SAG 
‘yacters he considered it eeideas that it 
was the Baleinoptera acuto-rostraia of 
ta Cepede, and that that author had 
allen into an error in saying, that this 
species never. exceeds from twenty-six, 
_ to twenty-nine feet long.—Atihe same 
meeting, the secretary laid before the 
society the following communications: 
1. Copies of the affidavits made before 
justices of the peace, at Kirkwall, in 
Orkney, by several persons who saw and 
examined the great sea-snake, (halsy- 
drus Pontoppidani) cast on shore in the 
island of Stronsa, in October last: with 
‘remarks, illustrative of the meaning of 
New Pate ts ta 
ately enrolled. [May 1, 
some passages in these affidavits. 2. An 
account of the discovery of a hving ani- 
mal, resembling a toad inclosed in a 
ber of elay, in a cavity Suited to its size, 
at the depth of fifty-seven fathoms in the 
coal formation at Govan; communicated 
by Mr. Dixon, of Govan-hill.. 3. An 
instance of remarkable intrepidity dis- 
played by a’ male_and female otter, in 
defending their young, although the 
otter is in general accounted a very timid 
animal. Mr. Laskey presented to’the 
society, avery valuable and well-arranged 
collection of British shells, and likewise 
a curious mineral from New Holland, 
j 
7 
NEW PATENTS LATELY ENROLLED. 
EZ ‘, 
MR. THOMAS JONES'S (BILSTON, STAF- 
FoRD), for Compositions for the pur- 
pose of making Trays, Waiters, and 
warious other Articles, by Presses or 
Stumps. 
HE ingredients made use of in the 
manufacture of these articles, are 
varied according to the size of the arti- 
cles. For those that are small he takes 
100lb. of rope, and 201b. of rags; 
and for large ones, to 100lb. of 
rope about 100 ib. of rags, are add- 
ed. These are reduced to a pulp, 
and mixed with a certain small propor- 
tion of vitriolic acid. Various other ma- 
terials are mentioned ; but those just enu- 
merated are deemed the best; and to 
make the said pulp into the articles re- 
quired, Mr. Jones recommends that .a 
wire or other sieve, of a similar size and 
shape to the article required, be taken, 
and used in the manner directed in’ the 
specification. To render the mode of 
operation intelligible, the pateritee has 
given an example shewing in. what way 
the frameand sieve are placed to coilect 
the composition or pulp, for making an 
eva! canoe. Hethen puts on a flannel 
or woollen cloth, or any other proper 
eloth or material, and upon that a board, 
and thea.turns the pulp out of the sieve 
tpon the flannel, and board upon the 
top of it, and presses the same together 
lightly, to force out part of the i quid, by 
which the pulp felt 1s made. This being 
between the dies or tools, of the shape 
of the articles wanted, is put into a- 
press, in order to render it at once solid 
aud of the required shape. It is now to 
be put into a stove or oven _ a proper 
degree of heat, where it is kept till it is 
nearly out not ‘entirely, dry, and then it 
is te be taken out of the oven, put be- 
= 
¥ 
tioned principle. 
tween the dies, and pressed violently, so 
as toset it and make it smooth. After 
this it is to be put in the oven again, till 
it is perfectly dried, but great caution 
must be used to prevent it from warping. 
This is effected by means of a frame 
made in the form of the inside of the ar= 
ticles, and weights to keep it in its proper 
form. Itmay next, if necessary, be ham 
iered over, and made smooth and flat ; 
and then being perfectly dry, it is to be 
dipped in the japan liquid, and there 
suffered to remain till the said liquid has 
perfectly penetrated it, when it is to be 
dried and varnished. ‘The dies may be 
made of iron or other metal, orindeed of — 
almost any other solid substance; but 
what is recommended in the specification 
is to have one ef the dies of cast iron, 
and the other of tin, er some other more 
fusible metal. The use of these intended 
compositions is to be extended to the 
making or manufacturing of all kinds of 
tea-trays, waiters, boxes, bottle-stands, 
baskets, caddies, ‘pannels for coaches, 
tables; ce &c. &c. of ‘any © form . 
or shape ; and various other articles made 
or mat de Store upon the above men= 
a 
MR. EDWARD MAS6SEY'S (eewcnseaey for 
an Improced Cock Sor drawing off Lae 
guors. 
Tt will be impossible to give a -tolera- 
bly accurate idea’ of the nature of 
this invention, without the aid of figures, 
of which there are 14 or 48 attached to 
the specification. We may observe, that 
the cock contains three valves, but it ‘is 
not necessary that ail the'valves should 
be used in the same cock; but may be 
made with one, two, or three, according 
to the fancy of the mechanic,’ For $0 
simple 
