330 Clironieles of Science. [April, 



of a mouse, which having been caught, continued its song in captivity. 

 On disturbing it when asleep, a low chirping is heard such as is 

 frequently made by young birds in a nest, but presently the sound 

 begins to increase until it can be heard all over the room. The song 

 is described as very pleasing, although rather monotonous, somewhat 

 resembling the lower notes of a nightingale. The mouse seemed to 

 appreciate its own singing powers, as it kept standing on its hind 

 legs, and raising itself up as its lower notes grew louder. Mr. E. 

 Newman suggests, as an explanation of these musical prodigies, that 

 the performers are afflicted with some lung disease, perhaps tubercular 

 phthisis, or that infirmity which in horses is called whistling. But 

 whether this is a satisfactory explanation remains to be proved. 



Mr. A. Fonblanque, of the British Consulate at Alexandria, has 

 communicated to Mr. Darwin a notice of a curious birth which has 

 lately taken place at Cairo — that of a foal produced by a mule. Mr. 

 Fonblanque says, so great was the excitement at this unheard-of event 

 amongst the native population, that it produced an official inquiry, a 

 copy of which, together with a certificated translation, Mr. Fonblanque 

 has forwarded along with his letter announcing the prodigy. The 

 latter consists of the deposition of one Mohammed Effendi Ashmani, 

 a veterinary surgeon, before the police at Cairo, on the 27th June, 

 1864, and states that on the previous day the said Mohammed had 

 proceeded, in pursuance of instructions received, to the house of one 

 Ibrahim, to examine a mule which had produced an offspring. It 

 appears that the said mule had been covered by an ass, as the offspring 

 is a jennet. The mule is twenty-two years of age, and as she has no 

 milk, which is indispensable to maintain the jennet, directions were 

 given for feeding it. Mr. Fonblanque does not believe that " any 

 intentional deception has been practised. No attempt has been made 

 to turn the affair into profit by exhibition or otherwise ; in fact, it 

 furnished considerable annoyance to the owner of the animal." 



After several ineffectual attempts, the authorities of the Zoological 

 Gardens succeeded in adding a live porpoise to the attractions of the 

 Begent's Park. It was captured at Deal by some fishermen, and 

 transported to London early in January, and, although somewhat 

 bruised from attempts to escape capture, it gradually improved, and 

 regained its appetite, taking its meals regularly. These consisted of 

 live eels, which it caught for itself, also herrings, and other fish, 

 supplied by the keeper at the end of a fishing-rod. It was hoped that 

 the re-establishment of its health would have ensured it as a permanent 

 addition to the collection, but unfortunately, during the frost, it suf- 

 fered so much from exposure in its shallow pond that, to the great 

 disappointment of all concerned, it died after a few weeks' con- 

 finement. 



A gorilla, which was sent recently from Africa by M. Du Chaillu 

 for the Gardens of the Zoological Society, unfortunately died on the 

 passage to this country. 



Dr. Lionel Beale, in continuing his investigations upon the tissues, 

 has maintained some views of the relations of the round and caudate 



