SCIENTIFIC SUMMARY. 
271 
It lias been found that the prevailing direction of the wind from 1841 to 
1847 was S.W. for three months, N.W. for a month and a half, N.E. for one 
mouth, in each year ; and that there was no instance of a prevailing wind 
from the N.W. or E. in those years during any one month. From 1848 to 
1856, the prevailing winds were S.W. for four or five months generally. In 
1857, it was prevalent for six months ; in 1854, for seven months and a half ; 
but in 1855, for three months only ; whilst N.W. wind prevailed from two 
to three months, and the N.E. from two to three months also. The N.E. in 
1853 was prevalent for four months ; in 1855 for six months and a half ; and the 
W. wind was prevalent for one month in the years 1851 and 1853. From the 
year 1857 the S.W. wind has prevailed for eight months in the year on the 
average. In the year 1851 it prevailed for ten months ; the N.W. wind 
being prevalent about one month, and the N.E. about two months ; while in 
no instance was the N. wind prevalent for any month. 
T the suggestion of Professor Owen and of Mr. Panizzi, the Trustees 
of the British Museum have decided to remove the Natural History 
collection from that institution. It is not yet decided in what building or 
locality it will be deposited. 
The Ray Society. — Ur. Carpenter’s work on the Foraminifera, which 
will embrace a general account of the structure and functions of 
those animals, is in the press, and will be shortly issued to subscribers 
for 1860. The botanical subscribers will also be glad to learn that 
for 1861 there will be issued a translation by Mr. Conway of Dr. Hoff- 
meister’s work on the Higher Cryptogamia. This work will have all the 
value of a new edition, as Dr. Iloffmeister has supplied much new matter, 
and also additional plates. This will be a really most valuable addition to 
our botanical literature. The other works announced to follow' are Dr. 
Bov’erbank on the British Sponges ; Mr. Blackwall, a second part on 
British Spiders ; Dr. Gunther on Indian Reptiles; and Mr. Douglass on 
the British Hemiptera Heteroptera. We must, however, express our 
doubts of the wisdom of the step which plunges the Ray Society into the 
fearful mazes of technical entomology. To the naming of insects there is 
truly no end. 
Mr. Van Voorst has just issued a third edition of Professor Rymer 
Jones’s “ Outline of the Animal Kingdom.” It contains much new matter, 
upwards of twenty-five new plates, and is still undoubtedly without a 
rival in our language on the subject of Comparative Anatomy. 
Many of our readers will recollect the advent of the Siamese Ambassa- 
dors to England. They brought with them several chests of Siamese pro- 
ducts, as examples of what Siam could sell. These were carefully deposited 
in the cellars of the Foreign Office. During the last summer they gave off 
unpleasant reminders of their existence, and the authorities at once ordered 
the chests down to South Kensington. Here, in company with several 
similar presents from Japan, they are now' to be seen. A large number of 
ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY. 
