Extracts.—Natural History. 
Embryo fVhales, when discovered in their earliest foetal state, are about 17 
inches long-, and of a whitish colour. The cubs, when born, are black, and vary 
from 10 to 14, or according’ to Cuvier, even 20 feet long. Generally only 1 cub 
is produced, occasionally 2, but never more. When the female suckles, she throws 
herself on one side on the surface of the water, and the young Whale attaches 
itself to her breast. They continue sucklings for a year, during which time they 
are named shortheads by the sailors, and yield about 50 barrels of blubber At 2 
years they are called stunts, and thrive but little when weaned, scarcely affording 
more than 20 barrels. After this period they are called skull-fish, and their age 
is wholly unknown.— Mag. Natural History. 
F,\iry Bings are considered by J. F. M. Dovaston, Esq., to originate in elec¬ 
tricity. When a column of electric fluid affects the earth, either ascending or 
descending, it scorches the ground all round its edges, where there is plenty of 
oxygen in contact with it j and leaves the centre unscathed, where the oxygen is 
either expelled or destroyed; so fertilizes the extremity. The consequence is, 
that the first year the grass is destroyed, and the ring appears bare and brown ; 
but the .second year, the grass re-springs with highly increased vigour and verdure, 
together with the fungi, whose seeds are so brought into vegetation, that without 
this exciting cause might have slept inert for centuries.”— Mag. Nat. Hi.st. 
Fogs arise whenever the air becomes colder than the water. From this principle 
the following conclusions may be drawn. First,—Fogs will be most frequent in 
autumn, after the earth has been heated during the summer, the air cooling faster 
than the earth. Second,—Fogs will be greatest after the hottest summer. Third, 
—Fogs .show that the air has become suddenly colder, and therefore are a sign of 
snow. Fourth,—Fogs will be rare in hot climates, where the air is usually very 
hot. Fifth,—Fogs will be very frequent in the arctic regions, where the sudden 
depressions are enormously below the mean temperature. Sixth,—Fogs will be 
most frequent over shallow water, which sooner partakes of the temperature of the 
bottom than the deeper water.— Mag. Nat, Hist. 
Arrow Root is prepared in India, from the Mardnta and at Tahiti, 
and other of the Polynesian Islands, from the Tdcca yinnaUfida^ the roots of 
which are roundish, of a reddish colour, and in an unprepared state, are possessed 
of acrid properties. At Tahiti, and the Sandwich Islands, this plant and the 
farina produced from it, are named jo/a; at the Island of Rotuma, mara ; at the 
Island of Tongatabu, and at the Island of Tucopia, massoa. When 
the leaves perish, which occurs annually, the roots are dug up, washed, and 
grated on a piece of coral, into a large bowl of water ; then strained through a 
sieve—the farina, or flour, settles at the bottom of the vessel. The water is 
renewed every day, until the farina becomes white. When taken out, it is found 
formed into a solid mas.s, which is broken to pieces, and well dried in the sun.— 
Mas. Nat. Hist. 
The Mole. —It is remarkable that the Mole, {JVdlpa europ<je'a) sometimes gives 
notice of a change of weather ; the temperature or dryness of the air governs its 
motions as to the depth at which it lives or works. This is partly from its inabi¬ 
lity to bear cold or thirst, but chiefly from the necessity it is under, of following its 
natural food, the Earth-worm, (^Lumbricus terrestris.,) which always descends as 
drought or cold increases. In frosty weather, both Worms and Moles are deeper 
in the ground than at any other time ; and both seem to he sensible of an approach¬ 
ing change in the weather, before there are any perceptible signs of it in the at¬ 
mosphere. When it is observed therefore, that Moles are casting hills through 
openings in the frozen turf, or through a thin covering of snow, a change to open 
weather may shortly he expected— Mag. Nat. Hist. 
