Foreign Literature and Science. 203 



so much " to facilitate the general study and practice of 

 «hemistry." 



It is stated that, " the present scale differs from the origi- 

 nal one, in the assumption of hydrogen as the radix or unity, 

 and that two principal advantages arise from assuming this 

 substance as the unit." 



" 1. We avoid fractitional quantities, and the whole scale, 

 when the slider is properly placed, becomes a table of atom- 

 ic weights." 



*' 2. These atomic numbers exhibit for the most part, in 

 reference to hydrogen, the specific gravity of gases and oth- 

 er chemical substances, supposed to be in an aeriform state, 

 and also the combining ratios of their weights under the 

 same volume." 



This scale is executed with much neatness, and we are 

 happy to find that so excellent an invention will now be 

 made so extensively known, in this county. 



We have had no opportunity to use this improved scale, 

 but doubt not that it will be found accurate. — Ed. 



II. Foreign. 



1. Recent discovery of Fossil Bones in the eastern part 

 of France, by Prof. Buckland. — The cave of Osselles has 

 long been an object of curiosity, on account of its extent, 

 and the brilliant stalactites with which it is decorated. Prof. 

 Buckland while on a visit to this cave, perceived that it pre- 

 sented all the characters of the caves of Franconia, which 

 are so abundant in fossil bones. He noticed a spot where 

 he thought he could perceive the bones very near to the sur- 

 face, and by the aid of a hammer, he had the satisfaction to 

 find his conjecture verified. The prefect of Doubs, took all 

 the interest in this natural curiosity, which it merited, and 

 the thorough research which he caused to be effected, proved 

 that this cave is no less abundant in these interesting reli- 

 quiae, than those of Franconia. 



A portion of these bones has been forwarded to Paris, 

 and examined by M. Cuvier of which he says, " what has 

 surprised us is, not that they belong to the ursus spelaeus, 

 which naturalists call the cave bear, because they have been 

 found only in caves similar to that of Osselles, but, that they 

 all belong to this species." 



Thus by an exception wholly peculiar, this cave does not 



