400 Notes and Memoranda. 



two. " Eastwards the same genus is met again in the southernmost parts of 

 America (Falkland Islands, Patagonia, Terra del Fuego), and a minute form 

 occurs in Chili." Dr. Giiuther names the new fish Neochana apoda. It has a 

 broad, obtusely-rounded snout, mouth-cleft moderately wide, the maxillary 

 extending below the eye, which is very small. Anterior nostril prolonged into a 

 minute tube ; several wide pores at the upper part of the head. A rather deep 

 groove from the head along the middle of the back and abdomen. Dorsal and 

 anal fms about as high as the tail between them, and both continuous at the base 

 with the rudimentary rays of caudal fin. Caudal flu rounded, as long as head 

 without snout ; pectoral somewhat shorter. Brown, with irregular, blackish, 

 transverse spots. Dr. Hector states that it was found four feet from the surface, 

 in a stiff clay, embedding roots of trees, in a locality thirty-seven feet above the 

 BZokitika River, three miles from the sea, which was at one time a backwater of 

 the river during floods. Two years ago it was a swamp, but the miners pierced 

 through the clay to a bed of gravel, and drained it. Dr. Hector adds, 

 "Mr. Schaw, the Warden of the District, has examined seven or eight specimens 

 of this fish, and assures me they occur in hollows of the clay, and that although 

 when first extracted they moved freely, if placed in water they get sluggish, and 

 soon die." He further states that the early settlers in Zealand were frequently 

 astonished at digging up fish as well as potatoes. All these fish are very fat, and 

 Dr. Giinther found this one quite greasy. 



The Newton Forgeries. — There seems now every reason to believe that the 

 extraordinary mass of forged correspondence in the possession of M. Chasles, 

 and which he has defended with such remarkable and ill-judged pertinacity, was 

 fabricated by Desmaiseau between the years 1732 and 1745. He was a collector 

 and dealer in autographs. Sir. D. Brewster says that the " celebrated deist, 

 Anthony Collins, the friend of Locke, left him his MSS. to be published after his 

 death ; but he sold them for fifty pounds to Mrs. Collins, by whom it appears 

 they were destroyed." Internal evidence at once showed that Sir Isaac Newton 

 could not have written the letters ascribed to him ; and the more the correspon- 

 dence has been examined, the stronger has been the proof that the whole 

 collection was fictitious. 



Electro-capillary Currents in Plants. — M. Becquerel eleucidates this 

 subject in " Comptes Bendus." He says that he makes a transverse section of the 

 stem of a young poplar, oak, or maple in full sap, and introduces two non- 

 polarized platina needles, in connection with a very sensitive galvanometer — one 

 in contact with the central pith, and the other with one of the ligneous layers. 

 An electric current is immediately manifest, and by its direction indicates that 

 the pith is always positive, relative to the other parts. The maximum of effect is 

 produced when the second needle is placed between the woody layer and the bark. 

 The positive condition of the layers augments towards the pith. From this state 

 of things it follows that the liquid which moistens the pith, and the cellular 

 tissue in general, is more oxygenated than what is found in other parts of the 

 plant. In leaves the cellular tissue is positive, with relation to other parts. The 

 earth is found positive in relation to the roots of plants, and their stem and 

 leaves ; that is to say, in relation to the liquids which moisten them. 



The Walrus at the Zoological Gardens. — We recommend all our readers 

 who have not already done so to go and see the young walrus at the Zoological 

 Gardens. He answers to the name of "Jemmy," and feems both tame and 

 good-natured. He has improved much in appearance since his arrival, and 

 thrives upon a diet of fish and porridge. A few days ago Mr. F. Buckland tried 

 to tempt him with some shrimps, as " Land and Water" tells us, but he did not 

 condescend to eat them, though fond of whelks and mussels. He does not walk 

 as well as the sea-bear, nor manifest as much agility ; but ho is only a youngster, 

 and has not had much pains taken with his education. He is now in the large 

 pond with the seals. 





