308 Scientific In&igence. 
the country where they are indigenous. To the circular are appended highly useful 
directions for putting up and transmitting all kinds of plants and seeds. 
Mr Mitcliel, the gardener, submitted a list of the plants which were now m the 
Society’s garden, and could be spared to such members as applied for them. 
The Secretary informed the Meeting, that a copy of the Society g Transactions 
had been sent to each member, as well as to all foreign learned Societies. 
It was resolved, upon a recommendation of the General Committee, that a cer- 
tain portion of the investmewfc* of European and foreign seeds should be distributed 
to all the members of the Society gratuitously, and that the shares of up-country 
members shall be delivered to any friends in Calcutta, who may apply for the same 
in their behalf. 
It was further resolved, that a-Secretary of Foreign Correspondence be appointed, 
having reference to the introduction from other tropical countries, especially Ame- 
rica and the West Indies, of all useful and important agricultural and horticultural 
productions. Mr. Fiddington being requested to undertake the office, expressed 
his acquiescence ; and he was declared Foreign Secretary accordingly. 
VTIL — Scientific Intelligence 3 Miscellaneous Notices , 
1 . — The Dugong. 
The following is an extract from a letter addressed by his correspondent in 
Edinburgh to a gentleman in Calcutta. 
« I cannot allow the present opportunity to pass without mentioning the interest 
which has been excited by the head of the Dugong sent by you to the Society. On 
examining this head it was discovered, that it differed in some points from that in 
the college museum. An examination of the latter then followed ; and it was found 
that the artist who had prepared it, had filled its jaws with the teeth of cows, horses, 
and even with ivory teeth. As it has been drawn in this state, and so presented in 
Baron Cuvier’s works (from this authority), it became important to set the matter 
right ; and the Royal Society therefore have resolved to have a plaster cast taken 
from the head you sent, and to send it, with a copy of Dr. Knox's notice regarding 
it, to M. Cell a ron Cuvier for his information. 
“ I was absent in France when your last donation arrived, and I fear some mis- 
take has taken place regarding it, as 1 see by some memoranda that yon appear to 
have sent home the skeleton of the same animal of which we possess the head ; but 
I cannot ascertain, that any skeleton has been delivered at the Royal Society, while 
I see by Dr. Knox's paper, that shortly after the head was put into his hands by our 
curator, he received from professor Jameson the bones of the same animal, entirely 
disarticulated by maceration, and sent from India in a separate and dry state. I have 
not yet been able to ascertain where this mistake lies, as Dr. Knox is not iu a situ- 
ation to be applied to on the subject. I subjoin an extract from the paper (which 
has not yet been read at the Society) , and which will show you the importuuce which 
is attached to the subject. 
“ * As a complete skeleton of any animal is by far the most valuable part of its 
anatomy, I felt anxious to compare the bones of the Dugong placed in my hands 
by professor Jameson with the writing; and drawings to be found in the works of 
Sir E. Home, and Baron Cuvier. The conclusion I have come to is, that neither of 
these gentlemen has ever seen the complete skeleton examined previously to the dis- 
articulation of the hones, and that the whole subject will require to be carefully re~ 
examined. I freely admit, therefore, that it is almost solely with a view of inducing 
the gentleman, who was So attentive to the Society as to transmit the head of this 
animal, to lay the Society and zoologists in general under still deeper obligations 
by transmitting to it an entire animal.’ ” 
2. — Radiation of Caloric. 
In tlie Quarterly Journal of Science, July to October, is a short review of Addison’s 
Remarks on thelriduence of the terrestial Radiation of Caloric upon local Salubrity. 
The reviewers remark : “ The work contains many clear statements, with some accu- 
rate reasoning, which we can with confidence recommend to onr readers. The last 
section treats upon a subject altogether new in medical science, though the facts 
to which Mr. Addison refers have been long known to the cultivator of chemistry. 
That the radiation of caloric from the earth will have a very great influence in die 
production of various diseases, we arc certainly much induced to admit ; and we feel 
