow, and the average temper- 

 ature at forty six places is 47.29°. 



There is the usual appendix of observations upon vegetation, and 

 of meteoric phenomena, with valuable " Instructions for observers of 

 the Aurora Borealis," circulated by the British Association for the 

 Advancement of Science. 



It is gratifying to witness the continued success of this experiment, 

 which is unique in this country, and to learn of the cooperation of 

 the War Department, which, through its officers at the various mili- 

 tary posts, will secure such an uniformity in making observations as 

 must prove " extensively useful to our country and to the general 

 cause of science." 



15. Picture Gallery of Toronto. — The name of York, the capital 

 of Upper Canada, has been changed to Toronto. There have been, 

 for several years past, striking proofs of the advance of society in 

 Canada, among which the publications of the Literary and Philoso- 

 phical Society of Quebec and the notices of the Natural History So- 

 ciety of Montreal are conspicuous. 



We now see, with equal pleasure and surprise, a catalogue of the 

 first exhibition of the Society of Artists and Amateurs of Toronto, 

 for 1834. This catalogue contains a list of nearly two hundred pic- 

 tures and prints, very creditable indeed to the spirit which is so ac- 

 tive in Canada, and to which we cordially wish success, in every 

 effort to advance the interests and honor of that fine country, to 

 whose welfare we can never be indifferent. 



16. Spontaneous Combustion. — ^The Lancaster (Penn.) Journal 

 publishes the particulars of a very singular instance of spontaneous 

 combustion, which recently took place in that city. Mr. Adam 

 Reigart had been presented, about two years before the occurrence, 

 with a small piece of wood, evidently cedar, which had been de- 

 tached from a large piece, found in excavating the deep cut of the 

 rail-road, at the Gap, in that county, about thirty nine feet below the 

 surface. This piece, weighing not more than two ounces, was bro- 

 ken in two, and laid upon a white pine shelf in Mr. Reigart's count- 

 ing room. About three or four days before the discovery of the fire, 



