336 
MISCELLANY. 
Ornithorhynchus paradoxus is the animal alluded to, though the clause would 
still remain a little paradoxical .—Ed.] 
Stork's Nest at Manheim. —In one of the streets Qof Manheim] I got an 
opportunity of sketching a Stork's nest.—Most of the chimnies are, apparently, 
constructed for their accommodation, it being thought lucky to have a pair of 
these birds over the roof. Above the vent, rarely pervaded by smoke, charcoal 
being much in use, a flat piece of Iron, supported by legs about a foot high, is 
placed. On this an immense heap of straw and other materials, carried thither 
by the birds, projects considerably over all around. In the present instance the 
two bipeds were enjoying their otiurn cum dignitate and elevation of aspect with 
great satisfaction. The nest must, doubtless, be drenched through and through 
with the rain, being entirely without shelter, and, as a habitation, the most 
inconvenient that could possibly be devised. What amused me exceedingly was, 
a host of impudent Sparrows that appeared to have taken possession of the lower 
part, and were screaming, fluttering, and playing at hide-and-seek in the most 
unceremonious manner possible; the grave owners thereof never appearing to take 
the least notice of the intruders.— Roby's Seven Weeks in Belgium , fyc. 
Phosphoric Lights in the higher Animals. —At p. 221 we noticed the 
erroneous assertion of Dr. Muller,— 44 Hater den hoheren Thieren kennt man 
kein Leuchten” &c., stating at the same time that phosphoric lights are seen at 
night in the breast of the Bittern. The fact is pretty generally known to British 
naturalists at the present day; hut as one of our readers wishes to learn our 
authority for the statement, we may observe, that an ornithologist residing at 
Philadelphia was informed, in~1828, that the Great American Bittern exhibited a 
bright light at the breast, in order to assist its nocturnal fishing. This appeared 
so extraordinary, that the gentleman took some trouble to ascertain the truth of 
the report, which was 44 confirmed by several gentlemen of undoubted veracity," 
and especially by Mr. Franklin Peale, the well-known American naturalist. 
In the article 44 Bittern” in Partington’s British Cyclopaedia of Natural His¬ 
tory,, the writer (Mr. Mudie we believe) observes, that 44 the rank flavour of the 
flesh is in no small degree owing to phosphorus or sulphur ( especially the former) 
in the food.” No doubt, as far as we are aware, has ever been cast upon the fact, 
as related by Mr. Peale and others. We should be glad to learn the experience 
of our readers on this subject. 
Several instances of luminosity have been noticed in the Horse, and published 
on both sides the Atlantic; but the cause is in this case extremely obscure, some 
attributing it to phosphorescence, some to electricity, and some to the presence of 
a Glow-worm, or other insect.— Ed. 
A Preserver of Animated Nature. —A hair-dresser in Bedford (says a 
