250 NATURAL HISTORY MISCELLANY. 
n of "igi skill and instinct of this little abused denizen of our 
PRAE rder 
my actin days I had killed many of the little gies had 
ced the treasures in their burrows many times; ha n them, 
as I supposed, under every variety of aspect; in short, I aeui I knew 
the chipmunk, every inch; but here was a new revelation of chipmunk 
character, for which I "e ghee unprepared, 
i t 
ugs: o you and den readers anything like a complete heiss of 
the motions, the skill, the carefulness, the completeness of effect, and 
the consequent satisfaction exhibited by this little harvester. I have 
never read nor heard of any other man's having witnessed a similar 
scene, nor do I expect seat ever again to witness one y opportu- 
nity for observation was perfect as it could possibly be; for he was so 
near me that I could almost stoop over and lay my hand on him, while 
he was half buried under the leaves. 
The lesson is perfect; for what our chipmunk does, all chipmunks do, 
under the same circumstances. Where does instinct stop, and reason 
begin? Wherein does instinctive, irrational skill differ from rational 
skill? — IRA SAYLES, Rushford, Alleghany Co., 
NCHOLOGICAL Nores. — Mr. C. B. Fuller, of Portland, has recently 
ania Littorina litorea Linn., at Kennebunkport, Maine. Willis re- 
i d 
found so far south. This species is identical with the common Periwinkle 
of the English coast, and its increase may be hoped for, as it will intro- 
duce a new article of food to our poorer classes. Immense quantities are 
consumed in England, one firm in London purchasing seventy thousand 
bushels per annum. They are very prolific and are ravenous vegetarians. 
Oyster merchants use them to keep down the growth of seaweed in their 
oyster beds. 
For the first time we record the discovery of two species of Melanians 
from Massachusetts. Specimens have pigs sent by William P. Alcott o 
North Greenwich, Conn., collected by him on the shores of Lanesboro 
Pond, Lanesboro, Mass. We identify pues  virplcins Say, and Melania 
Kay. 
UNCTIONS OF THE FARY I-ON o THE Ene. — Oh gg! E. Goltz 
of Kónigsberg has been continuing 1 
centres of the frog. Afterremoving the cerebrum with as little effusion 
of blood as possible, the frog remained on the table in exactly the posi- 
tion of a sound animal, and without any indication of the injury “it had 
sustained; but, of its own accord, would never change the position once 
assumed. If pinched or pressed, it would turn itself round, or remove 
itself by a leap from the external pressure, but would then remain equally 
unchangeable in its new attitude. It can indeed be induced by external 
