Natural History — Zoology. 4^1 
of the faces are 71” 48', and the greatest 108® 12'. The semi- 
diagonals of each rhomb are one to another as V ^ to V 8. 
This form is also compatible with the optical properties of cin- 
nabar. See Ann. de Chim. et Phys. vol. viii. p. 64., and Wer^ 
nerian Transacticms^ vol. iii. p. 52. now in the press. 
ZOOLOGY. 
27. Edinburgh College Museum.-^Th.e classical collection of 
zoology, purchased by the University of Edinburgh from M. Du- 
fresne of Paris, has arrived in excellent condition, and is now de- 
posited in the College. The most striking and valuable part of 
the collection is the birds. These are in a state of perfect pre- 
servation, and are so put lip as to be capable of any arrange- 
ment the Professor of natural history may choose to adopt, and 
besides, are admirably fitted for the purpose of study. When 
added to the present collection in the Museum, it will form a 
most interesting and splendid display of fully 3000 specimens. 
A very beautiful collection of upwards of 800 eggs, accurately 
named, adds to the value of this department of the Museum. 
The cabinet of insects contains upwards of 12,000 specimens, 
all in the highest preservation. To these there has just been 
added 1500 specimens of splendid and rare insects from the 
Brazils. The collection of shells amounts to nearly 4000 spe- 
cimens, arranged and named according to the system of La 
March. Along with this part of the cabinet of Dufresne is a 
valuable series of fossil shells, and a numerous collection of 
echini, asteria, and corallia. 
28. Curious fact respecting the Swallow. — Captain Carmi-^ 
chael, an intelligent and active observer, mentions to us the 
following fact respecting the natural history of the swallow. 
Swallows are birds of passage at the southern extremity of 
Africa, as well as in Europe. They return to the Cape of 
Good Hope in the month of September, and quit it again 
in March and April. Captain Carmichael happening to be 
stationed for some time at the eastern extremity of the colony, 
a pair of these birds (Hirundo capensis) soon after their ar- 
rival built their nest on the outside of the house wherein he 
lodged, fixing it against the angle formed by the wall with the 
board which supported the eaves. The whole of this nest was 
