312 
Scientific Intelligence. 
[Oct. 
ing to the nature of the work in which it is to be used. Caissons constituting 
foundations should be closed at bottom, and in raising one tier above another, each 
layer would become united to those immediately above and below it, by commenc- 
ing the alternate vertical courses with a half caisson. 
The results of various calculations of the comparative expense of granite and 
cast iron caisson works, give in some cases 20 per cent, in others 30 per cent, and 
even 50 per cent, and upwards, in favor of the caissons; and the advantage in sav- 
ing of time, which in works on the coast is obviously of the highest importance, 
it is estimated will be at least four-fifths in favor of the latter. 
The interior in every case is filled with liquid lime and rubble, or other suitable 
material to be found on the spot, so as to form a solid mass, girt with metal.— 
Patentee's Advertisement. 
2. New Threshing Machine. 
A portable threshing machine has been invented by Mr Rider, a mechanic and 
small farmer, who resides upon theWallop estate, in the parish of Westbury, Wilts. 
The inventor is recommended not to exhibit the machine publicly until he has 
obtained a patent, or entered a caveat, which may be in a week or two. The 
principle of action is simple ; and it is calculated, that with the power of one man, 
it will make 'three hundred effectual strokes in one minute. If the experiment 
(which will be publickly made) prove successful, the utility of this machine will be 
great to farmers who have either uplands, or lands at a distance from their farms ; 
as this machine can be removed with as much facility as a winnowing machine, 
and its cost will not exceed £8 or j£10, — New Monthly Magazine, No. 99. 
3. Sir R. Sepping’s Patent for an improved construction of Masts and Bowsprits. 
The object of the patentee is to make large masts with small balk, in more numer- 
ous pieces, by which their cost will be considerably less than when made as usual 
of large Riga fir, in fewer parts of greater dimensions. The head and the heel of 
each of the masts of this new construction, are to be made of the same shape, in or- 
der that they may be turned upside down in case of accident. The pieces of balk 
are to be connected by trennels, coaks, bolts, and lioops. — New Monthly Magazine, 
No. 99. 
4 — New Publications. 
1 Organic Remains. 
Mr. Charles Morrens has just published a pamphlet, entitled Revue Systematique 
des Nonvelles Diconvertes d'Ossemens Fossiles faites dans le Brabant Meridional, 
with Lithographic plates. 
This pamphlet contains facts and observations highly interesting to the student 
of geology. The researches and discoveries made by the author, prove that there 
formerly existed in this country, not only animals like those of the equinoctial re- 
gions, but also other species, such as still exist near the pole. The fossil bones dis- 
covered in several places belong to animals of the following species : the badger, 
the elephant, the hippopotamus^ the whale, sparrows, waterfowl, reptiles of various 
kinds, tortoises, lizards, toads, and various fishes. 
The quarries of St. Gilles, Milsbrock, Suventhein, Woluwe, and in the environs 
of Brussels, have furnished the greater part of these bones, which appear to be an- 
tediluvian. — For. Qu. Rev. vol. iii. p. 337. 
2. Baron Cuvier's Regne Animal. 
Baron Cuvier has just published a second edition of his valuable Regne Animal 
distribuh dipres son Organisation, which originally appeared in 181 fi, in 4 vols. 8vo. 
The work is now increased to five volumes, of whieh the two last, containing the 
Crustacea, spiders and insects, are composed, as in the first edition, by M. Latreille. 
As a necessary accompaniment to this, M. Guerin, a Parisian artist and naturalist, 
has just commenced the publication of an Iconograpkie du Regne Animal de M. le 
Baron Cuvier, in the same size as the book which is to contain a representation of 
one of the most remarkable species of each genus drawn from nature. It will he 
comprised in twenty-five livraisons of ten plates each, beautifully engraved, and all 
ofwhich will pass under the inspection of Messrs. Cuvier andLatreille. The coloured 
copies are executed with extraordinary care. Some sets are also printed in quarto. 
—For. Qu. Rev. vol. iii. p. 329, 
