S66 Scientific Intelligence . — Zoology, 
was, and after that suddenly descend to the ground. On observ- 
ing the bird, he found it engaged in examining and watching some 
object near the spot where it stood, which it continued to do for 
some minutes. After that, it moved with considerable apparent 
caution, to a little distance from the spot where it had alighted, 
and then extended one of its wings, which it kept in continual 
motion. Soon after this artifice, the gentleman remarked a large 
snake raise its head to a considerable distance from the ground, 
which seemed to be what the bird was longing for, as the mo- 
ment that took place, he instantly struck a blow with the ex- 
tremity of the wing, by which he laid his prey flat on the 
ground. The bird, however, did not yet appear confident of 
victory, but kept eyeing his enemy for a few seconds, when he 
found him again in action, a circumstance that led exactly to a 
repetition of the means already detailed. The result of the se- 
cond blow appeared, however, to inspire more confidence ; for 
almost the moment it was inflicted, the bird marched up to the 
snake, and commenced kicking it with his feet ; after which, he 
seized it with his bill, and rose almost perpendicularly to a very 
considerable height, when he let go the reptile, which fell with 
such violence upon the ground, as seemingly to satisfy him, that 
he might now indulge himself with the well-earned meal in per- 
fect safety. 1 ” 
20. Remarks on some Marine Fishes , and on their Geogra- 
phical Distribution . By MM. Quoy and Gaimard. — This 
memoir is a general account of the observations which these two 
naturalists have made, during the voyage of the corvette Ura- 
nia round the World. It will contribute to throw some light 
upon the hitherto little investigated manners of the fishes which 
inhabit the vast solitudes of the ocean, and will serve as a point 
of departure, for connecting one day the observations which long 
voyages cannot fail to furnish to the attentive observer. Fishes, 
in fact, from the nature of the element which they inhabit, are 
more imperfectly known than the other classes of organized be- 
ings which are more easily subjected to investigation. But a real 
obstacle, which will long prove detrimental to the advancement 
of Ichthyology, is the little time which naturalists can devote on 
voyages to this study, in the richest and least known seas. 
Some general data are ably developed by our authors ; who, 
