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Scientific Intelligence .— Zoology . 
locity of the currents at that period. For some time after they 
are propelled from the interior of the sponge, they swim about 
by means of the cilise on their surface, and exhibit all those ex- 
traordinary phenomena of spontaneous motion which Cavolini, 
nearly half a century ago, discovered in the ova of the Gorgonia 
and Madrepore. They at length fix themselves, like the ova 
alluded to, on a spot favourable for their growth ; they lose en- 
tirely their original form, and become a flat transparent circular 
film, through which horny fibres shoot ; they soon spread, and 
assume a form somewhat similar to that of the parent.” The ex- 
periments on these ova, will be detailed in a future number *, 
24. Sea-Horse killed in Orkney.— u About the beginning of 
the month of June last, a walrus or sea-horse, of a very large 
size, was encountered by a boat in the opening of the Pentland 
Frith, and having followed the boat nearly up to the harbour 
of Stromness, it went out to the westward through Hoymouth. 
It afterwards made its appearance, at different places, along the 
west side of the islands, to the great alarm of the fishermen, some 
of whom, however, had the courage to fire several shots at it, when 
it approached the shore, but which, though they evidently lodged 
in its skin, it seemed to regard very little. Having at last come 
down through the Westray Frith, it was discovered lying on the 
rocks of the island of Eday, by one of the shepherds of the pro- 
prietor Mr Laing of Papdale. The shepherd having loaded his 
musket with ball, had the good fortune to wound it severely in 
the body ; and having afterwards followed it to sea with some of 
his companions in a boat, they succeeded, after some more shots, 
in making it a prize, and towing it ashore. While engaged with 
it in the boat, one of the hands had the temerity to seize hold of 
its hind leg or paw, when he was immediately pulled out of 
the boat, and dragged to the bottom, and upon his rising to the 
surface, was with difficulty saved. I am sorry that, before Mr 
Laing knew of it, the shepherds had skinned the walrus, taken 
off its head, and otherwise put it out of his power to have the 
* In Olivi’s Zool. Adriat., we are told that oval grains are distributed through 
the soft matter of sponge, and that Yio considers them as the ova of that animal. 
It is interesting to find similar observations made by Dr Grant, who was unac- 
quainted with the work of Olivi, and who has carried his investigations in regard 
to the natural history of the sponge, farther than these naturalists.—EBXT. 
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