1^2 SCIENTTFIC NEW?. 



(hey burrow in the earth, they refemble tlie marmot ; hut 

 they differ from them, by the female having a pouch beneath 

 the belly, and by the whole ftruaure of the organs of gene- 

 ration, in which they are fimilar to the farique of Buffon. 

 The form of the hinder foot is the fame as in that animal 

 with a pouch ; the thumb being diftin6t from the other fingers, 

 and without a nail : the tail is fo (liort, that it remains hid be- 

 below the hair, which is brown, bufiiy, and very long. The 

 Fafcolomes of the Menagerie are yet young, but are already 

 larger than rabbits. Their temper is admirable ; they may be- 

 handled, or removed, without (hewing any fymptoms of fear> 

 anger, or uneafinefs ; their movements are heavy and clumfy ; 

 they live under ground, fleep during the day, and go in fearch 

 of food at m"ght. In general they poflefs but little energy or 

 activity ; they fcratch themfelves like the monkey, and they 

 may be fed with bread, milk, roots, and every fort of 

 herbage. 



Prefervtttion of Iron from Rujl. 

 •efence of Iron CIT. Conte has adopted a method, which he finds 

 ora ru . effedual, for preventing the oxidation of iron and fteel j 



or, in popular terms, to prevent iron and fteel from rufting. 

 It conlifts in mixing with fat oil varnifli, at leaft half, or at 

 moft four-fiflhs of its quantity of highly redified fpirits of turw 

 pentine. This varnifli muft be lightly and evenly applied 

 with a fponge ; after which the article is left to dry in fome 

 fituation not expofed to duft. He affirms, that articles thus 

 varniflied retain their metallic luftre, and do not contract any 

 fpots of ruft. This varnifli may alfo be applied to copper, of 

 which it preferves .the polifli, and heightens the colour. If 

 may be employed with particular advantage to preferve philo- 

 fophical inftruments from any change, in experiments where, 

 by being placed in conta6l with water, they are fubjeft to 

 lofe that polilh and precifion of form which conflituted part of 

 their value. 



ACCOUNT 



