42 



THE EDINBURGH JOURNAL OF NATURAL HISTORY, 



Fig. 6. Lewis's Woodpeckfr (P. Torqnatus). — This beautifully-coloured Bird 

 was discovered in the remote regions of Louisiana, in North America. 



Fig. 7- The Black-Breasted "Woodpecker (P. Multicolor^. — This Bird in- 

 habits India. The bill is remarkably long in proportion to the size of its head. 



Fig. 8. The Rsb Cockaded "Woodpecker (P. Quernhis) is a native of North 

 and South Carolina, and also extends through Georgia. It is seven inches in length; 

 and, although possessed of no variety of colours, is a beautiful Bird, from the strong 

 contrast of the bla.ck and white markings. 



Fi*». 9. The Hairy Woodpecker (P. Villosus) is a resident Bird of North 

 America; and haunts apple-trees in orchards, but retires to the woods in summer for 

 incubation, although in some instances they have been known to remain and breed in 

 their winter haunts. This species has been found in England. 



DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SHELL. 



The Shell of which the three representations are given below was in the possession 

 of IMr R. Weekes, who was uncertain of its locality, but supposed it to be a native of 

 New Holland. It possesses characters different from every Shell with which we are 

 acquainted, and catmot be referred to any of the Lamarckian genera. We, thereforej 

 propose giving it the generic appellation of 



fissilabia. 



Generic Character. — Shell strong, acutely spiral; body about half the length 

 of the spire; aperture nearly circular; outer lip resting on the body; columella in- 

 terrupted by a fissure, having by its side a tooth-like process. 



Specific Character. — pissi/afcia/asciaia (the Banded Slit-lip). — Shell spiral, 

 with seven well-defined volutions, terminating in a somewhat obtuse apex, the body 

 occupying about two-thirds of the Shell; outer lip acute at its edge, but internally 

 flattened for about an eighth of an inch; the columella interrupted by a deep fissure; 

 of a pale yellowish ep.it ; volutions with three bands of interrupted spots of a deep 

 chestnut colour — th^:^se are distinctly marked in the aperture, and extend to the 

 margin of the outer lip; the whole external surface is smooth, but not glossy; with 

 obsolete, longitudinal strise. 



This beautiful and elegant Shell is very thick in proportion to its size, and is evi- 

 dently a Marine species. 



The situation whic'i it will occupy in the Lamarckian arrangement is between the 

 genera Turbinella aiid Pleurotoma. 



ON THE HYBERNATION OF ANIMALS NO. II. 



We have seen that the lethargy peculiar to hybernating animals is not so profound 

 as to prevent them from .being roused by other external impressions besides the appli- 

 cation of heat, so there are circumstances which render it probable that they may also 

 be roused by internal sensations, particularly that of hunger. The Dormice lay up 

 a store of provision? in their nests, which they eat during the winter ; and they 

 have been observed, when kept in places where they could be watched, to awake, 

 eat, and soon again become lethargic. The Marmots have been observed to come 

 out of their holes early in spring, when the temperature was still lower than when 

 they became lethargic at the commencement of winter. These facts may admit of 

 another explanation, and we only mention them as circumstances which seem to ren- 

 der this opinion very probable. 



The circumstances which appear to conduce to this lethargy, in these animals sus- 

 ceptible of it, are partly ascertained and partly conjectural. A certain degree of 

 cold appears to be absolutely necessary to it in animals inhabiting temperate cli- 

 mates. We know too little about the lethargy which appears to be induced in some 

 animals, inhabitants of tropical regions, to enable us to form any conclusions on its 

 nature and character. We have already shown that it is only within a certain range 

 of temperature that this lethargy exhibits itself in the MammaUa of our climate, gene- 

 rally commencing when the temperature is below SO'*, and ceasing when it approaches 

 the freezing point. The season of the year, apart from the diminished temperature, 

 does not appear to have any effect in its production. When these animals are sup- 

 plied with food, and kept in a uniform and temperate atmosphere during the winter, 

 their usual lethargy does not take possession of them; on the contrary, they remain 

 lively and active. Saissy induced this state during summer, by the application of 

 artificial cold, without any injurious effects upon the animal. It has been objected to 

 this experiment, that, at the same time he reduced the temperature, he also prevented 

 the free access of air. This objection must, however, be in a great measure obviated, 

 when we remember that most of these animals, if not all, appear to take precautions 

 against the free admission of air when they are about to fall into their dormant state, 

 and this even has been enumerated as one of the circumstances which favors its pro- 

 duction. The Hamster does not become lethargic as long as it is exposed to the free 

 influence of the air. The Marmots stuff the mouths of their holes with earth, hay, 

 or grass, and its removal seems sufficient to rouse them at all times. The Hedgehog 

 and Dormice roll themselves up like a ball in the midst of their nests. The Bats 

 cover each other with their wings. No doubt, some of these precautions are princi- 

 pally to provide against too low a temperature, but they must also, at the same time, 

 impede more or less the free access of air. 



A certain degree of fat is also generally believed to favor the production of this 

 lethargy. The hybernating animals generally abound in fat towards the end of autumn, 

 when the dormant state comes on, and they generally come out from their hidino-- 

 place exceedingly lean. It is stated, that, in some parts of North America, those Bears 

 that remain lean at the approach of winter migrate southwards, while those that have 

 had an opportunity of fattening themselves become lethargic, and spend the winter in 

 their native districts. It has been supposed, that as the IMarmot in a state of do- 

 mestication never becomes as fat in autumn as those living in a wild state, this 

 explains the circumstance formerly mentioned of some tame iMarmots that were ob- 

 served not to hybernate. Spallanzani, however, states that he has found leaner Dor- 

 mice as suscentible of the lethargic state from the application of cold as those which 

 were fatter. 



Dr Marshall Hall has mentioned some circumstances which seem to show that Bats 

 undergo a daily lethargy, a kind of diurnation. On observing a Bat during summer, 

 he found that it exhibited the permanent characters of lethargy, viz., imperfect respi- 

 ration, diminished temperature, and the capability of supporting, for a lon<y time, the 

 deprivation of atmospheric air. 



J. R. 



Petrifaction of Animals by Artificial Means. — A pamphlet has lately 

 issued from the press at Florence, giving an account of some remarkable discoveries 

 by Girolamo Segato (constructor of the Maps of Tuscany, Africa, and Morocco), 

 the principal facts of which are attested by the chief Professors in Florence. The 

 account commences by a statement, that while M. Segato was traversing the deserts 

 of Africa for the purpose of perfecting his Map, he was overtaken, in the valley be- 

 tween the Second Cataract and Mograb, by one of those whirlwinds, or rather sand- 

 spouts, which are not uncommon phenomena in Upper Nubia. After it had passed 

 by, and JI. Segato was proceeding in its tract, he observed, in one of the hollows 

 ■which had been ploughed up by the Spout, some remains of carbonized matter, and 

 on searching still farther, he discovered a body completely charred, both the bones 

 and flesh of which were in good preservation. It immediately occurred to him that 

 the process of Charring could only have been effected by the scorching sand ; and that, 

 if the heat of the sand had in this instance effected the complete desiccation and car- 

 bonization of animal substances, might it not be possible to effect something similar 

 by artificial means? No sooner had he returned to Italy than he instituted a series 

 of experiments to effect his purpose, and ultimately succeeded in imparting to the 

 limbs and bodies of animals solidity and indestructible durabihty. So great has 

 been his success, that entire bodies, as well as separate parts, have been preserved ; 

 acquiring a firm and compact consistence, which is more decided and obvious accord- 

 ing to the hardness or softness of the parts respectively. The skin, muscles, veins, 

 nerves, and even the fat and blood, become consolidated; and what seems still more 

 extraordinary is, that intestines do not require to be removed, and speedily acquire 

 the same durable consistence. Contrary to the Mummies of the Egyptians, and 

 all other modes hitherto practised, the colour, form, and general character remain 

 unchanged; while both limbs and joints continue as flexible antl moveable as when alive, 

 and yet they are perfectly free from any smell. After animal bodies have acquired 

 this hardened consistency, they are proof against damp, air, moths, or mites. They 

 may be immersed in water, and allowed to remain for several days without in- 

 juring their texture. There is but a very shght 'diminution of weight; and so far 

 from hairs being lost or injured, they seem more firmly rooted than in the living sub- 

 ject. The skin and feathers of birds and scales of fishes remain unaltered, and insects 

 and worms preserve their natural appearance. These singular facts require no further 

 proof than an examination of the cabinet of Segato, which is rich in specimens 

 preserved by this process. We may mention that he possesses a Canary-bird which 

 was preserved ten years ago, and has been proof against water and the attacks of 

 moths. In the first year after being carbonized it was placed 30, and in the second 

 40 days under water; and, for a much longer period, was put into a bos with a 

 quantity of moths, but was not injured by them. Experiments of a similar kind were 

 made on other animals, attended with the same results. He possesses the hand of a 

 female who died of consumption, which exhibits all the delicate emaciation peculiar 

 to that disease. He has also the hand of a man which is entirely unchanged, and is 

 even flexible at the joints. The most remarkable object in his collection is a table, 

 composed of 214 pieces of animal matter joined together. They look like so many 

 different kinds of stone, and yet are nothing more than pathological portions of human 

 members ! 



BOTANY AND HORTICULTURE. 



The Gingo Tree is a native of Japan, and has not only flowered in the botanic 

 garden of Montpellier, but has also brought to maturity its fruit, the kernel of 

 which, when roasted, has a very agreeable flavour. It will, in all probability, be 

 naturalized in the south of Em'ope, where the chmate appears to be favourable to its 

 growth. 



Sugar obtained froji Indian Corn. — M. Pallas lately laid before the Aca- 

 demie des Sciences of Paris, a sample of sugar extracted from the stem of this plant. 

 It has been found to contain nearly six per cent, of syrup boiled to forty degrees, 

 a part of which will not crystallize before fructification; but it condenses and ac- 

 quires more consistency from that period to the state of complete maturity. The 

 time most favourable for obtaining the greatest quantity of sugar is immediately after 

 the fruit is mature, and the time of gathering. The residue, after the extracting of 

 the sugar, is excellent for feeding cattle ; or it may be usefully employed in the 

 manufacture of packing paper. 



Gigantic Lime Tree. — A gigantic specimen of the Lime or Linden Tree is now 

 to be seen at Ivory, which has reached the unusual stature of 100 feet, while its 

 branches extend over a surface of 245 feet ; and these branches commence at a 

 height of not more than 10 feet from the ground. The circumference of the trunk 

 near the ground is 46 feet. It is supposed that this tree is unique in point of mag- 

 uitude. 



